HOW AND WHY DO ONLY MISFORTUNES REGARDING VIRTUE AND VIEW LEAD TO REBIRTH IN LOWER REALMS? - Dhamma Q&A

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

In this short session, we look at a question that has been asked:

“In the Byasana Sutta (AN 5.130), the Buddha states there are five kinds of misfortune or loss. Out of the five, there are only two that lead to rebirth in lower realms - misfortune regarding virtuous behaviour and misfortune regarding view. Why only these two? And if you could also explain, how this happens?”

To answer this question, we reference a number of teachings from the Buddha as well as revisit the Four Unprofitable Directions - Four Nutriments and Going the Wrong Ways. (*It is helpful if you have been through the Dhamma sessions on the Four Nutriments - see YT playlist https://bit.ly/3C1vxK4) And, we take an example from a recent retreat.

In answering this question, it makes more sense why the Buddha's instructions or insight pathways are given in a particular sequence to correct wrong view with right view and to ensure we cultivate and maintain virtue and give up misconduct. Developing the Noble Eightfold Path is very much included in this.

Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:

• — Raṭṭhapāla Sutta (MN 82)
• — Kalyāṇamittādivagga (AN 1.76)
• — Bhoga Sutta (AN 5.227)
• — Girimānanda Sutta (AN 10.60)
• — Ṭhāna Sutta (AN 4.192)
• — Micchādiṭṭhika Sutta (Iti 70)
• — Duccaritavipāka Sutta (AN 8.40)
• — Cūḷakammavibhaṅga Sutta (MN 135)
• — Saṁsappanīya Sutta (AN 10.216)
• — Mahācattārīsaka Sutta (MN 117)
• — Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33)
• — Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)
• — Puttamaṁsa Sutta (SN 12.63)
• — Vipallāsa Sutta (AN 4.49)
• — Upādāna Sutta (SN 45.173)
• — Hāliddikāni Sutta (SN 22.3)
• — Vatthūpama Sutta (MN 7)
• — Khattiya Sutta (AN 6.52)

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.

The video of this Dhamma session has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgHP14bfw0

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

To find the YT Sutta Meditation Series playlists visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/SuttaMeditationSeries/playlists, or click on 'Playlists' in the top menu bar.

Selected tables, slides and documents are shared via the Sutta Meditation Series Telegram channel - https://t.me/suttameditationseries

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