Rebirth @ Six Realms of Now
As I sat in the cool environs of Kechara Forest Retreat reflecting on Life and its Purpose and what is next, it suddenly occurred to me that life is how you play the game and how you will take rebirth.
Life on earth has all the six realms that we meditate on when we think about death and where we will go in our future lives. However if we truly see where we are now, we will realise that the very six realms we are taught in the Dharma are already glaring at us.
The six realms wherein we can take rebirth are:
- God realm
- Demi God realm
- Human realm
- Animal realm
- Spirit realm
- Hell realm
These six realms occur right in front of our eyes and if the truth hits home, then it is so important for us to embrace the Dharma and work for a good rebirth.
The above statement recalls to my mind a question I asked of my Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche in the early stages of my entry into Kechara.
“Why does Rinpoche think that the human realm is the best to be born into?”
His brilliant answer was:
“Buddha achieved Enlightenment as a human being, therefore it is logical it is the best realm to be in if you seek Enlightenment!”
That answers it all.
As other great teachers have taught, Buddhism is the only religion that originates from earth and brings you to heaven; other religions descended to earth from a divine heavenly being.
There is powerful learning in the above. Realisations of such nature sends you into moments of bright light and bliss. It is up to us, sad human beings to take on the challenge of Dharma practice for Enlightenment and liberation from suffering.
Having experienced such wisdom being taught, I descended back to earth and with clear awareness, looked at where we are and I would like to share what I have observed as being the six realms before our eyes.
1. God Realm
Do we not envy those who live in this realm on earth? Successful, rich, in control, living in big houses, driving expensive cars, travelling extensively and having whatever they wish for that money can buy. They have very little or no concept of suffering because everything is provided for them.
2. Demi-God Realm
The powerful and power-hungry who are blinded by their need to outdo their opponents and come out on top. Politicians are top of mind. They are too busy striving to gain more power and influence to notice their own suffering.
3. Human Realm
The middle class – a large inclusive group of human beings who work or do business to earn a living and have achieved moderate success. They are able to see the pros and cons of both extremes and are more open to spiritual pursuits.
4. Animal Realm
Those who are overwhelmed by their desire and appetites. Just like animals, their main focus is fulfilment of their bodily needs and natural instincts to the exclusion of all else.
5. Spirit Realm
Those suffering from poverty, hunger, loneliness, etc. just like hungry ghosts who exist in the actual spirit realm. They expend all their energies trying to overcome the difficulties of their existence.
6. Hell Realm
This realm exists for all human beings who encounter acute non-stop suffering like sickness, physical pain, abuse, etc. Life is extremely unbearable and there is no room for spiritual considerations.
With clear awareness and insight of the six realms right before our eyes, let us contemplate what we are doing now so that we can work towards a better future or future life.
Note: It is not my intention to have given a Dharma talk, which I am not qualified to do. Rather, this is just a sharing of my realisation of the Greatness of the Dharma, Shakymuni Buddha’s stainless and untainted teachings. If there is any misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the stainless Dharma, I apologise profusely especially to my Guru.
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Simple yet easy basic information for people to understand about the 6 realms in rebirth . For Buddhists, these six realms represent all possible states of existence. Buddhist cosmology typically identifies six realms of rebirth and existence of gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hells into which a soul can be reborn. Our rebirth are determined by the accumulated karma that has dominated our lives. Knowing and understanding about 6 realms will encourage us to learn , practice and putting into action more effort in Dharma. Learning Buddhism will lead us to a good rebirth .
Thank you Rinpoche and Datuk May for this sharing.
Thank your Datuk May for sharing the 6 realms in this simple and clear manner. It is true we don’t have to go to every realm to understand, it all appears in front of us. By understanding this and karma, we should realise that only dharma can lead us to end the suffering and liberation.
