The Three Realms of Existence

What are the three realms of existence in early Buddhism? We'll begin by looking at the way early thinkers sometimes had odd ways of approaching the world. Then we'll turn to the early Buddhist account of the three realms themselves, and how they relate to certain states of mind. Finally we'll turn to how we can view these states as metaphorical for ways of being in this very life.
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Books:
Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Great Discourse on Causation amzn.to/2LqJUgb
Bhikkhu Bodhi, Majjhima Nikāya (intro, pp. 46-48) amzn.to/2CkzRXb
Richard Gombrich, What the Buddha Thought amzn.to/2Br4QiC
Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (trans.) The Guide (Nettippakarana) amzn.to/2Bqct8V
Suttas:
The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar (MN 12.35-36): suttacentral.net/mn12/en/bodhi
The Dog-Duty Ascetic (MN 57): suttacentral.net/mn57/en/bodhi
The Brahmins of Sālā (MN 41): suttacentral.net/mn41/en/bodhi
With Subha (MN 99) suttacentral.net/mn99/en/sujato
Many Elements (MN 115.8): suttacentral.net/mn115/en/sujato
The Great Discourse on Causation (DN 15): suttacentral.net/dn15/en/bodhi
Reciting in Concert (DN 33): suttacentral.net/dn33/en/sujato
Up to Ten (DN 34): suttacentral.net/dn34/en/sujato
Papers:
Analayo, Bahudhātuka Sutta www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hambu...
Piya Tan, The Stations of Consciousness www.themindingcentre.org/dharm...
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-----------------------------
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secularbuddhism.org/
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[@Giantcrabz]

The one dislike is from a hungry ghost in the hell realms

[@DougsDharma]

😄

[@bawngtimkh9196]

There are many hungry ghosts walking around the world right now. Just go to a casino, drug den or any other place with mental obsession known as addiction.

The likes might also be from hungry ghosts too...

[@cariyaputta]

From what I've learned directly from the Sutta Pitaka, I think it's both mental states & actual existent realms. Like when one cultivate one of the 4 Jhanas to culmination, one can hop into Jhanic mind state as will, there it's mental state. But when one die, as the moment of death, if one can re-enter the Jhanic states, then one will re-appear in one of 16 realms of Rupa Loka respectively. But in Sabbaasava Sutta (MN2), the Buddha actually teaches that it's not appropriate to speculation about past lives or future lives. Instead, one should focus on the 4 Noble Truths and practice right here and now.

[@DougsDharma]

Quite so. Practice in the here and now is what is important. All the rest is just speculation. 🙂

[@charlesdacosta2446]

That is because such speculation usually is just a form of entertainment and not an element of the path.

The Buddha also compared other practices with his - both benefits and drawbacks - in such a way: - One would spend days, months, years or even the whole life time meditating, performing good deeds, venerating devas, etc. so that in next life to be reborn in a better realm of existence. - One would now just realize dukkha, the origin of dukkha, the cessation of dukkha, and the way to cease dukkha then achieve Nibbana here and now - right away, no need to wait. So the difference is clear, one you have to do a lot of things, wait a long time and only have a probability of succeed. While the other requires much less, without wait time and has 100% rate of success. The talk of the Buddha regarding various mental states / Jhanas and their respective way to achieve is only to pave the way to the final conclusion: if one is wise, one would not choose to do them but rather take on the realization of the Four Noble Truths here and now.

[@adamheap4]

Doug’s dharma videos are great. I always enjoy watching them. Thank you Doug 😊

[@DougsDharma]

My pleasure, Adam! Glad you enjoy. 🙏

[@peterhook2258]

This is really amazing. You are doing the work for sure.

[@DougsDharma]

Thank you very much!

[@phildray83]

Great explanation. The subjects of the realms and cosmology stuff in Buddhism had always been something I just kind of ignored, because I thought it was strange and unimportant. Now I see it differently. Thanks Doug!

[@DougsDharma]

Yeah it is kind of interesting isn't it!

[@dilippalwekar1223]

Dear Sir, I have been following your videos since last few days. Those all are extraordinary. Particularly because it is focused on one concept at a time, though it is explaned in simplistic way, it covers the depth as well. I have come accross Vipassana in 2004, since then trying to practice. This pariyatti helps and motivate to tread the path. Thanks for your help. Kindly keep on doing the videos, it has been making the world better, although slowly, but surely consistently. With Metta

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Dilip. I’ll do my best to continue on with the videos. 🙏

[@andymadel5135]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much Doug, in these last 35 minutes you have made so many months of study align for me and I feel I have deeper understanding. Bless you and carry on x

[@DougsDharma]

Glad it was helpful Andy! Stay well. 🙏

[@montserratpujades3874]

Wonderful video, very very informative. Thank you so much, Doug!

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Montserrat, glad it was helpful!

[@nagarajan111]

Thanks Doug for the video on “what continues” and “The realms of existence”. It was interesting.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome naga rajan. Thanks for watching! 🙏

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you very much. I'm sure I'll hear several times in order to understand little by little this wonderful information. Evangelina Cortes.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes it is complicated, make of it what you will Evangelina. 🙂

[@haovan5273]

Thank you very much for your work Sir. This is the simplest yet sufficient for me to understand the 3 Realms. Keep up the good work! Sadhu sadhu.

[@DougsDharma]

You are most welcome!

[@guaylayhua5653]

Thank You Sir, Great Talks & clear explanation , benefiting everyone! Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu 🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@bawngtimkh9196]

When I first discovered Buddhism many years ago I really found the mysticism and strange traditions and chants very interesting 10+ years later I see Buddhism being a lot more simpler and less mystic. I always said there is Buddhism the religion and Buddhism the Philosophy. Similar to how Doug says secular and nonsecular Buddhist.

