Six Paths | |||||||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||||||
Chinese | 六道 | ||||||||||
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Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
Chinese | 六趣 | ||||||||||
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Vietnamese name | |||||||||||
Vietnamese alphabet | Sáu cõi luân hồi Sáu đường Lục đạo | ||||||||||
Hán-Nôm | 𦒹𡎝輪迴 𦒹塘 六道 | ||||||||||
Korean name | |||||||||||
Hangul | 육도 | ||||||||||
Hanja | 六道 | ||||||||||
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Japanese name | |||||||||||
Kanji | 六道 | ||||||||||
Kana | ろくどう | ||||||||||
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Filipino name | |||||||||||
Tagalog | Sadgati (ᜐᜀᜄᜀᜆᜒ) | ||||||||||
Sanskrit name | |||||||||||
Sanskrit | षड्गति(ṣaḍgati) |
The Six Paths [1] in Buddhist cosmology [2] are the six worlds where sentient beings are reincarnated based on their karma,which is linked to their actions in previous lives. These paths are depicted in the Bhavacakra ("wheel of existence"). [3] The six paths are: [4]
The first three paths are known as "the three benevolent destinies" (kuśalagati),where beings experience varying degrees of virtue,pleasure,and pain. The last three paths are referred to as the three unbenevolent destinies (akuśalagati),where beings lack virtue and suffer predominantly. Typically,we as human beings only perceive the animals around us. The first Buddhist texts mention only five paths without distinguishing between the paths of deva and asura. [4] Moreover not all texts acknowledge the world of asura. [5] In Japan,the monk Genshin even inexplicably places the path of humans below that of the asuras. [6]
The elements forming karma are constituted in bodily,oral or mental volitional acts. The chain of transmigration due to the Three Poisons (hatred,greed,ignorance),of which ignorance ( avidyā ) of the ultimate truth (Sanskrit:paramārtha;Chinese:zhēndì 真谛) or the true law (Sanskrit:saddharma,सद्धर्म,correct law;Chinese:miàofǎ,妙法,marvelous law) is generally presented as the source of reincarnation in the three non-benevolent destinies. [7]
Early Buddhist descriptions divided the psychocosmic universe into three "worlds":the kāma-loka ("world of desire"),rūpa-loka ("world of form") and arūpa-loka (""world of non-form"). The kāma-loka dealt with the daily psychological possibilities of humans and was divided into five above mentioned worlds with the exception of the asura realm. [8]
In response to the question since when beings wander within samsara (i.e. the Six Paths), the Buddha answered that the starting point could not be identified nor understood. One conclusion that is certain,is that we have wandered already for aeons,however,when the Buddha was asked how long an aeon is,he gave a smile. [9]
Early texts are not explicit about how these realms are to be interpreted;however,they can be seen as states of consciousness. The realm of deva symbolising the purer and spiritual stages of consciousness,humans relating to the abilities of reason and logic,animals and hunger ghosts especially can be seen as an image of instinct and Naraka would represent the accumulated dukkha from past actions. Humans can therefore easily move through different stages throughout their lives. [10]
This can also be understood through the nature of karma. Karma is considered an action with an intention behind it. This intention,produced by the mentality,can either be wholesome or unwholesome. These mental states then translate to a karma that is accumulated and connected to a certain realm. [11]
The ten unwholesome actions (kamma-patha) that produce bad karma are the three bodily actions (murder,stealing,sexual misconduct),four vocal actions (lying,divisive speech,hurtful speech,frivolous speech) and three mental actions (avarice,ill-will,wrong views). The mental states that promote these actions are:strong greed,hatred and delusion. [12]
The ten wholesome actions that are inspired by generosity (dana),ethical conduct (sila) and meditation (bhavana). Mental states that support these actions are:desirelessness,friendliness and wisdom. [13]
The Saddharmasmṛtyupasthānasūtra ("Sutra of the Remembrance of the True Law") [14] interprets the different realms,stating that the deva world is a human ideal of pleasure based upon ignorance which is transitory and decays. This causes the deva eventual suffering. Being situated in the human world exposes one to disease,impurities,exposure to impermanence and a non-self (anātman). The animal realm is a place for those who have tormented animals and will receive the same treatment. The asura are in this realm as well and wage war against the deva. The preta realm is created by greed and ignorance of humans. It is the place for those who have refused offerings and are controlled by avarice. [15]
The hells ( naraka ) represent the dark labyrinths of the mind entrenched by ignorance and self-deceit. The grotesque hell imagery is used in order to initiate the individual on the path of enlightenment [16] and to identify within the hell of their own mind the faceless past existences that are in constant suffering. [17]
While it might be tempting to aspire a rebirth within the world of gods or celestial beings,the deva are so full of joy in this realm that are unable to understand the teaching about the permanent dukkha in samsara. [5] Furthermore,even a deva having consumed all the good karma within the pleasurable existence in this realm,can be reborn in Naraka. [18]
In regards to Nirvana the Six Paths do not constitute a hierarchy that leads to it. Gethin argues that it can only be achieved through the human and the deva realm. [19]
In Buddhism,the Four Noble Truths are "the truths of the noble one," a statement of how things really are when they are seen correctly. The four truths are
The Noble Eightfold Path or Eight Right Paths is an early summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara,the painful cycle of rebirth,in the form of nirvana.
