The 6 Realms in Buddhism of Samsara and Reincarnation Part 2

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4. The Suffering of the Hell Realm

In Buddhism, the hell realm is regarded as the most intense of the six realms of existence. "Hell realm" is a general term, as it can be further divided into the Eight Hot Hells, the Eight Cold Hells, the Reviving Hell (or Avīci Hell), and Miscellaneous Hells. Except for the Solitary Hells, all others are created by the collective karma of sentient beings. Those who commit the gravest unwholesome deeds are reborn into the hell realm and may endure its sufferings for hundreds of billions of years before they can escape.

Beings in the hell realm are not born from a womb or eggs but arise spontaneously. Beings born in the Eight Hot Hells endure various intense sufferings.

(1) The Eight Hot Hells

For those born in the Eight Hot Hells, all the valleys are filled with blazing iron, rivers and lakes are molten copper, and trees rain down sharp swords and other piercing weapons. The inhabitants never enjoy a moment of respite and are relentlessly subjected to slaughter by wild beasts and ferocious spirits.

(2) The Eight Cold Hells

For those born in the Cold Hells, the valleys are frozen wastelands. Due to the piercing cold winds, their bodies crack and split open. Before their billion-year lifespan ends, they undergo countless cycles of suffering—dying and being reborn over and over again.

(3) The Reviving Hell (Avīci)

Beings in this realm experience the most excruciating torment. Every day, they are burned by infernal flames, reduced to skeletons, and then revived with "life-restoring water," only to suffer the burning once again. The pain is unbearable. Even the Buddha himself refrained from mentioning the horrors of Avīci Hell too often, as his great compassion would cause bodhisattvas to weep blood and be overcome with sorrow.

(4) Miscellaneous Hells

Beings born in "Temporary Hells" or "Proximate Hells" experience suffering as severe as that of the other hells.

5. The Suffering of the Hungry Ghost Realm

Beings in the hungry ghost realm suffer as a result of collective karma from committing unwholesome deeds together, as well as from stinginess, stealing, or failing to help those in need. These beings are primarily born from a womb. Lifespans in this realm vary greatly; some live for tens of thousands of years, while others only live for a few.

The suffering in the hungry ghost realm is slightly less intense than that of the hell realm but exceeds that of the animal realm. In terms of intelligence, hungry ghosts are slightly more intelligent than animals.

Hungry ghosts mostly linger in darkness, consumed by hunger and thirst, yet unable to find food or drink. In their desperate search for sustenance, they are often left with only mucus or excrement to consume. On top of this, they are oppressed by stronger beings within their realm and driven to exhaustion by hopeless endeavors. They have no clothing and are subjected to searing heat in summer and freezing cold in winter. When it rains, burning coal falls from the sky, scorching their bodies. They see water as pus and blood, and flames erupt from their joints. Each hungry ghost perceives others as enemies, leading to constant fighting.

Additionally, hungry ghost mothers can give birth to hundreds of offspring in a single pregnancy. Despite their deep maternal love and desire to care for their children, they are unable to find sufficient food, adding to their anguish.

6. The Suffering of the Animal Realm

In Buddhism, it is believed that beings reborn into the animal realm experience the least suffering compared to those in the other two of the three lower realms.

Beings in the animal realm are fewer on land and more numerous in the sea. From the smallest insects to whales and elephants, all belong to the animal realm. Additionally, there are creatures such as dragons and Garuda birds, which are rarely seen by humans but are also classified as animals. Some animals live for only a single day, while others have lifespans lasting many eons.

By observing the animals on land and in the sea, one can get a glimpse of the suffering in this realm. Domestic animals and poultry are either used for labor, such as pulling carts and plowing fields, or await slaughter for meat or leather. Sea creatures are crowded together like germinating grains in water, tossed about by waves, and survive by preying on one another, living in constant fear and torment. Even animals that live in relatively open spaces, such as forests, are not free from suffering. They must always be wary of hunters and often kill one another. In short, animals are characterized by ignorance, and besides the suffering that stems from their ignorance, they also endure the pain of extreme heat and cold, much like beings in the hell realm and hungry ghost realm.

The lives of beings in the hell and hungry ghost realms are so filled with suffering that they have no opportunity to practice the Dharma. Similarly, beings in the animal realm are too ignorant and unaware to understand the Dharma, making it nearly impossible for them to engage in spiritual cultivation.

Thus, in the cycle of birth and death, the sentient beings of the six realms—whether they experience happiness or suffering—are never truly satisfied. They endlessly pursue more blessings and happiness: the wealthy wish to become even richer, the poor wish to become wealthy, and hungry ghosts long for freedom from hunger and thirst.

This unceasing greed, hatred, and ignorance within life drive the cycle of continual rebirth and death. From a radiant celestial being, one can fall to become a beggar by the roadside, a stray dog or cat, a parched hungry ghost, or a tortured being in hell. True, eternal happiness does not exist in this cycle. At the end of a life, whether one is rich or poor, most people are carried along by the "current" of their karma, reborn into different existences with no control over their fate.

Buddhism teaches that the cycle of the six realms and the law of cause and effect in relation to good and evil are not merely moral theories but absolute truths personally realized by the Buddha. The Buddha clearly explained in the scriptures that all six realms—whether the three higher realms or the three lower ones—are filled with various forms of suffering. Liberation from the six realms is the ultimate goal that we should eternally strive for. Sentient beings can only escape the cycle of reincarnation through the practice of the Dharma. Among the many paths of practice, the method of cultivating faith in Amitabha Buddha to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land is one of the most convenient and effective ways to transcend the cycle of reincarnation.