[@DougsDharma]

That's right Bawngtim. There are different approaches to the material for those who have different interests. My own interest is in the simpler, more down-to-earth teachings.

[@soezone208]

Doug, I love the video and explanations. It would be nice if you could make artworks of three realms.

[@DougsDharma]

😄 That would be neat, but I'm no artist!

[@TheSlickMachine]

There's something I really enjoy about the more trippy aspects of Buddhism even if I don't take all of them literally. Great work. Nice to get so many angles on the subject.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Slick Machine. Yes, they can be fun to learn about!

[@ariefbudiman1544]

Dr Smith clear and rewarding explanation.. people always says that buddhism is a very humanist point of view.. and I notice there is a great relation between the three realms existence with morality and karmic activity...

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@tearsintherain6311]

Can’t believe Kama Loka is the one about sense desire because it means crazy bed in Spanish

[@DougsDharma]

😄

[@kennymackinnon8145]

You have just sent me to the Glaswegian realm of the 4 M's: The 'Ma mind's mince man' realm. Joking aside. Thoroughly appreciate the secular slant to the videos that corresponds with my thinking. Thank you.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Kenny! Yes I think there's room for various different approaches to this material.

[@thenowchurch6419]

Good job as always. For me it all comes under Skillful Means. The various levels you describe are a little too systematic to be a really accurate representation of other realms, but were sufficient for benefiting the minds of those Buddha and early Buddhists were teaching.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks thenowchurch, yes I at least don’t find it useful to my practice but many do which is fine!

[@mrp5402]

Homage to the blessed one, the worthy one, the Supremely Enlightened One! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

[@DougsDharma]

🙏

[@brianreeves]

I absolutely love the sci-fi aspects, gives me more to believe in (without diminishing the secularism).

[@DougsDharma]

Yes well they can be fun and interesting to learn about from a historical perspective.

[@Krakuun]

Good information, thank you! This is unrelated, but do you have any recommendations for books that compare/contrast the different schools of Buddhism and their history? I find the changes and transitions that Buddhism has undergone very interesting, but I've had trouble finding good material that covers this as a single topic (beyond looking at each school individually). Even recommendations on good books relating to Buddhist history would be appreciated :)

[@DougsDharma]

Hi David, I have a playlist on that topic: kzbin.info/aero/PL0akoU_OszRjn4gXp46Q8cMPB0t9FAH0C . Each of the videos in the playlist has recommendations for books that discuss those aspects of Buddhism. It’s difficult to find a single source that’s good about all schools. I’d say Rupert Gethin’s Foundations of Buddhism is one option though I don’t recall how much it gets into Vajrayana.

[@Krakuun]

Excellent, thanks!@@DougsDharma

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome David!

[@thorspeeler9215]

I’m fairly new to Buddhism but I have always interpreted things like Hell realms to be more of a result of karmic action on earth? Like if YOU always act out of selfishness, hatred, delusion, whatever, YOUR reality will be full of those things and thus you’ve created your own Hell? And as such the opposite would also tend to be true

[@DougsDharma]

Well they can be interpreted as metaphorical, that if we do bad things we're more likely to live a "hell on earth", and if we do good things we're more likely to live a "heaven on earth". That's also how I prefer to understand them. But in the early texts they were pretty clearly not merely metaphorical, and many forms of traditional Buddhism don't see them as merely metaphorical either.

[@deathskunk3]

very insightful video thanks again Doug! You really helped organize and clarify these teachings for me Im most grateful About the third formless realms . Does being reborn there thru meditative atainments of these states also mean a certain stage of enlightenment and that the time spend in samsara is therefor limited as is with the non-returner in the form realm? I ask because I remember the Buddha expressing how unfortunate it was his teacher passed before the Buddha could teach him the last drops of Dhamma he needed If I recall correctly it was unfortunate because he still had wrong view therefore would remain in Samsara after being in the higher heavens. While he did attain the neither perception nor non perception meditative attainment and thus should be reborn in heavens higher than the non-returner - who is still in the form realms - yet not reached not enlightenment Or am I mistaken in my recollection? Thanks again!

[@DougsDharma]

I'm not really sure of the specifics but I don't think having ability at formless meditations necessarily makes one closer to enlightenment in the sense that one will, again, necessarily, have fewer lifetimes. But this is more a matter for an expert on the minutiae of traditional belief to get right.

[@Giantcrabz]

Doug have you ever attained the formless jhanas through meditation? I've had very very brief moments of that sense of "infinite consciousness" during meditation and through use of psychedelics but it is very difficult to maintain. Ironically the harder you try to get there, it slips away like holding onto sand. Curious about your experiences!

[@DougsDharma]

I can't say I have! I would need a lengthy retreat or three to get to the required deep state of samādhi I think.

[@hadisoewoyo8739]

Without "tanha"

[@the0neObserver]

Modern views of things are very different especially to people who's a sensitive, it's really hard to explain until we experience it ourselves. Even sensitive's experience are very limited to their senses(capabilities, karma etc). Meditation can open these capabilities but those who seek them usually ends up in a failure. Because in order to achieve it, you have to let go the desire of seeking them. It's just the way they are (it is weird). To tell people that we can get these capabilities will create desires and attachments. IMO forget about those amazing things but concentrate on examining impermanence, the arising of thoughts. Those capabilities are designed to trap people by creating fascination, desires, clinging and eventually holding you back from enlightenment. Just based on one's experience. Capabilities could be used as validations only but not to dwell on them.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, thanks Dave. Seeing impermanence is what's important.

