ཚའ་མཐའ་མད 13

13

is two thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Sublime Vision¹⁴³ is four thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Great Vision¹⁴⁴ is eight thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Highest Heaven ¹⁴⁵ is sixteen thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas belonging to the Sphere of the Infinity of Space is twenty thousand eons.¹⁴⁶ Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas belonging to the Sphere of the Infinity of Consciousness is forty thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas belonging to the Sphere of Nothingness is sixty thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas belonging to the Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-perception is eighty thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, from the hell Incessant Torture up to the Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-perception—which, monks, is the peak of existence—these states respectively demarcate the upper and lower limits of the whole of existence. These states are the manifestation of existence. They are the places where living beings of the five rebirth-destinies come and go, live, die, and are reborn. Enough with the manifestation of existence!¹⁴⁷ I do not speak with even the slightest praise of the manifestation of existence, however small it may be, however short in duration.¹⁴⁸ Why is that? Because the manifestation of existence is suffering. Take, for instance, something that is impure: when even a little of it stinks, how much more so does a lot of it! In the same way, I do not speak with even the slightest praise of the manifestation of existence, however small it may be, however short in duration. Why is that? Because, monks, the manifestation of existence is suffering. Ordinary, worldly people, uneducated in the Dharma,¹⁴⁹ continually cycle again and again in the five rebirth-destinies;