31 Realms of Existence

May 20, 2016; revised May 30, 2018; August 24, 2020; July 7, 2024 (#5,#6)

Notes:

1. See, “Kamma, Saṅkhāra, and Abhisaṅkhāra.” Akusala kamma are the same as apuññābhisaṅkhāra (apuñña abhisaṅkhāra.)

2. The realms and the lifetimes are extracted from various suttā: see, for example, “Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – Introduction,” “Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)“,  “Saṅkhārupapatti Sutta (MN 120),” and “Paṭhamamettā Sutta (AN 4.125).”

• In particular, “Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)“ discusses how different types of kamma lead to rebirth among the 31 realms.
• The “Visākhā Sutta (AN 8.43)” gives lifetimes of various Deva realms.

3. Tihetuka means kusala kamma done with alobha, adosa, amoha.

• Dvihetuka means kusala kamma done with alobha/adosa. They have not removed all ten types of micchā diṭṭhi but may have removed many. They grasp the new bhava without fully understanding, i.e., javana citta at the cuti-paṭisandhi moment will have “weak javana power.”
• In contrast, one with tihetuka birth grasps the new existence with a complete understanding of the laws of kamma. Therefore, amoha means removal of the ten types of micchā diṭṭhi.
• Ahetuka births occur purely as a vipāka of a good kamma but without generating javana citta. They have not removed most of the ten types of micchā diṭṭhi. Thus, “ahetuka” does not mean “without hetu” there. It just means an “unfortunate birth.”
• See “Patisandhi Citta – How the Next Life is Determined According to Gati” for details.

4. CE = Celestial Years; M HY = Millions of Human Years.

5. A Mahā Kappa (indicated only as kappa in the Table) is the time for the Solar system to go through a complete cycle. A quarter of this (or an Asaṅkheyya Kappa or 20 kappa) is the life of the Earth or the Solar system. The solar system is born, destroyed, and reborn like living beings. See “Buddhism and Evolution – Aggañña Sutta (DN 27).” The Buddha describes the length of one kappa in the “Pabbata Sutta (SN 15.5).” The lifetimes of many realms are given in Ref. 9; in the English translation, the lifetimes can be found in section 18.6.2. Age Limit.

6. The connection between various rupāvacara jhānic states, arupāvacara samāpatti states, and the corresponding Brahma realms in “Dhammahadayavibhaṅga.” English translation at “18. Analysis Of The Heart Of The Teaching.”

• For example, the rupāvacara jhānic state can be cultivated at low, intermediate, and superior levels, and the yogis who cultivated the first jhāna at those levels will be reborn in the Brahma Pārisajja, Brahma Purohita and Mahā Brahma realms (the three lowest realms.)
• The second and third jhānās lead to rebirths in the higher-lying six Brahma levels, with those cultivating the superior level of the third jhāna having rebirth in the Subhakiṇha realm.
• Those who cultivate the fourth jhāna will be reborn in the Vehapphala realm.
• Those who cultivate asañña bhāvanā will be reborn in the Asaññasatta realm.
• Those who cultivate the arupāvacara samāpatti will be reborn in the four arupāvacara realms.

7. The names of the four arupa realms describe their characteristics.

• Akāsānancāyatana comes from “ākāsa” +”ananta” or infinite +”āyatana,” or the realm where infinite space is the focus of the mind (ārammana).
• Vinnānancāyatana comes from “viññāna” +”ananta” or infinite +”āyatana,” or the realm where the infinite viññāna is the focus of the mind (ārammana).
• Äkincnnayatana comes from “ākin” + “ca” or mind +”āyatana,” or the realm where the focus of the mind (ārammana) is only the mind itself and nothing else.
• Neva saññā nā saññā comes from “na” or not+ “asañña” or without perception +”nā,” or not + “saññā” or perception, i.e., the realm where one cannot say whether there is either “no perception” or “there is perception.”  One could go on for a short time without perception (just like in the asañña realm), but it comes back since the “bhava” is still there.

8. The following video gives a good general description of the 31 realms:

9. All the realms and their characteristics are detailed at “Dhammahadayavibhaṅga.” English translation at “18. Analysis Of The Heart Of The Teaching.”

• The “Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41)” also describes all the realms.

January 24, 2019: Relevant post: “Buddhism and Evolution – Aggañña Sutta (DN 27)“.