[@greenspringvalley]

I watched a recent video where the speaker made a comment that trying to build up karma for future prosperity can be materialistic, and he explained that setting a goal of escaping samsara avoided that ego trap. For that matter, having no goal at all also kind of escapes that trap. It was an interesting point. The person who gets off of samsara seems like what would be called a non-returner.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes there are different ways to look at it greenspringvalley.

[@ok-jungjang7042]

Thank you for the knowledge. Can you please do a lesson on Buddha’s view on universe and origin of life?

[@sheilakirwan9462]

Ok-Jung Jang wasn’t the origin of life one of the imponderables that the Buddha spoke of ? ...ie not recommended for consideration...( I 🤔 think )

[@DougsDharma]

Sheila is right, origin questions (particularly those around the origin of the universe) were left as unanswered questions by the Buddha.

[@zack-vk2nm]

Have you ever visited any of the 3 realms? Also you're one of the best KZbin channels in my opinion you have always replied to my comments fairly quickly

[@zack-vk2nm]

I'm also very confused as to wether this the universe within or different levels of the universe if you believe in the multi verse then if you can conceive any idea of a world or universe that the multi verse is so vast that there would be a universe out there that is consistent with the universe that you have conceived there for the higher realms would be both real and not real at the same time

[@DougsDharma]

To my way of thinking the three realms are only ways we interact with this very world.

[@jeremyweate4045]

Excellent stuff Doug. My question is whether the human realm is actually the centre, or whether - as many now conjecture - this is a hologram and not "base reality". Many people who practice out-of-body experience report different realms which are veering towards consensus, some similar to ours, and others completely different, as do modern-day psychonauts (witness the consensus experiences under DMT). Can we now be so sure, from the possibly approaching multi-dimensional norm, that our human sphere stands at the centre? Are we not facing potential another Copernican shift in favour of multi-dimensionality? In which case, does the practical humanism of Buddhism face a metaphysical challenge? Or, as you suggest at the end, does it not actually matter if we are multi-dimensional beings, as the dhamma still applies?

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Jeremy. Personally I wouldn’t worry myself about such matters. As you say, the dhamma still applies whatever the facts may be. There is still dukkha, still clinging, still the path. 🙂

[@Yimon1230]

There are 31 Planes of Existence: 1st level, the Realm of Formlessness (Arupaloka), consists of four planes of brahmas who have no physical body, consisting entirely of mind, but who may create a physical body if they want to be seen. They are not completely free from the fetters of suffering (dukkha), but the dukkha experienced here is much less intense than that suffered in the Rupaloka. These brahmas are unable to hear the teachings of the Buddha (dhamma) and they can never become enlightened. 31. Nevasaññānāsaññāyatana bhuṃ (Realm of neither perception nor non-perception) 30. Ākiñcaññāyatana bhuṃ (Realm of nothingness) 29. Viññānaññcāyatana bhuṃ (Realm of infinite consciousness) 28. Ākāsānaññcāyatana bhuṃ (Realm of infinite space) 2nd level, the Realm of Form (Rupaloka), is inhabited by brahmas who have a physical body but do not enjoy sensual pleasures, and it is a place of less intense dukkha. This realm consists of 16 planes inhabited by Rupa brahmas divided into four categories according to their status of meditative absorption (jhana). These Rupa brahmas can become enlightened if they come to know the dhamma. Catuttha jhana bhuṃ (Fourth jhana realm): consisting of seven planes, of which the first five are called Suddhavasa or the heavens of purity, where only the enlightened ones at the anagami (non- returner) stage can reborn. 27. Akaniṭṭha bhuṃ (Realm of peerless devas) 26. Sudassī bhuṃ (Realm of clear-sighted devas) 25. Sudassā bhuṃ (Realm of beautiful devas) 24. Atappā bhuṃ (Realm of serene devas) 23. Avihā bhuṃ (Realm of durable devas) 22. Asaññasatta bhuṃ (Realm of mindless devas) 21. Vehapphala bhuṃ (Realm of very fruitful devas) Tatiya jhana bhuṃ (Third jhana realm): these three planes harbour brahmas who have a body with an aura. 20. Subhakiṇṇā bhuṃ (Realm of devas with radiant glory 19. Appamāṇasubhā bhuṃ (Realm of devas with unbounded glory) 18. Parittasubhā bhuṃ (Realm of devas with limited glory) Dutiya jhana bhuṃ (Second jhana realm): the brahmas of these three planes have a body with different degrees of lustre. 17. Ābhassara bhuṃ (Realm of devas with streaming radiance) 16. Appamāṇabhā bhuṃ (Realm of devas with unbounded radiance) 15. Parittābhā bhuṃ (Realm of devas with limited glory) Pathama jhana bhuṃ (First jhana realm): the planes of the lowest grade of Rupa brahmas. 14. Mahābrahmā bhuṃ (Realm of the great Brahma) 13. Brahmaparorita bhuṃ (Realm of the Brahma’s ministers) 12. Brahmapārisajja bhuṃ (Realm of the Brahma’s retinue) 3rd level, the Realm of Desire (Kamaloka), contains seven planes of happiness (six heavenly planes of devas and the human plane) and four planes of unhappiness. The six heavenly planes: 11. Paranimmitavassavatī bhuṃ (Realm of devas who enjoy sensory pleasures created by others for them) 10. Nimmānarati bhuṃ (Realm of devas who delight in creating) 9. Tusita bhuṃ (Realm of devas of happiness and contentment) 8. Yāmā bhuṃ (Realm of blissful existence) 7. Tāvatimsa bhuṃ (Realm of the thirty-three gods) 6. Cātummahārājika bhuṃ (Heaven of four great kings) The plane of humans: 5. Manussa bhuṃ (human beings). Both dukkha (suffering) and sukha (happiness) are found here, but this plane is the most fortunate of all because it is the only sphere in which moral initiative occurs and the only one in which perfect Enlightenment can be achieved. The beings here are endowed with a measure of merit and can find protection on their own. They can listen to and learn all the teachings of the Buddha. Bodhisattvas prefer the human realm as it is the best plane in which to serve the world and perfect the requisites of Buddhahood. Last level, consists of the four planes of deprivation/misery (Apāya), these lowest four unhappy planes are infernal states, in which beings pay the price for akusala(demeritorious acts) committed in their previous life. Buddhists believe that beings are born as animals on account of evil kamma. Sprits and ghosts possess deformed physical forms of varying magnitude, generally invisible to the naked eye. 4. Asura loka (demon world): the inhabitants of this plane are powerful and are opposed to devas. 3. Peta loka (world of spirits and hungry ghosts): this plane is known as the “state of woe.” People share their merits with these beings when they do good deeds. 2. Tiracchāna loka (animal world): this is not a pleasant plane as beings have to search for food and fight each other to stay alive. 1. Niraya (world of hell): this plane is below the earth, in the deepest recesses of the Southern Island. There are eight different degrees of punishment: Sanjiva, Kalasutra, Sanghata, Roruva, Maharoruva, Tapana, Mahatapana and Avici. There is no happiness, only suffering, in this realm and it is the worst place to be reborn.

