Rebirth in different Planes of Existence (2)

Rebirth-consciousness does not only arise in sensuous planes of existence, kāma-bhūmi, it can also arise in higher heavenly planes which are not sensuous planes of existence. If one is born in one of the kāma-bhūmis and one sees the disadvantage of sense impressions, one may cultivate jhāna, absorption. Then one can, besides kāmāvacara cittas, also have rūpa-jh ānacittas and arūpa-jhānacittas. If one cultivates the eightfold Path one can have lokuttara cittas, supramundane cittas which directly experience nibbā na. There are four planes of citta: kāmāvacara cittas, rūpāvacāra cittas which are rūpajhānacittas, arūpāvacāra cittas which are arūpajhānacittas and lokuttara cittas. Which of these planes of citta a particular citta belongs to, depends on the object it experiences. Kāmāvacara citta experiences a sense object. Rūpāvacā ra cittas and arūpāvacāra cittas experience with absorption the meditation subjects of rūpa-jhāna and arūpa-jhāna. Lokuttara citta experiences nibbāna. A plane of citta is different from a plane of existence which, as we have seen, is the place where rebirth-consciousness arises. When someone attains jhāna, the kusala kamma he performs is not kāmāvacara kusala kamma; at the moment of jhā na there are no sense impressions. The kusala kamma which is jhāna does not produce result in the same lifespan one attains it, but it can produce result in the form of paṭisandhi-citta, the paṭ isandhi-citta of the next life. In that case there are jhānacittas arising shortly before death and the paṭisandhi-citta of the next life experiences the same object as those jhānacittas. The result of rū pā vacara kusala citta (kusala citta which is rūpa-jhānacitta) is birth in a heavenly plane which is not kāma-bhūmi (sensuous plane of existence) but a rū pa-brahma-plane (fine-material world). The result of an arūpāvacara kusala citta (kusala citta which is arūpa-jhā nacitta) is birth in a heavenly plane which is an arūpa-brahma plane (immaterial world). There are different rūpa-brahma planes and arū pa-brahma planes. Those who attain rūpa-jhāna can be reborn in rū pa-brahma-planes where there are less sense-impressions. There are sixteen rū pa-brahma planes in all. One of these is the plane of unconscious beings, asaññasatta. Those who cultivate rūpa-jhāna and see the disadvantage of nāma may be reborn in a plane where there is only rūpa, not nāma. Thus, here there is not a rebirth-consciousness, only rūpa-paṭisandhi. Those who see the disadvantages of the meditation subjects of rūpa-jhāna which are still bound up with materiality, cultivate arūpa-jhāna. If they attain arūpa-jhāna they can be reborn in arūpa-brahma planes where there is no rūpa, only nā ma. There are four classes of arūpa-brahma planes. There are thirty-one classes of planes of existence in all, namely:

11 sensuous planes:

• 4 woeful planes

• 1 human plane

• 6 deva planes

• 16 rūpa-brahma planes

• 4 arūpa-brahma planes

Kusala kamma can cause a happy rebirth, but the end of birth is to be preferred to any kind of rebirth. If one cultivates the eightfold Path and attains arahatship there will be no more rebirth. The dying-consciousness (cuti-citta) of the arahat is not succeeded by a paṭisandhi-citta. The Buddha reminded people of the dangers of birth and encouraged them to be mindful, in order to attain the “deathless’” which is nibbāna. We read in the Mahā-parinibbāna-sutta (Dialogues of the Buddha I, no. 16, chapter I, 1-4):

“... The Exalted One proceeded with a great company of the: monks to Kotigāma; and there he stayed in the village itself. And at that place the Exalted One addressed the monks, and said: ‘It is through not understanding and grasping four Ariyan Truths, O monks, that we have had to run so long, to wander so long in this weary path of rebirth, both you and I!’ And what are these four? The Ariyan truth about dukkha; the Ariyan truth about the cause of dukkha; the Ariyan truth about the cessation of dukkha; and the Ariyan truth about the path that leads to that cessation. But when these Ariyan truths are grasped and known the craving for future life is rooted out, that which leads to renewed becoming is destroyed, and then there is no more birth!’ ”