The Translation

[F.139.a] {S74}

1.1Homage to the Three Jewels!

Thus did I hear at one time. {S75} The Bhagavān was staying in Śrāvastī, in Prince Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. There the Bhagavān addressed the monks: “Monks, do you wish to learn about the lifespans of beings?”

1.2“Yes, Bhagavān, this is the right time for it! Sugata, the time is right for the Bhagavān to teach the monks the lifespans of living beings. Bhagavān, having heard the teaching from the Bhagavān, the monks will retain it.”

“Monks, listen carefully and concentrate! I will teach.

1.3“Monks, the maximum lifespan in the hell realms is one eon. Premature death does occur.

1.4“Monks, the maximum lifespan in the animal realm [F.139.b] is one eon. Premature death does occur.

1.5“Monks, one day for the pretas corresponds to thirty days for humans. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve months constitute one year, pretas have a lifespan of five hundred years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is fifteen thousand years. Premature death does occur.”

1.6Then, at this time, the Bhagavān spoke these verses:

1.9“Monks, the lifespan of human beings inhabiting the eastern continent Pūrvavideha is two hundred fifty years. Premature death does occur.

1.10“Monks, the lifespan of human beings inhabiting the western continent Avaragodānīya is five hundred years. Premature death does occur.

1.11“Monks, the lifespan of human beings inhabiting the northern continent Uttarakuru is one thousand years. Premature death does not occur.

1.12“Why do the human beings who inhabit the continent Uttarakuru have a lifespan of one thousand years and not experience premature death?

“Monks, the human beings inhabiting the continent Uttarakuru have no sense of mine and no notion of ownership, and their lifespan is predetermined. When they die and pass from there, they progress higher and higher, and in the future they go to heaven. Monks, this is why the human beings inhabiting the continent Uttarakuru have a lifespan of one thousand years and do not experience premature death.”

1.13Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.37“Monks, the lifespan of the humans of the southern continent of Jambudvīpa is not fixed; it varies. More precisely, monks, the maximum lifespans of the humans of Jambudvīpa are unlimited, eighty thousand years, one hundred years, and ten years.

1.38“Monks, the lifespan at the present time of the humans of Jambudvīpa amounts to one hundred years. Monks, presently those among the humans of Jambudvīpa who live long can reach an age of one hundred years, or a little more than that, when looked after with proper care.

1.39“Monks, during a lifespan of one hundred years, people undergo ten stages. [F.141.a] At the first stage, they are infants, feeble and lying on their back. At the second stage they are children, disposed to playing. At the third stage, as youths, they chase after pleasure. At the fourth stage they are endowed with physical strength and strong enthusiasm. At the fifth stage they possess prudence and self-confidence. At the sixth stage they are experienced and more given to reflection. At the seventh stage they practice religion with all their heart. At the eighth stage they are venerable and people of distinction. At the ninth stage they are old, fragile, and weakened by age. At the tenth stage life is exhausted and only death remains. Monks, in a hundred years, their lives undergo those ten stages.

1.40“Monks, living for one hundred years, they live for one hundred times each the three seasons: one hundred winters, one hundred summers, and one hundred rains. Living three seasons one hundred times each, they live for twelve months one hundred times: four months each of winters, four of summers, and four of rains. Living for twelve months one hundred times, they live for twenty-four times one hundred half-months, or two thousand four hundred half-months: eight half-months each of winters, eight half-months of summers, and eight half-months of rains. Living twenty-four times one hundred half-months, they live for thirty-six thousand days: twelve thousand days each of summer, winter, and rains.

1.41“Living for thirty-six thousand days, they eat seventy-two thousand meals, except for when there is something that prevents them from eating. These meal interruptions are as follows: when they are angry, they do not eat; when they suffer, they do not eat; when impoverished, they do not eat; during fasting, they do not eat; because of loss, they do not eat; because of gain, too, they do not eat; when sleeping, they do not eat; when drunk, [F.141.b] they do not eat; due to being drowsy, they do not eat. Thus, in sum, the meals that are eaten and the meals that are not eaten are altogether seventy-two thousand meals during one lifetime, including the milk from their mother that they have drunk. {S79}

1.42“Monks, I have expounded and itemized the lives of human beings in Jambudvīpa in terms of seasons, months, half months, days, meals, and even the interruptions to meals.

1.43“Monks, fifty human years corresponds to one day and night in the life of the devas belonging to the retinue of the Four Great Kings. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas belonging to the retinue of the Four Great Kings is five hundred divine years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is nine million years. Premature death does occur.

1.44“This‍—that is, nine million years‍—corresponds to one day and night for the beings in the great hell Revival. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of beings in the great hell Revival is, by this way of calculating, five hundred years. In human years, this is 1 trillion 620 billion years. Premature death does occur.”

1.45Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.47“Monks, one hundred human years corresponds to one day and night for the devas of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three is one thousand divine years by this way of calculating. [F.142.a] According to human years, this is thirty-six million years. Premature death does occur.

1.48“This‍—that is, thirty-six million years‍—corresponds to one day and night for the beings in the great hell Black Thread. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of beings in the great hell Black Thread is one thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 12 trillion 960 billion years. Untimely death does occur.” {S80}

1.49Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.51“Monks, two hundred human years corresponds to one day and night for the devas of the Heaven Free from Strife. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas of the Heaven Free from Strife is two thousand divine years by this way of calculating. According to human years this is 144 million years. Premature death does occur.

1.52“This‍—that is, one hundred forty-four million years‍—is one day and night for the beings in the great hell Crushing. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the beings in the great hell Crushing is two thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 103 trillion 680 billion years. Premature death does occur.”