[@charlesdacosta2446]

Doug, to me, this is one of your best talks. Often i can see holes in your thinking, here i can't. And this is despite the disappointment your atheistic following seem to feel. I will have to watch this several more times, then maybe a further point of exploration can be uncovered. Ok one point: metaphor or reality. It doesn't matter, they both are Mara.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, true Charles. Thanks! 🙏

[@georgekiapos1]

So.... even after reaching the highest level (and even that comes to an end) where do we eventually end up?

[@DougsDharma]

Good question George, the answer to that in traditional Buddhism is that we are always in samsara, or the cycle of birth and death. This is beginningless, so when we reach the highest heavens we will eventually exhaust our good karma and fall down lower. Eventually also we will reach the lowest hells and work our way upwards again. From a traditional perspective the only way out of this is to reach nibbāna or awakening.

[@holysandwich4075]

Speaking from traditional perspective, (Mara can be interpreted in many ways but i'm talking about famous god in buddhist texts) the Mara God (Rahu Asurin) who lives in the sixth heaven of world of senses, whose name is ''Dīghasoni'', wants beings to do karmic actions because he is one of the future buddhas. (currently a bodhisatta still fulfilling paramitas). It is said that he was afraid that when he became a buddha,there would not be beings left in samsara because enlightened ones leave the loop. That's the reason he would like beings to chase karma. The other thing I wanna talk about is, ''Theinngu(The-inn-gu) Sayadaw'' known as an arahant in Myanmar, claimed that he obtained divine eyes after the enlightenment and with that eyes, he claimed that brahmas (of jhana world) were very huge beings. Very huge and tall like palm trees.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the information, Holy Sandwich.

[@cygnusvideo]

Stuff like this is why I am comprehensively sure I would not make it as a traditional Buddhist monk. Thank you for outlining these topics, though. Your knowledge is great. I think things like this require faith and are harmful to the mind. Even as a metaphor it is at best just “confusing”

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome cygnusvideo. Yes, I think each of us has to determine for ourselves how we want to work with these concepts, or if we prefer just to lay them to one side. Even in the latter case though it’s good to know about them at least, just so that when we run across them in the early texts we will know what is going on. Otherwise we may become confused or misinterpret what we are reading. 🙂

[@KJL111012]

Hello. Would you be able to do a video on Aggañña Sutta

[@DougsDharma]

I discussed it a bit in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKXXaqRni5Ked9E

[@austinaustin8566]

Is there direct documental evidence and epistemology support that acknowledges a link between the Three Worlds (triloka) doctrine of the Sarvāstivada school with the Three Natures (trisvabhāva) model of the Yogācāra tradition within the broader Buddhist cannon that predates Mahayana textual sources (and vice-versa)?

[@DougsDharma]

I'm not sure of the answer to that one, Austin.

[@alexsdg3441]

perhaps some find this amusing and amazing, but I find it amusing & amazingly confusing...

[@JeffreySBurns]

Have you done anything on the Ten Worlds of Buddhism? Tina Turner's Happiness Becomes You has an interesting comparison/contrast between this grouo of ideas and Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

[@DougsDharma]

I haven't heard of that, Jeffrey!

[@rufushume8910]

If I wanted to interpret the planes of deprivation from a metaphorical perspective I would interpret them as metaphors for sub personalities that are developed by cultivating their corresponding form of negative conditioning and operate as if we actually exist in their corresponding realm. I am curious as to what you think of this.

[@DougsDharma]

I think I understand what you're saying Rufus, thanks. It sounds sort of similar to what I was suggesting in the Zen story at the end.

