The Worlds we live

A person who is with an ill-full mind always engaged in nasty, unwholesome evil act and spends a restless life. Such person always feels that s/he is living in a hell.  Extreme attachment, aversion, hatred, ill-will, ignorance, blindness are the feelings he always suffer with. Such person would gather plenty of unwholesome kamma and reborn in a place of suffering and continue the life in a place like hell. In contrast honest, virtuous and generous people who always engage in wholesome acts of Charity (Dhana), Righteousness (Seela), and Meditation (Bhavana) would live with sensations of generosity, goodwill and wisdom. Such person would spend a heavenly life and would reborn in pure heavenly places as a result of wholesome kamma gathered in this life. This is a natural law and together with law of kamma it is common to all the beings.

31 Realms of existence

There are 31 “Planes” or “Realms” of existence for a being to be reborn during the long journey of samsara. These 31 planes are divided into three;

1. Sensuous worlds – Kama Loka/bhava - 11
2. Form worlds – Rupa loka/bhava                     - 16
3. Formless worlds – Arupa loka/bhva                - 4

The 11 types of sensuous worlds include the 4 states of misery the realms of suffering, the human realm where we live and 6 heavenly realms occupied by Devas. Four realms of suffering are known as Kamadugatti (states of deprivation or apaya). Rests of the 7 realms are known as Kamasugatti.

The following table summarises the 11 sensuous worlds;

Sensuous worlds – Kama Loka
Kamadugatti	Kamasuggari
Realms of misery	Human realm	Heavenly realms
1.      Hell – Niraya 2.      Animals – Tirachchana 3.      Hungry ghosts – Peta Loka 4.      Demons – Asura	5.      Human beings – Manussa Loka	6.      Chathurmaharajika 7.      Tavatimsa 8.      Yamaka 9.      Tusita 10.  Nimmanarathi 11.  Parinimmita-vasavatti

Depending on ones past kamma and kamma and consciousness arise at the time of death that being would navigate among these worlds and the rest of 20 realms during samsara. The worst state of existence is at the realms of misery and getting rid of those realms are harder than getting into them. However, it should be noted that life in none of these 31 planes of existence are not eternal. There is a possibility for any being to fall into one of the realms of misery based on kamma vipaka of their action. Neither the joy in 6 heavenly realms nor in other 20 realms is permanent. Therefore the ultimate joy is beyond these realms and that is to attain Nibbana to get rid of all these realms.

As ordinary human beings, it is beyond our capabilities to visualise all these 31 planes of existence. But the realm of animals (thirachchana) and the human realm (manussa loka) could be seen by anybody so that the existences of other realms are to be understood accordingly.

Consciousness pertaining to the sensuous-sphere (Kamavachara Chitthas)

Consciousnesses arise in the above explained 11 worlds are known as Kamavachara Chiththas. They are three fold and 54 in all;

1. Immoral consciousness (Akusala chiththas)                 - 12
2. Rootless consciousness (Ahethuka chiththas)              - 18
3. Beautiful consciousness (Sobhana chiththas)                - 24

Immoral Consciousness (Akusala Chiththas)

12 types of akusala chiththas are again divided into three;

1. Consciousness rooted in attachment (Lobha mulika)                            - 8
2. Consciousness rooted in illwill or aversion (Dwesha mulika)     - 2
3. Consciousness rooted in delusion or ignorance (Moha mulika)  - 2

All the above 12 types of consciousness are caused by immoral roots (akusala hethu) that is lobha, dwesha and moha.

Some features of immoral consciousness

All these consciousness arise with either of the three feelings or sensations (vedhana) of;

1. Pleasurable (Somanassa) – Good-mindedness of the chiththa. It is a mental state of happiness which is experienced at the time of consciousness arises.
2. Displeasurable (Dhomanassa) – Bad-mindedness of the chiththa. This is an unhappy mental state which is experienced at the time of consciousness arises.
3. Indifference/neutral (Upekkha) – Neither pleasurable nor displeasurable state of mind experienced at the time of consciousness arises.

In addition to the above three types of mental states of sensations, there are two more physical sensations. They are Sukha, the feeling which is easy to endure or the “Physical Happiness” and Dhukha, the feeling which is difficult to endure or the “Physical Pain”.

There are instances where one acts prompted or induced by oneself or another. Or the action is involved with much of deliberation and premeditation. Consciousness arise at such instances are Sasankharika. In contrast in a spontaneous act without any self or external inducement, the consciousness arise is featured with Asankharika.