Few Animals Are Reborn Among Human Beings or Heavenly Beings

What do you think, Monks, which is more: the little bit of soil in my fingernail or the great earth?

‘Venerable Sir, the great earth is more. The little bit of soil that The Perfectly Enlightened One has taken up in his fingernail is insignificant. Compared to the great earth, the little bit of soil that The Perfectly Enlightened One has taken up in his fingernail is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction.’

So too, Monks, those beings are few who, when they pass away from the animal realm, are reborn among human beings. But those beings are more numerous who, when they pass away from the animal realm, are reborn in hell … in the animal realm … in the realm of afflicted spirits …

For what reason?

Because, Monks, they have not seen The Four Noble Truths.

What four?

The noble truth of discontentedness, the noble truth of the cause of discontentedness, the noble truth of the elimination of discontentedness, the noble truth of the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.

Therefore, Monks, an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the cause of discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the elimination of discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.’

What do you think, Monks, which is more: the little bit of soil in my fingernail or the great earth?

‘Venerable Sir, the great earth is more. The little bit of soil that The Perfectly Enlightened One has taken up in his fingernail is insignificant. Compared to the great earth, the little bit of soil that The Perfectly Enlightened One has taken up in his fingernail is not calculable, does not bear comparison, does not amount even to a fraction.’

So too, Monks, those beings are few who, when they pass away from the animal realm, are reborn among the heavenly beings. But those beings are more numerous who, when they pass away from the animal realm, are reborn in hell … in the animal realm … in the realm of afflicted spirits …

For what reason?

Because, Monks, they have not seen The Four Noble Truths.

What four?

The noble truth of discontentedness, the noble truth of the cause of discontentedness, the noble truth of the elimination of discontentedness, the noble truth of the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.

Therefore, Monks, an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the cause of discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the elimination of discontentedness’; an effort should be made to understand: ‘This is the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness.’

(Reference: SN 56.120-56.131)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how there are not many beings who are reborn from the animal realm into the human realm but instead, beings from the animal realm are continuously reborn in the realm of hell, animal, and afflicted spirits. The lower realms of hell and the animal realm are like a prison.

He provides the reason for this as beings have not seen The Four Noble Truths. Without learning, reflecting, and practicing The Four Noble Truths to establish Right View, a being would find it difficult to ever attain Enlightenment. Animals have no opportunity to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to develop the mind to attain Enlightenment. They are incapable of cultivating the mind to the extent needed to attain Enlightenment, therefore, they are continuously reborn in and out of the lower realms of existence.

The Buddha encourages Students to make an effort to understand The Four Noble Truths as from within the human realm we can learn, reflect, and practice to develop and cultivate the mind to attain Enlightenment.

The Buddha also shares how there are not many beings who are reborn from the animal realm into the heavenly realm but instead, beings from the animal realm are continuously reborn in the realm of hell, animal, and afflicted spirits. The lower realms of hell and the animal realm are like a prison.