[@rufushume8910]

@@DougsDharma yes. It is similar. The main reason I use that metaphorical approach instead of the state of mind approach is because it encompasses long-term psychological transformations. By a sub personality I am referring to part of a person's psyche that has its own goals and frame of reference for interpreting the world. The more a person feeds a sub personality the more influence it has over their psyche. This means if we spend too much time feeding a sub personality that is centered around a form of unwholesome conditioning, that can cause us to be "psychologically reborn" into spending a lot of time living as if we were in a plane of deprivation. To give an example, take the hungry ghost realm. When I was younger I became very obsessed with entertainment. Over time, the part of me that was dissatisfied with whatever I had and craved more became the dominant part of my overall personality. The result was that I spent a lot of time suffering from boredom and craving excessive amounts of stimulus. I largely functioned as if I were a hungry ghost. After becoming a Sutric Buddhist I tried to overcome this mindset. It took a good deal of time confronting the states of mind that sub personality generated to transcend it. The metaphor of having to spend time in that realm until I used up the karma I generated was very accurate for what I was going through. Also, it is interesting to note the Buddha saying that we go to 1 of these realms if we accumulate large amounts of their corresponding karma. I did not start living like a hungry ghost because of a few states of mind. It took years of obsessively accumulating that kind of negative conditioning before I lived as if I was in a different realm. The result is that I like to interpret these realms as metaphors for long-term psychological transformations rather than short-term states of mind.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, that makes sense Rufus. I guess it depends on whether we think of the realms as shorter or more long term metaphors. 🙂

[@MrLiveWest]

Hi Doug, I am a on and off watcher of your videos. I am very interested in Taoism, as it makes a lot of sense to me. I am however, confused about the difference between bhuddism and taoism. I think I understand the basic belief of both but I am failing to recognize why they are considered different. Can you make a video about this? Cheers from Berkeley CA

[@DougsDharma]

Hi Noah, I am not an expert in Taoism, but I think it’s closest to Zen Buddhism. I have a video on the history of Zen Buddhism in case you are interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooOkiGB9g5mHi6M . In general though I think Taoism is quite different from early Buddhism, in being more skeptical about concepts and their uses than was the Buddha.

[@study-su1gc]

How did we enter this samsara cycle Is a question i am quite confused on as i understand that i am inside one right now but how did i enter So now why does it matter ,it matters as it affects the clarity of why i do have to escap or rather why it is that i am in this samsara cycle like was i just created like puff and just put in here or what was it ? As there is a start to any cycle

[@JPxKillz]

Question: I don't understand how Buddhism says being human is the best opportunity, and at the same time recommend behaviour that will yield to a rebirth in higher realms. Isn't this exactly what you don't want to happen? Why would you want to be reborn in a higher realm instead of another human life? Assuming human birth is so lucrative. It's a bit confusing and would appreciate any commentary anyone, or Doug, has on this, thanks.

[@DougsDharma]

Well there are sort of two aims in Buddhism, one is the "worldly" aim of doing good deeds and hence getting benefits like a better rebirth. The other is the "unworldly" aim of attaining awakening. The human birth isn't the best "worldly" birth, but it is the best for attaining awakening. Or at least that's how it's usually framed in early Buddhism.

[@yasithperera5700]

You interpreted it wrong. The Human realm is the best opportunity to realising Nibanna because, the Human realm has both suffering and pleasures. Anyway it's only the best in a Buddha Sasana like now. After the teachings are lost, avoid the human world at all cost. So the Higher realms, there is very little suffering. It's mostly filled with Happiness. Hence it's much more difficult to focus on the practises in heaven. Because one can easily be drawn to the pleasures of heaven, if they were born unwise. Also, the Higher realms are ideal because. Longer lifespan than of a Human. If one is born wise in these realms, they can practise meditation and also listen to the Dhamma. Supreme Buddha's teaching are being taught in heaven just like how its taught in Human world, it's not lost there. The path to enlightnement can be found there. But just like in the human world, its dangerous. If one is born as a unwise diety. So in colcusion, strive to be born in the higher realms as a wise diety. Because human world is more riskier now. The Teachings will eventually be lost. That is why it's recommended to be born in the higher realms, where the teachings survive longer. Ideally Tusita Heaven. Also it's much more easier to practise the teachings in the Heavenly world, as one doesnt have to worry about food, money or human necessities. Anywhere below human is bad. Because one cannot practise the teaching in those realms and attain Nibbana in those realms. Only in Human and higher heavenly realms can one attain Nibbana. (excluding the formless realm-the highest heavenly worlds. They cannot attain Nibbana, as they cannot hear the Teachings or practise the teachings. They have no Bodies, only mind made)

[@user-st1cz6qj8b]

Sir, are you talking about the three realm of rebirth, because what i understand is the three realm of existence is about 1. The realm of the 5 components or the 5 aggregates 2. The realm of living beings and 3. The realm of environment. Please enlighten me on this matter. Thank you

[@DougsDharma]

I'm not familiar with the three realms you speak of. Yes, the ones I'm discussing from the early texts are traditionally understood as the realms of existence or rebirth.

[@AnattaAnattata]

สาธุ! สาธุ! สาธุ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏🙂

[@StephenMolloyGoogle]

Very interesting. I wonder how this theory was developed? I find it hard to imagine that the Buddha sat and invented this from scratch, so then where did he build all this from? Perhaps he pulled in a lot of ideas from contemporary culture, sprinkled with his own theories. Or perhaps some of it was somehow "revealed" to him during meditation.

[@DougsDharma]

My supposition is that the theory came from the local practices of such systems as Vedic Brahmanism, as mediated through his meditative experiences.

[@prashantlakhera6156]

buddha wasnt just sitting under the tree, he was trying to attain deeper states of meditation. His body was on Earth, but his mind was penetrating heavens after heavens.

[@iewtbs6806]

Answer is reincarnation. Some people meditate too much but they can't find these theory and powerful like buddha because buddha meditate many times also in his past life, and he also born in many reality, different universe or world. He become very powerful after his mind is connected to all his past life.

[@NirvanicSunshine]

If you haven't, could you do a video on Buddhist afterlife, and if there's no soul, then what it is exactly that transmigrates birth, death of the physical body, and rebirth? And what is the karma tied to in order to direct this transmigration if there is no self or physical body in which to tether it? And whether the Buddha believed in the three universes of Hinduism/Yoga (the physical universe, the astral universe (heaven and hell), and the causal universe.)

