Buddha on devas, petas etc.

[Nicholas Weeks]

A recent contact thinks all references to yakkas, petas etc.; all the invisible non-human beings, were an accretion added by Hindu enemies of the Dhamma. So I would like reference to a sutta or two where Buddha himself mentions the reality of these non-human creatures.

Never mind - he is stubborn and I did find the Hemavata Sutta from the Sutta NIpata.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

There are so many discourses in the main nikāyas. The first book of the Saṃyuttanikāya is all discourses with devas.

http://www.aimwell.org/tuvataka.html

http://www.aimwell.org/sakkapanha.html

http://www.aimwell.org/purabheda.html

Then there's the Mangala Sutta taught to a deva, and many others.

[Sam Vara]

The Sumyutta Nikaya contains whole groups of suttas dealing with devas, sons of devas, and yakkhas. Try samyuttas 1, 2, 9, and 10 in the following:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... x.html#sn1

[Nicholas Weeks]

Thanks to both of you, but did He ever teach a sutta where he listed the many invisible creatures that so many in the West cannot accept?

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

I don't think you are going to find a list of of the many types of petas, nāgas, asuras, devas, brahmas, gandhabbas, etc., and if you did you would not convince anyone of their existence by showing scriptural evidence.

The different kinds of beings are scattered all of the Pali Canon. Moggallāna described various kinds of hungry ghosts (peta), but without special powers most of us are blissfully unaware of their existence.

Anecdotes about encounters with spirits are not very convincing for the sceptic.

There Are Gods, Miracles Do Happen

[form]

The Buddha will not create a catalog on super natural beings cos there is no reason to.

[Kusala]

A recent contact thinks all references to yakkas, petas etc.; all the invisible non-human beings, were an accretion added by Hindu enemies of the Dhamma. So I would like reference to a sutta or two where Buddha himself mentions the reality of these non-human creatures.

Never mind - he is stubborn and I did find the Hemavata Sutta from the Sutta NIpata.

One of Thanissaro students, a former Catholic, had encounters with these beings. This was before he became a Buddhist...his encounter made him give up meditation for quite some time...

[Kusala]

A recent contact thinks all references to yakkas, petas etc.; all the invisible non-human beings, were an accretion added by Hindu enemies of the Dhamma. So I would like reference to a sutta or two where Buddha himself mentions the reality of these non-human creatures.

Never mind - he is stubborn and I did find the Hemavata Sutta from the Sutta NIpata.

A real life account of an asura(demon) possessing a monk...these Spartan-like forrest monks aren't your average monks...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9usNcxR-fiQ

[Nicholas Weeks]

Thanks for that tale Kusala and also thanks to Ven. Bhikkhu Pesala for his.

The moral of the story seems to be that 1) there are invisible beings 2) do not be arrogant, but humble & respectful 3) radiate compassion.

[Kusala]

Thanks for that tale Kusala and also thanks to Ven. Bhikkhu Pesala for his.

The moral of the story seems to be that 1) there are invisible beings 2) do not be arrogant, but humble & respectful 3) radiate compassion.

It's important to be humble and respectful. Here is Ven. Achalo speaking from personal experience...

Skip to 25:05 - 29:55

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySkqvOHL7qY