Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
II. Rathakāra Vagga

III. The Book of the Threes

II. The Wheelwright

Sutta 18

Devaloka Suttaṃ

The Deva-World

 

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[99]

Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said this:

"Monks, if Wanderers holding other views should thus question you:

'Is it for the sake of rebirth in the Deva-World
that Gotama, the ascetic,
lives the righteous life?'

-thus questioned would ye not be annoyed,
distressed
or disgusted?"

"Yes, lord."

"So then, monks,
it would seem that ye are annoyed,
distressed,
disgusted
with the idea of deva-life,
deva-beauty,
the idea of deva-bliss,
fame
and sovereignty.

How much more should ye not be annoyed, distressed, disgusted
with the idea of immorality in deed,
how much more should ye not be annoyed, distressed, disgusted
with the idea of immorality in speech,
how much more should ye not be annoyed, distressed, disgusted
with the idea of immorality in thought?"