SN 32.57 — Gods of the Rainy Thunderclouds

At Sāvatthī. Seated to one side, that mendicant said to the Buddha: “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain?” “Mendicant, there are what are called gods of the rainy thunderclouds. Sometimes they think: ‘Why don’t we revel in our own kind of enjoyment?’ Then, in accordance with their wish, the heavens rain down. This is the cause, this is the reason why sometimes the heavens rain.” The Linked Discourses on gods of the clouds are complete. Linked Discourses with Vacchagotta Contents The Chapter with Vacchagotta SN 33.1 Not Knowing Form Rūpaaññāṇasutta SN 33.2 Not Knowing Feeling Vedanāaññāṇasutta SN 33.3 Not Knowing Perception Saññāaññāṇasutta SN 33.4 Not Knowing Choices Saṅkhāraaññāṇasutta SN 33.5 Not Knowing Consciousness Viññāṇaaññāṇasutta SN 33.6–10 Five Discourses on Not Seeing Form, Etc. Rūpaadassanādisuttapañcaka SN 33.11–15 Five Discourses on Not Comprehending Form, Etc. Rūpaanabhisamayādisuttapañcaka SN 33.16–20 Five Discourses on Not Understanding Form, Etc. Rūpaananubodhādisuttapañcaka SN 33.21–25 Five Discourses on Not Penetrating Form, Etc. Rūpaappaṭivedhādisuttapañcaka SN 33.26–30 Five Discourses on Not Distinguishing Form, Etc. Rūpaasallakkhaṇādisuttapañcaka SN 33.31–35 Five Discourses on Not Detecting Form, Etc. Rūpaanupalakkhaṇādisuttapañcaka SN 33.36–40 Five Discourses on Not Differentiating Form, Etc. Rūpaappaccupalakkhaṇādisuttapañcaka SN 33.41–45 Five Discourses on Not Examining Form, Etc. Rūpaasamapekkhaṇādisuttapañcaka SN 33.46–50 Five Discourses on Not Scrutinizing Form, Etc. Rūpaappaccupekkhaṇādisuttapañcaka SN 33.51–54 Four Discourses on Not Directly Experiencing Form, Etc. Rūpaappaccakkhakammādisuttacatukka SN 33.55 Not Directly Experiencing Consciousness Viññāṇaappaccakkhakammasutta The Chapter with Vacchagotta