Killing Living Creatures

an / an4

Numbered Discourses 4.214 · 22. Assembly

an / an4

Numbered Discourses 4.214 · 22. Assembly

“Someone with four qualities is cast down to hell. … They kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, and lie. … Someone with four qualities is raised up to heaven. … They don’t kill living creatures, steal, commit sexual misconduct, or lie. …”

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[1] Bodhi: The commentary explains that the Buddha gave this discourse to cut through the conceit that arose in the five monks because of their arahantship.

[2] Bodhi: The commentary explains that the word "all" (sabba) is used here in a limited sense: that is, it denotes "all that is included in personal identity" (sakkaa-sabba), that is, all states or phenomena (dhamma) included in the five aggregates subject to clinging (khandha) (see MN 28). Supramundane states - paths, fruits, and nibbana - are not included here.

[3] Bodhi: Assutama puthujjana is an ordinary person who has no knowledge of the Dhamma. There are no noble attainments in the Dhamma. The mind is dominated by many defilements and wrong views.