I the great seer, am the protector and father of all being and
all the creatures who childlike are captivated by the
pleasures of the triple world are my sons. I am the
Tathagata, the Lord who has no superior, who appears in this world
to save. - The Buddha
I thought, for the sake of the interest of readers, I would make
a post to let the Buddhist view of worldly existences be
known.
All states of existences in Samsara* can be catergorised under the
"Triple World":
1. Realm of Sensusous Desire (Sanskrit word is Kamadhatu) of sex
and food. It includes the Six Heavens of Desire, the Human World
and the Hells.
2. Realm of Form (Sanskrit word is Rupaadhatu) of matter which is
substantial and resistant. It is a semi-material conception. It is
above the lust world and contains bodies, places and things, all
mystic and wonderful. It consists of 18 heavens, including the
Heavens of Four Zen (Sanskrit word is Brahmalokas).
3. Realm of Formlessness (Sanskrit word is Arupadhatu) of pure
spirit, where there are no bodies and matters to which human terms
would apply, but where the mind dwells in mystic contemplation; its
extent is indefinable, but it is conceived of in Four Stages/Places
of Emptiness in the immaterial world. It has four heavens, in which
the Sphere/heaven of neither-perception-nor-non-perception is the
highest.
Within this Triple World, there are 6 types of realms:
1) Realm of Heaven
2) Realm of Demi-gods
3) Realm of Humans
4) Realm of Animals
5) Realm of Ghosts
6) Realm of Hell
Within these 6 realms, there are 31 types of existences:
I. ARUPA-BHUMI (the plane of formlessness)
II. RUPA-BHUMI (the plane of Brahma Gods with extra-fine
body)
III. KAMASUGATI-BHUMI (the plane of sensuous and blissful
states)
IV. APAYA or KAMADUGGATI-BHUMI (the nether world of
existences)
I. ARUPA-BHUMI. This plane consists of four existences of
Brahmas who have no physical body, but have a mind and they can
create a physical body if they want to get themselves seen. Rebirth
in these existences can only be achieved by intense Samatha
meditation and have reached Jhanas or mental accomplishments during
their life as humans. They do not have a faculty to perceive Dhamma
and therefore they are non-returnees and can never become
enlightened nor attain Nibbana.
I.1 Nevasanna-nasannayatana bhumi. The realm of neither perception
nor non-perception, the summit of all existences. They can live a
life span that is equivalent to that of 84000 Maha kappa or
universes. Udaka, the ascetic who was the second teacher abandoned
by the Buddha in his search for the Four Noble Truths was reborn in
this Brahma realm after dying on the night before the Buddha
decided to teach the Dhamma.(3) Reaching the eighth Jhana of
Samatha meditation can only attain this highest existence.
I.2. Akincannayatana bhumi. The realm based on nothingness. These
Brahmas can live for a life span of 60000 Maha kappa or universes.
The teacher of the recluse encountered first by the Buddha in his
quest for the truth was the ascetic, Alara. He was the first person
searched by the Buddha to reveal his discovery after he decided to
teach, but Alara passed away seven days earlier and was found to be
reborn in this Brahma realm. (3) The seventh Jhana of the Samatha
practice can only reach this attainment.
I.3. Vinnanancayatana bhumi, the realm of infinite consciousness.
These Brahmas can survive for the lifetime of 40000 universes (Maha
kappa). Those who have practised Samatha meditation as humans and
have reached the sixth Jhana can be reborn in this realm.
I.4. Akasanancayatana bhumi, the realm of infinite space. These
Brahmas have a life span equivalent to that of 20000 universes. The
fifth Jhana of the Samatha meditation can attain this
existence.
II. RUPA BHUMI, the heavenly abodes of Brahmas who have a
physical body, but does not enjoy sensual pleasures. There are
altogether 16 realms of Rupa Brahmas divided into four categories
according to the status of Jhana achievements. These Brahmas have
faculties to perceive Dhamma and can become enlightened if they
come to know the Dhamma.
II.A. Fourth Jhana Planes. The first five abodes in this category
are called Suddhavasa or the heavens of purity and only the
enlightened ones of Anagami stage are reborn in these planes.
