In the Dark

There are, monks, animals,
breathing creatures
that are born in the dark,
grow old in the dark
and die in the dark.

And which, monks, are the animals,
the breathing creatures
that are born,
grow old
and die
in the dark?

Beetles,
maggots,
earth-worms
and whatever other animals,
breathing creatures there are
that are born,
grow old
and die
in the dark.

Monks, that fool
who formerly enjoyed tastes here
having done evil deeds here,
at the breaking up of the body after dying
arises in companionship
with those beings that are born,
grow old
and die in the dark.

—Horner, M.L.S. Sutta #129