[@NirvanicSunshine]

And also, if the Buddha didn't teach anything related to god, why did he call them the brahmaviharas?

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the questions NirvanicSunshine, I have a number of videos on these topics already. For the question on rebirth, check out my playlist on self and non-self: kzbin.info/aero/PL0akoU_OszRjA9n0-U24ZCpfEQVFxeGz2 , and regarding God or gods check out my video on atheism in Buddhism: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4C0mo2YdrWnjZY

[@garyliu6589]

Accoding to buddhist cosmology, there are sentient being without form...they can appear to us in any form though...

[@9RE4TH3RM1T]

From what I learned from the Tibetan Buddhism, the order of the realms from the bottom up are: the hell realm, hungry ghost realm, animal realm, human realm, demi-god/asura realm, and then the god realm. The hungry ghost realm is below the animal realm, because they're in a constant state of thirst due to negative karma from their previous lives. Whereas, animals can eat food; hungry ghosts can't--that's why they're in pain.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes I think it's basically the same cosmology though there are some differences of emphasis.

[@slomo4672]

It's always my understanding that hungry ghosts are below animals. I'm not sure where I got that understanding. I'm Chinese and read Chinese buddhist literature. But I also read translations of Pali and Tibetan literature.

They are not realms of existence, they are ways of rebirth. For example, both "hell" and "ghost" way leads to Kāmaloka - which is the realm of Desire. Both ways lead to the birth of beings overwhelmed with great desire. Beings in hellish state desire to ease the pain and tormenting effects - result of karmic energy in previous cycles. Beings in hungry ghost state desire to satiate with consumption that the environment is not suitable to provide. All those desire are related to sense. All of those 6 ways of rebirth is the various matching of conditions resulting in specific formation of a being. They can be compared with 6 different mathematics function f(x, y, z, ...) that accept various karmic parameters and produce the corresponding result - a being. All those results can then be categorized into 3 realms of existence based on their basic / dominant fabric - sense desire, material or immaterial.

[@nobodymovement3897]

This is one of the most well read NPC's that I have ever encountered.

[@DougsDharma]

Well I hope the stuff is useful to you! 😄

[@Jeremy-bd2yx]

Is there a sense of Mara's motivations within Buddha's definitions? Why Mara has created this existence and wants to keep us here?

[@DougsDharma]

Not to my knowledge Jeremy. In general mythic characters like Māra are created more as avatars for particular concepts. That is, they aren't really fully thought-out "persons", and they don't have well-developed motivations.

[@rasabilly]

Can't all this be a description of different mind states..

[@DougsDharma]

Yes indeed Billy, I get into that a bit at the end. Different people will have different interpretations of what these all are. My own secular approach would interpret them as mind states too.

[@Yelena504]

So even the highest states of meditation from the formless world are also impermanent and inherently unsatisfactory?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes.

[@xxzitionxxogsongs3085]

👁

[@Simonious_Monk]

I must be in the hungry ghost realm...I've been eating carbs all day, and I only want more!! Just kidding, great video.

[@DougsDharma]

You and me both! Gotta love pancakes. 😄😄

[@MaximusTeo]

Karuna Jhana sharing Dhamma Dana from 31realms.mysticlotus.org Karuna Jhana sharing Dhamma Dana from karma.mysticlotus.org

[@dizzyh]

8:46 :)

[@eddygan325]

Why Bodhisattva can't achieve enlightened and psychic power with formless meditation, but after that found that 4 Jhana can lead to psychic power and help in enlightened ? 4 jhana should be lower than Arupa jhana right ?

[@DougsDharma]

I did a video on this general topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emq1mIeHhdN6aqM .

[@PradeepSingh-qp1wt]

as far as I have heard from great saints who were somehow enlightened like j krishnamurty and others whatever is our state of mind at the time of death decides our future birth heaven and hell are not geographical places but they are states of mind...I heard same from goenka retreat too

[@DougsDharma]

Yes there are many ways to interpret these ideas. Thanks Pradeep.

[@PradeepSingh-qp1wt]

@@DougsDharma what is it that really incarnates according to Buddhism as Buddha didnt believe in everlasting soul so is it mind that is incarnating or common consciousness and in that case is that us that is incarnating or just common evolutionary qualities we get like guilt hatred or compassion

[@PradeepSingh-qp1wt]

@@DougsDharma fear,anger etc etc so what is relevance of past and future lives if the person is not reincarnating just consciousness with dominant mind state at the time of death beacuase after every incarnation it would be different

It also applies to you here and now. Not only for death.

[@AmirHa]

epigenetic memory and that it can be passed to later generations, could be what Buddha was trying to explain.

[@DougsDharma]

We certainly transmit the consequences of our actions into the future, after we are gone.

[@Yelena504]

If the Buddha left off all those formless attainments and left his teachers to go awaken on his own, then why are these a part of Buddhism? Are they necessary in order to attain awakening? I want know what he went to go do on his own, 'cause it worked and perhaps it wasn't so drawn-out and complicated.. I'm all about efficiency :)

[@DougsDharma]

The formless attainments are not necessary for awakening on an early Buddhist understanding, however they can be helpful.

