Yeah, devas are devas, they are not the same as Buddha. Devas,
or celestial beings, live in heaven, but does not mean they are
enlightened or Buddhas. Buddhas like Shakyamuni is always human,
even though in previous lifetime they might be Bodhisattvas
appearing as Devas. What this means is, not only Shakyamuni Buddha
is human, other Buddhas, like the previous Buddhas Kassapa, or next
Buddha, Maitreya, will all appear on Earth as humans. Also, the
Human realm is the best place to practice and get enlightened --
the hell realm is too full of suffering for people to want to
practise, while heaven has too much enjoyment for the beings to
want to practise. Human realm has all the right conditions, neither
too pleasurable nor displeasant with a good amount of suffering for
us to want to wake up.
Anyway as I said celestial realm, which is the highest realm in the
6 samsaric realms, are where the devas stay. (3 lower realms: Hell,
Ghost, Animals. 3 higher realms: Human, Asura, Deva) However it is
still a realm of samsara, and the devas are still subject to Birth
and Death, they are not yet liberated from the uncontrolled cycles
of samsaric rebirths, and therefore Devas take Buddha as their
Teacher -- the Buddha surpasses all samsara realms, even that of
the Devas.
Do read: Teacher
of the Devas
Contents
* I. Introduction
* II. The Buddha Teaches Deities
* III. Devas and Brahmas Honor the Buddha
* IV. The Role of Devas in the Buddha's Career
* V. Liberation for Humans, Devas, and Brahmas
* Notes
* Abbreviations
* Bibliography
-----
Oh yes do try to spend some time reading up on Buddhist teachings
and practise... this is my advise to everyone in general too... to
awaken to the highest bliss, nirvana, liberation from all
sufferings, the highest wisdom, in our lives.
http://www.serve.com/cyberkaya/four2.htm
...This human birth is called
"well-favoured" due to the presence of ten conditions necessary for
the practice of Buddha-dharma. The first five, derived from one's
own existence, are:
1. one has obtained a human body.
2. one was born in a region where Buddha-dharma is present.
3. one has all one's faculties and can therefore understand what is
taught.
4. since this teaching is being received, one has not been swept
away on the tide of effects ripening from past unwholesome
actions.
5. one has confidence in dharma.
The second five, received from others, are:
1. the Buddha Sakyamuni appeared in this fortunate kalpa.
2. the Buddha Sakyamuni taught the profound and extensive
dharma.
3. the dharma taught by the Buddha has endured.
4. many have followed, and continue to follow the noble
dharma.
5. many sentient beings rejoice in and support the practice of
dharma so those who practice are not destitute.
This precious human birth is difficult to obtain, as can be
understood by contemplating the previously listed conditions. Most
sentient beings are habituated to unwholesome activity: very few
can hold non-clinging compassionate awareness even some of the
time, due to the powerful nature of ignorance. Ignorance gives rise
to the two veils of conflicting emotions and primitive or partial
views, which bind one to the wheel of rebirth. Therefore the
importance of cultivating the wholesome in order to establish
future resultant of precious human births is of primary
importance.
To appear in the three times (past, present and future) and the
three world systems (sensual, form, and formless) as a free and
well-favoured human is rare. The number of sentient beings taking
birth in other forms vastly overshadows those few who have the
excellent opportunities of this birth. Understanding this makes it
clear that one now has the best circumstances for developing
spiritual realization. Practising dharma as one endowed with a
precious human birth is as rare an occurrence as the appearance of
stars in the daytime sky.
A free and well-favoured human birth is easily lost. Few conditions
favour survival, while many conditions threaten it. Fire, floods,
earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, accidents, poison, weapons,
malevolent planetary influences (disasters), and disease are all
around. It is unknown when they will arise. One breath is the
difference between life and death.. It could be this breath. One's
body is as easily destroyed as a bubble.
Do not meaninglessly waste it. Through habituation and ignorance of
the preciousness of this moment, many humans use their life's
energies to accumulate possessions and positions which cannot
follow them after death. With the break-down of the body, the
actions and motives that fueled daily activity will continue to
bear fruit. Practice the good and good results will form the stream
that carries through the process of death-birth.
Use the free and well-favoured human birth to attain ultimate
realization. This life is the only condition needed. If the
aspiration to see things as they are is strong, there is no need
for special circumstances in order to do one's practice. Rather
than feeling as though one were somehow more deserving than others,
see that Bodhicitta resides everywhere. Unfavourable outer
conditions and obstacles provide the opportunity to practice
generosity, patience, equanimity. By condemning one's daily
circumstance and companions, the seeds are sown for losing a
cherished possession -- the present moment...
