Nine Persons Passing Away with a Residue Remaining Are Freed from Hell

On one occasion The Perfectly Enlightened One was dwelling at Sāvatthī at Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiņdika’s Park. Then, in the morning, the Venerable Sāriputta dressed, took his bowl and robe, and entered for almsfood. It then occurred to him: It is still too early to walk for almsfood in Sāvatthī. Let me go to the park of the wanderers of other communities.

Then the Venerable Sāriputta went to the park of the wanderers of other communities. He exchanged greetings with those wanderers and, when they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, sat down to one side. Now on that occasion those wanderers had assembled and were sitting together when this conversation arose among them: “Friends, anyone who passes away with a residue remaining is not freed from hell, the animal realm, or the realm of afflicted spirits; he is not freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.”

Then the Venerable Sāriputta neither excited in nor rejected the statement of those wanderers, but rose from his seat and left, [thinking]: ‘I shall find out what The Perfectly Enlightened One has to say about this statement.’

Then, when the Venerable Sāriputta had walked for almsfood in Sāvatthī, after his meal, on returning from his almsfood round, he approached The Perfectly Enlightened One, paid homage (respect) to him, and sat down to one side. [He here reports verbatim the entire course of events and ends] I rose from my seat and left, (thinking): ‘I shall, find out what The Perfectly Enlightened One has to say about this statement.’

Who, Sāriputta, are those unwise and unskillful wanderers of other communities and who are those that know one with a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one without residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining’?

These nine persons, Sāriputta, passing away with a residue remaining, are freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

What nine?

(1) Here, Sāriputta, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) and concentration (mental discipline) but cultivates wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, this person is an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next.

This is the first person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(2) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) and concentration (mental discipline) but cultivates wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, this person is an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) upon landing.

This is the second person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(3) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) and concentration (mental discipline) but cultivates wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, this person is an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) without extra effort.

This is the third person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(4) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) and concentration (mental discipline) but cultivates wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, this person is an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) with extra effort. 

This is the fourth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(5) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) and concentration (mental discipline) but cultivates wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, this person is one bound upstream, heading toward the heavenly realm.

This is the fifth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(6) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) but cultivates concentration (mental discipline) and wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of three fetters and with the diminishing of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality), this person is a Once-Returner who, after coming back to this world only one more time, makes an end of discontentedness.

This is the sixth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(7) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) but cultivates concentration (mental discipline) and wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of three fetters, this person is a one-seed attainer who, after being reborn once more as a human being, makes an end of discontentedness.

This is the seventh person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(8) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) but cultivates concentration (mental discipline) and wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of three fetters, this person is a family-to-family attainer who, after roaming and wandering on among wholesome families two or three times, makes an end of discontentedness.

This is the eighth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

(9) Again, some person fulfills virtuous behavior (moral conduct) but cultivates concentration (mental discipline) and wisdom only to a moderate extent. With the complete destruction of three fetters, this person is a seven-times-at-most attainer who, after roaming and wandering on among heavenly beings and humans seven times at most, makes an end of discontentedness.

This is the ninth person, passing away with a residue remaining, who is freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

Who, Sāriputta, are those unwise and unskillful wanderers of other communities, and who are those that know one with a residue remaining as ‘one with a residue remaining’ and one without residue remaining as ‘one without residue remaining’?

These nine persons, passing away with a residue remaining, are freed from hell, the animal realm, and the realm of afflicted spirits; freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world.

Sāriputta, I had not been disposed to give this Teaching exposition to the male and female Ordained Practitioners, male Household Practitioners, and female Household Practitioners. 

For what reason?

I was concerned that on hearing this Teaching exposition, they might take to the ways of complacency. However, I have spoken this Teaching exposition for the purpose of answering your question. 

(Reference: AN 9.12)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, one of his closest Students Sāriputta comes to ask him a question based on hearing a Teaching from Ascetics of other communities who discussed what they felt were The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment. Sāriputta takes the time to ensure he deeply understands these teachings through seeking guidance from his Teacher, The Buddha.

Sāriputta questions The Buddha about the statement he heard from members of other communities where they said “Friends, anyone who passes away with a residue remaining is not freed from hell, the animal realm, or the realm of afflicted spirits; he is not freed from the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world”.

A “residue remaining” is a certain limited amount of craving/desire/attachment remaining in the mind at the time of death. The statement from the Ascetics of the other communities is sharing that one who passes away with a limited amount of craving/desire/attachment is not freed from the lower realms such as hell, the animal realm, or the realm of afflicted spirits. These are described as “the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world”.

This statement conflicts with what we know of today as The Buddha’s Teachings on The Path to Enlightenment. The Buddha shares in this Teaching, that anyone who attains the first, second, or third Stage of Enlightenment will not be reborn into the lower realms of hell, animal realm, or the realm of afflicted spirits. They are freed from “the plane of misery, the bad destination, the lower world”.

Each of these attainments are described in this book within Chapter 37. Please see that Chapter for a detailed description of each of these attainments.