Realms of existence
Part of key topic Buddhist Perspectives on the World
Includes tags: Realms of existence, Brahma gods, Deva, Human, Ghost, Animal, Hell, Non-human beings, Recollection/Devas



Thanksgiving Retreat 2010, Session 3 – Nov. 22, 2010

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11. “Did the Buddha give any teaching on nurturing or expanding our relationship with plants and animals?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Animal] [Environment] // [Killing] [Vinaya] [Consciousness]

Vinaya: Bhikkhu Pācittiyā 11 origin story: A bhikkhu cuts down a tree and harms a deva’s child. [Deva]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2011, Session 4 – Nov. 22, 2010

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23. “I have had more of a pedestrian view of the Dhamma, and for the first time I’m having trouble even referring to the Buddha as ‘the Lord’ (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 23). Can you review taking refuge in the Buddha? Likewise, who is Lord Sahampati in the chant of requesting a Dhamma talk (Amaravati Chanting Book, p. 124)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Buddha] [Chanting] [Respect] [Three Refuges] [Brahma gods] // [Translation] [Culture/West] [Devotional practice] [Gratitude] [Recollection/Buddha] [Discernment] [Compassion] [Virtue]

Sutta: MN 26.20: The Brahma Sahampati invites the Buddha to teach. [Brahma gods] [Buddha/Biography] [Teaching Dhamma]


The Fourth Foundation of Mindfulness, Session 15 – Jan. 28, 2013

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5. “What is the suitable basis in AN 5.23?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] // [Psychic powers] [Great disciples] [Jhāna]

Sutta: Ud 4.4: A yakkha clobbers Sariputta. [Non-human beings]

Commentary: The Visuddhimagga discusses training for psychic powers, Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli, pp. 369-427.


Our Roots in the Thai Forest Tradition, Session 47 – Mar. 11, 2014

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12. “If you had moved Wat Pah Nanachat to Wat Keuan, would you have left Thailand?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Wat Keuan] [Ajahn Pasanno]

Quote: “I had one plan and the devas had a different one.” [Deva]

Sutta: DN 16.6.15: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta [Buddha/Biography] [Deva] [Great disciples]


Death and Dying, Session 1 – May. 9, 2014

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22. “I read about the advice given to dying devas. Should more people know about the cosmological background of the Buddha’s teachings?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Deva] [Realms of existence] [Death]

Sutta: Iti 83: Five omens that appear when a deva is about to pass away. [Deva] [Rebirth]


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 6 – Nov. 24, 2016

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7. “‘Teacher of Gods and Humans’. Can you talk about this? What Gods did the Buddha teach? What other beings did the Buddha teach?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Buddha] [Buddha] [Teaching Dhamma] [Deva] [Human] // [Realms of existence ] [Sutta] [Buddha/Biography] [Ajahn Chah]

Sutta: DN 21: Sakka’s Questions.

Sutta: Snp 2.4: Maṅgala Sutta (Chanting Book translation).

Vinaya: Khandhaka 17.3.11: The Buddha subdues an enraged elephant. [Animal]

Story: Ajahn Chah describes the beings inhabiting Wat Pah Pong. [Wat Pah Pong] [Non-human beings]

Story: The head being acquires faith, listens to teachings, and temporarily takes on the Eight Precepts. [Non-human beings] [Faith] [Hearing the true Dhamma] [Eight Precepts]


Readings from The Island, Session 43 – Mar. 11, 2025

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3. “When you are talking about Dependent Origination and craving, I thought that all of that had ceased for an arahant.” Answered by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Pasanno. [Dependent origination] [Craving] [Arahant] [Cessation] // [Feeling] [Unskillful qualities] [Ignorance] [Māra]

Suttas: SN 4.6; SN 4.20: The Buddha’s encounters with Māra. [Buddha/Biography]

Sutta: MN 50: Mahā Mogallāna rebukes Māra. [Great disciples]

Sutta: SN 10.3: Sūciloma. [Non-human beings]


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4. “In the mind of an arahant, are unwholesome states immediately seen through the filter of the Four Noble Truths so they are immediately let go?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Arahant] [Unskillful qualities] [Four Noble Truths] [Relinquishment] // [Māra]

Sutta: MN 49.29 [Brahma gods]