There are many many levels of heavens. There are 6 planes of
heaven in the sense-desire realm, and I think 22 jhana heavens.
If you develope 4th jhana, and gain some supernormal powers, you
may be able to visit some of those realms.
My taiwanese teacher has visited both heaven and hell in
meditation. His description of heaven (he bought one of his
students along as well) sounds like tavatimsa heaven - there
were mansions, palaces, made entirely of jewels from top to bottom.
Tavatimsa heaven is still a sense desire realm, not the jhana
heavens.
Recently someone posted his/her past life memory of being a deva
in another (not Buddhist) forum by Simpo, and that description
seems very similar to my Taiwanese teacher's.
podog:
"I've been
Trying to figure out, what and where my "true" origins are from. so
the last few meditations Ive had thats been my focal point. My
first "true" vision, happened a few days back when i kinda just
dropped into a different conscious dimension. When i woke i was
compelled to write down what i could remember during this dream
like state.... it was hard to form what i saw on that plain to this
one.
First “true” vision: Majestic hall of the purest radiating energy,
the marble a whitish offset but still bright to the eye, there in
the middle of huge pillars, 12 pillars, is a woman, or what looks
to be a woman. She’s dressed in the robes of purest light, which
shines for an unending eternalness. The women’s eyes of piercing
blue, radiates me to the very center. “At home am I in this place”
is the song she silently sings to me.
Now i could only remember so much while writing but certain things
stud out, such as the 12 pillars, the womans robes and her piercing
blue eyes.
After this first vision i focused more on trying to figure out why
i remember these things. at first i thought maybe it the the area
that i saw her, that was important, but for some reason that didn't
seem right. i then tried less on focusing on one item of the vision
to asking why i was gifted this sight and to what she ment by "at
home you are in this place." this is where i was given another
spiritual vision. This time i was in a mediative state.
Search for my past: I extend my heart to find what past was truly
mine, I ask the creator what my past and home truly is. I arrived
on a different plain there in my vision is the loveliest star I’ve
ever seen radiating a blue glow, and a purplish energy spreading
wealth and love to its solar systems and hierarchy. This is my home
my heart sings to me, here once again is the….presence of the white
lady with piecing blues eyes, as if answering the question my heart
desires “Sirius”…. My original origins, I all most feel lifted as
if I have always knew I was from the heavens. My soul is old I am
told, destined to live and give strength to those around me… I try
to press farther but I am denied the right…. Pushed back to the
reality I am in now, my guide or the white lady with blue eyes,
sends me off with a gentle sign of happiness and the knowledge I
may come back whenever I like…
The reason im posting this, is i would like other interpretations.
I believe that in search of knowledge and truth you most get every
aspect.
Also ill be happy to answer any questions to the best of my
ability"
Oops.. i myself haven't gone to see the proboards forum for a
long time. Totally detached from it :P
Thanks for the new postings on it.
