shjohnk wrote:Is this 'Devadåtasuttaü' in the Pali Canon?
Yes. Check MN129 and MN130 and MANY OTHER SUTTAS.
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There is a large chunk of suttas that talk about hungry ghost (there is entire lakkhana-samyutta) and hell realm where one is spiked and burned and so on.
Some pick and chose according to their likes and preferences, which is wrong, IMHO.
Here, friend, as I was coming down from Mount Vulture Peak, I saw a skeleton moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, pursuing it here and there, were pecking at it between the ribs, stabbing it, and tearing it apart while it uttered cries of pain. It occurred to me: ‘It is wonderful, indeed! It is amazing, indeed! That there could be such a being, that there could be such a spirit, that could be such a form of individual existence Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus, there are disciples who dwell having become vision, disciples who dwell having become knowledge, in that a disciple can know, see, and witness such a sight. In the past, bhikkhus, I too saw that being , but I did not speak about it. For if I had spoken about it, others would not have believed me, and if they would not have believed me that would have led to their harm and suffering for a long time. “That being, bhikkhus, used to be a cattle butcher in this same Råjagaha. Having been tormented in hell for many years, for many hundreds of years, for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years as a result of that kamma, as a residual result of that same kamma he is experiencing such a form of individual existence.”
2 (2) The Piece of Meat
“Here, friend, as I was coming down from the mountain Vulture Peak, I saw a piece of meat moving through the air. Vultures, crows, and hawks, pursuing it here and there, were stabbing at it and tearing it apart as it uttered cries of pain.”… “That being, bhikkhus, was a cattle butcher in this same Rajagaha
3 (3) The Lump of Meat
20 … “I saw a lump of meat….” “That being was a poultry butcher in this same Rajagaha….”
5 (5) Sword Hairs
… “I saw a man with body-hairs of swords moving through the air. Those swords kept on rising up and striking his body while he uttered cries of pain….” “That being was a hog butcher in this same Rajagaha….”
10 (10) Pot Testicles
… “I saw a man whose testicles were like pots moving through the air. When he walked, he had to lift his testicles onto his shoulders, and when he sat down he sat on top of his testicles. Vultures, crows, and hawks, pursuing him here and there, were stabbing at him and tearing him apart while he uttered cries of pain….” “That being was a corrupt judge in this same Rajagaha….”
12 (2) The Dung Eater
… “I saw a man submerged in a pit of dung, eating dung with both hands….” “That being, bhikkhus, was a hostile brahmin in this same Rajagaha. In the time of the Buddha Kassapa’s Dispensation, he invited the Bhikkhu Sangha to a meal. Having had rice pots filled with dung, he said to the bhikkhus: ‘Aho, sirs, eat as much as you want and take the rest away with you.’…
16 (6) The Headless Trunk
… “I saw a headless trunk moving through the air; its eyes and mouth were on its chest. Vultures, crows, and hawks, pursuing it here and there, were stabbing at it and tearing it apart while it uttered cries of pain….” “That being was an executioner named Hårika in this same Rajagaha….”
18 (8) The Evil Bhikkhuni
… “I saw a bhikkhuni moving through the air. Her outer robe, bowl, waistband, and body were burning, blazing, and flaming while she uttered cries of pain….” “That bhikkhuni had been an evil bhikkhuni in the Buddha Kassapa’s Dispensation…
Samyutta Nikaya - transl. by Bhikkhu Bodhi