Hungry Ghost Stories Sutra (餓鬼事經)

About 餓鬼事經

Source text translated by 雲庵

17,906 · about 60 min

The Petavatthu is an important scripture within the Khuddaka Nikāya of the Pāli Canon in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is traditionally held to contain discourses spoken by the Buddha and his disciples, later compiled into a collection. Its historical background traces back to the time of the Buddha, primarily recording the various karmic narratives concerning beings of the hungry ghost realm, as told by the Buddha and his disciples. The content of the scripture is rich, employing numerous verses and narratives to vividly depict the cause and effect of beings falling into the realm of hungry ghosts due to unwholesome karmas such as greed and stinginess. It elucidates the importance of wholesome deeds like generosity and moral discipline for liberation. This scripture holds a significant position within Buddhism, serving not only as a key text for understanding the hungry ghost realm within the six realms of rebirth but also as a concrete manifestation of the Buddhist law of cause and effect. It provides profound moral admonition and guidance for practice to followers.