Dear Stephen,

Thanks for the comprehensive and careful list complete with sutta titles. The Sutta
Discovery vol 2 (2003) contains a chapter on "Is rebirth immediate?" dealing with
this problem.

You might like to add an important text on the types of non-returnere, namely, the
Siila Sutta (S 46.3/5:69 f).

As regard a few references, please note following:

Pathagama-tathagata-acchariya Sutta, AN 4:27 should read "A 4.127" (I have used my
own conventions here)
Purisagati Sutta, AN 7:55 should read "A 7.52".

Forgive this nit-picker, when surely your mind is faster than your finger/s.

Furthermore, the modes of rebirth mentioned in the Sampasadaniya Sutta (D 28.5/3:103)
and similar suttas, especially modes of birth 2-4, do not actually prove the
existence of an intermediate state but possibly demonstrate the likelihood of
immediate rebirth, and understandably form the basis for the dogma in some
fundamentalist Theravada circles that "rebirth is immediate" and that that is the one
and only truth. Furthermore, the last three modes of rebirth show that a spiritually
advanced person is able to consciously choose his future parents and place of
rebirth.

Any thoughts from anyone regarding this?

Sukhi

Piya
 

Stephen Hodge wrote:

> Dear Alan,
>
> > Everyone seems to realize the orthodox position, but some
> > people believe in an antaraabhava anyway.
> Orthodox to Theravada but not to the majority of other Indian Buddhist
> schools.
> Anyway, here is the list below.
>
> Best wishes,
> Stephen Hodge
>
> * Maha-tanha-sankhaya Sutta (MN 38) re: need for presence of gandhabba
> * Sampasadaniya Sutta (DN 28) and Sangiti Sutta (DN 33) re: a bodhisattva's
> moment of entry into the mother's womb as "being mindful and fully aware".
> CF. Mahapadana Sutta (DN 14); Acchariya-abbhuta Sutta (MN 123);
> Pathama-tathagata-acchariya Sutta (AN 4: 27); Bhumicala Sutta (AN 8:70)
> * Samyutta Nikaya (SN 48:15, 24, 66, 51:26, 54:5, 55:25); Purisagati Sutta
> (AN 7:55) and Samyojana Sutta (AN 4:131) re: antaraparinibbayi / "one who
> has abandoned the fetter of rebirth (upapatti-samyojana) without yet having
> abandoned the fetter of existence (bhava-samyojana)"
>
> * Metta Sutta (Khp 9, Sn 1:8) etc re: bhuta (those who have been born) and
> sambhavesi (those seeking birth).
>
> * Channovada Sutta (MN 144); Channa Sutta (SN 4:35:87);
> Catuttha-nibbana-patisamyutta Sutta (Ud 74)] mention the states of "here or
> beyond or between the two".
>
> * Kutuhala Sutta (SN 4:44:9) also tells of "a being [who] has laid down his
> body but has not yet been reborn in another body".
>
>
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