No. 422 - The Teachings of Ajahn Golf ( Phra Surawat Khemachitto

 422 -  The Teachings of Ajahn Golf ( Phra Surawat Khemachitto 

.Should We Refrain from Vowing to Be Reborn in the Heavenly Realms?

Devotee: If we haven’t attained any stages of enlightenment, should we avoid vowing to be reborn as a deva in our next life? Since there are no Buddhist monasteries, monastic communities, or the teachings of the Lord Buddha in the heavenly realms, wouldn’t we eventually forget the Dhamma and our spiritual practice?

Ajahn Golf: As I’ve mentioned before, it’s better to vow directly for Nibbāna and continue practicing the Dhamma. Even if we haven’t yet reached Nibbāna, our character and practice will naturally incline toward the Dhamma path.

When our mind is firmly established in the Triple Gem and we consistently maintain our practice, then if we pass away during a time when the Lord Buddha's teachings are not present in the world, our good kamma will lead us to a favorable rebirth, such as in the heavenly realms. However, when a new Buddha arises in the world, we will have the opportunity to be reborn in that era and encounter the Dhamma. The seeds of wisdom within us will then awaken, allowing us to complete our spiritual journey and attain enlightenment.

By continuously engaging in virtuous deeds and spiritual practice, these habits and qualities become deeply ingrained in us. No matter where we are reborn, these characteristics will remain with us. Our natural inclinations will lead us toward generosity, precepts, and meditation.

As Ajahn has said, when we make a vow, we should dedicate all our merits—our good deeds, blessings, and virtues—toward Nibbāna. By making Nibbāna our ultimate goal while also engaging in generosity, precepts, and meditation, we ensure that even if we don’t attain enlightenment in this life, we will still be reborn in favorable realms among humans and devas. There is no need to fear being reborn in difficult or impoverished circumstances. Those who seek Nibbāna must cultivate goodness, purity, and meditation—developing these virtues will naturally safeguard us from suffering in the cycle of rebirth.

All beings are shaped by their karma. When our mind is aligned with the Triple Gem—Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha—our virtuous actions will guide us to be reborn in places where Buddhism thrives. Therefore, there is no need to doubt this.

-- Ajahn Golf