AVOID EVIL, DO GOOD, PURIFY THE MIND.

After the Parinibbana of the Buddha there was once a hunter who earned his living trapping animals in a nearby forest. Not far
from his house, there was a temple where a great number of devotees had gathered, busing themselves with preparations for
the Kathina celeberations that was to take place the next day. He was on his way home, and stopped outside the temple to
ask why the temple was busy."We are preparing for the Kathinaceleberation tommorow," he was told.

That night he made two lovely garden-brooms from some jungle products and had them sent to the temple as his share of
participation in the Kathina. Hunters, like gamblers, are as a rule superstitious. He refused to join in the celeberation because
of a wrong belief. He believed that meeting a bald-headed monk would bring him bad luck in his daily hunting.

The next morning sto the forest he went, but it was his fatal day, for a wounded tiger caught in his trap suddenly pounced on
him. Dying, he was born in the great hell-pot where the hell-guards pushed him down into the bottom. But a strange thing
happened. He seemed to float up to the brim, and a broom appeared sweeping him out of the pot onto the ground below. The
hell -guards put him back into the pot again, and after a short while that strange thing happened again. The hell-guards
reported this to the phenomenon to the King Yama, who sent for him.

Asked King Yama,"Friend, do you remember having done any good deed recently?"

"Sir, I remembered giving two brooms to a temple for their Kathina celeberation,"replied the hunter.

"So, that explains the occurence of the strange phenomenon. As a result of this piety, you will be reborn in heaven just for one
day."

We are told that one day at Tavatimsa heaven is equivalent to one hundred years on earth. Enjoying his brief existence in
heaven, he was next reborn in the world of man, this
time, as a successful businessman. Though he had opportunity to associate himself with faithful Buddhist devotees, he never
once did dana, nor did he ever give to the poor and the needy. Selfish and unsympathetic, he enjoyed his wealth alone. He
died at the prime of his success, and this untimely death of his was the fruit of his action done when he was a hunter. Thus his
evil kamma caught up with him. Dying he was reborn as a peta in a forest, naked and emaciated with hunger and thirst.

Here, he was seen by a meditating bhikkhu living in the jungle. the bhikkhu questioned the peta, and thus was told the whole
story of his brief existence in hell, heaven, a businessman, and now a peta.

May you always remember to avoid evil, do good and purify the mind. May you always remember the Dharma wherever you
are born.