Devas are gods or heavenly beings living in blissful realms as a result of good kamma. Devas are powerful and long-lived but still subject to death and rebirth.

Why are devas not worshipped as a source of liberation?

Devas are themselves unenlightened and will fall to lower realms in time. Only the Dhamma leads beyond all realms to nibbana.

How does the Buddha's meeting with the god Brahma show the status of devas?

Tradition says the god Brahma Sahampati begged the Buddha to teach after his enlightenment. Even the highest god needed the Buddha's teaching.

What are the six realms shown in the Wheel of Life?

The six realms are gods, jealous gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings. Each realm is a possible rebirth driven by kamma.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

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Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

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Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

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Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

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Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

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Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Buddhism: Philosophy of Religion

The devas, the Realm of Gods and the Wheel of Life

3 things to know
Paper 3

Overview

Why devas are no source of liberation, the Śūraṅgama Sūtra on the heavens, the Buddha's meeting with Brahma, the six realms, the figure holding the Wheel, and the twelve pictures on its rim.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What are devas?

Key term

How are devas different from a personal God?

Key term

What does the Śūraṅgama Sūtra teach about the heavens?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What are devas?
Model answer
Devas are gods or heavenly beings living in blissful realms as a result of good kamma. Devas are powerful and long-lived but still subject to death and rebirth.
2
How are devas different from a personal God?
Model answer
A personal God is eternal, all-powerful and the creator of everything. Devas are beings within samsara who cannot free others from suffering.
3
What does the Śūraṅgama Sūtra teach about the heavens?
Model answer
The Śūraṅgama Sūtra describes many heavens where devas live because of their good conduct and meditation. The devas' happiness ends when the causes of their rebirth are used up.
4
Why are devas not worshipped as a source of liberation?
Model answer
Devas are themselves unenlightened and will fall to lower realms in time. Only the Dhamma leads beyond all realms to nibbana.
5
How does the Buddha's meeting with the god Brahma show the status of devas?
Model answer
Tradition says the god Brahma Sahampati begged the Buddha to teach after his enlightenment. Even the highest god needed the Buddha's teaching.
6
What are the six realms shown in the Wheel of Life?
Model answer
The six realms are gods, jealous gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings. Each realm is a possible rebirth driven by kamma.

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