Part 13 - On the life-span of living beings without mind

Q. 109. Bhante! How many are stated to be the life-spans of beings without mind?

A. 109. Gautama! They are stated to be of four types, which are, as infernal beings without mind, as non-humans without mind, as humans without mind, and as celestial beings without mind.

Q. 110. Bhante! Those who are without mind—do they acquire the life-span of the infernal beings, of the non-human beings, of the human beings, of the celestial beings?

A. 110. Gautama! Acquire (these) the life-span of the infernal beings, also of the non-human beings, of the human beings, and of the celestial beings. Those acquiring infernal life-span do so for a minimum period of 10,000 years and a maximum period of innumerable fractions of a palyopama; those acquiring life-span of the non-humans do so for a minimum period of less than 48 minutes and a maximum period of innumerable fractions of a palyopama; those acquiring human lifespan have a minimum and a maximum duration similar to that of the non-human beings; the celestial life-span is akin to the infernal life-span.

Q. 111. Bhante! Of the life-span of the infernal beings without mind, and so also those of non-human beings, human beings and celestial beings (all without mind), which ones are more, and which ones are less, which ones are similar, and which ones have speciality?

A. 111. Gautama! Lowest is the life-span of the celestial beings without mind; innumerable times more is the life-span of the human beings without mind; still innumerable times more is that of the non-human beings without mind; and still further more is that of the infernal beings without mind.

Bhante! So they are. Glory be to the Lord! So saying, Gautama paid his homage and obeisance and withdrew to his seat.

Chapter two ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(no notes available for this section)