Asura world!!

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SarathW
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Asura world!!

Post by SarathW »

Asura world!!
In the following video venerable Susilawansa said that keeping fish in a pond inside the house and employing poor people and not paying a proper wage is an unwholesome action that resulted in the birth of the Asura realm.
This is a very subtle unwholesome action so many of us think it is wholesome. People with ten unwholesome views also are born as Asura.

According to him, it appears that the carnivorous plants and the rock-appearing living beings are in the Asura realm.
Even the living beings look like rocks and plants seem to be in the Asura realm.
A special feature is an inability to move hence it is not possible for us to recognise them because they really look like rocks and plants.
It appears Buddha has discussed something similar to black holes (my understanding and interpretation of his description) and accordingly Asura beings are borne there too.

If you have any more information about the Asura realm please share it here.
The video is in Sinhalese language and is provided here as a source reference only.

“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Ontheway
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Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Asura world!!

Post by Ontheway »

Based on your description, I think there is a misconception about Asura world.

Asura shouldn't be confused with Asurakaya.
The name "Asura" was used by these deities because they vowed not to consume alcohol (Sura) again. It also carried the meaning "anti-gods" (A-Sura). Example: Asurinda Rahu, Paharada, etc. are powerful leader deities, also present in Mahasamaya Sutta and are layfollowers of Lord Buddha.

Asuras are Pubbadevatas, once they dwelled in Tavatimsa Heaven. But they were later cast out by Sakka Devaraja and His fellow gods, while being drunk.

Now Asura world isn't a separated Gati or Destiny for Rebirth. It was created by Asuras' Kamma.

To reborn as Asura, one still need to generate good kammas sufficient enough to reborn among these Pubbadevatas (though it is not a wholesome rebirth due to their thirst for battle). Asurakaya, on the other hand, from what I understood is a form of monstrosity living being, constantly undergo sufferings due to kamma.

Read more: https://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_ ... /asura.htm

They are invisible to us. And they are not like plants or rocks.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
SarathW
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Asura world!!

Post by SarathW »

Thanks on the way what about this?

Asura
The demons — "titans" — that dwell here are engaged in relentless conflict with each other. · Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dha ... /loka.html
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
wenjaforever
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue May 24, 2022 4:44 am

Re: Asura world!!

Post by wenjaforever »

Bhante, are there other types of asura, or are they only the ones expelled from tavatimsa for being drunk? I also read there are deva asuras, peta asuras and asuras who live in hell. And are Yama heaven dwellers free from troubles because they can fly? Since they don't need to deal with asura invasions?
money is worthless toilet paper • the tongue has no bone (a person might say one thing but it cannot be further from the truth) • you cannot teach a goat math as in you cannot teach the dhamma to a dumb person
Ontheway
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Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:35 pm

Re: Asura world!!

Post by Ontheway »

SarathW wrote: Sat Jan 21, 2023 10:47 am Thanks on the way what about this?

Asura
The demons — "titans" — that dwell here are engaged in relentless conflict with each other. · Ten unwholesome actions (MN 41)
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dha ... /loka.html
They are lower classes of Asura: Kalakanjas and Danaveghasas. They are more like warriors in Asura armies.

Not the Asuras that were casted out by Sakka Devaraja, such as Vepacitti and Rahu. These Asura deities don't fight each other. They fight against Devas only as recorded in the scripture.

And the Sutta you posted mentioned there doesn't say Asura world though. The classification of Asura world as a new bad destination is more from Mahayana tradition or latter addition I believe.
gati
(lit. 'going'): 'course of existence', destiny, destination.

"There are 5 courses of existence: hell, animal kingdom, ghost realm, human world, heavenly world" (D. 33; A. XI, 68).

Of these, the first 3 count as woeful courses (duggati, s. apāya), the latter 2 as happy courses (sugati).
In Theravada, only Five Gati as stated in Kathavathu.
Hiriottappasampannā,
sukkadhammasamāhitā;
Santo sappurisā loke,
devadhammāti vuccare.

https://suttacentral.net/ja6/en/chalmer ... ight=false
wenjaforever
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Re: Asura world!!

Post by wenjaforever »

So are asuras basically demons who are less cursed compared to deformed and miserable petas? Asuras still look normal and healthy unlike demented petas? Asuras also would once in a while lauch a military operation to take over tavatimsa, because they still hold grudges for being kicked out. But they will always succumb to Indra in the end, because Indra or Saka is very powerful. At least compared to asuras and tavatimsa dwellers.
money is worthless toilet paper • the tongue has no bone (a person might say one thing but it cannot be further from the truth) • you cannot teach a goat math as in you cannot teach the dhamma to a dumb person
huntshaded
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Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2023 9:10 am

Re: Asura world!!

Post by huntshaded »

Therefore, are asuras demons who are less afflicted than petas, who are misshapen and miserable? As opposed to deranged petas, asuras nevertheless appear normal and healthy. Asuras would also occasionally launch military operations to retake tavatimsa because they harbor resentment for having been expelled. In the end, however, they would always fall to Indra or Saka due to their great might. Compared to asuras and tavatimsa inhabitants, at least.
word hurdle
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