Monday 1 February 2016

The Ten Worlds



The principle of the 10 worlds was derived from the Lotus Sutra by the Great Chinese Buddhist teacher T'ien T'ai (538-597) most forms of Buddhism practised in Vietnam, Japan, China and Korea trace their roots back to his teachings, which in term reflect back to his own teacher Chih-I.
This succinct (and to me accurate and helpful) framework of the psychology of human behaviour states that everyone innately possesses ten life conditions or worlds through which they move from moment to moment. The six lower states – hell, hunger, anger, animality, rapture, tranquillity – will dominate unless conscious effort is made to enter the four higher worlds – learning, realisation, bodhisattva (compassion) and Buddha(hood).
It is important to realise that each of nine worlds has a positive and a negative aspect while Buddhahood, the highest state it is possible for a human to achieve is only positive.
How each of the worlds manifests depends on peoples 'default' setting, which are usually one of the four lowest worlds, as the fifth and sixth worlds (rapture and tranquillity) tend to be extremely transient. People move continuously through the worlds from moment to moment. In the six lower worlds we are at the mercy of our environment and circumstances (karma) our life condition changes in response to that external stimulus. A love letter brings rapture, bad weather can bring hell, a comment anger, the sight of another's possession hunger etc.
The fact that we can move so swiftly between the worlds, which are all manifest within each other. meaning that it is as easy (or difficult) to move from a state of compassion to a state of hell as vise versa is called the mutual possession of the ten worlds


The Mutual Possession Of The 10 Worlds

WORLD
POSITIVE ASPECT
NEGATIVE ASPECT
Hell
A real understanding of this state can lead to the desire and wisdom to help others.
A state of suffering, illustrated by despair, depression and self destructive tendencies
Hunger
Yearning to improve things for oneself and others The desire to live and achieve goals;
Greed and/or an insatiable, unsatisfied desire for power, sex, money, material goods etc.
Animality
The instinct to survive; sleep, eat, make love and to protect and nurture life
Unthinking instinctive action, intimidating the weak, fearing the strong; selfish, pleasure seeking.
Anger
Passion to fight injustice and create a better world; a creative force for change
A state of self righteousness egotism, in which one cannot bear to lose. This state is a foundation of war.
Rapture
Intense pleasure and happiness; heightened awareness and feeling glad to be alive
Short lived happiness resulting from the achievements of desires. The wish for it's continuance leads to excess (materialism) and a weak, dependent attitude of life.
Tranquility/Humanity
At peace, in control of desires; the ability to act with reason and humanity
A state of inactivity; unwillingness to tackle problems, leading to decline and negligence
Learning
Striving for self improvement by learning new concepts through studying the teachings of others. The foundation of realisation
The tendency to become self-centred, cut off from daily realities, or developing a dismissive attitude towards those with less knowledge.
Realisation
Wisdom and insight gained by the effort and effect of study and by observing the world
Self-absorption, lacking a broad view of life, arrogance (“I know better”)
Bodhisattva
Compassion and/or acting selflessly for other people, without expecting a reward.
Becoming a martyr neglecting oneself/health. Ultimately having pity or contempt for those one aims to help
Buddha
Wisdom, compassion courage, life force which illuminates the positive aspects the other nine worlds
This state is only positive

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