Six realms
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The Six realms (Tibetan: rigs drug gi skye gnas), are six divisions of the possible states of rebirth in traditional Buddhist cosmology. They represent all the possibilities, good and bad, of life in saṃsāra. They include rebirth as a deva, an asura, a human being, an animal, a hungry ghost, or a being in Naraka (hell).
The Six realms are also called the "six paths of rebirth", the "six paths of suffering", the "six planes", and the "six lower realms" (by contrast with the higher attainments of the Ten spiritual realms).
This division is most commonly seen in Tibetan Mahāyāna Buddhism.
In the Bhavacakra (example), a popular depiction of the Six realms, the realm of the Devas is placed at the top, followed clockwise by the realms of the Asuras, the Pretas, Naraka, Animals, and Humans.
Note that the ranking of the realms may differ among different Buddhist traditions; for instance, some traditions place the Asura realm second, before the Human realm.
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[edit] Deva realm
The Deva realm is the realm of bliss and pride.
The Deva realm is sometimes also referred to as the gods' realm, because its inhabitants are so powerful that, compared to humans, they resemble the gods of Greek or Roman mythology. However, while the Devas may be referred to as gods, they are not immortal, omniscient, nor omnipotent, and act neither as creators nor judges at death, so they are notably distinct from the monotheistic concept of God.
[edit] Human realm
The Human realm (also known as the Manuṣya realm) is based on passion, desire, and doubt.
Buddhists see this realm as the one in which homo sapiens live. It is described as one of the more conducive realms to achieving enlightenment because of the possibilities that it offers.
[edit] Asura realm
The Asura realm is the realm of the demigods. They are here because of actions based on jealousy, struggle, combat or rationalization of the world. They may be here because in human form they had good intentions but committed bad actions such as harming others. The Asuras are said to experience a much more pleasurable life than humans, but they are plagued by envy for the devas, whom they can see just as humans can perceive animals.
The Asura realm is also sometimes referred to as the Ashura realm, Titan realm', Jealous God realm, Demigod realm, or Anti-God realm. Asura is also sometimes translated as "demon," "fighting demon," "those without wine," or "frightened ghost," which can cause confusion because beings of the hell realm are also sometimes referred to as demons.
[edit] Hungry Ghost realm
The Hungry Ghost realm (also known as the Preta realm) is based on possessiveness and desire.
The sentient beings in this realm are known as "hungry ghosts" because of their inability to enjoy food or drink. In Tibetan versions of the Bhavacakra they are drawn with narrow necks to represent that condition.
[edit] Animal realm
The Animal realm (also known as the Tiryag-yoni realm) is based on stupidity and prejudice.
Buddhists believe that this realm is home to the nonhuman animals on Earth, though humans can see the animals in the same way that the Asura can see the Devas.
[edit] Naraka realm
The Naraka realm, or "hell realm" is based on hatred.
The Buddhist view of the Naraka realm differs significantly from that of most monotheistic religions in that those being punished in this realm are not trapped permanently. Rather, they remain there until their negative karma is used up, at which point they are reborn into another realm.
