#divyacaksus

The Quest for Buddhism (99)

Buddhist cosmology

Course of rebirth and liberation

The Buddhist cosmology is not a literal description of the shape of the universe, rather, it is  the universe as seen through the divyacaksus (Abhijna: higher knowledge Ref), the "divine eye" by which a Buddha or an arhat can perceive all beings arising (being born) and passing away (dying) within various worlds, and can tell from what state they have been reborn, and into which state they will be reborn.

Beings can be reborn as devas (gods), humans, animals, asuras (demigod or titans), pretas ("hungry ghosts"), and as inhabitants of the hell realms.

The process by which sentient beings migrate from one state of existence to another is dependent on causes and conditions. The three causes are giving or charity, moral conduct, meditative development, and their opposites. Rebirth in the Kama-loka (desire realm) depends on a person's moral conduct and practice of giving. Rebirth in the Rupa-loka (form realm) and Arupa-loka (formless realm) also requires meditation development (=dhyana) (Ref2). Liberation from all rebirth requires wisdom in addition to moral conduct and meditation (Ref3).

仏教の探求 (99)

仏教の宇宙論

生まれ変わりと解脱の経路

仏教の宇宙論は、宇宙の形を文字どおりに記述したものではなく、ブッダや阿羅漢が、様々な世界の中で生起 (生まれ)、消滅 (死) していくすべての存在を感知し、どのような状態に生まれ変わったか、どのような状態に生まれ変わるかを見分けることができる「神の目」であるディビャカクシュ(六神通、梵：アビジュニャー参照)を通して見る宇宙のことを指す。

生物は、デーヴァ（神）、人間、動物、アスラ（半神または巨人）、プレタ（餓鬼）、そして地獄の住人として生まれ変わる。