དགའ་ལྡན། | Glossary of Terms

One of the six heavens of the desire realm, where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm; also the name of the gods living there. It is the paradise in which the Buddha Śākyamuni lived as the tenth-level bodhisattva and regent Śvetaketu, prior to his birth in this world, and is also where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening. At present the regent of the Heaven of Joy is the bodhisattva Maitreya, the future buddha.

A divine world located in the desire realm; in Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

A divine world located in the Desire Realm; in Great Vehicle Buddhist thought, it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm; in Great Vehicle Buddhist thought, it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm, where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm, where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm.

The third of the six heavens of the desire realm.

One of the six heavens in the desire realm.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm.

Maitreya’s heavenly abode in the desire realm, where future buddhas are said to dwell prior to their awakening in our world.

A divine world located in the desire realm. In Great Vehicle Buddhist thought, it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

A divine world located in the desire realm. In Buddhist thought, this is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their complete awakening.

The fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, it is the last stopping place of a buddha-to-be before his descent and reincarnation on earth; at present it is the abode of the future Buddha Maitreya.

One of the six heavens in the desire realm.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. The heaven from which Śākyamuni descended to be born into this world and where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought, this is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The third highest of the six heavens of the desire realm.

The heaven of a class of devas of the world of sensuous desire (kāmadhātu); bodhisattvas reside in this heaven before their last rebirth in the world of humans.

The fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, and the last stopping place of a buddha before his descent and reincarnation on earth. According to Buddhist cosmology, it is presently the abode of the future Buddha Maitreya.

A class of gods in the desire realm among whom the Bodhisattva is supposed to be born in his penultimate life, before that in which he attains full awakening.

Lit. “The Contented.” The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm; also the name of the gods living there. It is the paradise in which the Buddha Śākyamuni lived as the tenth level bodhisattva Śvetaketu (dam pa tog dkar po) and regent, prior to his birth in this world, and where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening. At present the regent of Tuṣita is the bodhisattva Maitreya, the future buddha.

Fourth god realm of desire, meaning “joyful.”

The fourth (counting from the lowest) of the six paradises in the desire realm. The paradise from which buddhas descend to be born in this world.

The fourth (counting from the lowest) of the six paradises in the desire realm.

The fourth heaven among the six heavens of the desire realm.

The celestial realm where a bodhisattva is born before being reborn as a Buddha in the human realm. Second of the group of four heavens immediately above the peak of Mount Meru.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm, where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening.

The fourth (counting from the lowest) of the six paradises in the desire realm.

The fourth (counting from the lowest) of the six paradises in the desire realm. The paradise from which Śākyamuni descended to be born into his world.

One of the gods’ realms.

The third highest of the six heavens of the desire realm.

The third of the six god realms of the desire realm.

A heaven, the fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, and the last stopping place of a buddha before his descent and reincarnation on earth; at present the abode of the future Buddha Maitreya.

Heaven of Joy, the fourth heaven in the desire realm.

One of the heavens of Buddhist cosmology, counted among the six heavens of the desire realm, it is home of future Buddha Maitreya.

Name of a god realm.

The fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, and the last stopping place of a buddha before his descent and reincarnation on Earth. According to Buddhist cosmology, it is presently the abode of the future Buddha Maitreya.

The heaven of “the contented.” This is the fourth heaven in the realm of sense pleasure (kāmadhātu), above the Yāma heaven. While not the highest heaven, it is considered the best heaven to be reborn in, since bodhisattvas reside and teach there before their final birth when they become buddhas. It is presently the abode of the bodhisattva Maitreya, who received the crown for this heaven from the bodhisattva Śvetaketu when the latter decided to take birth in the Śākya family in order to become the Buddha Śākyamuni, as described in The Play in Full (Toh 95).

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

One of the high heavens.

The fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, and the last stopping place of a buddha before his descent and reincarnation on earth; at present the abode of the future buddha Maitreya.

Lit. “The Contented.” The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm; also the name of the gods living there. It is the paradise in which the Buddha Śākyamuni lived as the tenth level bodhisattva Śvetaketu (dam pa tog dkar po) and regent, prior to his birth in this world, and where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening. At present the regent of Tuṣita is the bodhisattva Maitreya, the future buddha.

The fourth level of the heavens of the realm of desire, and the last stopping place of a buddha before his descent and reincarnation on earth. According to Buddhist cosmology, it is presently the abode of the future buddha Maitreya.

One of the heavens of Buddhist cosmology, counted among the six heavens of the desire realm; home of the future buddha Maitreya.

One of the six heavens of the desire realm.

The fourth (third highest) of the six levels of gods of the Desire Realm.

The fourth of the six heavens of the desire realm. In Buddhist thought it is where all future buddhas dwell prior to their awakening. 

One of the heavens of Buddhist cosmology, counted among the six heavens of the desire realm, it is home of future Buddha Maitreya.

A god realm.

A heaven in the god realms where it is understood that future buddhas reside prior to manifesting buddhahood in the world.