Interesting idea. Why would souls target parents in places of war, poverty, famine, etc? :shrug:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
When the cosmos (of certain inclination/interest) is devolving, beings for the most part head toward the Radiant (brahmās). There they stay: mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-luminous, coursing through the air, established in beauty for a long stretch of time. Then there ultimately comes a time when, with the passing of a long stretch of time, this cosmos evolves. When the cosmos is evolving, an empty Brahmā palace appears (eg. alternative opening for a world of interests). Then a certain being—from the exhaustion of his life span or the exhaustion of his merit—falls from the company of the Radiant and re-arises in the empty Brahmā palace. And there he still stays mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-luminous, coursing through the air, established in beauty for a long stretch of time.
“After dwelling there alone for a long time, he experiences displeasure & agitation: ‘O, if only other beings would come to this world!’
“Then other beings, through the ending of their life span or the ending of their merit, fall from the company of the Radiant and reappear in the Brahmā palace, in the company of that being. And there they still stay mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-luminous, coursing through the air, established in beauty for a long stretch of time.
“Then the thought occurs to the being who reappeared first: ‘I am Brahmā, the Great Brahmā, the Conqueror, the Unconquered, the All-Seeing, All-Powerful, the Sovereign Lord, the Maker, Creator, Chief, Appointer & Ruler, Father of All That Have Been & Shall Be.[9] These beings were created by me. Why is that? First the thought occurred to me, “O, if only other beings would come to this world!” And thus my direction of will brought these beings to this world.’ As for the beings who reappeared later, this thought occurs to them: ‘This is Brahmā… Father of All That Have Been & Shall Be. We were created by this Brahmā. Why is that? We saw that he appeared here before, while we appeared after.’ The being who reappeared first is of longer life span, more beautiful, & more influential, while the beings who reappeared later are of shorter life span, less beautiful, & less influential.
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Through an element it is, monks, that beings flow together, meet together. Beings of low tastes flow together, meet together with them of low tastes. They of virtuous tastes flow together, meet together with them of virtuous tastes. So have they done in the past. So will they do in the future. So do they now in the present."
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Bhikkhus, these three persons have done much for a person. Which three? Bhikkhus, the person through whom this person takes refuge in the Enlightenment, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus.
"Bhikkhus, the person through whom this person knows as it really is, this is unpleasant, this is the arising of unpleasantness, this is the cessation of unpleasantness and this is the path leading to the cessation of unpleasantness.
"Again, bhikkhus, the person through whom this person destroys desires, releases the mind and released through wisdom, here and now abides having realized. Bhikkhus, these three persons have done much to this person.
"Bhikkhus, it is not possible that these three persons could be thoroughly repaid with gratitude, by this person revering him, attending on him, clasping hands towards him and honouring him with robes, morsel food, dwellings and medicinal requisites."
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa
"Bhikkhus, these three persons are evident in the world. What three? Bhikkhus, there is a person that should not be associated, there is one that should be associated, and there is another that should be honoured and revered and associated.
"Bhikkhus, who is the person that should not be associated? Bhikkhus, a certain person is below par in virtues, concentration and wisdom. Such should not be associated unless out of sympathy and compassion.
"Bhikkhus, who is the person that should be associated? Bhikkhus, a certain person is par in virtues, concentration and wisdom. Such should be associated. What is the reason? Those par in virtues converse on virtues, those par in concentration converse on concentration and those par in wisdom converse on wisdom. For them it becomes a pleasant abiding, therefore they should be associated.
"Bhikkhus, who is the person that should be honoured, revered and associated? Bhikkhus, a certain person is much above in virtues, concentration and wisdom. Such should be honoured, revered and associated. What is the reason? 'I will complete virtues not yet completed, and will wisely assist my completed virtues. I will complete my concentration not yet completed and I will wisely assist my completed concentration. I will complete my wisdom not yet completed and I will wisely assist my completed wisdom. Therefore, bhikkhus, such persons should be honoured, revered and associated. Bhikkhus, these three persons are evident in the world."
"Associating with someone low
is deterioration,
Associating an equal
there's no deterioration
Therefore bend down to a superior,
It is quick growth."
Aramika