203: Consciousness by Planes of Existence

In this episode, we explore how consciousness operates across the 31 planes of existence in Buddhist cosmology—from the sensual realms of human and celestial beings to the refined planes of form and formlessness. These planes correspond to different types of consciousness shaped by our karma and mental development.

We discuss the distinction between mundane consciousness (lokiya)—which functions within the cycle of birth and death—and supramundane consciousness (lokuttara), which transcends all realms and leads to enlightenment. You’ll learn how these states are categorized into 81 mundane and 8 or 40 supramundane types, together forming the 89 or 121 kinds of consciousness described in the Abhidhamma.

Through this framework, we see how awareness itself evolves—from sense-bound perception to the pure, liberating consciousness of Nibbāna.

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Sayar Myat: 0:06

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa,Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa, Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa. Theravada Buddhism series, Dhamma talk number 26. Consciousness by Planes of Existence Central Core of Buddhism is truth. There are two kinds of truth in Buddhism. One is conventional truth and the other is ultimate truth. We have discussed in detail the truth or realities. In the Tama Tiravarat Buddhism series number three. Practicing inside meditation Sripatana Vipassana is to understand through experience the true nature of the ultimate truth. There are four kinds of ultimate truth. One is matter. In a strictest sense. You will see in scripture as body or rupa in Pali. And the other is consciousness jita. The third is mental factors jetasiga. And the fourth is nibbana. Supreme peace. The first three truths belong to the mundane world. In Pali it's called Lokia. Mundane Wall. And the fourth truth belongs to the ultra mundane world. Lokutra. That's why we are discussing now to understand theoretically the true nature of consciousness. In conjunction with the vipassana practice. Theory and practice. We are practicing all the time. But we need to intellectually understand what we are practicing for and how they are. We have completed discussing the fifty-two mental factors recently. Now we are going to see the to see the consciousness. But it is very interesting and beneficial for a smaller group who are putting their best effort in the practice seriously. Consciousness is the bare awareness of an object. Consciousness is the bare awareness of an object. In other words, it means it cannot arise. Consciousness cannot arise without an object. And in Pali this bare awareness presented or used in two words. One word is chitta. Chaitana means bare awareness. Another one is winyana. That's also bare awareness. You will see the use of vinyana in the five aggregates. However, the word jitat not only represent the bare awareness of an object, it also represents the mind as well. Mind is the inseparable twin phenomena of consciousness, they bear awareness and mental factors. All mental states. So it should be noted that the word consciousness, jigta, is used to refer to the bare awareness of an object as well as bare awareness of the object with mental factors. So based on the condition, you have to figure out whether the word jita consciousness is representing pure awareness or bear awareness with mental factors. So to have clarity, let's call bare awareness of an object vijnana. Instead of calling jitat, let's call it vinyana. Just to have clarity. And the bear awareness plus mental factors. As jitta, consciousness or mind. So whichever words it pops up, you know exactly what it means and what it represents. In the scriptures, consciousness is classified in many ways. But for this talk, we will discuss the classification based on the thirty-one planes of existence. If you are not familiar with the thirty-one planes of existence, go back and listen to the Tirabara Buddhism series Dhamma talk number twelve. This thirty-one planes of existence consists of eleven planes of sensuous sphere, sixteen planes of form of fine material sphere, and four planes of formless or immaterial sphere. Altogether thirty-one. The consciousness that arises mostly in the sensuous sphere is called the continuous consciousness of the sphere. In Pali Kama vasra, jaita. Kama is the senses. Vasra is most frequented. Mostly Jeta consciousness. Mostly arises in the fifteen planes of form or fine material sphere. There are sixteen planes, but only arises in the fifteen planes. Because one of the sixteen planes is for form only or mindless being which has no consciousness. There exists one plane, purely material without consciousness. So these are called fine material or forms sphere consciousness. In Pali Rupa Vachara Chaitak. Vachara V A C A R A. Vachara Chaitak. And then there's a higher jhana consciousness or you can call it immaterial jhana consciousness. This