The Related Suttas Collection 30.4–6

1. Phoenixes

Both Kinds of Deeds (2nd–4th)

At Sāvatthī.

Seated to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Buddha:

“Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the womb-born phoenixes …” “… moisture-born phoenixes …” “… or spontaneously-born phoenixes?”

“Bhikkhu, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The spontaneously-born phoenixes are long-lived, beautiful, and very happy.’ They think: ‘If only, when my body breaks up, after death, I would be reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes!’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes. This is the cause, this is the reason why someone, when their body breaks up, after death, is reborn in the company of the spontaneously-born phoenixes.”