The 6 realms
The 6 realms
If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
- flowerbudh
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Re: The 6 realms
This is a good question! Reality is subjective and I think that most people only have access to the two realms because it's what they've opened their hearts to and what makes the most sense to them. Maybe it has something to do with karma? That being said, I have a friend who has seen ghosts and maybe it is because she has allowed herself to see them. Our minds block out so much of tangible reality, you know.
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. - The Buddha
Re: The 6 realms
As I understand, all six realms exists in this very body.... they are energies that we all have within us and live with .... for example, god realm is when I get too arrogant... etc... demi-gods are envious... all of them can be identified within us. And, they all have variations in the three kayas which we can connect with. As far as seeing all of them.... they are within your very being just like Buddha nature, neither separate from any other. I was taught this as a skillful means for bringing them to consciousness and purifying suffering. Not every realm in all directions is applicable to all of us... we discover that also. It's actually a very honest way of seeing, experiencing and having compassion for what causes us suffering... and a way to transform it. That's about the best that I can do... I am not an expert on this topic. But, it left it's mark on me.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
Not last night,
not this morning,
melon flowers bloomed.
~ Bassho
not this morning,
melon flowers bloomed.
~ Bassho
- sukhamanveti
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Re: The 6 realms
Because ordinary consciousness has limits. Not everything is normally visible to ordinary beings. (Also, many of these unseen beings are usually located in other realms.) We've confirmed the existence of many things outside of the ordinary range of perception, such as the infrared and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves, microwaves, etc. Physicist Michio Kaku has pointed out that any being that might exist in 10 dimensions would easily be able hide from our view (and perform seemingly "miraculous" feats). We can't currently, directly perceive dark matter, but can only infer its existence from its effects. However, the Buddha and many other past masters were able to see devas, pretas, asuras, narakas, and other non-human beings grouped with them.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāyārhate samyaksaṁbuddhāya | namaḥ sarvabuddhabodhisattvebhyaḥ ||
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
Re: The 6 realms
Thanks for the replies,interesting....it still seems strange to me that the animal and human realm are so tangible but the others are not, why two of the six are so clearly perceived,maybe because we were technically an animal in our evolution so that makes one could argue one realm clearly visible....just pondering this question.
Re: The 6 realms
I think we only "see" the human realm.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
Re: The 6 realms
Where can i see or read that quoate from michio kaku? Just curious =)sukhamanveti wrote:Because ordinary consciousness has limits. Not everything is normally visible to ordinary beings. (Also, many of these unseen beings are usually located in other realms.) We've confirmed the existence of many things outside of the ordinary range of perception, such as the infrared and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves, microwaves, etc. Physicist Michio Kaku has pointed out that any being that might exist in 10 dimensions would easily be able hide from our view (and perform seemingly "miraculous" feats). We can't currently, directly perceive dark matter, but can only infer its existence from its effects. However, the Buddha and many other past masters were able to see devas, pretas, asuras, narakas, and other non-human beings grouped with them.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
Re: The 6 realms
And the animal?porpoise wrote:I think we only "see" the human realm.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: The 6 realms
We don't see the animal realm, we just see animals from our point. You can't truly "see" a realm other the one you inhabit, even if you witness the beings or whatever. it's not a spatial environment, it's a process and a mode of existence, that's my understanding. Of course some argue that we are continually cycling through all of them to some degree, which makes some sense to me as well.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
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Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
- sukhamanveti
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Re: The 6 realms
TaTa wrote:Where can i see or read that quoate from michio kaku? Just curious =)sukhamanveti wrote:Because ordinary consciousness has limits. Not everything is normally visible to ordinary beings. (Also, many of these unseen beings are usually located in other realms.) We've confirmed the existence of many things outside of the ordinary range of perception, such as the infrared and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves, microwaves, etc. Physicist Michio Kaku has pointed out that any being that might exist in 10 dimensions would easily be able hide from our view (and perform seemingly "miraculous" feats). We can't currently, directly perceive dark matter, but can only infer its existence from its effects. However, the Buddha and many other past masters were able to see devas, pretas, asuras, narakas, and other non-human beings grouped with them.max123 wrote:If the 6 realms exist not just a psychological states but as realms so to speak, why can we only see the human and animal realms,why can we only see 2 of the 6?
