Six Worlds, Six Destinies, Six Realms: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Six Worlds means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
The Six Realms refers to the “Six Classes of Beings” (in Tibetan: 'gro ba rigs drug). They are: hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, titans and gods.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
The wheel [of the Bhavacakra] is divided into six sections which represent the Six realms (or Worlds) of Existence. These Six Worlds are:
- The World of Devas or Gods
- The World of Asuras (Tibetan: lha ma yin; Sanskrit: asura) (Demigods, Titans, Fighting Demons)
- The World of Humans
- The World of Animals
- The World of Pretas (hungry ghosts)
- The World of Hell
The World of Devas is always at the very top of the wheel. The World of Asuras and the World of Humans are always in the top half of the wheel, bordering the World of Devas on opposite sides, but which of the two is on the left and which is on the right varies (leading to two different arrangements of the wheel). The World of Animals and the World of Hungry Ghosts is always in the bottom half of the wheel, with the World of Animals bordering the World of Humans and the World of Hungry Ghosts bordering the World of Asuras. Between the World of Animals and the World of Hungry Ghosts, at the very bottom of the wheel, is the World of Hell.
Sometimes, the wheel is represented as only having five sections because the World of the Devas and the World of the Asuras are combined into a single world.
In Buddhist representations of the wheel, within each of the Six Realms, there is always at least one buddha or bodhisattva depicted, trying to help sentient beings find their way to nirvana (ibid).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): The, The, Six, World, Realm, Te.
Full-text (+252): Liu qu, Sadgati, Liu dao, Liu dao jia tuo jing, Liu dao si sheng, Mang mang liu dao, Liu dao fu pu sa, Mo dao, Luc dao than, Liu dao shen, Luc dao chung sinh, Mang mang luc dao, Luc dao tu sinh, Luc dao phat bo tat, Lun hui, Liu dao zhong sheng, Luc dao tap kinh, Pancagati, Luc dao gia da kinh, Liu dao ji jing.
Relevant text
Search found 48 books and stories containing Six Worlds, Six destinies, Six realms, The six destinies; (plurals include: Six Worldses, Six destinieses, Six realmses, The six destinieses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 4 - Five destinies (pañcagati) or six destinies (ṣaḍgati) < [Chapter XLVI - Venerating with the Roots of Good]
Third aṅga (member): Vyākaraṇa (prediction) < [Part 2 - Hearing the twelve-membered speech of the Buddha]
Appendix 4 - The brahmanical trimūrti (Śiva, Viṣṇu and Brahmā) < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]
Socially Engaged Buddhism (with reference to Australian society) (by Phuong Thi Thu Ngo)
A (8). Speaking up for Human Rights < [Chapter 5]
Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) (by Hsuan Hua)
The characteristics of the demons of the form skandha < [Chapter 2 - The Form Skandha]
The role of Animals in Buddhism (by Nguyen Thi Kieu Diem)
1. The Concept of Buddha-nature < [Chapter 4 - Animals, Buddha-nature and Jatakas]
2. Equality of Human Beings and Animals in Terms of the Buddha-nature < [Chapter 4 - Animals, Buddha-nature and Jatakas]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)
Karandavyuha Sutra (by Mithun Howladar)
Part 3 - Significance of the [Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ] Mantra < [Appendix 3 - Six-Syllabled Mantra]
Part 4 - The Teachings of the Six-Syllable Mantra by Śākyamuni Buddha < [Appendix 3 - Six-Syllabled Mantra]
Part 3 - Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva in Kāraṇḍyavyūha < [Appendix 2 - Buddhist Philosophy]