The 31 Planes of Existence
The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (loka), listed here in descending order of refinement:
- The Immaterial World (arupa-loka).
Consists of four realms that are accessible to those who pass away while meditating in the formless jhanas.
- The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka).
Consists of sixteen realms whose inhabitants (the brahmas) experience extremely refined degrees of mental pleasure. These realms are accessible to those who have attained at least some level of jhana and who have thereby managed to (temporarily) suppress hatred and ill-will. They are said to possess extremely refined bodies of pure light. The highest of these realms, the Pure Abodes, are accessible only to those who have attained to "non-returning", the third stage of Awakening. The Fine-Material World and the Immaterial World together constitute the "heavens" (sagga).
- The Sensuous World (kama-loka).
Consists of eleven realms in which experience -- both pleasurable and not -- is dominated by the five senses. Seven of these realms are favorable destinations, and include our own human realm as well as several realms occupied by devas. The lowest realms are the four "bad" destinations, which include the animal and hell realms.
Arupa-Loka
(Non-Material World)Formless Beings
|
|
| Fourth Jhana Plane |
| Third Jhana Planee |
| Second Jhana Plane |
| First Jhana Plane |
|
| There are only 4 planes of existence here
|
|
Rupa-Loka
(Fine-Material World)Fine-Body Beings
|
|
| Fourth Jhana Realm |
| Third Jhana Realm |
| Second Jhana Realm |
| First Jhana Realm |
|
| The first 3 jhanic realms has 3 planes of existence each, and the fourth jhanic plane has 7 planes, thus 3+3+3+7 = 16 planes of existence |
|
Kama-Loka
(Sensuous World)Devas, Humans and 4 Woeful states
|
|
| Deva Realm |
| Human Realm |
| Animal Realm |
| Asura Realm |
| Peta Realm |
| Hell Realm |
|
| The Deva Realm has 6 planes (Planes of the 4 Great Kings, Plane of the 33 Gods, Yama Devas Plane, Contented Devas Plane, Devas delighting in Creation, Devas having power over creation of others), then the Human Realm, and then followed by the 4 Woeful Planes of existence, thus 6 + 1 + 4 = 11 planes of existence |
|
Source:
accesstoinsight.org - contains a tabulated explanation of all the 31 planes of existence
Back
|
|