I went back to the book where he first discusses this, Hyperspace (1994). It's in chapter 2 ("Mathematicians and Mystics") under a section titled "To Be a God." Here it turns out he says the "higher-dimensional" being would only have to exist in four spatial dimensions to "disappear or reappear at will," to "walk through walls," to see great distances and through obstacles, and to "reach into an object without opening it." He explains how this is possible with an analogy to interactions between three-dimensional and (fictional) two-dimensional beings. More recently, he mentioned this online in a discussion of the hypothetical 10 dimensions, so I forgot that only four were needed. Michio Kaku opens the reader's mind to many incredible possibilities. (Another excellent book of his is Physics of the Impossible.)
namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāyārhate samyaksaṁbuddhāya | namaḥ sarvabuddhabodhisattvebhyaḥ ||
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
- sukhamanveti
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Re: The 6 realms
max123 wrote:Thanks for the replies,interesting....it still seems strange to me that the animal and human realm are so tangible but the others are not, why two of the six are so clearly perceived,maybe because we were technically an animal in our evolution so that makes one could argue one realm clearly visible....just pondering this question.
Another way to look at it is that the visible universe is only a small fraction of the actual universe. Most planes of existence in traditional Buddhist cosmology are normally unseen. If most planes of existence are usually unseen, then it makes sense that many (or most ?) samsaric beings would also be unseen.
namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāyārhate samyaksaṁbuddhāya | namaḥ sarvabuddhabodhisattvebhyaḥ ||
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
- sukhamanveti
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Re: The 6 realms
Yes, their perceptions of the world around them often differ, even when it's the same world. The common example in the texts is that of a deva, a preta, and a human looking at a container of liquid. The deva perceives celestial elixir. The human sees water. The preta sees pus. How one perceives the world depends on one's consciousness, conceptual imputation (as when one chooses to perceive an illness as a blessing), and one's karma.Johnny Dangerous wrote:We don't see the animal realm, we just see animals from our point. You can't truly "see" a realm other the one you inhabit, even if you witness the beings or whatever. it's not a spatial environment, it's a process and a mode of existence, that's my understanding. Of course some argue that we are continually cycling through all of them to some degree, which makes some sense to me as well.
On the other hand, spiritual adepts, such as arhats and advanced bodhisattvas, seem to be able to see other realms from the perspective of the beings inhabiting them, according to the sutras. Maudgalyayana could apparently see many different celestial realms as the devas saw them, for example.
namo bhagavate śākyamunaye tathāgatāyārhate samyaksaṁbuddhāya | namaḥ sarvabuddhabodhisattvebhyaḥ ||
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
"Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas love all beings in the world equally, as if each were their only child..." Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipulya Sūtra
Re: The 6 realms
That's how I understand the traditional explanation. There are various planes of existence, most of which we don't normally see.sukhamanveti wrote: Another way to look at it is that the visible universe is only a small fraction of the actual universe. Most planes of existence in traditional Buddhist cosmology are normally unseen. If most planes of existence are usually unseen, then it makes sense that many (or most ?) samsaric beings would also be unseen.
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: The 6 realms
One thing I always think about that resonates with this is that cats see fewer colors, I dunno...it fits somehow, especially with ideas like the 5 colors, adn the idea that different realms perceive things differently.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: The 6 realms
"Unlearn what you have learned, you must!"Johnny Dangerous wrote:One thing I always think about that resonates with this is that cats see fewer colors, I dunno...it fits somehow, especially with ideas like the 5 colors, adn the idea that different realms perceive things differently.
- PadmaVonSamba
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Re: The 6 realms
How do you know that the human realm isn't just a psychological state?
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EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
Re: The 6 realms
Unless one has developed higher states of consciousness and accessed other realms, then one doesn't know. But what exactly do you mean by "just a psychological state"?PadmaVonSamba wrote:How do you know that the human realm isn't just a psychological state?
Re: The 6 realms
Yes, and as humans we only directly percieve a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. And modern physics has theorised about extra dimensions, and so on.Johnny Dangerous wrote:One thing I always think about that resonates with this is that cats see fewer colors, I dunno...it fits somehow, especially with ideas like the 5 colors, adn the idea that different realms perceive things differently.
Re: The 6 realms
When you win the lottery, you're in heaven.
When a loved one dies, you're in hell.
When a loved one dies, you're in hell.
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Re: The 6 realms
futerko wrote:"Unlearn what you have learned, you must!"Johnny Dangerous wrote:One thing I always think about that resonates with this is that cats see fewer colors, I dunno...it fits somehow, especially with ideas like the 5 colors, adn the idea that different realms perceive things differently.
uh...Huh?
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama