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The Realm of Heaven
In the spiritual realms of heaven, good karmas predominate over evil karmas, leading to joy & contentment.
Ř In the lower realms of heaven, one becomes master of one’s higher natures (becomes a ‘god’) and becomes free of suffering as basic desires are satisfied and mastered. This is the mastery of the self. However as one attains mastery of the self and desires there is the temptation of the devil - using this mastery over the power of desire to control others. These lower realms of heaven are also known as the six heavens in the realm of desire.
Ř
In the higher realms of heaven, one becomes
purified of sensory desire and enters into the states of meditation (also
called the Heavens of Brahma and The Heavens of Meditation). These higher realms
of heaven are also known as the seventeen heavens in the realm of form and the four
heavens in the realm of formlessness. The Great Calm-Observation says:
“Next one cultivates meditative concentration. One
calms the distracting networks of desire, and reaches into the path that is
meditation on the realms of form and formlessness.”
Here one enters
into the four basic meditations that are in the realm of pure form
(rupa-dhatu), and even beyond this into the realm of formlessness
(arupa-dhatu). The Great Calm-Observation says:
“The five
sensations1, the six sensory desires2, and all superficial pleasures are
sublimated. The Three
Meditations3 are like a stone spring, with its inner
contentment being deep. This is inspiring the
Brahma Mind4 and
walking the way of the purified realms of form and formlessness.”
Next, the Brahmanic scheme of The 25 Realms of Existence helps to clarify the threefold realm and the realms of heaven.
Home Teachings Next Page Map of Heaven
Footnotes:
1. The Five Sensations: Sights, Sounds, Smells, Tastes, Contacts - the sixth sensation, Dharmas (elements of reality) are not included because they are objects of meditation).
2. The Six Desires: The desire for all six sensations are sublimated in order to attain meditation.
3. The Three Meditations: Referring the first three of the four basic meditations described below.
4 The Brahma Mind: The pure, sincere, & devotional mind of worshipful meditation, the heavens of purified form and formlessness.
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Since July 9, 2001