It’s great that Buddhism stresses the concept of endless, impermanence, suffering. Existence is endless as individuals are reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many lives. On the other hand, it is impermanent because no state/level is either good or bad and lasts forever. Only achieving enlightenment can free a being from cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Thank you Datuk May. I like how you explained who 6 realms really are. Which we can see with our own eyes. I’m sure the suffering in the real hell realm is many times worse then what you described in human realm. On top of that much longer. By thinking of all these sufferings as described by Datuk May already unbearable.
We are very fortunate to have taken rebirth as a human. There’s nothing more rare and precious than human life and this life. Because that’s the only life that I can take refuge in the three jewels and practice.
The only reason we take rebirth is for desire. – Pastor Henry Ooi
This is true & I worldly desires has drag us deep down to the “hell”. The scary part is that we are being recycle in the wheel of life within the 6 realms & all of us has the thoughts that we are actually having joy & fun, in fact, we are not and we are feeling empty throughout the process.
Everyone should find a way out of this cycle. In my case, I found Dharma.
Treasure our human life and engage in good virture collecting merit to practice dharma. All the six realm existance are represent different stage of mind suffering. As long we stay in samsara, we never be free from suffering. Creating the good cause now in our human life to acheive enlightement at future.
佛薄伽梵說：「未來我的聲聞弟子，將如口朝下的砂袋中的砂子一般墮入惡趣。」我們應將這句話看成是佛對我們的授記。我們就像是將被推下懸崖受刑的罪犯，暫時在懸崖邊休息一樣，然而我們對此情況卻一無所知，反而比「所作已辦」的阿羅漢顯得更輕鬆，這是我們行將墮入惡趣的前兆！因此，我們必須反省一下：「我是否能成為這砂袋裡剩下的少許砂子之一？」~ 引自“掌中解脱-三惡趣苦”
有如以上所说我们已在三惡趣 (地獄、餓鬼、畜生三道)的门口如没好好的修法，我们将即刻就进入三惡趣当死亡来临时，很可惜此时此刻的我们都没有完全感觉道这种害怕和危险。建议每个人每天读一次“掌中解脱-三惡趣苦”。
Yes, agreed what Datuk May mentioned in the article. Whatever we do in this life, or many life times before, will affect our next life. We can’t literally see God realm, demi God realm, hell realm and hungry ghost realm, but we can relate it to the people living in different life, born in different family in real life. The most precious and optimum rebirth is human realm. As a human, we have knowledge, we have our wills, and spirit. Although sometimes environment doesn’t allow us to practice Dharma, but as long as our will is strong enough, we still can choose to practice Dharma or not to practice Dharma. Humans are given a knowledge to make decision. We must make full use of this human body, make use of the energy given, take the opportunity to practice Dharma. So that we can gain the next human rebirth, as long as we are reborn as human in our future lives before we get enlightenment, we still have the chance to practice Dharma. ?
These six realms represent all possible states of existence which we can see it in our very human realm just as mentioned by Datuk May. The nature of one’s existence is determined by karma. If we able to see these states of existence around us then we should contemplate and realise the opportunity we have to make a change in this life for a better future. Being human in this life doesn’t ensure anything for our future unless we make good use of this life to learn and practice Dharma to benefit others. The opportunity to be human is rare and to be free from from the eight states where there is no opportunity to practise the Dharma is even rare. So if we realise that we at at such perfect condition we should take this great opportunity to transform our mind with the Dharma teaching.
Knowing that how precious our human life is, we should make the full best use of our body to benefit others knowing that other form of lives will not be perfect enough for our ultimate aim, which is to gain realisation and be enlightened. With karma, we are stuck in Samsara depicted above but with good action and motivation, we will generate merits to help ourselves from continue being stuck in Samsara but leave for Nirvana.
Thank you Datuk May for writing this article and relating it to our daily and samsara life. As long as we are not fully enlightened then we are still bound to be reborn in either of the 6 realms but the best is to be reborn in the human realm as we can meet and learn the Dharma to help us liberate ourselves from samsara.
