Deva
Deva (T. lha ལྷ་; C. tian; J. ten ) are one of the six classes of beings in samsara. These divine samsaric states are the fruit of positive karma generally related to acts of generosity, meditative concentration or practices of asceticism, but which are still tainted by worldly goals. Because the life of the gods is free from suffering, the idea of practising Dharma never occurs to them. When the effect of the actions which sent them there is exhausted, these gods will suffer a lot, while their body is gradually degenerating. At the end of their lives, they have very frightening visions of their upcoming lower rebirth in samsara, in which these gods inevitably fall back into.
Further reading
- Third Dzogchen Rinpoche, Great Perfection: Outer and Inner Preliminaries, translated by Cortland Dahl (Snow Lion, 2008), pages 130-134
- Trainor, Kevin (2004). Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195173987. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- Norman, K. R. (1981). "Devas and Adhidevas in Buddhism," Journal of the Pali Text Society 9, 145-155
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