31 planes of existence

Realms of existence

1. Purgatory (Hells, but impermanent, not eternal)

1. Asuras (jealous beings)

1. Ghosts

1. Animals

1. Humans

1. Higher Beings (the six planes within sense world, consisting of angels or impermanent gods)

The above lists a summary of the Buddha’s cosmology. All are closely interdependent as beings progress through the various realms of existence.

In addition to the six major levels of the planes of existence listed above, there are 16 planes of heavenly beings outside the sense world (the world of Form) and another 4 planes of heavenly beings in the Formless world (without body) for a total of 31 planes of existence.

In the planes of existence we can see our close connection to animals. This is from the re-birth process and the fact that animals, like humans suffer from emotions, selfish cravings, and other pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Darwin’s theory of evolution is completely compatible with Buddhism.

The 31 planes of existence

Lifespan listed is in our earth years, for the devas their celestial days and years are different from our concepts of time, similar to how different planets and solar systems have different number of hours in a day, year, etc.

I. The Sensuous World (kama-loka)

States of deprivation (apaya)

No.	Realm	Pali	Life-span	Cause of rebirth here
1	Purgatory	niriya	varies	unwholesome actions, murdering parents or arahant, injuring arahant, creating schism
2	Asuras	asura	varies	unwholesome actions
3	Hungry ghosts	peta loka	varies	unwholesome actions, lack of virtue
4	Animals	tiracchana yoni	varies	unwholesome actions, behaving like an animal

Happy Destinations (sugati)

Numbers 5 – 11 are in the realm of the sense world, can experience sense pleasures and displeasures, mostly pleasure for the devas (impermanent gods or angels).

No.	Realm	Pali	Life-span	Cause of rebirth here
5	Humans	manussa loka	varies, approx. 10 to 120 years	development of virtue, wisdom, stream-entry guarantees rebirth as human or deva
6	Devas of the Four Great Kings	catumaharajika deva	9 million years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom
7	The 33 gods	tavatimsa deva	36 million years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom
8	Yama devas	yama deva	144 million years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom
9	Contented devas	tusita deva	576 million years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom
10	Devas delighting in creation	nimmanarati deva	2.3 billion years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom
11	Devas wielding power over others’ creations	paranimmita-vasavatti deva	9.2 billion years	wholesome actions, virtue, generosity, wisdom

II. The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka)

Numbers 12 – 27 are in the realm of form. There is a subtle body and these deva realms are superior to those in the sense realm. One attains rebirth to these planes based on kamma and spiritual attainments.

No.	Realm	Pali	Life-span	Cause of rebirth here
12	Retinue of Brahma	brahma-parisajja deva	one-third of an aeon	proficiency in first jhana, minor degree
13	Ministers of Brahma	brahma-purohita deva	half an aeon	proficiency in first jhana, medium degree
14	Great Brahmas	Maha brahma	one aeon	proficiency in first jhana, highest degree
15	Devas of limited radiance	parittabha deva	2 aeons	proficiency in second jhana, minor degree
16	Devas of unbounded radiance	appamanabha deva	4 aeons	proficiency in second jhana, medium degree
17	Devas of streaming radiance	abhassara deva	8 aeons	proficiency in second jhana, highest degree
18	Devas of limited glory	parittasubha deva	16 aeons	proficiency in third jhana, minor degree
19	Devas of unbounded glory	appamanasubha deva	32 aeons	proficiency in third jhana, medium degree
20	Devas of refulgent glory	subhakinna deva	64 aeons	proficiency in third jhana, highest degree
21	Very fruitful devas	vehapphala deva	500 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana
22	Unconscious beings	asaññasatta	500 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana

Realms 23 to 27 are the Pure Abodes (suddhavasa), which are accessible only to non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings who become non-returners in other planes are reborn here, where they attain arahantship. Among its inhabitants is Brahma Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach Dhamma to the world (Samyutta Nikaya 6.1).

No.	Realm	Pali	Life-span	Cause of rebirth here
23	Devas not falling away	aviha deva	1,000 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana
24	Untroubled devas	atappa deva	2,000 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana
25	Beautiful, clearly visible devas	sudassa deva	4,000 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana
26	Clear-sighted devas	sudassi deva	8,000 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana
27	Peerless devas	akanittha deva	16,000 aeons	proficiency in fourth jhana

III. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka)

Numbers 28 – 31 are in the realm of the formless. This means there is no body of any kind. There is just a type of consciousness, conventional existence as we know it, but without a body. The life spans are very long in the formless realm and one attains to these levels by the formless jhanas these planes are named after, jhanas or realms 5 to 8. Numbers 28- 31 are not necessarily the best places to be. At these levels, one cannot hear the Dhamma from a Buddha or arahant on earth or any other planet.

The best destinations are the pure abodes at numbers 23 – 27 which are deva realms for non-returners. Rebirth to these planes means that enlightenment will be attained while at one of these planes of existence.

No.	Realm	Pali	Life-span	Cause of rebirth here
28	Sphere of Infinity of Space	akasanañcayatanupaga deva	20,000 aeons	proficiency in fifth jhana (the first formless jhana)
29	Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness	viññanañcayatanupaga deva	40,000 aeons	proficiency in sixth jhana (the second formless jhana)
30	Sphere of No-thingness	akiñcaññayatanupaga deva	60,000 aeons	proficiency in seventh jhana (the third formless jhana)
31	Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception	nevasaññanasaññayatanupaga	84,000 aeons	proficiency in eighth jhana (the fourth formless jhana)

Source

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