MN 120 Sankharupapatti Sutta: Reappearance by Aspiration
Thus have i heard.
On one occasion the Blessed One was living at Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. There he addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus, I shall teach you reappearance in accordance with one's aspiration. Listen and attend closely to what I shall say." "Yes, venerable sir," the bhikkhus replied.
The Blessed One said this: "Here bhikkhus, a bhikkhu possesses faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of well-to-do nobles!' He fixes his mind on that, establishes it, develops it. These aspirations and this abiding of his, thus developed and cultivated, lead to his reappearance there. This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there."
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of well-to-do brahmins!...in the company of well-to-do householders!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there. Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the gods of the heaven of the Four Great Kings are long-lived, beautiful, and enjoy great happiness. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the gods of the heaven of the Four Great Kings!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there. "
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the gods of the heaven of the Thirty-three.. .the Yama gods...the gods of the Tusita heaven...the gods who delight in creating...the gods who wield power over others' creations are long-lived, beautiful, and enjoy great happiness. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the gods who wield power over others' creations!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there. "
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the Brahma of a Thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and enjoys great happiness. Now the Brahma of a Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of a thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. Just as a man with good sight might take a gallnut in his hand and review it, so the Brahma of a Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of a thousand worlds and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. The bhikkhu thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the Brahma of a Thousand!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there."
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the Brahma of Two Thousand...the Brahma of Three Thousand...the Brahma of Four Thousand...the Brahma of Five Thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and enjoys great happiness. Now the Brahma of Five Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of five thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. The bhikkhu thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the Brahma of Five Thousand!' He fixes his mind on that...This bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there."
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the Brahma of Ten Thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and enjoys great happiness. Now the Brahma of Ten Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of ten thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. Just as a fine beryl gem of purest water, eight-faceted, well cut, radiates and shines, so the Brahma of Ten Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of ten thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. The bhikkhu thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the Brahma of Ten Thousand!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there. "
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the Brahma of a Hundred Thousand is long-lived, beautiful, and enjoys great happiness. Now the Brahma of a Hundred Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of a hundred thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. Just as an ornament of finest gold, very skillfully wrought in the furnace by a clever goldsmith, radiates, and shines, so the Brahma of a Hundred Thousand abides intent on pervading a world-system of a hundred thousand worlds, and he abides intent on pervading the beings that have reappeared there. The bhikkhu thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the Brahma of a Hundred Thousand!' He fixes his mind on that.. .This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there."
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the gods of Radiance...the gods of Limited Radiance...the gods of Immeasurable Radiance...the gods of Streaming Radiance...the gods of Glory...the gods of Limited Glory...the gods of Immeasurable Glory...the gods of Refulgent Glory....the gods of Great Fruit...the Aviha gods...the Atappa gods...the Sudassa gods...the Sudassi gods...the Akanittha gods are long-lived, beautiful, and enjoy great happiness. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the Akanittha gods!' He fixes his mind on that...This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there."
"Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith...and wisdom. He hears that the gods of the base of infinite space...the gods of the base of infinite consciousness...the gods of the base of nothingness... the gods of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception are long-lived, long-enduring, and enjoy great happiness. He thinks: 'Oh, that on the dissolution of the body, after death, I might reappear in the company of the gods of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception!' He fixes his mind on that, establishes it, develops it. These aspirations and this abiding of his, thus developed and cultivated, lead to his reappearance there. This, bhikkhus, is the path, the way that leads to reappearance there." "Again, a bhikkhu possesses faith, virtue, learning, generosity, and wisdom. He thinks: 'Oh, that by realizing for myself with direct knowledge, I might here and now enter upon and abide in the deliverance of mind and deliverance by wisdom that are taint-less with the destruction of the taints!' And by realizing for himself with direct knowledge, he here and now enters upon and abides in the deliverance of mind and deliverance by wisdom that are taint-less with the destruction of the taints. Bhikkhus, this bhikkhu does not reappear anywhere at all."
That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One's words.
In summary, the Buddha teaches how one can be reborn in accordance with one's wish through a detailed list of gods to Arahantship.
References: 1. www.accesstoinsight.org 2. https://suttacentral.net/ 3. The Middle discourses of the Buddha (Bhikkhu Bodhi)