World of desire
world of desire
欲界 (Skt, Pali kama-dhatu; Jpn yokkai or yoku-kai )
The lowest division of the threefold world. The world of desire is so called because its inhabitants are ruled by desires such as hunger and sexual craving. It comprises the four evil paths (the realms of hell, hungry spirits, animals, and asuras ), the four continents surrounding Mount Sumeru that human beings inhabit, and the first six divisions of heaven, known as the six heavens of the world of desire. Said to dwell in the sixth, or highest, of the six heavens of the world of desire is the devil king of the sixth heaven, who has a strong desire to control others and prevent them from attaining enlightenment. The Sanskrit and Pali word kama means desire, love, or pleasure, and dhatu means world or realm.
See also; four continents; four evil paths; six heavens of the world of desire.
