Higher realms

Higher realms refers to fortunate rebirth destinies (gati) within Buddhist cosmology.

Buddhist cosmology typically speaks of six rebirth destinies, of which:

• two or three are considered fortunate rebirth destinies, a.k.a "higher realms" and
• three or four are considered unfortunate rebirth destinies (durgati), a.k.a "lower realms."

The "higher realms" (fortunate rebirth destinies) are:

• devas
• humans (manuṣya)
• and sometimes asuras are included in this category

The "lower realms" are:

• pretas
• animals
• hell beings
• and sometimes asuras are included in this category