The Observation of Existence

Venerable Sir, it is said: ‘existence, existence’. In what way, Venerable Sir, is there existence?

(1) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the sensory realm, would sense-sphere existence be observed?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in an inferior realm (Hell, Animal, or Afflicted Spirits realms).

In this way there is the production of renewed existence in the future.

(2) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the form realm, would form-sphere existence be observed?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in a middling realm (Human realm). In this way there is the production of renewed existence in the future.

(3) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the formless realm, would formless-sphere existence be observed?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in the upper realm (Heavenly realm). In this way there is the production of renewed existence in the future.

It is in this way, Ānanda, that there is existence.

(Reference: AN 3.77)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares conditions that exist that will lead to a future rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth described as “renewed existence”.

The Buddha described three categories of existences within five (5) different realms in The Cycle of Rebirth. There are sense-sphere, form, and formless existences within the realms of hell, animal, afflicted spirits, human, and heavenly realms.

The inferior realms are hell, animal, and afflicted spirits realms. In these realms, a being is unable to attain Enlightenment.

The middling realm is the human realm. In the human realm, a being is able to attain Enlightenment.

The upper realm is the heavenly realm. In the heavenly realm, a being is able to attain Enlightenment.

The animal and human realms have form existences (i.e. there is a physical body). Hell, afflicted spirits, and heavenly realms have formless existences (i.e. there is no physical body).

There are five (5) realms of existence.

1.) Heavenly realm

2.) Human realm

3.) Afflicted Spirits realm

4.) Animal realm

5.) Hell realm

The afflicted spirits, animal, and hell realms are the “lower realms of existence”. The realm of hell and the animal realm are similar to a prison. Once you are reborn into either of these two realms, it is like being trapped and it is extremely difficult for you to be reborn into another realm of existence.

A being who is an afflicted spirit has much ill-will, anger, and hate, thus, does not spend time to cultivate the mind.

A being in the animal realm does three things: eats, sleeps, and reproduces. There are some animals that also play, fight, and kill. In the animal realm there is no ability to cultivate the mind to develop a higher level of consciousness. Animals are incapable of eliminating fear and other unwholesome mental states or fully cultivate wholesome mental states like we can in the human realm to attain Enlightenment.

A being trapped in hell is in such pain and agony that hence, they are unable to cultivate their consciousness.

A being in the heavenly realm has so much pleasure from being reborn into this realm that they are not always interested or motivated to cultivate the mind. They do not experience suffering or pain so there is little interest to meditate or cultivate a content mind that resides in the middle. Beings in the heavenly realm are often reborn back into one of the other realms but one can also attain Enlightenment from the heavenly realm.

During The Buddha’s lifetime, he used analogies that the average person would understand. In this Teaching, he uses an analogy related to farming involving the planting and growing of crops. This is a subject that the ordinary person would understand during the lifetime of The Buddha as many people were involved in planting and growing crops.

There needs to be soil (i.e. field), a seed, and moisture to grow a plant. Similarly, there needs to be these same conditions to create a new existence. These are all the conditions that need to exist in order to create a plant or create a renewed existence.

A Field = Kamma

A Seed = Consciousness (the mind)

Moisture = Craving

If a being has unwholesome Kamma to eliminate, this is the field that provides the foundation for consciousness which is the seed. Craving (i.e. mental longing with a strong eagerness) provides the moisture. With unwholesome Kamma, consciousness, and craving, a being will experience renewed existence in The Cycle of Rebirth within one of the five (5) realms.

Beings are “hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality)”. They continue to wander and roam throughout The Cycle of Rebirth being unaware that craving/desire/attachment is causing the mind to be discontent. UnEnlightened beings do not understand what they do not understand (i.e. hindered by ignorance). Beings continue creating unwholesome Kamma due to ignorance (unknowing of true reality) providing the foundation for continued existence.

It is The Eight Fold Path that will extinguish unwholesome Kamma eliminating one of the conditions that allow rebirth to continue. To practice The Eight Fold Path, one would need to develop wisdom of these Teachings, thus, eliminating ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

The primary challenge all unEnlightened beings are experiencing is that the mind is hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as explained in Dependent Origination.

Through addressing the condition of ignorance (unknowing of true reality) by acquiring wisdom of these Teachings, a being can unravel all the other conditions that lead to discontentedness of mind and continued existence in The Cycle of Rebirth. All craving will be eliminated and there will no longer be consciousness to arise in a new existence.

You have this rare human existence to cultivate the mind while in the human state, develop a pure mind, and escape The Cycle of Rebirth. The human realm is a perfect place for the mind to experience a pleasant feeling, a painful feeling, and feelings that are neither painful-nor-pleasant. In the human realm, we experience all types of discontentedness of mind and, thus, have an interest to overcome it by cultivating the mind and escaping The Cycle of Rebirth. To accomplish this goal, one will need to acquire wisdom to eradicate ignorance (unknowing of true reality).

Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).