Eighteen hells: Difference between revisions

From Rigpa Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The hell realms (Skt. ''naraka''; [[Wyl.]] ''dmyal ba'') which are one of the realms of the [[six classes of beings]] are characterized by extremely intense suffering; they consist of '''eighteen hells''':
[[Image:Hell_realm.jpg|frame|Depiction of the hell realms from a [[thangka]] of the [[Wheel of Life]]]]
The '''hells''' (Skt. ''naraka''; Tib. དམྱལ་བ་, ''nyalwa'',  [[Wyl.]] ''dmyal ba'') constitute one of the realms of the [[six classes of beings]], they are characterized by extremely intense suffering. The hell realms are as real or as illusional as the human realm. It is important within our mind training to reflect upon the intense suffering of the hell beings, in order to strengthen our [[bodhicitta]] and our [[renunciation]].  There are '''eighteen hells''' (Skt. ''aṣṭadaśanaraka''):


*the [[sixteen hells]] grouped into
*the [[sixteen hells]] grouped into
**[[Eight Hot Hells]] and
**[[Eight Hot Hells]] and
**[[Eight Cold Hells]];
**[[Eight Cold Hells]]; along with
*the [[Neighbouring Hells]] and  
*the [[Neighbouring Hells]] and  
*the [[Ephemeral Hells]].
*the [[Ephemeral Hells]].


[[Chökyi Drakpa]] says in ''[[A Torch for the Path to Omniscience]]'':
[[Chökyi Drakpa]] writes:
::The '''cause''' of being born in any of these eighteen hells could be a vast accumulation of harmful actions perpetrated out of desire or delusion. Even so, a single momentary act such as taking life or speaking harsh words to an exceptional being, when carried out with a mind of intense anger, will propel you straight to the hells.
:The '''cause''' of being born in any of these eighteen hells could be a vast accumulation of harmful actions perpetrated out of [[desire]] or delusion. Even so, a single momentary act such as taking life or speaking harsh words to an exceptional being, when carried out with a mind of intense anger, will propel you straight to the hells.<ref>In ''[[A Torch for the Path to Omniscience]]''</ref>
 
==Notes==
<small><references/></small>
 
==Further Reading==
*Samuel Bercholz and Pema Namdol Thaye, ''A Guided Tour of Hell—A Graphic Memoir'' (Boston & London: Shambhala Publications, 2016)
*[[Patrul Rinpoche]], ''[[The Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'' (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 63-72, ISBN 978-0300165326
 
==Internal Links==
*[[hell beings]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
*[http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/hell/index.html Hell: Subjects and Depictions outline page on the Himalayan Art Resources website]
*[http://www.himalayanart.org/pages/hell/index.html Hell: Subjects and Depictions outline page on the Himalayan Art Resources website]


 
[[Category: Hell Realms]]
[[Category: Three Realms]]
[[Category: Three Realms of Samsara]]
[[Category: Enumerations]]
[[Category: Enumerations]]
[[Category:18-Eighteen]]
[[Category: 18-Eighteen]]

Latest revision as of 19:12, 31 December 2017

Depiction of the hell realms from a thangka of the Wheel of Life

The hells (Skt. naraka; Tib. དམྱལ་བ་, nyalwa, Wyl. dmyal ba) constitute one of the realms of the six classes of beings, they are characterized by extremely intense suffering. The hell realms are as real or as illusional as the human realm. It is important within our mind training to reflect upon the intense suffering of the hell beings, in order to strengthen our bodhicitta and our renunciation. There are eighteen hells (Skt. aṣṭadaśanaraka):

Chökyi Drakpa writes:

The cause of being born in any of these eighteen hells could be a vast accumulation of harmful actions perpetrated out of desire or delusion. Even so, a single momentary act such as taking life or speaking harsh words to an exceptional being, when carried out with a mind of intense anger, will propel you straight to the hells.[1]

Notes

Further Reading

  • Samuel Bercholz and Pema Namdol Thaye, A Guided Tour of Hell—A Graphic Memoir (Boston & London: Shambhala Publications, 2016)
  • Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 63-72, ISBN 978-0300165326

Internal Links

External Links