Formless Spheres (Arupavacara) [4 Realms]
Form Spheres (Rupavacara) [16 Realms]
Sensual Spheres (Kamavacara) [11 Realms]
31
|
The realm of neither Perception nor Non-Perception
(N’evasanna Nasannayatanabhumi) |
|
Formless
|
84,000MK
|
30
|
The realm of Nothingness
(Akincanayatananabhumi) |
|
Formless
|
60,000MK
|
29
|
The realm of Infinite Consciousness
(Vinnanacayantanabhumi) |
|
Formless
|
40,000MK
|
28
|
The realm of Infinite Space
(Akasanacayantanabhumi) |
|
Formless
|
20,000MK
|
27
|
The Highest realm
(Akanittha) |
4th* |
Form
|
16,000MK
|
26
|
The Clear-sighted realm
(Sudassa) |
4th* |
Form
|
8,000MK
|
25
|
The Beautiful realm
(Sudassi) |
4th* |
Form
|
4,000MK
|
24
|
The Serene realm
(Atappa) |
4th* |
Form
|
2,000MK
|
23
|
The Durable realm
(Aviha ) |
4th* |
Form
|
1,000MK
|
22
|
The realm of Mindless Beings
(Asannasatta) |
4th |
Form
|
500MK
|
21
|
The realm of Great Reward
(Vehapphala ) |
4th |
Form
|
500MK
|
20
|
The realm of Steady Aura
(Subhakinna ) |
3rd |
Form
|
64MK
|
19
|
The realm of Infinite Aura
(Appamanasubha) |
3rd |
Form
|
32MK
|
18
|
The realm of Minor Aura
(Parittasubha) |
3rd |
Form
|
16MK
|
17
|
The realm of Radiant Lustre
(Abhassara) |
2nd |
Form
|
8MK
|
16
|
The realm of Infinite Lustre
(Appamanabha) |
2nd |
Form
|
4MK
|
15
|
The realm of Minor Lustre
(Parittabha) |
2nd |
Form
|
2MK
|
14
|
The Maha Brahma realm
(Mahabrahma) |
1st |
Form
|
1AK
|
13
|
The realm of Brahma’s Ministers
(Brahmapurohita) |
1st |
Form
|
0.5AK
|
12
|
The realm of Brahma’s retinue
(Brahmaparisajja) |
1st |
Form
|
0.3AK
|
11
|
The realm of the gods who lord over the creation of others
(Paranimmaitavasavatti) |
|
Sensual
|
16,000CY
|
10
|
The realm of the gods who rejoice in (their own) creation
(Nimmanarati) |
|
Sensual
|
8,000CY
|
9
|
The Delightful realm
(Tusita) |
|
Sensual
|
4,000CY
|
8
|
The realm of Yama gods
(Yama) |
|
Sensual
|
2,000CY
|
7
|
The realm of the 33 gods
(Tavatimsa) |
|
Sensual
|
1,000CY
|
6
|
The realm of the 4 Kings
(Catummaharajika) |
|
Sensual
|
500CY
|
5
|
The Human realm
(Manussa) |
|
Sensual
|
No Limit
|
4
|
The host of Asuras
(Asura) |
|
Sensual
|
No Limit
|
3
|
Peta Sphere
(Peta) |
|
Sensual
|
No Limit
|
2
|
Animal Kingdom
(Tiracchana) |
|
Sensual
|
No Limit
|
1
|
Woeful state
(Niriaya) |
|
Sensual
|
No Limit
|
Notations
1st = First Jhana
2nd = Second Jhana
3rd = Third Jhana
4th = Forth Jhana
4th* = Pure Abodes
|
Sensual = Sensual Sphere
Form = Form Sphere
Formless = Formless Sphere
|
MK = Maha Kappa
AK = Asankheyya Kappa
CY = Celestial Year
|
There are 3 kinds of kappas - namely, antara kappa, asankheyya kappa,
and maha kappa.
The interim period when the age limit of human beings arises from ten
to an indefinite time and then falls to ten again, is known as an
antara kappa.
Twenty such antara kappa equal one asankheyya kappa, literally - an
incalculable cycle.
Four asankheyya kappas equal one maha kappa.
Books state that 50 human years equal one celestial day. The age-limit
of gods of the realm of Four Kings is 500 celestial years, that is, according
to human cycle reckoning 9,000,000.
3 Elements that can destroy the Universe
(Fire, Water and Wind)
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Water
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Fire
|
Wind
|
Four Modes Of Birth
Buddhism states that there are four modes of birth - namely :
1. egg-born beings (andaja),
2. womb-born beings (jalabuja),
3. moisture-born beings (samsedaja)
4. beings having spontaneous births
(opapatika).
This broad classification embraces the 4 modes of birth of all living
beings.
Birds and oviparous snakes belong to the first division.
The womb-born creatures comprise all human beings, some devas inhabiting
the earth,
and some animals that take conception in a mother’s womb.
Embryos, using moisture as nidus for their growth, like certain lowly
forms of animal life,
belong to the third class.
Beings having a spontaneous birth are generally invisible to the physical
eye.
Conditioned by their past Kamma, they appear spontaneously,
without passing through an embryonic stage.
Petas and Devas normally, and Brahmas belong to this class.
Four Ways Body Is Affected
Our body can be affected by the following 4 conditions:
1. Food
2. Weather
3. Mind
4. Kamma
|