Eighteen heavens
eighteen heavens
十八天 ( Jpn juhachi-ten )
Eighteen heavens in the world of form. The world of form consists of the four meditation heavens, which are further subdivided into eighteen heavens (sixteen or seventeen according to some sources).
The eighteen heavens are
(1) three heavens in the first meditation heaven—the Heaven of Brahmainue, the Heaven of Brahma's Aide, and the Heaven of Great Brahma, also known as the Heaven of Mahabrahman;
(2) three heavens in the second meditation heaven—the Minor Light Heaven, the Infinite Light Heaven, and the Utmost Light and Purity Heaven, also known as the Light Sound Heaven;
(3) three heavens in the third meditation heaven— the Minor Purity Heaven, the Boundless Purity Heaven, and the All Pure Heaven; and
(4) nine heavens in the fourth meditation heaven—the Cloudless Heaven, the Merit Increasing Heaven, the Large Fruitage Heaven, the Heaven of No Thought, the Heaven of No Vexations, the Heaven of No Heat, the Reward Appearing Heaven, the Heaven of Clear Perception, and the Akanishtha Heaven, also known as the Summit of Being Heaven, or the highest heaven of the world of form.
