Purchase a spot in heaven

All About heaven

According to Buddhist Cosmology the universe is undergoing cycles and beings are spread over a number of existential "planes" in which this human world is only one (though important) "realm" of life. The Buddha confirmed the existence of other worlds, of heavens and hells populated by celestial beings[citation needed]. In the early Buddhist literature, the Buddha himself was described as having gone to the heavens and meeting with the gods[citation needed]. The scriptures also quoted instances of gods descending down to the earth to witness some momentous events in the life of the Buddha[citation needed]. Prominent among the Buddhist gods are Sakka and Brahma[citation needed]. Sakka is like the Indra/Zeus of the Buddhist pantheon[citation needed]. He is the ruler of gods and stays in the world of desires[citation needed]. Sometimes he interferes with humans[citation needed]. Brahma is the overlord of the highest heavens, the Brahma world[citation needed]. He is mentioned frequently in the Buddhist scriptures[citation needed] and comes closest to the monotheistic concept of "God"[citation needed]. In Buddhism he becomes a follower of the Buddha and converted to the Buddhist path in the presence of Buddha himself[citation needed]. In Buddhism the gods are not immortal, though they may live much longer than the earthly beings. They also are subject to decay and change, and the process of becoming. The intensity and the manner in which these processes take place however may be different and involve longer periods of time. But like any other beings, they are with a beginning and an end. However, all heavenly beings are regarded as inferior in status to the Arhats who have attained Nirvana. The gods were also from the lower worlds originally, but slowly and gradually graduated themselves into higher worlds by virtue of their past deeds and cultivation of virtuous qualities. Since there are many heavens and higher worlds of Brahma, these gods may evolve progressively from one heaven to another through their merit or descend into lower worlds due to some misfortune or right intention. The gods of Buddhism are therefore not immortal. Neither their position in the heavens is permanent. They may however live for longer durations of time. One of the Buddhist Sutras states that a hundred years of our existence is equal to one day and one night in the world of the thirty three gods. Thirty such days add up to their one month. Twelve such months become their one year, while they live for a thousand such years.