Nāgas Cause and Reason for Observing the Uposatha

Here, Monks, some egg‑born nāgas think thus: In the past we acted undecidedly in body, speech, and mind. Having done so, with the breakup of the body, after death, we were reborn in the company of egg‑born nāgas.

If today we practice good conduct of body, speech, and mind, then with the breakup of the body, after death, we shall be reborn in a happy destination, in a heavenly world. Come now, let us practice good conduct of body, speech, and mind.

This, Monk, is the cause and reason why some egg‑born nāgas here observe the Uposatha and relinquish [concern for] their bodies.

(The same is repeated for the other three types of nāgas.)

(Reference: SN 29.3-29.6)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares details of how an animal has some ability to develop their understanding to make wiser decisions related to their bodily, verbal, and mental conduct leading to an improved rebirth including into the heavenly realm.

There is not just one way to move in and out of the various realms of existence. Moving to a higher rebirth requires improved decision making related to bodily, verbal, and mental conduct but beings in all the various realms can be reborn in and out of those realms based on their own decisions.

For example, animals can be reborn into the hell, animal, afflicted spirits, human, and heavenly realms. Humans can be reborn into the hell, animal, afflicted spirits, human, and heavenly realms. All beings can be reborn in and out of all the various realms. There is not just one permanent method of how all beings are reborn in and out of these various realms or a certain order that this must occur.

The Cycle of Rebirth occurs and functions without regard to whether a being understands these Teachings or not. The Cycle of Rebirth is part of The Natural Laws of Existence and is not based on whether a being has learned or is practicing these Teachings or not.

The Cycle of Rebirth is constantly functioning as a Natural Law of Existence unaffected by a beings understanding of these natural laws. Through learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings (i.e. The Natural Laws of Existence), a being can make wiser decisions leading to wholesome outcomes. Without an understanding of these Teachings, the mind is fettered/tainted/polluted/defiled/hindered by its own ignorance (unknowing of true reality) continuing to struggle and have difficulties in life being unable to make wise decisions to create wholesome outcomes while being constantly reborn to experience continuous discontentedness to include sorrow, misery, displeasure, and despair.

Life is a real struggle and difficult because beings are living in a world that they do not understand due to the mind’s ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

Through gaining wisdom to understand the world around us through deep investigation of The Natural Laws of Existence (i.e. The Teachings of The Buddha), ignorance (unknowing of true reality) is eliminated and a being can reside in the world peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy because they can now function with full understanding of these natural laws.

The unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does not understand. But when it does understand through training the mind in The Natural Laws of Existence, then one can make wiser decisions leading to wholesome outcomes which allows the mind to reside at ease within a world that it now fully and completely understands.