མི་ཆེ། | Glossary of Terms

Lit. “Slightest.” The thirteenth of the seventeen heavens of the form realm; also the name of the gods living there. In the form realm, which is structured according to the four concentrations and pure abodes‍, it is listed as the first of the five Pure Abodes, or Śuddhāvāsa. It is said to be the most common rebirth for the “non-returners” of the Śrāvaka Vehicle.

First of the pure abodes, meaning “slightest.”

The lowest of the five Śuddhāvāsa paradises, the highest paradises in the form realm. It is said to be the most common rebirth for the “non-returners” of the Śrāvakayāna.

The fifth highest of the seventeen paradises in the form realm, and therefore the fifth of the five Śuddhāvāsika (pure abode) paradises.

Thirteenth god realm of form, it is the first of the five heavens that make up the “pure abodes” in the form realm.

One of the gods’ realms; also used as the name of the gods living there.

In the Sarvāstivāda tradition, this is the lowest of the five Śuddhāvāsa paradises, the highest paradises in the form realm, and is said to be the most common rebirth for the “non-returners” of the Śrāvakayāna. In this sūtra it is the third highest.

The thirteenth of the seventeen heavens of the form realm; also the name of the gods living there. In the form realm, which is structured according to the four concentrations and the pure realms, it is listed as the first of the five pure realms. It is said to be the most common rebirth for the “non-returners” of the vehicle of listeners.

The thirteenth heaven of the form realm.

The first of five realms associated with the fourth concentration into which only noble beings are born.

The lowest of the five classes of the devas that constitute the Pure Abodes. The literal meaning (“not great”) of Tib. mi che ba, Skt. avṛha, and Pāli aviha may be based on a folk-etymological explanation (i.e., Skt. a-bṛhat may be a faulty Sanskritization of Middle Indic aviha; see Edgerton, Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Grammar and Dictionary, vol. 2, s.v. avṛha).

The lowest of the five classes of the gods that constitute the Pure Abodes (Śuddhāvāsa) in the world of form.

One of the heavens of Buddhist cosmology, first of the five so-called pure realms of the form realm.

The first of the “pure abodes;” also the name of the gods living there.

One of the five pure abodes within the realm of form.

One of the five pure abodes.