What does Buddhism teach about heaven and hell?
Depiction from the ilustrated version of the Dhammapada, Verse 311
{311} “Just as kusa grass if badly held cuts that very hand, so also, the ill-led life of a
Bhikkhu drags that Bhikkhu down to niraya.”
Heaven and hell are considered to be two realms of existence. Birth in one of these realms occurs as the result of volitional actions. Although the lifespan of one born into one of the realms is very long, it does ultimately come to an end. It is for this reason that the desire to be born in heaven after death is considered unwise. Heaven is a temporary respite from the rigors of birth, old age, sickness and death, not liberation from them.
More questions and answers HERE
Source:
- Without and Within – Ajahn Jayasaro
Ryokan Says:
The suttas define 31 Planes of existence, those are grouped in 5 realms or destinies (as we can read in the Gati Sutta); members of others schools (other than Theravada) add the Asuras (demi-gods) to make 6 realms or destinies. Heaven is an occidental translation to the realm of devas (supra-mundane deities). Rebirth has a human (manussa-loka, in pali) is considered to be extremely rare and very valuable, it has a unique balance between pleasure and pain, which facilitates the development of virtue and wisdom to the degree necessary to set one free from the cycle of rebirth (or samsara). The attainment of stream-entry (sotapatti) guarantees that all future rebirths will be in the human or higher, for no more than 7 life’s before the attainment of enlightenment.
This is the 5 destinies (or realms), has were defined by the Buddha:
“Bhikkhus, these five are destinies. What five?. The hell, the animal world, the sphere of ghosts, humanity and godliness. Bhikkhus, these five are destinies…” – Gati Sutta
~Ryokan
