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 painful hell realms all the way
up to the most exquisitely refined and blissful heaven 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 favorable rebirth, while
unwholesome actions lead to an unfavorable one. And so the wearisome cycle continues.

The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (loka), listed here in descending order of refinement:

 The Immaterial World (arupa-loka). Consists of four realms that are accessible to those who pass away while meditating in
the formless jhanas.
 The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka). Consists of sixteen realms whose inhabitants (the devas) experience extremely refined
degrees of mental pleasure. These realms are accessible to those who have attained at least some level of jhana and who
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 realms, the Pure Abodes, are accessible only to those who have attained to "non-returning,"
the third stage of Awakening. The Fine-Material World and the Immaterial World together constitute the "heavens" (sagga).
 The Sensuous World (kama-loka). Consists of eleven realms in which experience — both pleasurable and not — is dominated
by the five senses. Seven of these realms are favorable destinations, and include our own human realm as well as several
realms 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 interests of economizing space I have not attributed each
fact to its respective source.

I. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka)

Cause of
Realm Comments
rebirth here
(31) Neither-perception-nor-non-perception The inhabitants of these realms are possessed entirely of Fourth
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(nevasaññanasaññayatanupaga deva) mind. Having no physical body, they are unable to hear formless
Dhamma teachings. jhana
Third formless
(30) Nothingness (akiñcaññayatanupaga deva)
jhana
Second
(29) Infinite Consciousness (viññanañcayatanupaga
formless
deva)
jhana
First formless
(28) Infinite Space (akasanañcayatanupaga deva)
jhana

II. The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka)

Realm Comments Cause of rebirth here
(27) Peerless devas (akanittha
deva)
(26) Clear-sighted devas
These are the five Pure Abodes (suddhavasa), which are accessible only to
(sudassi deva)
non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings who become non-returners in
(25) Beautiful devas (sudassa other planes are reborn here, where they attain arahantship.
deva) Fourth jhana. (See,
(24) Untroubled devas Among its inhabitants is Brahma Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach e.g., AN 4.123.)
(atappa deva) Dhamma to the world (SN 6.1).

(23) Devas not Falling Away

(aviha deva)
(22) Unconscious beings
Only body is present; no mind.
(asaññasatta)

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(21) Very Fruitful devas
(vehapphala deva)
(20) Devas of Refulgent Glory
(subhakinna deva)
(19) Devas of Unbounded
Glory (appamanasubha deva)
(18) Devas of Limited Glory
(parittasubha deva)
(17) Devas of Streaming
Radiance (abhassara deva)
(16) Devas of Unbounded
Radiance (appamanabha
deva)
(15) Devas of Limited
Radiance (parittabha deva)
(14) Great Brahmas (Maha
brahma)
(13) Ministers of Brahma
(brahma-purohita deva)
(12) Retinue of Brahma
(brahma-parisajja deva)
Third jhana (highest
degree). (See, e.g., AN
4.123.)
Third jhana (medium
degree)
Third jhana (minor
Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss. degree)
Second jhana (highest
degree). (See, e.g., AN
4.123.)
Second jhana (medium
degree)
Second jhana (minor
degree)
One of this realm's most famous inhabitants is the Great Brahma, a deity
First jhana (highest
whose delusion leads him to regard himself as the all-powerful, all-seeing
degree)
creator of the universe (DN 11).
First jhana (medium
degree)
Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss. First jhana (minor
degree). (See, e.g., AN
4.123.)
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III. The Sensuous World (kama-loka)

Happy Destinations (sugati)

Realm Comments Cause of rebirth here
(11) Devas Wielding Power
These devas enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them.
over the Creation of Others
Mara, the personification of delusion and desire, lives here.
(paranimmita-vasavatti deva)
(10) Devas Delighting in
These devas delight in the sense objects of their own creation.
Creation (nimmanarati deva)
A realm of pure delight and gaiety. Bodhisattas abide here prior to · Ten wholesome actions (MN 41)
(9) Contented devas (tusita
their final human birth. This is where the bodhisatta Maitreya
deva) · Generosity
(Metteya), the next Buddha, is said to dwell.
(8) Yama devas (yama deva) These devas live in the air, free of all difficulties. · The development of virtue and
(7) The Thirty-three Gods Sakka, a devotee of the Buddha, presides over this realm. Many wisdom (AN 10.177)
(tavatimsa deva) devas dwelling here live in mansions in the air.
Home of the gandhabbas, the celestial musicians, and the
(6) Devas of the Four Great yakkhas, tree spirits of varying degrees of ethical purity. The latter
Kings (catumaharajika deva) are analogous to the goblins, trolls, and fairies of Western fairy
tales.
You are here (for now). · The development of virtue and
wisdom (AN 10.177)
(5) Human beings (manussa Rebirth as a human being is extraordinarily rare (SN 56.48). It is
also extraordinarily precious, as its unique balance of pleasure and · The attainment of stream-entry
loka)
pain (SN 35.135) facilitates the development of virtue and wisdom (sotapatti) guarantees that all
to the degree necessary to set one free from the entire cycle of future rebirths will be in the
rebirths. human or higher realms.

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States of Deprivation (apaya)
Realm Comments Cause of rebirth here
The demons — "titans" — that dwell here are engaged in
(4) Asuras (asura) · Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
relentless conflict with each other.

(3) Hungry Ghosts and unhappy spirits wander hopelessly about this · Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
Shades/Ghosts realm, searching in vain for sensual fulfillment.
· Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN
(peta loka)
Read Ajaan Lee's colorful description of this realm. 10.177)
· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)

· Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views. If one is

This realm includes all the non-human forms of life that are generous to monks and nuns, however, one may be
(2) Animals
visible to us under ordinary circumstances: animals, insects, reborn as an "ornamented" animal (i.e., a bird with
(tiracchana yoni)
fish, birds, worms, etc. bright plumage; a horse with attractive markings,
etc.; AN 10.177).

· Behaving like an animal (MN 57)

· Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)

These are realms of unimaginable suffering and anguish · Lack of virtue, holding to wrong views (AN
(described in graphic detail in MN 129 and MN 130). Should 10.177)
(1) Hell (niraya) not be confused with the eternal hell found in other
· Murdering your parents, murdering an arahant,
religious traditions, since one's time here is — as it is in
injuring the Buddha, or creating a schism in the
every realm — temporary. Sangha (AN 5.129)

· Being quarrelsome and annoying to others (Snp

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 II.6)

Sources:

 Buddhist Dictionary, by Nyanatiloka Mahathera (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1980).

 The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction (fourth edition), by R.H. Robinson & W.L. Johnson (Belmont, California:
Wadsworth, 1997).
 The Long Discourses of the Buddha (Introduction), translated by Maurice Walshe (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1987).
 A Manual of Abhidhamma, by Ven. Narada Thera (Kuala Lumpur: Buddhist Missionary Society, 1979).
 The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Introduction), translated by Bhikkhu Ñanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi (Boston:
Wisdom Publications, 1995).
 Teacher of the Devas (Wheel Publication 414/416), by Susan Elbaum Jootla (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1997).
 The Three Worlds (wall chart), compiled by Ven. Acaro Suvanno (printed for free distribution by devotees and Mr & Mrs Lim
Say Hoe and family).

See also:

 Intentional Action (Kamma)

 Heavens (sagga)
 The Round of Rebirth (samsara)