At the time of the Buddha, many - if not the majority - of people who take on the practice to achieve spiritual release are framed in those doctrine of attainments. It's not easy and straightforward to immediately make them change. One of the approach is to explain to them all the pro and cons of those practices and attainments then present the new way. The Buddha did have speech regarding those practices but he always ended up presenting his way - comparing pros and cons along the way. The Buddha also confirmed that all he taught during his life time is only the Four Noble Truths - ultimately the way to cease dukkha. Even at death, the Buddha continuously entered and exited the Jhanas but end up with exiting the Fourth Jhana and passed away in non-jhanic state. This was to prove that even though he still has the full control over entering-exiting those Jhanas, it was not the goal and it was not the way. Nowadays, we only learn through various speeches patched together. Moreover, we don't have the Buddha in person to explain. As a result, we tread too much into details which are not important. We don't get that they are supposed to be treated as just skillful approaches the Buddha used to achieve the only and only lesson he needed to teach: The way to end Dukkha.

[@yokie5091]

who are the brahma and what is a brahma world?

[@DougsDharma]

Well traditionally the Brahmas are a group of deities, and they live in the Brahma world.

[@CosmicGorilla]

Is the right word “control” with respect to Mara or should it be, “influence?” If “control” I’ll interpret this concept differently than “influence.” Sorry, I’m not splitting hairs, I don’t have a view on what the right word is.

[@DougsDharma]

Sure Rob, if you prefer "influence", that works too. I think it's just good to keep in mind that Māra's influence is quite deep and extensive! 😄

[@BKKKevin]

Love your work but I had to sit thru six commercials one of which wanted to sell me on Scientology!... #Mara

[@DougsDharma]

Yikes! Sorry to hear Kevin. FWIW you should be able to click through the ads.

[@BKKKevin]

@@DougsDharma Yes but it like Mara taunting me while I watch your dharma...

[@samschreiber3922]

Douggg

[@swapnilwankhade7965]

Sir is there heaven and hell in Buddhism?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, but it depends how we interpret it. Traditionally these are taken literally, but we can also understand them metaphorically as states of mind.

[@rohlay00]

@@DougsDharma But if taken metaphorically, cyclic existence and karma will also be taken metaphorically. Therefore, the ultimate goal of nirvana looses its meaning without this metaphysical claim.

[@DougsDharma]

If it loses meaning for you then by all means don't take it metaphorically. But for me the ultimate goal of nirvana is as the Third Noble Truth, the extinction of craving.

[@pastlifeconnection8225]

Or literal?

[@joshp7473]

their should be 12???

[@DougsDharma]

Well it depends on how you divide them up. 🙂

[@rebekanewbold507]

WHOA... I was listening to him talk and a thought popped up in my head "This guy doesn't believe in Buddhism. I wonder why he is talking about Buddhism." That was my spirit talking. But the logical brain part said "But he is making a video about Buddhism... he must be a Buddhist." Then when he said he didn't believe in buddhism in the video my soul's prayer bowl went DING. Its ok we all get there in the end. It doesnt require belief. The dreamer can say I dont believe im dreaming for a long time before they see... and say to themselves...oh wait a sec... And then you get in on other collective dreams. Its how I knew he wasnt buddhist when he spoke. I could tell he wasnt a lucid waking life dreamer. ahahaha

[@DipayanPyne94]

Are you talking about Doug ? If yes, I would like you to know that he believes in a strictly secular form of Buddhism ...

[@rebekanewbold507]

@@DipayanPyne94 That's the same as if a person said to me I don't believe in God or Jesus but I practice Christian principles. That's totally cool. All story lines are welcomed here. Its just at the time of the comment... I was emerging from the dark night of soul. Where you want to wake all the dreamers up. But that too was an illusion I needed to wake from. Everything is just how it ought to be at all times. No needing to change anyone or anything. People blossom in their own time. don't need to rip the petals off a rose bed to get it to bloom faster. That's rather silly of me.

[@DipayanPyne94]

@@rebekanewbold507 Well, not quite. Believing in Jesus and the supernatural stuff of Christianity is an absolute must, if you wanna call yourself a Christian. There is no such thing in Buddhism. Buddha's Core Teachings are Philosophical, not Religious. They are very different from Christian teachings. One doesn't need to believe in the Supernatural Parts of Buddhism to be a Buddhist. That's why, Doug is a Secular Buddhist, although he does cover the supernatural parts of Buddhism too, on his channel ...

[@petagonkyi]

The animal realm is higher than the hungry ghost according to Mahayana.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, that sounds right Peta. Thanks!

[@user-Void-Star]

@@DougsDharma 6 realms are the 6 evolution period of the Universe. Deva is highly civilization.

[@user-Void-Star]

@@DougsDharma hungry ghost is the first living organism. Hell is beginning of the universe and hell is also the ending period of the universe 8 hot period and 8 cold periods. 8 period of hot is the beginning of the universe and 8 period of the cold is dying Universe. Asura are the warlord period and human is the beginning period of intelligence.

[@arahant8645]

The realm of hungry ghosts also seems to be the realm of addiction.

[@fourthinternationalist_1917]

I was searching for the three realms of Heaven Hell and Earth

[@DougsDharma]

Right, these are among the realms I discuss.

[@wordscapes5690]

To be reborn an ox in certain parts of India is to have a life of luxury. 😊

[@narayananvenkatesan5767]

Kama loka or world of gross matter and mind/consciousness (5% of the observable universe). Rupa loka or fine material world where matter exists in a very subtle form with mind/consciousness = Dark Matter (27% of the observable universe. Arupa loka or immaterial world where there is no matter and only mind/consciousness exists = Dark Energy (68% of the observable universe) Nirvana = beyond all the three worlds:)

[@wendyshoo3476]

The buddha is already an enlightened being. When he was born, he said it will be his last rebirth on earth. He is not a normal human. He does not claim he owned any material things. He came with a mission to teach mankind how to cultivate themself because ignorant human beings are suffering going through samsara (round of conception, birth, old age, sickness & death) with bones pililg up on earth repeated without knowing a way to achieje enlightenment.