II.A1.5. Akanittha, the supreme heaven where Arahats and Anagams
who have a mature Manyi-indriya reside before releasing the final
existence and enter Anupadhisata nibbana. The Brahmas of this realm
can live up to the life span of 16000 universes before releasing
the final existence.
II.A2.6. Sudassi, the clear-sighted heaven where the Anagams with a
mature Samadhi-indriya reside. The Brahmas of this realm can live
up to the life span of 8000 universes before releasing the final
existence.
II.A3.7. Sudassa, the beautiful heaven where the Anagams with a
mature Sati-indriya reside. The Brahmas of this realm can live up
to the life span of 4000 universes before releasing the final
existence.
II.A4.8. Atappa, the serene heaven where the Anagams with a mature
Viri-indriya reside. The Brahmas of this realm can live up to the
life span of 2000 universes before releasing the final
existence.
II.A5.9. Aviha, the durable heaven where the Anagams with a mature
Saddha-indriya reside. The Brahmas of this realm can live up to the
life span of 1000 universes before releasing the final
existence.
II.A6.10. Asanna-satta, the heaven of Brahmas with just a body and
without any mental aggregate resides. These Brahmas regarded that
the mind was the main source for corruption and had strive to
annihilate the mind while practising Samatha meditation as a human.
The Brahmas of this realm can live up to the life span of 500
universes.
II.A7.11Vehapphala, the heaven of gods and Ariyas of great reward.
This realm is shared between Brahmas who have practised Samatha and
Vipassana meditation during their life as humans. Those Brahmas who
have practised Samatha only can be reborn into lower realms after
dying, but those who have practised Vipassana and have attained the
Ariya stage can be reborn in this realm again or a higher realm.
The famous Ledi Sayadaw was believed to be reborn in this realm by
some followers. (7) The Brahmas of this realm can live up to a
period of the life span of 500 universes.
II.B. Third Jhana Planes. These abodes harbour Brahmas who have a
body with aura as the characteristic. There are three planes in
this category.
II.B1.12. Subha-kinha, the heaven of gods full of steady aura. They
can live up to the life span of 64 universes.
II.B2.13. Appamana-subha, the heaven of gods of infinite aura. They
can live up to the life span of 32 universes.
II.B3.14. Paritta-subha, the heaven of gods with minor aura. They
can live up to the life span of 16 universes.
II.C. Second Jhana Planes. The Brahmas of these abodes have a body
with different degrees of lustre.
II.C1.15. Abhassara, the heaven of radiant gods. They can live up
to the life span of 8 universes.
II.C2.16. Appamanabha, the heaven of gods with infinite lustre.
They can live up to the life span of 4 universes.
II.C3.17. Parittabha, the heaven of gods with minor lustre. They
can live up to the life span of 2 universes.
II.D. First Jhana Planes. The Brahmas of these abodes are the
lowest grade of the Brahma loka. They have a huge body measuring 12
Yojanas (about 96 miles) and have internal organs as ourselves
except for the genitalia although they have an appearance of a
male. They are well organised and have a head in every thousand
Brahmas. The Chief of Maha Brahmas is called Harita and has 100000
followers.
II.D1.18. Maha Brahma, the heaven of the great Brahma Gods. They
can live up to the life span of one Asankheyya, an indefinite
period equivalent to 64 Antara kappas or human evolution
cycles.
II.D2.19. Brahma Purohita, a heaven of the Brahma ministers. They
can live up to the life span of a half of one Asankheyya.
II.D3.20. Brahma Parisajja, a heaven of a retinue of Brahmas. They
can live up to the life span of a third of one Asankheyya.
III. KAMMASUGATI-BHUMI, the sensuous and blissful
existences
This existence consists of the
six heavenly abodes of Devas or gods and goddess or angels, the
abode of humans and animals, and that of the other three nether
existences. All beings of these existences enjoy sensual pleasures
and suffer bodily pain and inconveniences. However, the proportion
of pain and pleasure is very much different from one abode to the
other depending upon the grade. Devas have more pleasure than pain,
whilst animals and beings of the nether existences have more pain
than pleasure. Humans have a well-balanced sensuality between pain
and pleasure, but the hell beings have only pain and without any
sensual pleasure.
