Two Questions about Rebirth by Choice in Pali

Q & A
1

Dear to whom it may concern,

I have two questions about rebirth by choice in Pali.

Question #1:

In the Rebirth by Choice Sutta there is a section where the Buddha explains how to practice to be reborn in heaven using specific recitations, for example: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.

Did the Buddha intend for practitioners to include the “ti” at the end of their rebirth by choice recitation?

Question #2:

In the Rebirth by Choice Sutta there is a section where the Buddha explains how to practice to be reborn in heaven, for example: ‘aho vatāhaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyyan’ti.

Using the correct grammar, vocabulary, and structure found in the Rebirth by Choice Sutta, what would the recitation be for one who aspires to be reborn in the company of the Gods of the Thirty-Three (Tāvatiṁsa devā) in Pali?

Thank you kindly.

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Hey Dylan, good questions, the both of them.

I don’t think I’ll be able to give you any satisfactory answers unfortunately, sorry about that.

There are plenty here who will be able to no doubt.

However, I would like to point out, as sometimes it might not be obvious, chanting a phrase alone will not get one reborn in a heavenly plane.

I’m sure if you read alot of the suttas at Sutta Central, you will quickly discover that the Buddha spoke frequently about being a good, kind and generous person (which is no easy feat).

This ultimately as I understand will ‘move one up the ladder’ of birth places including the heavenly realms.

I realise that this is slightly off topic…so I’m going to have to moderate myself :grin: :anjal:

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I’ve received a number of responses in email.

My best sources include a Pali professor, and two abbots. I have more confidence in the Pali professor because they provided better answers and they get paid to teach and research Pali.

Currently my understanding is that one does not include the “ti” at the end (both abbots appeared to support this).

Here is what I learnt from the Pali professor:

If one includes the “ti” at the end of the recitation it is ‘aho vatāhaṃ kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā tāvatiṃsānaṃ devānaṃ sahabyataṃ upapajjeyyan’ti.

If one does not include the “ti” it is aho vatāhaṃ kāyassa bhedā paraṃ maraṇā tāvatiṃsānaṃ devānaṃ sahabyataṃ upapajjeyyaṃ.

Notice when you drop the “ti”, “upapajjeyyan” turns into “upapajjeyyaṃ”.

The diacritic dot can be placed either on top of the “m” or on the bottom of the “m”, it is the same pronunciation (suttacentral places it on the top, the professor did it on the bottom).