Overview
Orthodox Theravāda cosmology maps the entirety of saṃsāra into three broad planes of existence (bhava or loka). Every living being, from the lowest hell-dweller to the highest Brahma god, resides within one of these three realms, bound by their kamma and craving.
The List
- Kāmabhava - The Sensuous Realm: The planes of existence dominated by five-sense desire. This includes the four lower realms (hell, ghosts, demons, animals), the human realm, and the six lower heavenly realms (devalokas).
- Rūpabhava - The Fine-Material Realm: The higher celestial planes inhabited by the Brahma gods. Beings are reborn here through the attainment of the fine-material absorptions (rūpajhāna). They possess subtle physical bodies but are free from gross sensual desires.
- Arūpabhava - The Immaterial Realm: The highest planes of existence where physical form (rūpa) does not exist at all. Beings here consist purely of mind and abide in states of profound, formless absorption for vast eons.
Textual References
- Canonical: Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) – Venerable Sāriputta categorizes the universe into these three realms.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter VII) – Details the lifespan and qualities of beings inhabiting these various planes.