Page 176 - Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated) and Symbols

e Realm of the Asuras is populated by ‘jealous gods’ or Demi-

gods’ who should be as happy as the Devas, but their minds

are clouded with anger and envy over the better fortunes of the

Devas. A close look at the picture will reveal that there is a tree

growing from this realm to that of the Devas. is is a ‘wish-

fulfilling tree’ whose fruits and flowers can fulfill every desire

which they are unable to get hold of. is causes them great frus-

tration, anger and jealousy and they therefore constantly wage

wars against the gods to claim the fruits of their tree. However

they are always defeated because the gods are far more powerful

due to their karmic legacy. Despite being a heavenly realm the

Asuras live in great suffering due to the delusion of anger and

jealousy. e suffering is further increased by their being born

with monstrous looks while their women are exquisitively beau-

tiful. is situation causes their females to yearn for the love of

the handsome gods and rejecting their own advances. Life in this

realm is always filled with quarrels, fighting and great violence.

e Human Realm is where we are. It is filled with the ups and

downs of life and we should be grateful for these conditions to be

around. ey bring about the awareness of the bliss of happiness

and the misery of suffering and therefore become the very causes

that lead to spiritual practice. It is therefore the most fortunate

realm to take rebirth into, the world where one is able to listen to

the Dharma and practise it to attain Buddhahood. In the heav-

enly realm the Gods are far too happily engrossed with their

pleasures to bother about further cultivation while the Asuras

are too much affected by anger, jealousy and dissatisfactions of

their existence. ose who are born into the lower or suffering

 