Śuddhāvāsa

śuddhāvāsa (P. suddhāvāsa; T. gnas gtsang གནས་གཙང་; C. wujingtu tian) is translated as "five pure abodes," "five pure heavens," etc. It refers to the five uppermost realms within the form realm (rūpadhātu). These abodes are a result of the fourth dhyana meditation, and are only accessible to noble beings (arya sangha).

The five abodes are:

1. Unexcelled (akanishtha)
2. Perfect vision (sudarśana)
3. Perfect appearance (sudṛśa)
4. Untroubled (atapa)
5. Free from afflictions (avṛha)

Access to Insight states:

These are the five Pure Abodes (suddhavasa), which are accessible only to non-returners (anagami) and arahants. Beings who become non-returners in other planes are reborn here, where they attain arahantship. Among its inhabitants is Brahma Sahampati, who begs the Buddha to teach Dhamma to the world (SN 6.1).

Alternative translations

• five pure abodes
• five pure heavens

External links

• gnas_gtsang, Rangjung Yeshe Wiki
• The Thirty-one Planes of Existence, Access to Insight
• Brahma worlds in Theravada Buddhism Dr. Ari's World