The bhavachakra or wheel of life is a visual teaching aid and meditation tool symbolically representing saṃsāra. It is found on the walls of Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Indo-Tibetan region,to help both Buddhists and non Buddhists understand the core Buddhist teachings. The image consists of four concentric circles,held by Yama,the lord of Death,with an image of the Buddha pointing to the moon metaphorically representing the possibility for liberation from the suffering of reincarnation.
Naraka is the realm of hell in Indian religions. According to schools of Hinduism,Jainism and Buddhism,Naraka is a place of torment. The word Neraka in Indonesian and Malaysian has also been used to describe the Islamic concept of Hell.
The desire realm is one of the trailokya or three realms in Buddhist cosmology into which a being caught in saṃsāra may be reborn. The other two are the Form Realm and the Formless Realm (ārūpadhātu).
Loka is a concept in Hinduism and other Indian religions,that may be translated as a planet,the universe,a plane,or a realm of existence. In some philosophies,it may also be interpreted as a mental state that one can experience. A primary concept in several Indian religions is the idea that different lokas are home to various divine beings,and one takes birth in such realms based on their karma.
Saṃsāra in Buddhism and Hinduism is the beginningless cycle of repeated birth,mundane existence and dying again. Samsara is considered to be dukkha,suffering,and in general unsatisfactory and painful,perpetuated by desire and avidya (ignorance),and the resulting karma and sensuousness.
Avidyā in Buddhist literature is commonly translated as "ignorance". The concept refers to ignorance or misconceptions about the nature of metaphysical reality,in particular about the impermanence and anatta doctrines about reality. It is the root cause of Dukkha,and asserted as the first link,in Buddhist phenomenology,of a process that leads to repeated birth.
Buddhist cosmology is the description of the shape and evolution of the Universe according to Buddhist scriptures and commentaries.
The four stages of awakening in Early Buddhism and Theravada are four progressive stages culminating in full awakening (Bodhi) as an Arahant.
An asura in Buddhism is a demigod or titan of the Kāmadhātu. They are described as having three heads with three faces each and either four or six arms.
A Deva in Buddhism is a type of celestial being or god who shares the god-like characteristics of being more powerful,longer-lived,and,in general,much happier than humans,although the same level of veneration is not paid to them as to Buddhas.
Naraka is a term in Buddhist cosmology usually referred to in English as "hell" or "purgatory". Another term used for the concept of hell in earlier writings is niraya. The Narakas of Buddhism are closely related to Diyu,the hell in Chinese mythology. A naraka differs from one concept of hell in Christianity in two respects:firstly,beings are not sent to Naraka as the result of a divine judgment or punishment;and secondly,the length of a being's stay in a naraka is not eternal,though it is usually incomprehensibly long.
Humans in Buddhism are the subjects of an extensive commentarial literature that examines the nature and qualities of a human life from the point of view of humans' ability to achieve enlightenment. In Buddhism,humans are just one type of sentient being,that is a being with a mindstream. In Sanskrit Manushya means an Animal with a mind. In Sanskrit the word Manusmriti associated with Manushya was used to describe knowledge through memory. The word Muun or Maan means mind. Mind is collection of past experience with an ability of memory or smriti. Mind is considered as an animal with a disease that departs a soul from its universal enlightened infinitesimal behavior to the finite miserable fearful behavior that fluctuates between the state of heaven and hell before it is extinguished back to its infinitesimal behavior.
Avīci or Avici is one of the hells (naraka) in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism,it is one of the twenty-eight hells located in the kingdom of Yama,where individuals are reborn for bearing false witness and outright lying while transacting business or giving charity. In Buddhism,it is the lowest level of the Naraka or "hell" realm,with the most suffering,into which the dead who have committed grave misdeeds may be reborn. It is said to be a cube 20,000 yojanas on each side,buried deep underneath the divine (nonvisible) earth. Avīci is often translated into English as "interminable" or "incessant",referring to suffering without periods of respite,although it is believed to be ultimately impermanent.
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions,beliefs and practices,largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama,commonly known as the Buddha,"the awakened one".
Buddhist views,although varying on a series of canons within the three branches of Buddhism,observe the concept of euthanasia,or "mercy killing",in a denunciatory manner. Such methods of euthanasia include voluntary,involuntary,and non-voluntary.
In Indian religions,Patala,denotes the subterranean realms of the universe –which are located under the earthly dimension. Patala is often translated as underworld or netherworld. Patala is described as more beautiful than Svarga. Patala is described as filled with splendid jewels,beautiful groves and lakes.
The three poisons in the Mahayana tradition or the three unwholesome roots,in the Theravada tradition are a Buddhist term that refers to the three root kleshas that lead to all negative states. These three states are delusion,also known as ignorance;greed or sensual attachment;and hatred or aversion. These three poisons are considered to be three afflictions or character flaws that are innate in beings and the root of craving,and so causing suffering and rebirth.
Impermanence,called anicca (Pāli) or anitya (Sanskrit),appears extensively in the Pali Canon as one of the essential doctrines of Buddhism. The doctrine asserts that all of conditioned existence,without exception,is "transient,evanescent,inconstant".