III.A. The Six Deva realms
III.A1.21. Paranimmita-vasavati, the heaven of the gods. Here, the
Deva Gods have a wielding power. Mara or the devil, the most
powerful of all Devas and the legendary opposition to the Buddha is
considered to be from this realm. They can live up to a life span
of 16000 years, which is equivalent to over 9.2 billion earthly
years.
III.A2.22. Nimmanarati, the realm of Deva gods who can create
objects and mansions for sensual enjoyment. They can live up to a
life span of 8000 years, which is equivalent to > 2.3 billion
Earthly years.
III.A3.23. Tusita, the delightful realm for Devas with happiness
and contentment. This is the heaven where the next would-be Buddha
(Metteya) resides before taking a rebirth as a human. The Devas of
this realm can live up to a life span of 4000 years, which is
equivalent to 576 million earthly years.
III.A4.24. Yama, the heaven of blissful existence. The King Yama
(Rama) rules this realm with great happiness. The Devas of this
realm can live up to a life span of 2000 years, which is equivalent
to 144 million earthly years.
III.A5.25. Tavatimsa, the heaven of the 33 Devas. The king of this
realm is known as Saka who resides in the Vejayanta Palace and
rules the kingdom with his 33 followers. It was in this heaven that
the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma, the philosophical and
psychological text of the Buddhist Tipitaka to the Devas for a
period, which was equivalent to three earthly months. The Devas of
this realm can live up to a life span of 1000 years, which is
equivalent to 36 million earthly years.
III.A6.26. Catumaharajika, the kingdom of the four Great Deva
Kings. They are also known as the guardian deities who watched over
the Buddhas Sasana. They dwell in the four directions of the
earth; East (Dhatarattha), West (Virupakkha), North (Vessavana) and
South (Virulhaka). They can live up to a life span of 500 years,
which is equivalent to 9 million earthly years.
III.B Manussa, Human realm
III.B.27. Manussa, the human realm. This is a materialistic and
spiritualistic abode where a mixture of pain and pleasure
co-exists. It is the place where people can choose the destiny by
leading a good or a bad life, and a testing ground for many faiths.
Unlike most of the other existences, humans do not remember the
past life and is therefore the best place to develop a
self-supportive wisdom. Buddhas of the past and of the future would
appear in this human world to rediscover the Four Noble Truths and
save many sentient beings from suffering.
IV. KAMADUGATI-BHUMI, the abode of profound suffering. It is also
known as Apaya or the nether existences.
IV.A.28. Asura, the demon world. Asura, literally means those
beings that do not shine or do not have a sporting spirit. They are
regarded as the fallen angels who have power, but use it for a bad
purpose and are allied to Mara, the devil.
IV.B.29. Peta, the world of spirits and ghosts who have a
characteristic of meanness and attachment. They have different
forms and shapes, but misery, delusion and hunger are the constant
features found in this existence.
IV.C.30. Tiracchana, the world of animals. They have more pain and
less pleasure, and survival of the fittest is the only rule in this
existence.
IV.D.31. Niraya, the Hell. It is the existence of continuous
suffering and without any pleasure. There are eight grades of Hell
where the torture and suffering varies. According to the severity
of the punishment they are classified as Sanjiva hell, Kalasutta,
Sanghata, Roruva, Maharoruva, Tapana, Mahatapana and Avici hells.
They are all believed to be in the different layers of the
earth.
LIFE SPAN CALCULATIONS
Antara kappa=1 human evolution cycle starting from a longevity of
10 years to an indefinite period and then degrades back to 10 years
again
Asankheyya=64 Antara kappa or human evolution cycles
Maha kappa=4 Asankheyyas or the age of a universe from its
beginning to its end
* Samsara: the world of sufferings and sentient beings that are
caught in the cycle of neverending rebirth.
Resource: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/tinhtut9.htm
