The Realm of Gods

-

The realm of the Gods (God here does not refer to an almighty creator) or the higher heavens are different planes of increasing refined levels of sensual bliss and gratification. Gods are able to enjoy beauty by their own goodness.

They are beings with beautiful subtle bodies who delight with music and dance, and exist in extended peak experiences in which one dissolves into experience of pleasure, merging with the beloved, temporarily crossing the boundaries of ego.

Such experiences can be cultivated in meditation but are dangerous as they induce complacency with what is only temporary. After a long time, the gods will fall from their state of bliss. Unless they realize their impermanence and start living the spiritual life, they will be reborn into the lower realms when they had depleted their positive Karma in Heaven.

Gods in our World

Human Gods such as Kings and Queens in earlier times live in a royal life full of wealth and power. They are able to satisfy any desire at their command. In our times, there are the rich, famous and powerful who move about in a sphere of opulence and majesty far above the common man - often somewhat spoilt by extravagance and luxury.

Am I a God?

A God is one who has great power in position. His wishes for any material things are easily granted. Because his position was reached through accumulation of much positive Karma, he can indeed enjoy the well being he deserves.

But he tends to revel in pleasures and forgets the bigger picture, forgetting that his state is not everlasting, and that there are many other unfortunate beings he can help.

A human can be reborn as a God if he is very virtuous. Such a person is dominated by ignorance as he ad created much goodness without realization of Wisdom and the importance of living the spiritual life.

One who dies tuned to this mindstate is likely to be reborn as a God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sanghika Dana (Charity meant for the order of the Sangha)

-
The Pali word of Sanghika Dana means offering alms and other requisites to the Order of the Sangha. Supposed you donate one dollar to an association, all members rich or poor are entitled to that one dollar. Similarly, if a bowl of alms food or a set of robes is offered to the Sangha, then all members of the order are entitled to those offertories. You need not go around the world to give alms to the Sangha Order. An offer to any member of the Sangha in general will automatically amount to Sanghika Dana. All members are entitled to such offertories. They can share it between them. How to project one's goodwill? In offering Sanghika Dana, a donor's mind must be directed to the Order of the Sangha in general. Even though you utter Samghassa demi , I offer it to the Order of Sangha, if you have in mind a particular monk or a particular monastery, your charity cannot be Sanghika Dana. Offering alms food to any monk on daily alms-round or to a certain monk designated by the Order of...
Read more

Meaning of Kathina

-
Image
In the commentary to the Kathinakkhandaka (Section on Kathina) of the Vinaya Pitaka, kathina is defined as a concept of conglomeration which means bringing things together. It is a concept that arises because of certain things that come together. For example: A Bhikkhu/s (Buddhist monk/s) who has/have spent the first vassa; A Sangha (Community of Bhikkhus) comprising at least five bhikkhus; Robe season (the Kathina month) - first month after the end of the first vassa i.e. final month of the rainy season; A rightfully acquired robe - the robe to be donated must not be requested by a member of the Sangha, nor must any hint be given for the robe to be offered, rather the robe must be offered spontaneously by the donor. These are some criterias that come together for the concept of kathina to arise. In fact, two meanings of kathina are given in the Vinaya Commentaries: A frame used during the Buddha's time for sewing double layered robes together. The edges of one robe were fixed to...
Read more

Sammaditthi Meditation Grove, Sungai Petani, Kedah

-
Image
I had recently visited the Sammaditthi Meditation Grove (SMG) situated at Lot 617, Tanah Kubur Cina, Sungai Pasir, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah. SMG is the latest Buddhist centre of Theravada tradition to be constructed in Sungai Petani. The construction of its Sima Hall had almost completed, kutis (monk's huts) are also been constructed to accommodate the resident and visiting members of the Sangha. Their daily activities include morning pujas, followed by breakfast and lunch danas, where devotees are encouraged to perform their meritorious deeds. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
Read more