太子瑞應本起經 2.3

2.3

"The Bodhisattva clearly saw the five destinies (pañca-gati)—among the devas in heaven, among humans, in the hells, among animals, and among ghosts and spirits. He discerned one by one the parents, siblings, wives, and children of his former lives, their inner and outer lineages and names; the events of one lifetime, ten lifetimes, hundreds, thousands, myriads, koṭis, and countless lifetimes, up to the time when the universe, through an entire kalpa, collapsed into ruin and empty desolation, and when in a subsequent kalpa it first formed again and beings arose. He was able to know [all this] through ten kalpas, a hundred kalpas, up to thousands, myriads, koṭis, countless kalpas: the inner and outer lineages and names, their clothing and food, their pain and pleasure, the length of their lifespans, their dying here and being born there, their wandering from realm to realm. From the very beginning, all the bodies through which they had passed, their birth, growth, old age, and end, the beauty or ugliness of their form and complexion, their wisdom or folly, their pain and pleasure throughout all the three realms—all this he discerned and knew. He saw that the conscious spirits of people each followed their own deeds to be born into the five destinies: some falling into the hells, some falling among animals, some becoming ghosts and spirits, some being born in heaven, and some taking human form—some born into noble, wealthy, and joyful families, and some born into base, poor, and lowly families. He knew that all living beings are either blinded by the five aggregates—first, form; second, sensation; third, perception; fourth, mental formations; fifth, consciousness—or they indulge in the five sensory desires: the eye coveting forms, the ear coveting sounds, the nose coveting fragrances, the tongue coveting tastes, and the body coveting smooth sensations; they are led astray by lust and desire, or by wealth and beauty, longing for peace and joy. From this arise all roots of evil, and from evil comes suffering. If one can sever the habit of desire and not indulge the lustful mind even to the extent of a hair's breadth, and receive and practice the eightfold path, then all sufferings will be extinguished. It is just like having no firewood, and thus no fire. This is called the unconditioned path of transcending the world.