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Path to Freedom Dhamma Heaven
The Thirty-one Planes of Existence
2005
Scattered throughout the suttas are references to as many as thirty-one distinct
"planes" or "realms" of existence into which beings can be reborn during their
long wandering through samsara. These range from the extraordinarily grim and pa
inful hell realms all the way up to the most exquisitely refined and blissful he
aven realms. Existence in every realm is temporary; in Buddhist cosmology there
is no eternal heaven or hell. Beings are born into a particular realm according
to their past kamma. When they pass away, they take rebirth once again elsewhere
according to the quality of their kamma: wholesome actions bring about a favora
ble rebirth, while unwholesome actions lead to an unfavorable one. And so the we
arisome cycle continues.
The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (lo
ka), listed here in descending order of refinement:
The Immaterial World (arupa-loka). Consists of four realms that are accessible t
o those who pass away while meditating in the formless jhanas.
The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka). Consists of sixteen realms whose inhabitant
s (the devas) experience extremely refined degrees of mental pleasure. These rea
lms are accessible to those who have attained at least some level of jhana and w
ho 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 rea
lms, the Pure Abodes, are accessible only to those who have attained to "non-ret
urning," the third stage of Awakening. The Fine-Material World and the Immateria
l World together constitute the "heavens" (sagga).
The Sensuous World (kama-loka). Consists of eleven realms in which experience
bo
th pleasurable and not is dominated by the five senses. Seven of these realms ar
e favorable destinations, and include our own human realm as well as several rea
lms occupied by devas. The lowest realms are the four "bad" destinations, which
include the animal and hell realms.
The information on this page was assembled from a variety of sources. In the int
erests of economizing space I have not attributed each fact to its respective so
urce.
I. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka)
Realm Comments
Cause of rebirth here
(31) Neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasannanasannayatanupaga deva)
The inhabitants of these realms are possessed entirely of mind. Having no physic
al body, they are unable to hear Dhamma teachings.
Fourth formless jhana
(30) Nothingness (akincannayatanupaga deva)
Third formless jhana
(29) Infinite Consciousness (vinnanancayatanupaga deva) Second formless jhana
(28) Infinite Space (akasanancayatanupaga deva) First formless jhana
II. The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka)
Realm Comments
Cause of rebirth here
(27) Peerless devas (akanittha deva)
These are the five Pure Abodes (suddhava

sa), which are accessible only to non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings w
ho become non-returners in other planes are reborn here, where they attain araha
ntship.
Among its inhabitants is Brahma Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach Dhamma t
o the world (SN 6.1).
Fourth jhana. (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(26) Clear-sighted devas (sudassi deva)
(25) Beautiful devas (sudassa deva)
(24) Untroubled devas (atappa deva)
(23) Devas not Falling Away (aviha deva)
(22) Unconscious beings (asannasatta) Only body is present; no mind.
(21) Very Fruitful devas (vehapphala deva)
Beings in these planes enjoy var
ying degrees of jhanic bliss.
(20) Devas of Refulgent Glory (subhakinna deva)
Third jhana (highest degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(19) Devas of Unbounded Glory (appamanasubha deva)
Third jhana (medium degr
ee)
(18) Devas of Limited Glory (parittasubha deva) Third jhana (minor degree)
(17) Devas of Streaming Radiance (abhassara deva)
Second jhana (highest degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
(16) Devas of Unbounded Radiance (appamanabha deva)
Second jhana (medium deg
ree)
(15) Devas of Limited Radiance (parittabha deva)
Second jhana (minor degr
ee)
(14) Great Brahmas (Maha brahma)
One of this realm's most famous inhabita
nts is the Great Brahma, a deity whose delusion leads him to regard himself as t
he all-powerful, all-seeing creator of the universe (DN 11).
First jhana (hig
hest degree)
(13) Ministers of Brahma (brahma-purohita deva) Beings in these planes enjoy var
ying degrees of jhanic bliss. First jhana (medium degree)
(12) Retinue of Brahma (brahma-parisajja deva)
First jhana (minor degree). (See, e.g., AN 4.123.)
III. The Sensuous World (kama-loka)
HAPPY DESTINATIONS (SUGATI)
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Realm Comments
Cause of rebirth here
(11) Devas Wielding Power over the Creation of Others (paranimmita-vasavatti dev
a)
These devas enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them. Mara, the
personification of delusion and desire, lives here.
Ten wholesome actions (M
N 41)
Generosity
The development of virtue and wisdom (AN 10.177)
(10) Devas Delighting in Creation (nimmanarati deva)
These devas delight in t
he sense objects of their own creation.
(9) Contented devas (tusita deva)
A realm of pure delight and gaiety. Bodh
isattas abide here prior to their final human birth. This is where the bodhisatt
a Maitreya (Metteya), the next Buddha, is said to dwell.
(8) Yama devas (yama deva)
These devas live in the air, free of all difficu
lties.
(7) The Thirty-three Gods (tavatimsa deva)
Sakka, a devotee of the Buddha,
presides over this realm. Many devas dwelling here live in mansions in the air.

(6) Devas of the Four Great Kings (catumaharajika deva) Home of the gandhabbas,
the celestial musicians, and the yakkhas, tree spirits of varying degrees of eth
ical purity. The latter are analogous to the goblins, trolls, and fairies of Wes
tern fairy tales.
(5) Human beings (manussa loka)
You are here (for now).
Rebirth as a human being is extraordinarily rare (SN 56.48). It is also extraord
inarily precious, as its unique balance of pleasure and pain (SN 35.135) facilit
ates the development of virtue and wisdom to the degree necessary to set one fre
e from the entire cycle of rebirths.
The development of virtue and wisdom (AN 10.177)
The attainment of stream-entry (sotapatti) guarantees that all future rebirths w
ill be in the human or higher realms.
* * *
STATES OF DEPRIVATION (APAYA)
Realm Comments
Cause of rebirth here
(4) Asuras (asura)
The demons
"titans"
that dwell here are engaged in relen
tless conflict with each other. Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
(3) Hungry Shades/Ghosts (peta loka)
Ghosts and unhappy spirits wander hopele
ssly about this realm, searching in vain for sensual fulfillment.
Read Ajaan Lee's colorful description of this realm.
Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN 10.177)
(2) Animals (tiracchana yoni) This realm includes all the non-human forms of l
ife that are visible to us under ordinary circumstances: animals, insects, fish,
birds, worms, etc.
Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views. If one is generous to monks and nuns, ho
wever, one may be reborn as an "ornamented" animal (i.e., a bird with bright plu
mage; a horse with attractive markings, etc.; AN 10.177).
Behaving like an animal (MN 57)
(1) Hell (niraya)
These are realms of unimaginable suffering and anguish (
described in graphic detail in MN 129 and MN 130). Should not be confused with t
he eternal hell found in other religious traditions, since one's time here is
as
it is in every realm temporary.
Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN 10.177)
Murdering your parents, murdering an arahant, injuring the Buddha, or creating a
schism in the Sangha (AN 5.129)
Being quarrelsome and annoying to others (Snp II.6)