Ten spiritual realms
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The Ten spiritual realms are part of the Buddhist belief that there are ten conditions of life which all people possess, and are experienced from moment to moment.
The ten spiritual realms are part of Buddhist cosmology and consist of four higher realms and six lower realms. Some schools of buddhism see them as being external, ten different planes of existence beings can be born into, whilst others, see them as states of mind that can be shifted between due to external and internal influences. The following is a description of the ten realms as mental states.
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[edit] Six realms
The Six lower realms are Hell, Hunger, Animality, Anger, Humanity and Rapture. These six lower worlds arise automatically from within people’s lives in response to external surroundings. Three of the four remaining worlds are: Learning, Realization and Bodhisattva. These worlds are developed through seeking, discovering and aspiring. The tenth world, Buddhahood, is a condition of pure, indestructible happiness.
[edit] Hell
Hell is a condition of total suffering and despair, in which one perceives no freedom of action and has very little life force (physical or mental energy). One feels totally trapped by one's circumstances, sometimes dominated by frustrated rage and, in extreme cases, the urge to destroy oneself and everything else. The desire not to fall into this condition is a powerful incentive for people to make efforts to rise above this state in daily life.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of Naraka.
[edit] Hunger
Hunger is a condition characterized by insatiable desires which govern one's actions, for food, power, wealth, fame, pleasure and so on. In this state one is tormented by relentless craving and the inability to satisfy it, even when the desire is achieved. This realm is characterized by a total lack of will power and the disregard of all things except the fulfillment of desires.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of the Pretas.
[edit] Animality
Animality is a condition in which one is governed by instinct, in which one has no sense of morality and lives only for the present moment. In this state one won't hesitate to prey on weaker beings for personal gain, and will try to attract the attentions of stronger beings in order to side with them. This realm is characterized by the total lack of good judgement and reason.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of Animals.
[edit] Anger
Anger is the condition in which one is dominated by the selfish ego, competitiveness, arrogance and the need to be superior in all things. The experiencer is a slave to his/her delusions, viewing oneself as more important than - and superior to - others. This realm is characterized by viewing other beings as nothing more than potential threats.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of the Asuras.
[edit] Humanity (or Tranquility)
Humanity is the basic condition of human beings. In this calm state one can pass fair judgment, control instinctive desires with reason, and act in harmony with one's surroundings. The experiencer acts in a generally humane way, family and friends are viewed as near-to or equal to self. However, it is a very unstable state and can quickly shift into higher or lower realms if this world is disturbed. This realm is characterized by being highly vulnerable to external influences.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of Humans.
[edit] Heaven (or Rapture)
Heaven is the condition of pleasure, when one's desires are fulfilled and one experiences short-lived but intense feelings of joy. Unlike the true happiness of Buddhahood, however, this state is temporary and, like Humanity, easily disrupted by even a slight change of circumstances. One will inevitably descend to a lower realm once the joy dies away. This realm is characterized by not feeling negative emotions and being less vulnerable to external influences than the lower realms.
This condition is comparable to the Buddhist world of the Devas.
[edit] Commentary
The majority of sentient beings spend most of their time moving between these six conditions of life, from Hell to Rapture, governed by their reactions to external influences and therefore highly vulnerable to changing circumstances.
One thing that should be noted is that in all of the six lower realms, the experiencer's emotional state is totally controlled by externals. Indeed his/her entire identity is based on externals.
An example of how one can be shifted between the six lower realms could be:
The experiencer longs to be in a relationship (the realm of Hunger). He/she meets someone and enters into a new relationship (the realm of Heaven). After some time, the relationship becomes the norm, the experiencer then shifts to the realm of Humanity. He/she now feels threatened by the attentions of others and is seized by jealously (the realm of Anger). Eventually his/her possessiveness drives the loved one away and the experiencer is overcome by despair (the realm of Hell).
[edit] Four Higher Realms (Also called Four Noble Realms)
In traditional Mahayana Buddhist cosmology, the four higher realms are four of the ten spiritual realms.
The four higher worlds are characterized by the belief that humans need to make an effort to reveal themselves from within their lives.
[edit] Learning
Learning is a condition in which one seeks some skill, lasting truth or self-improvement through the teachings of others. To access this realm, the experiencer must first develop the desire to gain wisdom and insight into the true nature of all things, free from delusion. This realm is characterized by the seeking of truth and wisdom through external sources, eg other people and pre-recorded information (usually texts).
This condition is comparable to the state of the Śrāvakabuddha.
[edit] Realization (or Absorption)
Realization is a state in which one discovers a partial truth through one's own observations, efforts and concentration. Usually to access this realm the experiencer must first have decided external sources are inferior to internal sources, eg his/her own mind. This realm is characterized by the seeking of truth and wisdom through direct internal perception.
This condition is comparable to the state of the Pratyekabuddha.
The two above realms are collectively known as 'the two vehicles'. Even though these realms are based upon the desire to increase wisdom and insight, ego is still present, as these desire are primarily self-orientated.
[edit] Bodhisattvahood
Bodhisattvahood is a condition in which one not only aspires for personal enlightenment but also devotes oneself to relieving the sufferings of others through compassionate and truly altruistic actions, e.g. helping others. This realm is characterized by the feeling that happiness achieved through the benefit of others is superior to happiness achieved through the benefit of only the self.
This condition is that of a Bodhisattva.
[edit] Buddhahood
Buddhahood is the highest of the Ten Worlds, a condition of pure, indestructible happiness which is not dependent on one's circumstances. The experiencer is totally free from all delusion, suffering and anger. It is a condition of perfect and absolute freedom, characterized by boundless wisdom, courage, compassion and life force. This realm is difficult to describe and is generally only obtained through the direct internal perception of the realm of realization. This realm is characterized by not being shifted into lower realms due to external sources, and the non-reliance on external sources for happiness. This realm is mainfested outwardly through the actions of the realm of bodhisattvahood.
This condition is that of a fully enlightened Buddha.
[edit] Interpenetration of the Ten Realms
Each of the Ten Worlds possesses all Ten Worlds. Each has the potential to reveal any of the others at any moment. Some sects of Buddhism believe that as people practice Buddhism they make Buddhahood the dominant state of their lives, as it acts as a kind of filter, revealing the positive aspects of the other nine worlds from Hell to Bodhisattva.
The realms are labelled the same by buddhist sects that see them as planes of existence, the difference being the only way to shift between them is through rebirth in the next life, eg being born into a different realm after death). This is governed by action and volition (the choices made during life).
