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Chart of the Planes of Existance in Theravada Buddhism

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Chart of the Planes of Existance in Theravada Buddhism 06/11/13 Wh462 —Appendix: Table of Planes of Existence — Plain Text Chart of the Planes of Existance in Theravada Buddhism I. The Woeful Plane (apayabhumi) Duration of existence is indefinite. Only when their evil kamma is exhausted, can beings leave these realms. Realm of Rebirth Inhabitants Cause of rebirth here (1) Hell (niraya) Hell beings (nirayasatta), Unwholesome actions (MN 41; Great Hells (mahaniraya): hell-guardians (nirayapala), 129) Gapless One (Avici) determiner kings (yamaraja). Lack of virtue, holding to wrong Great Tormenter (mahatapana) views (AN 10:177) Tormenter (Tapana) or Small Tormenter (Cullaapana) Telling lies, not keeping word Great Roarer (maharoruva) or deceit, abuse of ascetic state, Flamy Roarer (Jalaroruva) adultery, wrong views Roarer (Roruva) or Smoky Roarer (Dhp chapter 22) (Dhamaroruva) Crusher (Sanghata) Black-thread (Kalasutta) Murdering parents or an Reviver (Sañjava) arahant; injuring the Buddha; creating a schism in the Sangha Subsidiary hells (ussada-niraya) are (AN 5:129) surrounding each of the Great Hells on each of its four sides: Caustic River Subsidiary (Vettarani- ussada) Sword-leafed-forest Subsidiary (Asipattavana-ussada) Silk-cotton-tree Subsidiary (Simpalivana-ussada) Ember Subsidiary (Kukkula-ussada) Filth Subsidiary (Gutha-ussada) (2) Animal Birth (Tiracchanayoni) Animals (tiracchana) Animals (tiracchana) Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views. If one is generous to monks and nuns, however, one may be reborn as an "ornamented" animal (i.e., a bird with bright plumage; a horse with attractive markings, etc.). (AN 10:177) Behaving like an animal (MN 57) (3) Region of Ghosts (Pettivisaya) Ghosts (peta) - 4 types: Unwholesome actions (MN 41; a. petas who live on the gifts of 129) others (paradattipajivika-peta), Lack of virtue, holding to wrong b. hungry and thirsty petas views (AN 10:177) (khuppipasika-peta), c. petas consumed by craving (nijjhamatanhika-peta), d. black-eared peta (kalakañcika- peta). (4) Titan Group/Titan Birth Titans (asura) Unwholesome actions (MN 41; 129) (Asurakaya/Asurayoni) II. The Sensual Happy Plane (kamasugatibhumi) Realm of Rebirth Inhabitants Duration Cause of rebirth here www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh462app-p.html 1/3 06/11/13 Wh462 —Appendix: Table of Planes of Existence — Plain Text (5) World of humans Human beings (manussa) About 100 Wholesome actions (MN (manussaloka) years. 41; 129) Virtue and wisdom (AN (6) The Heaven of the Four Four Great King Gods 500 divine 10:177) Great Kings (catummaharajika deva); years (Catummaharajika-devaloka) gandhabbas, yakkhas, nagas, 9 million human kumbhandas, years. garulas/supannas, devasuras, accharas.) (7) The Heaven of the Thirty- The Thirty-three Gods 1,000 divine three (Tavatimsa) (tavatimsa-deva) years 36 million human years. (8) Heaven of the Easeful Devas Wielding Power over 16,000 divine (Yama-devaloka) the Creations of Others years (paranimmita-vasavatti-deva) 9,216 million human years III. The Plane of Form (rupa-bhumi) Strictly speaking, the realms in the four jhanic subdivisions of this plane are not separate because the beings share the same jhana or anagamin attainment realms, e.g., the Brahma-purohita deva and Brahmaparisajja deva are Mahabrahma’s ministers and retinue. See MN 49 and Vibh-a 520. All beings in this plane are Brahmagods (brahmakayika-deva). a. The Plane of the First Jhana (pathamajhanabhumi) Realm of Rebirth Inhabitants Duration Cause of rebirth here (12) World of the Retinue of Gods who are members of 1/3 aeon Attainment & maintenance of Brahma (Brahmaparisajja- the Retinue of Brahma 2nd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor devaloka) (brahmaparisajja deva) degree (Vibh. §960) (13) World of Devas who are Gods who are ministers of 1/2 