What Denotes Liberation and the Three Realms?

The existence of the six destinies in the phenomenal world in Buddhism is categorized into the Three Realms, consisting of the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm.

The six paths of rebirth that are manifested and generated by each and every being’s mind-nature, consisting of the following: (1) deva, including those of the desire, form, and formless realm, (2) human, (3) asura, (4) animal, (5) ghosts, and (6) hell-beings.

 It is only by truly seeing (during Buddha Sakyamuni’s time, many practitioners were able to perform supernatural powers to verify Buddha’s statements) the scope of the world consisting of the three realms, as well as depicting our exact position in the dharma realm, that we can have insightful knowledge and understand the meaning of liberation to practice the Buddha Dharma effectively.

 The concept of liberation means to be free from the cycle of rebirth in all the six destinies within the three realms, including the heavenly asuras, the desire realm, the four dhyana heavens in the form-realm (the first-dhyana, second-dhyana, third-dhyana, and fourth-dhyana), and the four formless realms (the abode of limitless space, the abode of limitless vijnana, the abode of nothingness, and the abode of neither-perception nor non-perception).

Therefore, it is important to understand the components of a human being which comprises the five aggregates, or also called the name-and-form. The correct understanding of the five aggregates is essential in Buddhist cultivation for the attainment of liberation. Thus, the Buddha designed the fundamental teachings of the First Turning of the Dharma Wheel, starting from contemplating our observable physical body and mind as well as the existent domain of the three realms, the dharma-realm.

 The chart reveals that tathagatagarbha is the foundation for the different forms of existence within the three realms and six destinies. It shows corresponding relations between tathagatagarbha with the karmic state and relevant fruitions. The chart illustrates the tathagatagarbha - the eighth vijnana, facilitating all the laws of cause and effect, retributions, and various fruition of Buddhist cultivation, including the attainment of the ultimate Buddhahood.

 The cultivation of the Path to Liberation requires correct and proper Buddhist wisdom, rather than sitting meditation alone. Even if one can reach the states of the four formless absorptions in the formless realm through the practices of sitting meditation, one is still unable to attain true liberation as depicted in the chart given that the four formless absorptions are still within the boundaries of the three realms.

 The liberation of the Two-Vehicle commences with eliminating the notion of self-view. The elimination of self-view requires deep contemplation into the illusory nature of the five aggregates and eighteen elements. The process of practicing deep contemplation involves us observing our five aggregates and eighteen elements. In addition to the elimination of the self-view. Practitioners need to gain the prajna (wisdom) by attaining awakening to the true Mind - tathagatagarbha. Practitioners will then be able to truly understand the profound teachings of Buddhist sutras to correctly practice in an extensive manner. Finally, the 52 cultivation stages of Mahayana will also require us to develop the correct wisdom to enhance our cultivations toward Buddhahood Path. 

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