Desire realm

Mount Meru surrounded by the continents and subcontinents, with the gods of the Desire and Form Realms above

Desire realm (Wyl. 'dod khams) - The first of the three realms, the desire realm is so called because the beings inhabiting it are prey to intense emotion and crave happiness based on the pleasures of the senses.

The desire realms consist of thirty-six abodes:

• the six heaven of the gods in the desire realm
• the twelve abodes of human beings
• the abodes of animals
• the abode of pretas
• the sixteen hells.

We count thirty-seven abodes when the demigods or are classified separately. Some powerful nagas are also included within the gods, while the other are animals.

Sources

• Treasury of Precious Qualities - Kangyur Rinpoche
• The Gateway to Knowledge, Volume II - Mipham Rinpoche
• The Jewel Ornament of Liberation - Gampopa
• Myriad Worlds - Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé