The
6 realms , are the six categories of
rebirthRebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the evolving consciousness or stream of consciousness of a person, upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates , becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new group of skandhas...
s within the system of traditional
Buddhist cosmologyBuddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries.-Introduction:...
. These six realms include all the possibilities, advantageous and less advantageous, of lives in
{{buddhism}}
The 6 realms ({{lang-bo|rigs drug gi skye gnas}}), are the six categories of rebirthRebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the evolving consciousness or stream of consciousness of a person, upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates , becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new group of skandhas...
s within the system of traditional
Buddhist cosmologyBuddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries.-Introduction:...
. These six realms include all the possibilities, advantageous and less advantageous, of lives in
{{buddhism}}
The 6 realms ({{lang-bo|rigs drug gi skye gnas}}), are the six categories of rebirthRebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the evolving consciousness or stream of consciousness of a person, upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates , becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new group of skandhas...
s within the system of traditional
Buddhist cosmologyBuddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the universe according to the canonical Buddhist scriptures and commentaries.-Introduction:...
. These six realms include all the possibilities, advantageous and less advantageous, of lives in
{{IAST or Sangsara , a Sanskrit and Pāli term which translates as "continuous movement" or "continuous flowing", refers in Buddhism to the concept of a cycle of birth and consequent decay and death , in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through enlightenment...
.
The thirty-one realms are also known as the "thirty-one paths of rebirth", the "six paths of suffering", the "six planes", and the "six lower realms". They stand in contrast to the higher attainments of the
Ten spiritual realmsThe ten spiritual realms are part of the belief of some forms of Buddhism that there are ten conditions of life which sentient beings are subject to, and which they experience from moment to moment....
).
One's previous actions and thoughtsKarma means "action" or "doing"; whatever one does, says, or thinks is a karma.In Buddhism, the term karma is used specifically for those actions which spring from :...
determine which of the six realms one is reborn into.
The six realms are as follows: rebirth as a
devaA deva in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful, longer-lived, and, in general, living more contentedly than the average human being....
, an
asuraAsura in Buddhism is the name of the lowest ranks of the deities or demigods of the Kāmadhātu.-Origins and etymology:...
, a
human beingHuman beings in Buddhism are the subjects of an extensive commentarial literature that examines the nature and qualities of a human life from the point of view of human beings' ability to achieve enlightenment...
, an
animalThe position and treatment of animals in Buddhism is important for the light it sheds on Buddhists' perception of their own relation to the natural world, on Buddhist humanitarian concerns in general, and on the relationship between Buddhist theory and Buddhist practice.-Animals in Buddhist...
, a
hungry ghostPreta, प्रेत or Peta , Tibetan yi.dvags, is the name for a type of supernatural being described in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain texts that undergoes more than human suffering, particularly an extreme degree of hunger and thirst...
, or a being in
NarakaNaraka नरक or Niraya निरय is the name given to one of the worlds of greatest suffering in some Buddhist cosmology.Naraka is usually translated into English as "hell" or "purgatory"...
(hell).
This six-fold system is most commonly seen in
TibetanTibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India...
MahāyānaMahayana is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice. It was founded in India...
Buddhism. In
TheravadaTheravada Theravada Theravada (Pāli: थेरवाद theravāda (cf Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda); literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism there are only five realms, because the realm of the asuras is not regarded as separate from the realm of the devas. So as in
TaoismDaoism refers to a variety of related philosophical and religious traditions and concepts that have influenced East Asia for over two millennia and the West for over two centuries. The word 道, Tao , means "path" or "way", although in Chinese folk religion and philosophy it has taken on more...
.
Shurangama SutraThe , often spelled Shurangama Sutra or Surangama Sutra in English, is a Mahayana sutra and one of the main texts used in the Chán school in Chinese Buddhism...
in Mahayana Buddhism added 10 kinds of immortals as Immortal realm between the Deva and Human realms.
The
BhavacakraThe Bhavacakra or Wheel of Becoming is a complex symbolic representation of in the form of a circle. Sanskrit: mandala; Tibetan: khor.lo), used primarily in Tibetan Buddhism...
or "Wheel of Life" is a very useful and popular teaching tool. It is a kind of diagram which portrays these realms and the mechanism that causes these samsaric rebirths. In this depiction, the realm of the
DevasA deva in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful, longer-lived, and, in general, living more contentedly than the average human being....
is shown at the top, followed clockwise by the realms of the
AsurasAsura in Buddhism is the name of the lowest ranks of the deities or demigods of the Kāmadhātu.-Origins and etymology:...
