Tushita Heaven
Tushita Heaven
兜率天・覩史多天 (Skt; Jpn Tosotsu-ten or Toshita-ten)
"Heaven of Satisfaction." In ancient Indian and Buddhist cosmology, the fourth of the six heavens in the World of Desire. The beings in this Heaven are said to know satisfaction in the pursuit of pleasure, having transcended insatiable Desire. They have a Life span of four thousand years, each day of which is equal to four hundred years in the human World. It is said that Bodhisattvas are reborn in this Heaven just before their Rebirth in the World where they will attain Buddhahood. Shakyamuni is said to have descended from this Heaven and entered the womb of his mother, Maya. Tushita consists of an inner court and an outer court. The inner court is the abode of Bodhisattva Maitreya, who is constantly preaching until his future Rebirth in the human World as a Buddha. Belief in Maitreya along with aspiration for Rebirth in the Tushita Heaven was popular in China in the fifth century and in Japan in the seventh century.
see also: Tushita
