[44] **What shall we become when we have passed away from here?** — When we have passed away from here, what shall we become? Shall we become beings in hell (nerayikā)? Shall we become beings in the animal realm (tiracchānayonikā)? Shall we become beings in the realm of hungry ghosts (pittivisayikā)? Shall we become humans? Shall we become gods (devā)? Shall we become beings possessed of form? Shall we become formless beings? Shall we become percipient beings? Shall we become non-percipient beings? Shall we become beings neither percipient nor non-percipient? Shall we indeed exist in the future? Shall we indeed not exist in the future? What indeed shall we become in the future? How indeed shall we become in the future? Having been what, what indeed shall we become in the future? — Thus fallen into doubt, fallen into perplexity, become of two minds, they prattle and babble, they sorrow, they are wearied, they lament, they beat their breasts and wail, they fall into bewilderment: "What shall we become when we have passed away from here?" Therefore the Blessed One said:
Greedy for sensual pleasures, intent upon them, infatuated,
niggardly are they, settled in what is unrighteous;
brought to suffering (dukkha), they lament:
"What shall we become when we have passed away from here?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.