Then the term "enlightened" you talk about simply means "learned" or "taught". It might be correct that Siddhartha, through various life time, is born to finish the course. But if you say he was a Buddha before being born then you might have just negated all he taught. Also, the idea that the Buddha came with a mission is a wrong view. Who gave him such mission? Another superior being? As the Buddha reminisced, as he'd just got the Enlightenment, he had no desire to teach or spread such knowledge. So saying that he came - already enlightened - assigned with a mission is apparently a way to delude people with wrong information. To what end? Possibly it was the method used by kings and leaders to charm their subjects through the manipulation of religion and beliefs.

[@wendyshoo3476]

Beginners need to read lots of dharma books recorded by buddha's teachings time to understand the context of buddhism. In short don't waste time discussing the topic but cultivate to the point. To even understand basic buddhism will take 8 years & generations. Karma, to understand why one being born a dog not micmicking behaviour of animals are born animals. Dogs (people who during their lives like to disturb others by controlling others, boundary guarding and preventing others fr using, like to quarrels with others or caging others), Cows and pigs are creatures of debts or frauding others wealth, so they are repaying those debts by blood (milk) and meat. Hell Realms when one don't understand why its so unfair to suffer there why some are repeated torture being cut in hell, their livelihood they cut up animals numerously who suffered. Its the mental & physical suffering caused on others. Karma is what you have caused & what you reap. Good and Bad. Mara cannot control anyone. Every human actions are by mental recorded during their lifetime and reap of karmic force. The topic is too extensive for even anyone try to discuss it. One must cultivate and know what you want to atain in line to your time frame realistically. Lets just say you have 75 years old in average people. If you are 49 years old, you have 26 years, and very2 hardworking, you don't have much time. Ask yourself, how high I can attain in these short 26 years left. What to cultivate and how. 1.Longevity, 2. All kinds of Merits in all forms 3. Mental Cultination how, what are there. You have no time to even discuss but actually do the cultivation.

[@the_trippy_unicorn]

Came here after watching Thor:The dark world 😅

[@DougsDharma]

😄That's a bit of a leap!

[@the_trippy_unicorn]

@@DougsDharma Yes Mr I'm practically confused now😅 Please do a video of that too.

[@AbdullahMikalRodriguez]

This is quite a closed-minded perception of the 31 planes of existence. I would implore you all to address Buddhist cosmology as an archetypal mythos. Don't allow your 21st-century huberous to misinterpret the pali cosmology.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for your thoughts Alex. There are an unbounded number of ways of approaching this material, each of us has to approach from our own perspective.

[@AbdullahMikalRodriguez]

I certainly appreciate your intention with these videos but your persistence on "secularism" within Buddhist teaching is becoming a clear point of contention...

[@DougsDharma]

It’s not for everyone but it is for some, just like any contemporary approach to belief and practice.

[@garyliu6589]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cosmology#/media/File%3AA_Diagrammatic_representation_of_the_Buddhist_Universe.jpg 🐥 Buddhist cosmology: Existence 3 domains, 6 realms, 9 stages, 28 heavens If you like movie like Dr. Strange or Star War, you are going to like the Buddhism cosmology. It describes the richness of the universe as observed by the Buddha. Buddhism is not just a system of believe, it is a philosophical science for the top minds & the educated since ancient time. It consists of vast literatures from the top minds center around Buddha teaching. The Buddhism cosmology is depicted in above photo, we should look at it as levels of conciousness, not as mythology. Keep in mind, Buddhism is about enlightenment i.e. how to train and transcend our consciousness. The 6 realms are Heaven or Celestial, Angel or Deva or Asura, Humanity, Animal, Starving ghost, Purgatory or Hell, encompass all sentient being where every sentient being is endowed with limited consciousness. Angel is a little higher than human, human is a little higher than animal, etc. The heaven realm can further divide into 28 levels. The human realm can be divided into 10 levels also, i.e. some behave like Buddha or angel or human or animal or devil, etc. Again, we are talking about enlightenment i.e. level of consciousness. In this life we are human being, in other life we might be another sentient being. In the Buddhist cosmology all are sentient being of different forms, each endowed with limited consciouness. Angel is a little higher then human, human is a little higher then animal, etc. If we don want to come back to this world or realm, we need to train & transcend our consciousness & karma. The practice of Buddhism stresses on self discipline, self awareness of own limitation, & to show compassion toward all living beings, because all living beings are sentient. Buddhism practice emcompass basic buddhist precepts. Precepts mean to do or not to do, general rules intended to regulate behaviour & thought. Basic precepts encompass word, action, thought, i.e. how we interact with external & inner universe. Buddhist precepts are universal teachings about properties of people, sentient beings, self awareness & levels of consciousness, generalized by the enlightened one. Precepts is important to get rid of all bad habits, bad desire that can cloud our mind e.g. smoking, alcohol, any indulgence, ill relationship, ill health, worldly entanglement etc. A healthy & clear mind, clarity of thought, mindfulness is essential in the pursuit of higher consciouness or enlightenment. Human realm has the advantage of intellectual & physical condition to learn & practice buddhism. Human form is the best form to learn buddhism according to Buddha. In Buddhism, Bodhisattva is the Sanskrit term for anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated Bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish and a compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. The cosmology construct is actually quite similar to Christianity concept of heaven & hell, except that Buddha is not perceived as God but higher being or the awakened being. Christianity teach you to believe, while Buddhism teach you to think & train. Two standard buddhist literatures on consciousness are Diamond Sutra & Heart Sutra. It is available on youtube & internet.