I agreed what was written in by Datuk May. Whatever realms we are, we are still suffering. We are suffering of the things we hungered, our strong desire to achieve betterment. Hence, our mind will not in peace and we will not gain any happiness and transform. Knowing to have good rebirth, we should do more good deeds like being generous, kind, compassion to all beings. We will receive good karma and merits from our action and motivation to benefits many. Therefore, from accumulating merits will enhance our good rebirth. In short, doing Dharma all the way we will eventually gain enlightenment.
I echo what Datuk May writes here on these teachings by Rinpoche. To have a good rebirth in the human realm free of physical handicap and mental challenge, and premature death caused by incurable diseases and accidents, is not good enough. Good karma and merit are much needed to sustain oneself by continuing to accrue merit through taking good rebirths, and to continue learning and practising dharma so as to be finally free from suffering. Buddha taught that to get out of suffering is from taking uncontrolled rebirth in the six realms of existence. To achieve that is to realise the enlightened state of mind.
Very well said DM! Even as humans, we are suffering directly from the six realms everyday. And for those who have the merits to have spiritual practice are truly blessed as they can learn and alleviate a bit of the suffering. Wherever we are now and in the future can be changed when we practice and follow the teachings of Buddha. Nothing stays permanent. We can refer to this teaching from Rinpoche on understanding of karma and how it works.
Discovering Yourself: A Teaching on Karma & Your Mindstream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsd64zyTgAs
Pastor David Lai teaches from the Karma Chart:
Karma is Easy… It’s Your Choice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-lPmIzbswE
Karma is easy, it’s YOUR choice! Find out how you are the master of your own destiny and that every moment is A CHOICE to make a difference! – H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche
Thank you Datuk May for the explanation and making it easier to relate to our normal life as human on the 6 realms. It is so easy to be distracted in our every day life and to think that what we are chasing for daily is what brings us happiness but in actuality it’s all samsara.Thanks to Dharma sharing by my Guru, H.E.Tsem Rinpoche and great writers, I understand how precious it is to be born in the human realm. And the importance to practise dharma by having mind transformation and self realisation in this life.
It is not easy to comment on an article written by myself. However reading what I wrote almost one and half years ago, puts me into a reflective mode questioning myself whether I have grown “wiser” and see more into the way of our life in the Human realm within this space of Samsara.
With deeper pondering, not only the 6 realms exist in our time in samsara, we also do not stay in one of the realms forever. We can raise to God realm and descend to Hell realm within our life proving……
Another stainless teaching of Buddhism, nothing is permanent, so let us cultivate awareness and practise within the teachings of Dharma and focus in whatever we do to be of benefit of others, wherever we are temporary or otherwise as we live our precious human life through the 6 realms of samsara NOW.
I like what Datuk May said in conclusion – With clear awareness and insight of the six realms right before our eyes, let us contemplate what we are doing now so that we can work towards a better future or future life.
Thank you for this good reminder of how precious our human life is and how we should do our Dharma practice sincerely and well for our fortunate future lives.
The six realms of existence are governed by the same natural laws, cause and effect. Our past, life experiences and whatever actions we have done, turned us into the person we are today.
I appreciate Datuk May pointing out that the six realms of existence is actually very close to us and happen everyday in front of us. It seems that the six realms of existence are not the same in some aspects, but actually we are all the same because we need to go through all the sufferings that caused by our delusion and past non-virtuous deeds. As long as we don’t break it, we continuously have to live in samsara and experience the suffering again and again.
Thank you Rinpoche and Datuk May for this great sharing as a reminder for us to learn and practice dharma now and not later.
Thank you Datuk May for writing and sharing the article for our benefits to realize how crucial we choose to live our lives as our current world resembles the 6 realms on earth.
