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16. “Once, a certain brahmin approached The Blessed One, and after exchanging friendly greetings with Him, he went and sat to the side. Then, he addressed The Blessed One by saying: “Good Sir, Gautama, why is it that some beings, when their bodies no longer become sustainable, at the moment of death, find themselves taking birth in places of misery, in horrible and miserable states of existence, in the hells?” “Brahmin, by not having lived a virtuous life, with conduct that does not adhere to the principles of The Dhamma, beings instead go on engaging in actions that correspond to lower realms, and when their bodies no longer become sustainable at death, they find themselves taking birth in places of misery, in horrible and miserable states of existence, in the hells. “However, brahmin, it must also be said that by living a virtuous life, with conduct that does adhere to the principles of The Dhamma, beings who engage in actions that correspond to the higher realms, when their bodies no longer become sustainable, at the moment of death, find themselves taking birth in places of ease and comfort, in happy and delightful states of existence, in the heavenly realms.” “It is marvelous! It is truly wonderful! “Master Gautama has clarified The Dhamma in many ways, as though He were to turn upright what had been turned upside-down, revealing what was hidden, showing the way to one who was lost, by holding up a lamp in the dark for those with eyesight to see. “Bhante, I go to The Blessed One for refuge, and to The Dhamma, and to The Sangha of Bhikkhus. May The Blessed One accept me as his lay disciple, who has taken refuge in Him from today until the end of life.”