aeon Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. ministers of Brahma Brahma (brahma-purohita §960) (Brahmapurohita-devaloka) deva) (14) World of Great Brahma Great Brahmas 1 aeon Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. (Mahabrahma-devaloka) (Mahabrahma) §1024) b. The Plane of the Second Jhana (dutiyajhanabhumi) (15) Limited Radiance Devas of Limited Radiance 2 aeons Attainment & maintenance of Heaven (Parittabha-devaloka) (parittabha deva) 2nd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor degree. (Vibh. §1025) (16) Unlimited Radiance Devas of Unlimited Radiance 4 aeons Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. Heaven (Appamanabha- (appamanabha deva) §1025) devaloka) (17) Brilliant Radiance Devas of Brilliant Radiance 8 aeons Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. Heaven (Abhassara-devaloka) (abhassara deva) §1025) c. The Plane of the Third Jhana (tatiyajhanabhumi) (18) Limited Glory Heaven Devas of Limited Glory 16 aeons Attainment & maintenance of (Parittasubha-devaloka) (Parittasubha deva) 3rd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor degree (Vibh. § 1026) (19) Unbounded Glory Devas of Unlimited Glory 32 aeons Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. Heaven (Appamanasubha- (Appamanasubha deva) §1026) devaloka) (20) Refulgent Glory Heaven Devas of Refulgent Glory 64 aeons Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. (Subhakinna- or Subhakinha- (Subhakinha deva) §1026) devaloka) d. The Plane of the Fourth Jhana (catutthajhanabhumi) www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh462app-p.html 2/3 06/11/13 Wh462 —Appendix: Table of Planes of Existence — Plain Text (21) Abode of Great Reward Devas of Great Reward 500 aeons Attainment & maintenance of (Vehapphala-avasa) (Vehapphala deva) 4th Jhana (AN 4:123; Vibh. §1027) (22) Base of non-percipient Non-percipient-being Devas 500 aeons Attainment & maintenance of beings (Asaññasattayatana) (Asaññasatta deva) 4th Jhana (Vibh. §1027 & D-a or Abode of the non- to DN 1.31.); DN 15.33 calls it percipient beings an ayatana. (Asaññasattavasa) e. Plane of Pure Abodes (suddhavasabhumi) Only those who have attained to the stage of non-return (anagami) are reborn in these abodes, where they eventually attain arahatship. This plane is only accessible for anagamis and arahats. In the Abhidhamma classification this plane is a subdivision of the Plane of the Fourth Jhana. (23) The Durable Abode Durable Devas (Aviha deva) 1,000 aeons Attainment & maintenance of (Aviha-bhavana) 4th jhana and attainment of non-return (Vibh § 1027; (24) The Serene Abode Serene Devas (Atappa deva) 2,000 aeons Abhidh-s 5.31. Cf. AN 4:124; (Atappa-bhavana) 4:136; 9:35) (25) The beautiful Abode Beautiful Devas (Sudassa 4,000 aeons (Sudassa-bhavana) deva) (26) The Clear-sighted Abode Clear-sighted Devas (Sudassi 8,000 aeons (Sudassibhavana) deva) (27) The Supreme Abode Supreme Devas (Akanittha 16,000 aeons (Akaninnha-bhavana) deva) IV. The Plane of the Formless (arupabhumi) Realm of Rebirth Inhabitants Duration Cause of rebirth here (28) The Base of Infinite Gods attained to the Base of 20,000 aeons Attainment & Space (Akasanañcayatana) Infinite Space maintenance of the Base (akasanañcayatanu;paga deva) of Infinite Space (29) The Base of Infinite Gods attained to the Base of 40,000 aeons Attainment & Consciousness Infinite Consciousness maintenance of the Base (Viññanañcayatana) (viññanañcayatanupaga deva) of Infinite Consciousness (30) The Base of Gods attained to the Base of 60,000 aeons Attainment & Nothingness Nothingness (Akiñcaññayatanupaga maintenance of Base of (Akiñcaññayatana) deva) Nothingness (31) The Base of Neither- Gods attained to the Base of 84,000 aeons Attainment & perception-nor-non- Neither-perception-nor-non- maintenance of the Base perception perception of Neither-perception-nor- (Nevasaññanasaññayatana) (nevasaññanasaññayatanupagadeva) non-perception www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh462app-p.html 3/3.
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