Rarity of Humanoids
Human beings (manussa loka)
Rebirth as a human being is
extraordinarily rare.
The assumption here is there are
only 5 types of humanoids in only five planets.
Below is a reproduction of various types of beings in the universe or galaxies
The Thirty-one
Planes of Existence
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.
The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (loka), listed here in descending order of refinement:
The realms of existence are customarily divided into three distinct "worlds" (loka), listed here in descending order of refinement:
1. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka).
Consists of four realms that are
accessible to those who pass away while meditating in the formless
jhanas.
2. 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).
3. 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.
I. The Immaterial World (arupa-loka)
Realm Comments Cause of rebirth here(31) Neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññanasaññayatanupaga deva)
(30) Nothingness (akiñcaññayatanupaga deva)
(29) Infinite Consciousness (viññanañcayatanupaga deva)
(28) Infinite Space (akasanañcayatanupaga deva)
The inhabitants of these realms are possessed entirely of mind.
Having no physical body, they are unable to hear Dhamma teachings.
II. The Fine-Material World (rupa-loka)
(27) Peerless devas (akanittha deva) These are the five Pure Abodes (suddhavasa), which are accessible only to non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings who become non-returners in other planes are reborn here, where they attain arahantship.
Among its inhabitants is Brahma
Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach Dhamma to the world (
(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 (asaññasatta)
Only body is present; no mind.
(21) Very Fruitful devas (vehapphala deva)
Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss.
(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)
One of this realm's most famous inhabitants is the Great Brahma, a deity whose delusion leads him to regard himself as the all-powerful, all-seeing creator of the universe
(13) Ministers of Brahma (brahma-purohita deva)
Beings in these planes enjoy varying degrees of jhanic bliss.
(12) Retinue of Brahma (brahma-parisajja deva)
III. The Sensuous World (kama-loka)
Happy Destinations (sugati)
(11) Devas Wielding Power over the Creation of Others (paranimmita-vasavatti deva)These devas enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them.
Mara, the personification of delusion and desire, lives here.
(10) Devas Delighting in Creation (nimmanarati deva)
These devas delight in the sense objects of their own creation.
(9) Contented devas (tusita deva)
A realm of pure delight and gaiety.
Bodhisattas abide here prior to their final human birth.
This is where the bodhisatta Maitreya (Metteya), the next Buddha, is said to dwell.
(8) Yama devas (yama deva)
These devas live in the air, free of all difficulties.
(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 ethical purity. The latter are analogous to the goblins, trolls, and fairies of Western fairy tales.
(5) Human beings (manussa loka)
Rebirth as a human being is
extraordinarily rare.
It is also extraordinarily precious,
as its unique balance of pleasure and pain facilitates the
development of virtue and wisdom to the degree necessary to set one
free from the entire cycle of rebirths.
The development of virtue and wisdom
The attainment of stream-entry
(sotapatti) guarantees that all future rebirths will be in the
human or higher realms.
States of Deprivation (apaya)
(4) Asuras (asura)The demons — "titans" — that dwell here are engaged in relentless conflict with each other.
(3) Hungry Shades/Ghosts (peta loka)
Ghosts and unhappy spirits wander hopelessly about this realm, searching in vain for sensual fulfillment.
(2) Animals (tiracchana yoni)
This realm includes all the non-human forms of life that are visible to us under ordinary circumstances: animals, insects, fish, birds, worms, etc.
(1) Hell (niraya)
These are realms of unimaginable suffering and anguish.
Should not be confused with the eternal hell found in other religious traditions, since one's time here is — as it is in every realm — temporary.
In Buddhist cosmology, the
heaven realms are blissful abodes whose present inhabitants (the
devas) gained rebirth there through the power of their past
meritorious actions. Like all beings still caught in samsara,
however, these deities eventually succumb to aging, illness, and
death, and must eventually take rebirth in other realms —
pleasant or otherwise — according to the quality and strength of
their past kamma. The devas are not always especially
knowledgeable or spiritually mature — in fact many are quite
intoxicated by their sensual indulgences — and none are
considered worthy of veneration or worship.
Nevertheless, the devas and their happy realms stand as important reminders to us both of the happy benefits that ensue from the performance of skillful and meritorious deeds and, finally, of the ultimate shortcomings of sensuality.
Nevertheless, the devas and their happy realms stand as important reminders to us both of the happy benefits that ensue from the performance of skillful and meritorious deeds and, finally, of the ultimate shortcomings of sensuality.
