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31 Planes of Existence (2) 31 Planes of Existence (2) Rupaloka Realms Rupaloka There are 16 realms of form in Rupaloka from the lowest to the highest level. Beings in these realms are born there after they have attained levels of jhana through meditation Meditation is the second of a 3-stage practice towards enlightenment Sila or moral practice Samadhi meditation Panna or wisdom 2 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 1 What is Jhana? Jhana is a state of mind absorbed in meditation through concentration Jhana in this sense is Rupa-Jhana Jhana achieved by concentrating on rupa or corporeality earth, fire, water, etc One-pointedness is attained Nivarana (hindrances) is suppressed 3 Stages of Jhana 5 stages 4 stages st st 1 stage 1 stage vitakha, vicara, piti, sukha & vitakha, vicara, piti, sukha & ekaggata ekaggata nd nd 2 stage 2 stage vicara, piti, sukha & ekaggata piti, sukha & ekaggata rd rd 3 stage 3 stage piti, sukha & ekaggata sukha & ekaggata th th 4 stage 4 stage sukha & ekaggata upekha & ekaggata th 5 stage upekha & ekaggata 4 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 2 Pathana Jhana Bhumi Those who attained to the 1st Rupa-jhana. There are 3 levels: Brahma Parisajja Attained 1st Rupa-jhana with inferior strength ¹/3 kappa (aeons) Brahma Purohita with medium strength ½ kappa Maha Brahma with superior strength 1 kappa All 3 types of beings live on the same plane. 5 Dutiya Jhana Bhumi Those who have attained 2nd Rupa-jhana. There are 3 levels: Parittabha (gods of limited splendour) 2 kappa life span Appamanabha (gods of unlimited splendour) 4 kappa life span Abhassara (gods of brillance) 8 kappa life span All live on the same plane. 6 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 3 Tatiya Jhana Bhumi rd Those who attained 3 Rupa-jhana. There are 3 levels: Parittasubha Gods of limited beautiful splendour 16 kappa Appamanasubha Gods of boundless beautiful splendour 32 kappa Subhakinha Gods of wholly beautiful splendour 64 kappa 7 Catuttha Jhana Bhumi th Those who attained 4 7 types of beings: Rupa-jhana. Vehapphala There are 7 types of beings, Asannasatta all having their own planes Aviha of existence except for Vehapphala & Asannasatta. Atappa th Sudassa Human who attain the 4 Rupa-jhana and can Sudassi maintain it till his last breath Akanittha will be born in Vehapphala or Asannasatta. 8 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 4 Asannasatta Those who develop meditation with feeling of dissipation 7 types of beings: (viraga) in perception (sanna). Vehapphala When he dies and his mind is Asannasatta th absorbed in this state pf 4 Aviha Rupa-jhana, he is born as an Atappa unconscious being in the world Sudassa of form. Sudassi One-aggregate being (rupa- Akanittha khandhas), without vinnana, vedana, sanna & sankhara. Being without all mental activities. Remains like a statue from his rebirth to the plane throughout his life span there. At the end of his life, he will regain consciousness, and immediately reborn to wherever his kamma leads. 9 Suddhavasa Suddhavasa (Abode of the If directive force is Pure) Saddha (Confidence) Aviha, Atappa, Sudassa, Aviha Sudassi & Akanittha Viriya (Energy or Effort) Only those who had Atappa th attained 4 Rupa-jhana Sati (Mindfulness) and are Anagami are Sudassa born here Samadhi (Concentration) Will not be reborn in Duggati states Sudassi The directive force (Indriya) Panna (Wisdom) of their attainment will Akanittha determine the Suddhavasa realm for rebirth. 10 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 5 Rupaloka Life Span Vehapphala Sudassa 500 kappas 4,000 kappas Asannasatta Sudassi 500 kappas 8,000 kappas Aviha Akanittha 1,000 kappas 16,000 kappas Atappa 2,000 kappas 11 Buddha’s visit to Suddhavasa Mahapadana Sutta In his long wandering in Samsara, Suddhavasa was the only realm that Buddha had never been born in. One day when he was in seclusion under the Sala tree in Subhavana forest, near the city of Ukkhattha, the Buddha decided to visit the Abode of the Pure. He disappeared from under the Sala tree and appeared in Suddhavasa in a single moment. Many gods of the realm came to meet him. They told him of the important events of the periods between all the previous Buddhas beginning with Buddha Vipassi who enlightened the world with his Teaching, 91 kappas ago before Buddha Gotama. 12 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 6 Characteristics of Rupaloka Life is subtler and more pleasurable than kamaloka. There is no gender differences in Rupaloka, but beings take the male appearance. Happiness in Rupaloka is far higher than for kamaloka without the need for sexual delight. Beings born in Rupaloka have absolutely eliminated the role of sensual pleasure through sexual enjoyment when they were born in Kamaloka. Since the sensuality of sex is no longer present, gender difference is redundant. 13 Summary of Rupaloka Akanittha 16,000 M.K. Suddhavasa Sudassi 8,000 M.K. (Pure Sudassa 4,000 M.K. Catuttha Abodes Jhana ) Atappa 2,000 M.K. Bhumi Aviha 1,000 M.K. (4th Jhana Realm) Asannasatta 500 M.K. Vehapphala 500 M.K. RUPALOKA (Realms of Forms) Subhakinha 64 M.K. 15 consciousness Tatiya Jhana Bhumi Appamanasubha 32 M.K. (3rd Jhana Realm) Parittasubha 16 M.K. Abhassara 8 M.K. Dutiya Jhana Bhumi Appamanabha 4 M.K. 2nd Jhana Realm) Parittabha 2 M.K. Maha Brahma 1 A.K. Pathana Jhana Bhumi Brahma Purohita ½A.K. (1st Jhana Realm) Brahma Parisajja ¹/3 A.K. 14 MVBT Junior II - K S Leong 7.
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