Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c38.s9.1

v2.c38.s9.1

The goal that was held before the householders was rebirth in one of the heavens² or as Sakka, the king of gods. This conception was already existing in the pre-Buddhist days, and all religions which accepted the theory of karma endorsed it. A householder should be first instructed to make gifts and to observe the precepts, and he is to be convinced that as fruit of this he would be reborn in the heavens (*sagga*). The Nikāyas are full of instances of good householders, who by leading a virtuous life were reborn as gods, and then there is the whole of the *Vimānavatthu* to illustrate this theory of karma. Aśoka also upheld this view, and did not like to go beyond. But the principles of Buddhism could not support it fully. Immediately after *saggakhatham*, the householders were to be instructed in looking upon worldly pleasures as evil and retirement as the best course of life (*nekkhamme ānisamsam*). Hence it is evident that the ideal held by Buddhism even before the householders was not rebirth in one of the heavens but retirement from the worldly life. In the *Mahāparinibbānasutta*, Buddha is heard to say about the fruits attained by some of his departed *upāsakas*. He said that Sudatta (= Anāthapiṇḍika) and ninety others had become Sakadāgāmi, while Sujātā and 500 others Sotāpanna. Kakudha *upāsaka* reached the Anāgāmi stage, so also did Kāliṅga, Nikaṭa, Katissabho, Tuṭṭha, Bhadda, Subhadda and several others.¹