1.53Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.55“Monks, four hundred human years corresponds to one day and night for the devas of the Heaven of Joy. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas of the Heaven of Joy is four thousand divine years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 576 million {S81} years. Premature death does occur.

1.56“This‍—that is, five hundred seventy-six million human years‍—corresponds to one day and night for the beings in the great hell Wailing. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the beings in the great hell Wailing is four thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 829 trillion 440 billion years. Premature death does occur.”

1.57Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.59“Monks, eight hundred human years corresponds to one day and night for the devas of the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas of the Heaven of Delighting in Emanations is eight thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 2 billion 304 million years. Premature death does occur.

1.60“This‍—that is, 2 billion 304 million years‍—corresponds to one day and night for the beings inhabiting the great hell Loud Wailing. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the beings inhabiting the great hell Loud Wailing [F.143.a] is eight thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 6 quadrillion 635 trillion 520 billion years. Premature death does occur.”

1.61Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.64“Monks, one thousand six hundred human years corresponds to one day and night for the devas of the Heaven of the Masters of Others’ Creations. Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the devas of the Heaven of the Masters of Others’ Creations is sixteen thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years, this is 9 billion 216 million years. Premature death does occur.

1.65“This‍—that is, nine billion two hundred sixteen million years‍—corresponds to one day and night for the beings inhabiting the great hell Heat . Since thirty such days constitute one month, and twelve such months constitute one year, the lifespan of the beings inhabiting the great hell Heat is sixteen thousand years by this way of calculating. According to human years this is 53 quadrillion 84 trillion 160 billion years. Premature death does occur.”

1.66Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.68“Monks, do you want to hear about the lifespan of beings who have been reborn in the Blistering Hell?”

“Yes, Bhagavān, the time is right for that. Sugata, this is the right time for it. We, the monks, having heard the teaching from the Blessed One about the lifespan of beings that have been reborn in the Blistering Hell, will retain the teaching well.”

1.69“Monks, in that case, listen carefully and concentrate! I will teach. Monks, it is like this: Imagine a container with a capacity of twenty khārī that contains a full measure of twenty khārī of Kosalan sesame seeds and is filled to the brim with them. {S83} Now imagine that someone were to remove a single seed from that container every hundred years. I say, monks, that the contents of that container holding twenty khārīs of sesame seeds would quickly be emptied out completely by this method, but, monks, not so the lifespan of beings who have been reborn in the Blistering Hell.

1.70“Twenty times the lifespan in the Blistering Hell is that in the Bursting Blister Hell. Twenty times the lifespan in the Bursting Blister Hell is that in the Hell of Chattering Teeth. Twenty times the lifespan in the Hell of Chattering Teeth is that in the Hell of Lamentation. Twenty times the lifespan in the Hell of Lamentation is that in the Cold Whimpering Hell. Twenty times the lifespan in the Cold Whimpering Hell is that in the Splitting Open Like a Blue Lotus Hell. Twenty times the lifespan in the Splitting Open Like a Blue Lotus Hell is that in the Splitting Open Like a Lotus Hell. Twenty times the lifespan in the Splitting Open Like a Lotus Hell is the Great Splitting Open Like a Lotus Hell. Devadatta’s partisan, the monk Kokālika, because he felt anger toward the monks Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana, will be reborn in the Great Splitting Open Like a Lotus Hell with his own body.

1.71“Therefore, monks, you should train the mind thus: not even toward the burnt stump of a tree should you generate an attitude of hatred, let alone toward a conscious being! You should train in that way, monks!”

1.72Then, at this point, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.77“Monks, the lifespan of beings inhabiting the great hell Intense Heat is half an eon. Premature death does occur.”

1.78Then, at that point, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.80“Monks, the lifespan of the beings in the great hell Incessant Torture is one eon. Premature death does occur. This is where the fool Devadatta was reborn with his own body because he split the undivided Saṅgha and, with evil intentions, drew the Tathāgata’s blood and beat a nun, who was an arhantī, to death.”

1.81Then, at that time, the Bhagavān spoke the following verses:

1.85“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Brahmā’s Retinue is half an eon. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Brahmā’s Ministers is three quarters of an eon. Premature death does occur.

1.86“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Great Brahmā is one eon. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Limited Radiance is two eons. Premature death does occur.

1.87“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Boundless Radiance is four eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Luminous Radiance is eight eons. Premature death does occur.

1.88“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Limited Virtue is sixteen eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Boundless Virtue is thirty-two eons. Premature death does occur.

1.89“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Perfect Virtue is sixty-four eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Cloudless Heaven is one hundred twenty-five eons. Premature death does occur.

1.90“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven Born from Merit is two hundred fifty eons. Premature death does occur.

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Heaven of Great Reward is five hundred eons. Premature death does occur.

1.91“Monks, the lifespan of both the Insentient Beings and the devas of the Unlofty Heaven is one thousand eons. Premature death does occur. {S87}

“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in Sorrowless Heaven [F.145.a] is two thousand eons. Premature death does occur.

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

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

1.93“Monks, the lifespan of the devas in the Highest Heaven 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. Premature death does occur.

1.94“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.

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

1.96“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! 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 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, continually cycle again and again in the five rebirth-destinies; [F.145.b] again and again they rush to the hells, again and again to the animal realm, again and again to evil states, to unfortunate rebirth-destinies, to destruction. Therefore, monks, you should train in this way: ‘I shall strive to cut off the stream of existence at any point and not let saṃsāra unfold!’ Monks, you should train in this way!”

1.97After the Blessed One had thus spoken, the monks were deeply overjoyed and rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words.

1.98This concludes “The Sūtra on the Limits of Life.”