Overview
Combining details scattered throughout the Suttas, the Theravāda Abhidhamma and commentarial tradition construct a complete, vertical map of the universe. Saṃsāra is definitively divided into 31 distinct planes of existence (bhūmi), ranging from the most agonizing hell to the most subtle formless state. Nibbāna exists entirely outside this map.
The List
The 4 Planes of Deprivation (Apāya): 1-4: The Hell Realm, the Animal Realm, the Ghost Realm, the Asura (Demon) Realm.
The 7 Sensuous Fortunate Planes (Kāma-sugati):
- The Human Realm. 6-11. The Six Heavens of the Sense Sphere (Cātummahārājika up to Paranimmitavasavattī).
The 16 Fine-Material Planes (Rūpāvacara) - The Brahma Worlds: 12-14. First Jhāna planes (Retinue, Ministers, Great Brahmas). 15-17. Second Jhāna planes (Minor Luster, Infinite Luster, Radiant). 18-20. Third Jhāna planes (Minor Aura, Infinite Aura, Steady Aura). 21-27. Fourth Jhāna planes (Great Reward, Unconscious Beings, and the 5 Pure Abodes).
The 4 Immaterial Planes (Arūpāvacara) - The Formless Worlds:
- The Realm of Infinite Space.
- The Realm of Infinite Consciousness.
- The Realm of Nothingness.
- The Realm of Neither-Perception-Nor-Non-Perception.
Textual References
- Commentary: Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha (Chapter V) – The definitive summary of Buddhist cosmology, explicitly mapping out the lifespans and kammic causes for rebirth into each of these 31 realms.