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APPENDIX III.
References to Be-birth as an Animal in the Pali Snttas.
In the Book of the Great Decease, i. 8, 9, 10, Gotama is said to
have described to Ananda a so-called Mirror of Truth, which, if an
elect disciple possess, he can predict of himself that re-birth as an
animal, or as a ghost, or in any place of woe, is rendered impossible
for him. The Mirror of Truth is consciousness of faith in the
Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Saqgha; and the whole doctrine is
allied to the Christian doctrine of the final perseverance of the
saints.
The Pafica-gatiyo, or Five States into which the unconverted
man can be re-born, are purgatory, the animal kingdom, and the
condition of ghosts, gods and men. These Five States are referred
to in several passages of the Suttas.
In the first Vagga or Chapter of the Sotapatti-sarjyutta of the
Saqyutta Nikaya occurs the following passage :
" What though a king of kings, 0 Bhikkhus, who has exercised
" rule and sovereignty over the four continents, on the dissolution
"of the body, after death, he re-horn into a happy state in heaven,
" into a state of union with the Tavatii|sa Gods. And there, in the
" Grove of Delight, surrounded by crowds of houris, should pass his
" time in the possession and enjoyment of the five pleasures of sense.
" If he he not possessed also of the Four Qualities, he is not set free
" from (re-birth in) purgatory, or in the animal race, or as a ghost
" He is not delivered, I say, from (re-birth in) evil states.
" And what though a disciple who has entered upon the Excellent
"Way (an Ariya-savako) live upon morsels of food and in much |
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