The Noble Ning ( ေနမိမင္း )

This is the story of Future Buddha who was the only human being to be invited by Sekka the king of deities, and has seen lives in hell and heaven for himself.

Once upon a time there was a king in Vidhaha named King Naemiya. He was a very pious king, and ruled his people with kindness, sympathy and compassion. He would give away things in charity to needy people, and taught his people to observe morality. He was a living example to his people. His country became very peaceful and prosperous, and his fame spread to many countries, even to the heavenly kingdom of the deities.

One day Sekka was holding a meeting in his heavenly palace. At that time he saw with his divine eye that King Naemiya was upset by a problem in his mind i.e. which deed of merit, charity (Dana) or morality (Sila), gives better blessings. Sekka went to Naemiya and offered to answer his questions. King Naemiya told him about his problem. Sekka told him who he was, and answered Naemiya by his own experience.

In his previous life Sekka did offerings food (Dana) to meditating hermits for many years, and for that merit he was reborn in heaven as the king of deities. Those hermits who observed high moral codes (Sila) were reborn as Brahmas (celestial gods in higher and better realms than Sekka’s). That showed observing morality gave blessing (Kusala) better than that of charity. Naemiya was very pleased with the answer and thanked Sekka for it.

When Sekka went back to his meeting in heaven other deities asked him where he had been a while ago. Sekka told them how he went to Naemiya and solved his problem. Many deities told him that they knew Naemiya, and it was for his teachings and guidance that they had kusala to be reborn in heaven in afterlife, and that they owed him gratitude. They asked their king if he could bring King Naemiya here, as they would like to hear more of his teachings. King Sekka agreed to their request, and sent his Chief Messenger Martali to go down to the human world and invite Naemiya for a visit to heavenly kingdom. He sent along his powerful divine chariot with Martali.

When Martali told King Naemiya of Sekka’s invitation, he agreed to it. He was told that there were two ways to go to heavenly kingdom - one was by going through Niriya the kingdom of hell, and the other was a direct route up the Mount Maeru to the heavenly kingdom of deities. King Naemiya told Martali that he would like to see both places, and to take him first to Niriya and then to the heavenly kingdom. Martali took King Naemiya in the divine chariot to the kingdom of hell. Naemiya saw many creatures suffering from various punishments given by hell-jailors and hellhounds. Martali explained to him about these punishments. Those who had killed or brutalized others in their previous lives could be seen killed and brutalized repeatedly by hell-jailors and hellhounds. Those who had done harms to innocent people were seen burning alive or tortured in flames, boiling metal or chased by hellhounds. Those who committed sexual misconduct or cheatings were seen running on hot metal with flames raining down on them. These creatures, even after the release from hell, still have many bad effects to follow - to be reborn in higher realms as animals, ghosts, and human beings with various kinds of misfortunes and birth defects. These are the effects of bad karma of their sins (Akusala karma).

Then Martali took the route up the Mount Maeru to the heavenly kingdom of deities. Naemiya saw many beautiful heavenly homes of deities in six levels. He saw deities enjoying various kinds of delicious food, entertainment and luxury. He was told that all these are the result of good karma (Kusala karma) for noble deeds they have done in their previous lives. Finally Naemiya arrived at the grand palace of King Sekka where he was welcomed by the king and his deities. He was invited to sit on the divine throne of Sekka and teach the deity audience on noble ways of living. King Sekka was very pleased to hear his teachings and invited him to stay on in heaven sharing half of his kingdom. But King Naemiya replied that enjoying the result of others’ blessing is like a thing you borrow from others, and that he would rather go home and work to earn his own merits. Sekka said “Sadhu” for the noble remark and sent King Naemiya back home on his divine chariot.

People of Vidhaha were very happy to see their king came back. They asked him about his visit and what he had seen. The king told them about frightful sufferings he had seen in hell, as punishment for the evil sin (Akusala karma) from previous lives. People became so frightened to hear this. Then the king told them about life of deities in heaven enjoying the blessings of good merits (Kusala karma) for noble deeds from previous lives. People became very happy to hear this.
Finally, the king told them to practice charity and morality to get good merits in present lifetime so that they would have good karma for future lives. People said “Sadhu” to the king’s teachings and lived peacefully with charity and morality.
Years went by, and one day the king was attended by his barber who found a gray hair on the king’s head. He picked it out and showed it to the king. This reminded the king that he was getting old, and it was time for him to spend his times in prayers and meditation to get good karma. The king rewarded his barber for showing the gray hair. He then called in his son who was already trained as a crown prince, and made him new King of Vidhaha. He asked his son to rule the country well with love, sympathy and compassion to people. He became a hermit and retired to the forest in live in prayers and meditation.

Keyword.
Evil deeds are sins with evil results to follow (Akusala karma), both in this very life, and also in afterlife, in hell or as animals and ghost.
Charity and morality are noble deeds with blessings to follow (Kusala karma), either in this very life or to be reborn in heaven as deities or Brahma Gods.
A noble person is loved and respected not only by people and deities, but also by Sekka, the king of deities.

Remark:
The Future Buddha demonstrated the virtues for Perfections in Conduct, Honesty and Compassion by setting example himself and teaching the others to have good conduct, and doing deeds of charity and morality for attaining the blessing to be reborn in Favorable Realms (Sugati - i.e. Deities, Brahma Gods or human beings).