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Let us continue with the Anuruddhasutta, a Theravada Buddhist sutra, in which Anuruddha expounds on the four kinds of rebirth in the future life. Anuruddhasutta With Anuruddha “[Venerated Anuruddha explains,] There comes a time when those deities go their separate ways. When they do so, a difference both in their color and also in their luminosity is evident. It’s like when a person takes those several oil lamps out of that house. You can detect a difference both in their flames and also in their radiance. In the same way, when the deities go their separate ways, a difference both in their color and also in their luminosity is evident.” […]“[Venerated Kaccāna exclaims,] ‘Good, Honorable Anuruddha! I have a further question about this. Do all the radiant deities have corrupted radiance, or do some there have pure radiance?’ [Venerated Anuruddha explains,] ‘In that respect, Reverend Kaccāna, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance.’ [Venerated Kaccāna asks,] ‘What is the cause, Honorable Anuruddha, what is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance?’ [Venerated Anuruddha expounds,] ‘Well then, Reverend Kaccāna, I shall give you a simile. For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose an oil lamp was burning with impure oil and an impure wick. Because of the impurity of the oil and the wick it burns dimly, as it were. In the same way, take some mendicant who meditates focused on pervading “corrupted radiance.” Their physical discomfort is not completely settled, their dullness and drowsiness are not completely eradicated, and their restlessness and remorse are not completely eliminated. Because of this, they practice absorption dimly, as it were. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of corrupted luminosity. Suppose an oil lamp was burning with pure oil and pure wick. Because of the purity of the oil and the wick, it doesn’t burn dimly, as it were. In the same way, take some mendicant who meditates focused on pervading “pure radiance.” Their physical discomfort are completely settled, their dullness and drowsiness are completely eradicated, and their restlessness and remorse are completely eliminated. Because of this, they don’t practice absorption dimly, as it were. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in the company of the gods of pure luminosity. This is the cause, Reverend Kaccāna, this is the reason why, when those deities have been reborn in a single order of gods, some deities there have corrupted radiance, while some have pure radiance.’ […]”
