Petavatthu

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Theravada
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Pali Canon
		Vinaya Pitaka
		Sutta- vibhanga Khandhaka Pari- vara
		Sutta Pitaka
		Digha Nikaya Majjhima Nikaya Samyutta Nikaya
		Anguttara Nikaya Khuddaka Nikaya
		Abhidhamma Pitaka
		Dhs. Vbh. Dhk. Pug. Kvu. Yamaka Patthana
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The Petavatthu is a Buddhist scripture, included in the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It is composed of 51 verse narratives describing specifically how the effects of bad acts can lead to rebirth into the unhappy world of petas (ghosts) in the doctrine of karma.^[1] It gives prominence to the doctrine that giving alms to monks may benefit the ghosts of one's relatives (see Ancestor worship).

Contents 1 Translations 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Translations

• "Stories of the departed", tr Henry S. Gehman, in Minor Anthologies of the Pali Canon, volume IV, 1942, Pali Text Society[1], Bristol
• In Peta-Stories, tr U Ba Kyaw & Peter Masefield, 1980, Pali Text Society, Bristol; translation of the commentary, with the verses embedded; the PTS's preferred translation

[edit] See also

• Johann Tetzel
• Vimanavatthu

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Petavatthu - Stories of a Hungry Ghost. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.

[edit] References

• Egge, James. Religious Giving and the Invention of Karma in Theravada Buddhism, Routledge (UK), (2002) ISBN 0700715061

[edit] External links

• Dedication of Merits to our Departed Next-of-Kin
• Petavatthu - List of Stories
• Religious Giving and the Invention of Karma in Theravada Buddhism By James R. Egge