<p>An example from  the suttas is porn or &quot;prostitutes&quot; lead to lower realms (<a href="https://suttafriends.org/sutta/snp1-6/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Snp 1.6</a>). Hell is described by King Yama in <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.130.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 130</a>. Otherwise, this leads to animal birth (<a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.009.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 2.9</a>).</p>
<p>All ten unwholesome actions can lead to hell (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an10.211/en/bodhi?lang=en&amp;reference=none&amp;highlight=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 10.211</a>). The five heinous actions seem to refer merely to five actions an Ariyan cannot commit (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn115/en/sujato?lang=en&amp;layout=linebyline&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=sidenotes&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 115</a>). The five heinous actions do not define what leads to hell. All ten unwholesome actions can lead to hell (<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an10.211/en/bodhi?lang=en&amp;reference=none&amp;highlight=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 10.211</a>).</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>There is the case where a trifling evil deed done by a certain
individual takes him to hell</strong>. There is the case where the very same
sort of trifling deed done by another individual is experienced in the
here &amp; now, and for the most part barely appears for a moment.</p>
<p>Now, <strong>a trifling evil deed done by what sort of individual takes him to
hell</strong>? There is the case where a certain individual is undeveloped in
[contemplating] the body, undeveloped in virtue, undeveloped in mind,
undeveloped in discernment: restricted, small-hearted, dwelling with
suffering. <strong>A trifling evil deed done by this sort of individual takes
him to hell</strong>.</p>
<p>Now, a trifling evil deed done by what sort of individual is
experienced in the here &amp; now, and for the most part barely appears
for a moment? There is the case where a certain individual is
developed in [contemplating] the body, developed in virtue, developed
in mind, developed in discernment: unrestricted, large-hearted,
dwelling with the immeasurable. A trifling evil deed done by this sort
of individual is experienced in the here &amp; now, and for the most part
barely appears for a moment.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.099.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.99</a></p>
</blockquote>
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2024-03-15T02:02:15.453Z
2024-03-15T02:14:14.143Z
2024-03-15T02:14:14.143Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I'm looking for sources from the 4 nikayas on where, and how to &quot;attain&quot; a defined place of rebirth.</p>
<p>Examples I know of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Heinous actions lead to definite hell realm rebirth</li>
<li>Reaching sotapanna stage is defined human or above rebirth (in a noble family)</li>
<li>Anagami, defined rebirth in pure realm (non returner)</li>
<li>Higher levels of jhana, defined pure realm rebirth (this may be incorrect?)</li>
<li>Attainment of 4 immeasurables, defined bhrama realm rebirth (brama-vihara)</li>
</ul>
<p>If there are any other sources anyone knows where the Buddha defined specific actions that lead to specific places of rebirth, this would be very helpful.</p>
<p>I know Mahayana, specifically Tibetan sects have concocted some practice known as Tulka, where apparently a high level Bodhisattva can choose where to be reborn, but I find these claims dubious at best and the practices trying to define and find the person reborn as flawed divination!
I would prefer actual Buddhas teachings on sources rather than unsubstantial claims.</p>

<sutras><rebirth><sutta-reference>
Definite places of rebirth (request of sources from Buddhas sutras)
# Definite places of rebirth (request of sources from Buddhas sutras)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-14)

I'm looking for sources from the 4 nikayas on where, and how to "attain" a defined place of rebirth.

Examples I know of:

* Heinous actions lead to definite hell realm rebirth
* Reaching sotapanna stage is defined human or above rebirth (in a noble family)
* Anagami, defined rebirth in pure realm (non returner)
* Higher levels of jhana, defined pure realm rebirth (this may be incorrect?)
* Attainment of 4 immeasurables, defined bhrama realm rebirth (brama-vihara)

If there are any other sources anyone knows where the Buddha defined specific actions that lead to specific places of rebirth, this would be very helpful.

I know Mahayana, specifically Tibetan sects have concocted some practice known as Tulka, where apparently a high level Bodhisattva can choose where to be reborn, but I find these claims dubious at best and the practices trying to define and find the person reborn as flawed divination!
I would prefer actual Buddhas teachings on sources rather than unsubstantial claims.

**Tags:** sutras, rebirth, sutta-reference


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-03-15. Score: 0

An example from the suttas is porn or "prostitutes" lead to lower realms ([Snp 1.6](https://suttafriends.org/sutta/snp1-6/)). Hell is described by King Yama in [MN 130](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.130.than.html). Otherwise, this leads to animal birth ([AN 2.9](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an02/an02.009.than.html)).

All ten unwholesome actions can lead to hell ([AN 10.211](https://suttacentral.net/an10.211/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false)). The five heinous actions seem to refer merely to five actions an Ariyan cannot commit ([MN 115](https://suttacentral.net/mn115/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=sidenotes&highlight=false&script=latin)). The five heinous actions do not define what leads to hell. All ten unwholesome actions can lead to hell ([AN 10.211](https://suttacentral.net/an10.211/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false)).

> **There is the case where a trifling evil deed done by a certain
> individual takes him to hell**. There is the case where the very same
> sort of trifling deed done by another individual is experienced in the
> here & now, and for the most part barely appears for a moment.
>
> Now, **a trifling evil deed done by what sort of individual takes him to
> hell**? There is the case where a certain individual is undeveloped in
> [contemplating] the body, undeveloped in virtue, undeveloped in mind,
> undeveloped in discernment: restricted, small-hearted, dwelling with
> suffering. **A trifling evil deed done by this sort of individual takes
> him to hell**.
>
> Now, a trifling evil deed done by what sort of individual is
> experienced in the here & now, and for the most part barely appears
> for a moment? There is the case where a certain individual is
> developed in [contemplating] the body, developed in virtue, developed
> in mind, developed in discernment: unrestricted, large-hearted,
> dwelling with the immeasurable. A trifling evil deed done by this sort
> of individual is experienced in the here & now, and for the most part
> barely appears for a moment.
>
> [AN 3.99](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.099.than.html)

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