The Related Suttas Collection 30.3

1. Phoenixes

Both Kinds of Deeds

At Sāvatthī.

Then a bhikkhu went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“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 egg-born phoenixes?”

“Bhikkhu, it’s when someone does both kinds of deeds by body, speech, and mind. And they’ve heard: ‘The egg-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 egg-born phoenixes!’ When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the egg-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 egg-born phoenixes.”