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Buddhism and belief in realms
- Thread starter willy1590
- Start date
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
From what I practice, hell is the torment of the mind not physical torment. Our karma or merits from good or bad deeds does not "die" and is not a spirit but continues until we have full understanding of the nature of life (enlightenment) and become Buddhas.
It's not metaphorical, just the understanding of Hell is different in Buddhism than it is in, say, Christianity.
Hell is real, but that does not mean that it is a physical or eternal place. It is a mental state.
Although I should point out that to the best of my understanding reincarnation is not a belief that may be made to fit with Buddhism, either.
Rick O'Shez
Irishman bouncing off walls
In the suttas of the Pali Canon beings are described as reappearing in different realms according to their actions, which is basically describing kamma.
Here is an example from MN135:
"Here, student, some man or woman kills living beings and is murderous, bloody-handed, given to blows and violence, merciless to living beings. Because of performing and undertaking such action, on the dissolution of the body, after death, he reappears in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, even in hell. But if on the dissolution of the body, after death, he does not reappear in a state of deprivation, in an unhappy destination, in perdition, in hell, but instead comes back to the human state, then wherever he is reborn he is short-lived. This is the way, student, that leads to short life, namely, one kills living beings and is murderous, bloody-handed, given to blows and violence, merciless to living beings."
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn135
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
There are no substantial realms to speak of in light that all phenomina and manifestations of forms remain empty.
Physical and mental voilation essentally references various states by which each respective realm is identified and experienced accordingly and depicted as being such.
Like various intensities involving pain or pleasure, happiness or sadness, each comes and goes very naturally as that of the realm where each manifestion arises and falls. Realms are useful depictions of a vast array of experiences by which they are traversed and noted overall. They are indeed real, yet there is no substance by way of permanence, much like the weather.
Storms, real as they are, come and go. "0)