, the
PretaPreta, प्रेत or Peta , Tibetan yi.dvags, is the name for a type of supernatural being described in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain texts that undergoes more than human suffering, particularly an extreme degree of hunger and thirst...
s,
NarakaNaraka नरक or Niraya निरय is the name given to one of the worlds of greatest suffering in some Buddhist cosmology.Naraka is usually translated into English as "hell" or "purgatory"...
,
AnimalsThe position and treatment of animals in Buddhism is important for the light it sheds on Buddhists' perception of their own relation to the natural world, on Buddhist humanitarian concerns in general, and on the relationship between Buddhist theory and Buddhist practice.-Animals in Buddhist...
, and
HumansHuman beings in Buddhism are the subjects of an extensive commentarial literature that examines the nature and qualities of a human life from the point of view of human beings' ability to achieve enlightenment...
. Close examination will show that the Buddha is shown as being present in every one of these realms.
Deva Realm (Blissful State)
{{Main|Deva (Buddhism)}}
The
Deva realm is the realm of bliss. The disadvantage of this realm is that things are so very comfortable there, that these beings completely neglect to work towards enlightenment. Instead they gradually use up the good karma they had previously accumulated, and so they subsequently fall to a lower rebirth.
The Deva realm is sometimes also referred to as the
gods' realm, because its inhabitants are so powerful within their own realm, that compared to humans, they resemble the
godsA deity is a postulated preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
of
GreekGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
or
Roman mythologyRoman mythology, or Latin mythology, refers to the mythological beliefs of the Italic people inhabiting the region of Latium and its main city, Ancient Rome. It can be considered as having two parts; One part, largely later and literary, consists of borrowings from Greek mythology...
. However, while the
DevaDeva is the Sanskrit word for "god, deity". It can be variously interpreted as a God, angel, spirit, celestial being, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence, and is thus comparable to the Hebrew Elohim...
s may be referred to as gods, they are not immortal, omniscient, nor omnipotent, and they do not act as creators or judges at death, so they are notably very distinct from the
monotheisticIn theology, monotheism is the belief that only one god exists. The concept of "monotheism" tends to be dominated by the concept of God in the Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the Platonic concept of God as put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite...
Western concept of
GodGod is a deity in theistic and deistic religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....
.
Human Realm
{{Main|Human beings in Buddhism}}
The
Human realm (also known as the
{{IAST|Manuṣya}} realm) is based on
passionPassion is an emotion applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something...
,
desireInterpersonal attraction is the attraction between people which leads to friendships and romantic relationships. The study of interpersonal attraction is a major area of research in social psychology. Interpersonal attraction is related to how much we like, love, dislike, or hate someone...
,
doubtDoubt, a status between belief and disbelief, involves uncertainty or distrust or lack of sureness of an alleged fact, an action, a motive, or a decision. Doubt brings into question some notion of a perceived "reality", and may involve delaying or rejecting relevant action out of concerns for...
, and
pridePride is, depending on the context, either a high sense of the worth of one's self or one's own or a pleasure taken in the contemplation of these things...
.
BuddhistsBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
see this realm as human existence. A human rebirth is in fact considered to be the by far most advantageous of all possible rebirths in samsara because a human rebirth is the samsaric realm from which one can directly ensure
enlightenmentBodhi is both a Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as enlightenment, but frequently translated as "awakening"...
either in the present or future birth (for
anagamiIn Buddhism, an anāgāmi is a partially-enlightened person who has cut off the first five chains that bind the ordinary mind. Anagami-ship is the third of the four stages of enlightenment....
s, the actual liberation occurs in a deva realm). This is because of the unique possibilities that a human rebirth offers.
A human rebirth is considered to have tremendous potential when used correctly, however we usually waste our human lifetime in materialistic pursuits, and end up reinforcing our unhelpful emotions, thoughts, and actions. Because of this, it is almost always the case that one descends to a lower rebirth after a human life, rather than immediately going on to another human birth.
In the lower realms, such as for example, the animal realm, it is a very slow and difficult process to accumulate enough merit to achieve a human birth once again, so it may be countless lifetimes before one has another chance.
Asura Realm
{{Main|Asura (Buddhism)}}
The
Asura realm is the realm of the demigods. They are here because of actions based on jealousy, struggle, combat or rationalization of the world. They may be here because in human form they had good intentions but committed bad actions such as harming others.
The
Asura-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes referred to as demons or sinful. They were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa. The views of Asuras in Hinduism vary due to the many deities who were Asuras then later became known as Devas...
s are said to experience a much more pleasurable life than humans, but they are plagued by envy for the devas, whom they can see just as animals can perceive humans.
The Asura realm is also sometimes referred to as the
Ashura realm,
Titan realm,
Jealous God realm,
Demigod realm, or
Anti-God realm.
Asura is also sometimes translated as "
demonIn religion, folklore, and mythology a demon is a supernatural being that is generally described as a malevolent spirit. In Christian terms demons are generally understood as fallen angels, formerly of God. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled...