Upon reading the article, it is very important for us to be mindful of not diverting ourselves away from Dharma but continuously to increase our effort to engage in more Dharma activities, studying more Dharma texts and scriptures, engaging in more meditations, sharing Dharma with others and eventually helping or encouraging other people to learn and practise Dharma because Dharma will not fail to save us from falling into the three lower realms, which are animals realm, hungry ghost realms and hell realm. Only by sincerely taking the refuge vows and refraining ourselves from committing the ten non-virtuous actions which are 3 of body (killing, stealing and sexual misconduct), 4 of speech (lying, divisive speech, harsh words and idle chatter) and 3 of mind (envy, hatred and wrong views), we will be lead to ultimate happiness and peace which are free from worldly concerns, higher attainments and eventually full enlightenment in this lifetime or many future lifetime.
Hence, since we have met with our qualified Guru who teaches us from A to Z with much compassion, great tolerance and skillful means to provide advice and guidance, we as students should do our part by diligently and consistently learning, practicing and sharing the Dharma no matter how busy we are because there is nothing to achieve permanently within our short human life span.
May the Dharma continue to grow and reach out to the ten directions for the benefit of all sentient beings until end of samsara.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
“life is how you play the game and how you will take rebirth.”Well said Datuk May!Thanks for the sharing!
Thank you, Datuk May, for sharing your thoughts on the Six Realms of Existence. We are indeed very fortunate to be born in the human realm this life. That is why we need to do Dharma all the way in this life in order for us to continue to doing Dharma in our future lives. Thank you again, Datuk May for sincere sharing. ?
Excellent way to cover the six realms of existence…as heaven or hell can be experienced right here on earth. Regardless of which category one fits in right now, understanding the nature of suffering should compell one to work towards existence in the human realm, to find the “key” to unlock out of these 6 realms of existence. Thank you for this excellent post.
The Wheel of life what an outstanding diagram, it has components that educate us about the six realms of samsara and also shows the processes about how one takes on the next rebirth, which is quite technical.
But in one diagram our reality or rather potential reality is displayed for all to see, where we can be and what kind of experiences are waiting for us. As shown in the wheel of life actions that black actions results in us descending into the lower realms, white actions or good ones motivated by good intentions will lead us to the higher realms. However there is safety anywhere in samsara, there is always a chance for a being born in the highest of realms descending into the lowest realms.
Hence the wheel of life brings us to look at the Buddha pointing to the moon, he is out of samsara and the fact he points to the moon, it means there is a way out.
We are so fortunate to rebirth in Human Realm because in this realm we can embrace Dharma and practice it to benefit more people.We must seize this opportunity to clear our negative karma and collect merit in the same time.
Thanks Datuk May for sincere sharing.
Jason
Thank you Datuk May for sharing the 6 realms of existence. We are indeed very fortunate to be born in the human realm this life. That is why we need to do Dharma all the way in this life in other for us to continue to doing Dharma in our next life. Looking at the other 5 realms, there is no suitable condition to practice Dharma. Dharma is the only way that we can achieve enlightenment and to end our suffering in this samsara.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Thank you Datuk May for this lovely insight. If I may add, and our particular situation could change anytime. One moment god, next moment hell being. That’s why we have to change while we can still do so.
Thank you Datuk May…for this wonderful article.Its a wake call for me, to realise the importance of liberation, Dharma practice and about the six realms which is before my eyes.
The most important thing is to enjoy our life to the fullness, meaningful,learn Dharma and practice Dharma , be happy close to Dharma to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings and not doing nothing.
If we lived our life wisely even death is not to be feared.
Thanks again Datuk May for your sharing.
Thank you, Datuk May, for sharing your thoughts on the Six Realms of Existence. Sometimes, I wonder too, if the Six Realms are right in front of our eyes? And sometimes, I feel that the Six Realms exist in our mind. However, I do agree that most of us possess the mindset that can be classified into these six categories. As is the law of nature, it is tough to break out of one particular category without first having the wisdom to recognize the flawed and harmful characteristic. And also the realization of one’s purpose in life as well the as importance of liberation. Therefore the wisdom of Buddha confers by our Guru is eminent so that we can gain the insight to this cyclic existence.