Chart of the Planes of Existance in Theravada Buddhism
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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) Great Hells (mahaniraya): |
Hell beings (nirayasatta), hell-guardians (nirayapala), determiner kings (yamaraja). |
|
| Subsidiary hells (ussada-niraya) are surrounding each of the Great Hells on each of its four sides:Caustic River Subsidiary (Vettarani-ussada) Sword-leafed-forest Subsidiary (Asipattavana-ussada) | ||
| (2) Animal Birth (Tiracchanayoni) | Animals (tiracchana) | Animals (tiracchana)
|
| (3) Region of Ghosts (Pettivisaya) | Ghosts (peta) - 4 types:
|
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| (4) Titan Group/Titan Birth (Asurakaya/Asurayoni) | Titans (asura) | Unwholesome actions (MN 41; 129) |
II. The Sensual Happy Plane (kamasugatibhumi)
| Realm of Rebirth | Inhabitants | Duration | Cause of rebirth here |
|---|---|---|---|
| (5) World of humans ( manussaloka ) | Human beings ( manussa ) | About 100 years. |
|
| (6) The Heaven of the Four Great Kings ( Catummaharajika-devaloka ) | Four Great King Gods ( catummaharajika deva ) ; gandhabbas, yakkhas, nagas, kumbhandas, garulas / supannas, devasuras, accharas. ) | 500 divine years 9 million human years. | |
| (7) The Heaven of the Thirty-three ( Tavatimsa ) | The Thirty-three Gods ( tavatimsa-deva ) | 1,000 divine years 36 million human years. | |
| (8) Heaven of the Easeful ( Yama-devaloka ) | Devas Wielding Power over the Creations of Others ( paranimmita-vasavatti-deva ) | 16,000 divine years 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 Brahma (Brahmaparisajja-devaloka) | Gods who are members of the Retinue of Brahma (brahmaparisajja deva) | 1/3 aeon | Attainment & maintenance of 2nd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor degree (Vibh. §960) |
| (13) World of Devas who are ministers of Brahma (Brahmapurohita-devaloka) | Gods who are ministers of Brahma (brahma-purohita deva) | 1/2 aeon | Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. §960) |
| (14) World of Great Brahma (Mahabrahma-devaloka) | Great Brahmas (Mahabrahma) | 1 aeon | Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. §1024) |
b. The Plane of the Second Jhana (dutiyajhanabhumi) | |||
| (15) Limited Radiance Heaven (Parittabha-devaloka) | Devas of Limited Radiance (parittabha deva) | 2 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of 2nd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor degree. (Vibh. §1025) |
| (16) Unlimited Radiance Heaven (Appamanabha-devaloka) | Devas of Unlimited Radiance (appamanabha deva) | 4 aeons | Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. §1025) |
| (17) Brilliant Radiance Heaven (Abhassara-devaloka) | Devas of Brilliant Radiance (abhassara deva) | 8 aeons | Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. §1025) |
c. The Plane of the Third Jhana (tatiyajhanabhumi) | |||
| (18) Limited Glory Heaven (Parittasubha-devaloka) | Devas of Limited Glory (Parittasubha deva) | 16 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of 3rd jhana (AN 4:123) in minor degree (Vibh. § 1026) |
| (19) Unbounded Glory Heaven (Appamanasubha-devaloka) | Devas of Unlimited Glory (Appamanasubha deva) | 32 aeons | Ditto, medium degree. (Vibh. §1026) |
| (20) Refulgent Glory Heaven (Subhakinna- or Subhakinha-devaloka) | Devas of Refulgent Glory (Subhakinha deva) | 64 aeons | Ditto, highest degree. (Vibh. §1026) |
d. The Plane of the Fourth Jhana (catutthajhanabhumi) | |||
| (21) Abode of Great Reward (Vehapphala-avasa) | Devas of Great Reward (Vehapphala deva) | 500 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of 4th Jhana (AN 4:123; Vibh. §1027) |
| (22) Base of non-percipient beings (Asaññasattayatana) or Abode of the non-percipient beings (Asaññasattavasa) | Non-percipient-being Devas (Asaññasatta deva) | 500 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of 4th Jhana (Vibh. §1027 & D-a to DN 1.31.); DN 15.33 calls it an ayatana. |
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 (Aviha-bhavana) | Durable Devas (Aviha deva) | 1,000 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of 4th jhana and attainment of non-return (Vibh § 1027; Abhidh-s 5.31. Cf. AN 4:124; 4:136; 9:35) |
| (24) The Serene Abode (Atappa-bhavana) | Serene Devas (Atappa deva) | 2,000 aeons | |
| (25) The beautiful Abode (Sudassa-bhavana) | Beautiful Devas (Sudassa deva) | 4,000 aeons | |
| (26) The Clear-sighted Abode (Sudassibhavana) | Clear-sighted Devas (Sudassi deva) | 8,000 aeons | |
| (27) The Supreme Abode (Akaninnha-bhavana) | Supreme Devas (Akanittha deva) | 16,000 aeons | |
IV. The Plane of the Formless (arupabhumi)
| Realm of Rebirth | Inhabitants | Duration | Cause of rebirth here |
|---|---|---|---|
| (28) The Base of Infinite Space (Akasanañcayatana) | Gods attained to the Base of Infinite Space (akasanañcayatanupaga deva) | 20,000 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of the Base of Infinite Space |
| (29) The Base of Infinite Consciousness (Viññanañcayatana) | Gods attained to the Base of Infinite Consciousness (viññanañcayatanupaga deva) | 40,000 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of the Base of Infinite Consciousness |
| (30) The Base of Nothingness (Akiñcaññayatana) | Gods attained to the Base of Nothingness (Akiñcaññayatanupaga deva) | 60,000 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of Base of Nothingness |
| (31) The Base of Neither-perception-nor-non-perception (Nevasaññanasaññayatana) | Gods attained to the Base of Neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññanasaññayatanupagadeva) | 84,000 aeons | Attainment & maintenance of the Base of Neither-perception-nor-non-perception |
