Parinibbana only possible for humans beeings?

[mirco]

Hi,

as far as I know, parinibbana is possible only for human beings becoming arahats
or anagamis, beeing reborn in suddhāvāsā and becoming arahats there.

Is that what the Suttas are telling?

Or did Buddha Gotama and/or other Buddhas also taught and had followers in deva-realms,
which then awakened and deseased from there, without having to become human again.

Does anyone know?


Be Well :)

[santa100]

There are many occasions in the Suttas where Devas appeared in front of the Buddha to receive His Teaching at night. Since a Deva is a highly evolved being with intellectual ability equal or greater than humans, they should be capable of attaining enlightenment just like humans. The only thing is that the Deva realms are blessed with so much beautiful and pleasant things, (unlike human realm where there's a more "balanced" mix of blessing and suffering), if Devas are not heedful, they'd tend to indulge in their own blessings instead of continueing with their Dhamma practice. This would be a big hindrance to the progress toward enlightenment. It's also similar to us humans, when an individual is blessed with so many things: beauty, wealth, fame, health, etc.. he/she would tend to indulge in those things and forget to practice the Dhamma, thus not able to make any progress on the Path..

[mirco]

Since a Deva is a highly evolved being with intellectual ability equal or greater than humans, they should be capable of attaining enlightenment just like humans. The only thing is that the Deva realms are blessed with so much beautiful and pleasant things, (unlike human realm where there's a more "balanced" mix of blessing and suffering), if Devas are not heedful, they'd tend to indulge in their own blessings instead of continueing with their Dhamma practice. This would be a big hindrance to the progress toward enlightenment. It's also similar to us humans, when an individual is blessed with so many things: beauty, wealth, fame, health, etc.. he/she would tend to indulge in those things and forget to practice the Dhamma, thus not able to make any progress on the Path..

Thanks satan... uhm... santa,

yes, I have heard that before from various teachers, understand it and it sounds absolutely logical to me.

Is there any text in the canon/suttas describing this very circumstance?


Be well

[santa100]

For instances of Devas learning the Dhamma from the Buddha:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... x.html#sn2

For the Śuddhāvāsa Deva realm, where beings are destined to become Arhants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_c ... ure_Abodes