arises in the full immaterial sphere. Arupa Vachara Cheka Arupa Immaterial or Forless. So there are three sensuous, five material and immaterial. Three sphere. Each of these three types of consciousness is mostly frequented in their respected spheres. Mostly frequented. That's a key word. Most of the consciousness you will find in each sphere is their corresponding consciousness. However, these are not exclusive to each sphere. Seldom. You can find them in the other spheres as well. But most are of the same. A few have exception. To give an example, we said Jhana conscious as are the main consciousness of the fine material sphere. That's already established. But let's see, there's a very hard working yogi in human realm, which is a sensuous sphere. That yogi had attained jhanas. First or second or third or fourth or fifth a jnat. And once that yogi attained that jhana, that jhannic consciousness arises there. So you can see the jhani consciousness, which are mainly and mostly found in the fine material realm, occasionally, seldomly arise in the human realm as well. Just to give an example. English translation. And this consciousness transcends all three spheres. It transcends the Sansa sphere, fine material sphere, and immaterial sphere. In Pali it is called Lokotra Jaitta. Supramundane consciousness. So there are Jitta consciousness, many different major types of consciousness with a lot of small subdivision. But regardless, first and foremost, consciousness are divided into two groups. What we have just talked about. Lokia and Lokodra. Mundane consciousness and ultra mundane consciousness. Divided into two big groups. And there are 81 mundane consciousness, Lokya Chaita. In the mundane world, there are 81 types of consciousness. And in the ultra-mundane world, there are eight in general and forty in details. Consciousness. Mental factors changes from one division to the other. So in general, there are fifty-four different kinds of consciousness in the sensuous sphere. Like Dewaram, human ram full, woeful state. And there you will see fifty-four consciousness frequented mostly. And again, this fifty-four types of sensuous consciousness are subdivided into twelve unwholesome consciousness. They divide it into three subgroups. First is just sensphere consciousness. Fifty-four of them divided into wholesome. No, I should say unwholesome, rootless, and beautiful. We'll talk about these in detail later. And also there are fifteen fine material consciousness in the fine material sphere. It is subdivided into three consisting of five wholesome consciousness, five resultant consciousness, and five functional consciousness. There are twelve immaterial consciousness in the immaterial sphere. This again is subdivided into three. It consists of five wholesome consciousness, five sorry, full wholesome consciousness, full resultant consciousness, and full functional consciousness. So altogether, sensor sphere has fifty-four, fine material have fifteen, immaterial has twelve. Altogether eighty-one. These eighty-one are mundane consciousness, Loki Chaitha. The world we live in. Full part consciousness represents the different levels of enlightenment. The first stream winner. So each level of enlightenment has one type. And again, those people who are ariya, ariya, noble person. Some are just simply they got enlightened with that consciousness and that's it. But some people, some Ariya, they also practice jhana. So someone Utvaina part consciousness with one of the five jhana consciousness. First jhana, second jhana, third jhana, fourth jhana, fifth jhana. So that's how it become. So that you can have the part consciousness with, let's say, dadjana consciousness. Pat consciousness with fourth jhanic consciousness and so on. So there are four planes or four levels of enlightenment and there are five jhanas. Four multiplied by five twenty. That's how it becomes more detailed. But you don't have to have jhannic consciousness to attain enlightenment. That's why they are presented separately as 121 and 89. So full path consciousness become 20 and then full fruition consciousness become twenty, altogether 40. So if you add the mundane consciousness 81 with 8, path and fruition consciousness become 89. That is common. It expanded up to 81 plus 421. Mind you, you don't have to have these higher jhani consciousness to attain enlightenment. Therefore, it is said there are 89 types of consciousness. For jhannic practitioner, 121 types of consciousness. Jhannic Practish who attain enlightenment. But most of us, most of us here are or will be dealing with the 54 types of consciousness of the senses sphere. We'll be dealing mostly with the 54. Not all 89 or not 121. So it is for us at this stage, it is more important to be really skillful and understand this 54 types of sensuous sphere consciousness. May all of you be able to practice Satipattana Vipassana, mindfulness, insight meditation, and may you be able to attain liberation as soon as possible. Thank you very much.