Buddhism FAQ4 Heaven

=Buddhism FAQ=

(Frequently Asked Questions About Buddhism)

4. What is the concept of Heaven in Buddhism?
Buddhism (Theravada) has a separate book entirely for heaven.

It is called Vimanavatthu.

In short :

1. In heaven everything & every person is made of light. 2. A person reaches(appears ) in heaven due to virtue/divine merit. 3. Upon reaching heaven, a floating palace in sky becomes ready, filled with all things & servants as per his/her wish. 4. The intensity/luminosity of bodies of inhabitants & their palaces & their objects depends upon the virtue/divine merit gained before coming to heaven. 5. The sky palace & all its objects can move to any place as per wish of the owner/person. 6. The objects / servants act as per wish. 7. It is a state of bliss divine. 8. There are many categories heavens. 9. The dwellers of heavens have very long life times i.e. on lower side, for deva(angel) ,millions of years & on higher side, billions of years for arch angels(brahma) or even several life cycles of birth(expansion/big bang) & death(big contraction) of universe called kappa (sanskrit : kalpa). The lifetimes in various heavens are described here : Vibhanga-Scanned-Chap.18:section-6.2. 10. After their long life, their virtue/merit fades then they disappear from heaven & have to take rebirth as per the deeds / desires raised (karma/sanskara/sanhara). 11. For a person who practices meditation, if that person continues meditation in heaven , his merit/virtue increases further and after his lifetime there, he gains rebirth in higher heavens due to elimination of negativity within. If negativities/bonds/attachments to any worlds/heavens are removed completely then that person can gain nirvana from there itself & reaches the transcendental plane of non-return, immortality & infinite bliss forever, the final goal.

How to reach heaven? By doing good acts such as donation i.e. by helping others and having a compassionate heart towards all creatures. The Dana Sutta: Giving describes what kinds of various heavens that can be attained by giving donations.

Lifetimes in various heavens.

Sources : Dana Sutta: Giving, Vimanavatthu, Vibhanga-Scanned-Chap.18:section-6.2