," "fighting demon," "those without wine," or "angry
ghostA ghost has been defined as the disembodied spirit or soul of a deceased person, although in popular usage the term refers only to the apparition of such a person...
," which can cause confusion because beings of the hell realm are also sometimes referred to as demons.
Animal Realm
{{Main|Animals in Buddhism}}
The
Animal realm (also known as the
Tiryag-yoni realm) is based on strong mental states of stupidity and prejudice cultivated in a previous life or lives.
BuddhistsBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
believe that this realm is the realm of existence of the nonhuman
animalAnimals are a major group of mostly multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously...
s on
EarthEarth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the fifth largest of the eight planets in the solar system, and the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in terms of diameter, mass and density...
. Humans can however be seen by the animals, in the same way that the Asura can see the Devas.
Preta Realm
{{Main|Preta}}
The
Hungry Ghost realm (also known as the
Preta realm) is a rebirth based on strong possessiveness and desire which were cultivated in a previous life or lives.
The
sentientSentience is the ability to feel or perceive subjectively. The term is used in philosophy as well as in science fiction and in the study of artificial intelligence...
beings in this realm are known as "
hungry ghostsPreta, प्रेत or Peta , Tibetan yi.dvags, is the name for a type of supernatural being described in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain texts that undergoes more than human suffering, particularly an extreme degree of hunger and thirst...
". They are constantly extremely hungry and thirsty, but they cannot satisfy these needs. In
TibetTibet is a plateau region in Asia, north of the Himalayas. It is home to the indigenous Tibetan people, and to some other ethnic groups such as Monpas and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han Chinese people. Tibet is the highest region on earth, with an average...
an versions of the
BhavacakraThe Bhavacakra or Wheel of Becoming is a complex symbolic representation of in the form of a circle. Sanskrit: mandala; Tibetan: khor.lo), used primarily in Tibetan Buddhism...
these beings are drawn with narrow necks and large bellies. This represents the fact that their desires torment them, but they are completely unable to satisfy themselves.
Naraka Realm (Woeful State)
{{Main|Naraka (Buddhism)}}
The
Naraka realm, or "hell realm" is a rebirth based on strong states of hatred cultivated in a previous life or lives.
The Buddhist view of Niraya differs significantly from that of most
monotheisticIn theology, monotheism is the belief that only one god exists. The concept of "monotheism" tends to be dominated by the concept of God in the Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the Platonic concept of God as put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite...
religions in that those being punished in this realm are not trapped permanently. Rather, they remain there until their negative
karmaKarma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies..'Karma' is an Eastern religious concept in contradistinction to...
is used up, at which point they are reborn into another realm.
See also
- Shurangama Sutra
The , often spelled Shurangama Sutra or Surangama Sutra in English, is a Mahayana sutra and one of the main texts used in the Chán school in Chinese Buddhism...
- Detailed explanation by Shakyamuni of causative karma of Six-Realm sufferings
- Shurangama Mantra
The Shurangama Mantra is a dharani or long mantra of East Asian Mahayana and Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist origin that is popular in China, Japan, and Korea, although relatively unknown in modern Tibet, even though there are several Shurangama Mantra texts Sadhana, Shastra in the Tibetan Buddhist...
- Extensive tantricTantric can refer to:*Tantra, especially Hindu Tantra and tantric yoga*Neotantra, a term used to describe the modern, western use of the word Tantra*Tantric Buddhism, see Vajrayana*Tantric , a hard rock band from Louisville, Kentucky...
prayers for the suffering beings of Six-Realms
- Bhavacakra
The Bhavacakra or Wheel of Becoming is a complex symbolic representation of in the form of a circle. Sanskrit: mandala; Tibetan: khor.lo), used primarily in Tibetan Buddhism...
- Dharma
The term , is an Indian spiritual and religious term, that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. A Hindu's Dharma is affected by a person's age, class, occupation, and sex. In Indian languages it can be equivalent simply to "religion", depending on context...
- Om mani padme hum
Om mani padme hum ,mani meaning the jewel and Padma-the lotus. The six syllabled mantra of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara...
- Samsara (Buddhism)
or Sangsara , a Sanskrit and Pāli term which translates as "continuous movement" or "continuous flowing", refers in Buddhism to the concept of a cycle of birth and consequent decay and death , in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through enlightenment...
- Mukuro Rokudo
is a fictional character in the Reborn! manga and anime series created by Akira Amano. Portrayed as the series' first primary antagonist, Mukuro Rokudo is introduced as a 15-year-old Mafia criminal who is the leader of the Kokuyo Gang, which consists of heinous criminals who have recently escaped...
External links
{{Buddhism topics}}