To Reappear in the Company of Animals

Monks, there are animals that feed on grass. They eat by cropping fresh or dried grass with their teeth. And what animals feed on grass? Horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, deer, and any other such animals.

An unwise person who formerly excited in flavors here and did evil (unwholesome) actions here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappears in the company of animals that feed on grass.

There are animals that feed on dung. They smell dung from a distance and run to it, thinking: We can eat, we can eat! Just as Brāhmins run to the smell of a sacrifice, thinking: We can eat here, we can eat here! So too these animals that feed on dung, smell dung from a distance and run to it, thinking: We can eat here, we can eat here! And what animals feed on dung? Fowls, pigs, dogs, jackals, and any other such animals.

An unwise person who formerly excited in flavors here and did evil (unwholesome) actions here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappears in the company of animals that feed on dung.

There are animals that are born, age, and die in darkness. And what animals are born, age, and die in darkness? Moths, maggots, earthworms, and any other such animals.

An unwise person who formerly excited in flavors here and did evil (unwholesome) actions here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappears in the company of animals that are born, age, and die in darkness.

There are animals that are born, age, and die in water. And what animals are born, age, and die in water? Fish, turtles, crocodiles, and any other such animals.

An unwise person who formerly excited in flavors here and did evil (unwholesome) actions here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappears in the company of animals that are born, age, and die in water.

There are animals that are born, age, and die in filth. And what animals are born, age, and die in filth? Those animals that are born, age, and die in a rotten fish or in a rotten corpse or in rotten porridge or in a cesspit or in a sewer.

An unwise person who formerly excited in flavors here and did evil (unwholesome) actions here, on the dissolution of the body, after death, reappears in the company of animals that are born, age, and die in filth.

Monks, I could tell you in many ways about the animal realm, so much so that it is hard to finish describing the discontentedness in the animal realm.

(Reference: MN 129)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that a human being who has craving/desire/attachment to flavors through the tongue, which will arise the pleasant feelings of excitement, will be reborn in the animal realm among the various beings that exist there.

Rebirth will occur as an animal that feeds on grass, feeds on dung, and those that are born, age, and die in darkness, water, or in filth, among others.

The animal realm is full of countless beings and The Buddha explains he “could tell you in many ways about the animal realm, so much so that it is hard to finish describing the discontentedness in the animal realm”.

It is very difficult for beings in the animal realm to be reborn into the human or heavenly realms for an opportunity to attain Enlightenment. There will need to be countless rebirths for a being to get to the human realm. All human beings who exist today have already experienced countless rebirths in the animal realm and should not allow this human birth to go to waste through complacency. Instead, one can apply determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to attain Enlightenment experiencing peacefulness, joy, and freedom from strong feelings.