<p>There is suffering in heaven. They still have to eat to maintain their bodies. They feel frightened when they get to know that their lives are running out. I've heard that there's a divine tree with flowers in the palaces of the Devas. When an year of their world comes to completion, a flower will wither and fall down. That is how they know that they are ageing. When they see this, they get upset and worried. Then they come to human world to acquire fresh merits. Also, their radiance diminishes as they age. When they are about to die, the flower garlands around their necks wither and they start to sweat as well. It is also said that they can perish if they get angry or forget to eat because they are too caught up with other pleasures.</p>

<p>Yes, there are greater distractions to the path in heavens due to the extreme sensual pleasures, but there are Devas and Brahmas who spend their time meditating. Especially the ones who have attained Magga Phala. Also, in the suttas we hear about many Devas and Brahmas attaining enlightenment after listening to the Buddha's sermons. Ex: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, Anatta Lakkhana Sutta etc.</p>

<p>Here are some of the advantages of being a Deva or a Brahma with regards to practicing the Dhamma</p>

<ol>
<li><p>They are born in full form with palaces and all the other requirements. They are not clumsy like humans at birth. So they don't need to spend a childhood orienting themselves to the world, studying and acquiring skills to make money just to get food, clothes and lodging. That saves a lot of time.</p></li>
<li><p>They don't get sick. It can be difficult to meditate if you get sick often.</p></li>
<li><p>They don't have bodily discomfort. So they can sit in one position for a long time. This is actually more useful if you do Samatha first and then turn it to Vipassana.</p></li>
<li>They don't have to take bath or cleanup as divine food has no excrements. So while meditations like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patikulamanasikara">Patikulamanasikara</a> won't work in heavens, it saves time for other meditations. </li>
<li>Their life spans are huge. So once they learn a meditation technique, they can keep practicing it without having to learn it all over again.</li>
<li><p>They don't get angry easily, so they can possibly attain concentration faster, if they seclude themselves (helpful for samatha pubbangama vipassana).  </p></li>
<li><p>They possibly get to meet other Devas and Brahmas who have directly heard the Dhamma from the Buddha. The Abhidhamma was fully preached at Tavatimsa heaven. So there are Devas and Brahmas who have heard the comprehensive version. We humans only have the summarized version.</p></li>
<li><p>The higher chance of meeting enlightened beings in heaven compared to human world nowadays.</p></li>
<li>The ability to read the minds can help them recognize enlightened beings easily. The divine eyes and the divine ears can be used to listen to all the sermons of the Buddha even from the palace.</li>
<li>The chance to hear the Dhamma from several Buddhas</li>
</ol>

<p>Also, bear in mind that suffering in the first noble truth doesn't just mean pain. A pleasurable experience is also an instance of suffering as it is subjected to change and death.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-04T16:43:43.350Z
Yes, so much I didn't know. Thank you Sankha! :)
Robin111
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-04T17:28:38.933Z
Added a few more ;)
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-04T16:35:03.630Z
2015-07-04T17:37:01.490Z
2015-07-04T17:37:01.490Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>References to a rebirth in the heavenly realms seems to be viewed in a positive light in Buddhism. It's easy to see why it would be considered more favorable than a rebirth in the hell realms of course. But my understanding is that beings in heaven don't practice the dhamma as there is no suffering to create conditions for them to seek the cessation of suffering, so they will not become enlightened there. Is there something positive that comes of a rebirth in the heavens other than a temporary respite from suffering? I realize we don't get to choose our rebirths, but I would like to know if heaven is considered to be a truly beneficial place and if so, why? Thank you. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-04T21:26:12.433Z
Great question. I have made myself the same question many times. From a Buddhist's point of view (escaping samsara as ultimate goal) going to heaven seems like a distraction. Of course it is good, but not for escaping samsara into PariNibbana, therefore it is just a "waste of time". Maybe I'm missing something...
konrad01
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-05T20:02:04.490Z
Incidentally, those on the Bodhisattva path actively wish for hell and lower realms, to guide those who have no opportunity to learn the dharma. There is a story of a yogi who meditates in the Himalayas until he has perfect peace, a halo, psychic powers and all that. Now he decides to head down to the nearest town. As soon as he is in the middle of the jostling crowds and the bustle and noise of the market, he realises he has lost all his peace and tranquility. Like steel being super heated and hammered before being cooled down, spiritual practice needs to be tempered in suffering.
Buddho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-11T17:12:45.047Z
Very good question and comments. But there are "more" heavenly realms or you can say "higher heavens" that enlightened beings goes after death. These higher heaven beings are destined to attain parinibbana and it is not possible to come back to earth(maybe few come back to earth with their choices to help few people). Also in the spirit world there are no boundaries, every being in the spirit world can shift their awareness to the higher realms, but only enlightened beings stay there untill attaining parinibbana
Murathan1
<theravada><rebirth><heavens>
Why would anyone ever want to go to the heavens?
# Why would anyone ever want to go to the heavens?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-04)

References to a rebirth in the heavenly realms seems to be viewed in a positive light in Buddhism. It's easy to see why it would be considered more favorable than a rebirth in the hell realms of course. But my understanding is that beings in heaven don't practice the dhamma as there is no suffering to create conditions for them to seek the cessation of suffering, so they will not become enlightened there. Is there something positive that comes of a rebirth in the heavens other than a temporary respite from suffering? I realize we don't get to choose our rebirths, but I would like to know if heaven is considered to be a truly beneficial place and if so, why? Thank you.

**Tags:** theravada, rebirth, heavens

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Great question. I have made myself the same question many times. From a Buddhist's point of view (escaping samsara as ultimate goal) going to heaven seems like a distraction. Of course it is good, but not for escaping samsara into PariNibbana, therefore it is just a "waste of time". Maybe I'm missing something...  
> **username_2**: Incidentally, those on the Bodhisattva path actively wish for hell and lower realms, to guide those who have no opportunity to learn the dharma. There is a story of a yogi who meditates in the Himalayas until he has perfect peace, a halo, psychic powers and all that. Now he decides to head down to the nearest town. As soon as he is in the middle of the jostling crowds and the bustle and noise of the market, he realises he has lost all his peace and tranquility. Like steel being super heated and hammered before being cooled down, spiritual practice needs to be tempered in suffering.  
> **username_3**: Very good question and comments. But there are "more" heavenly realms or you can say "higher heavens" that enlightened beings goes after death. These higher heaven beings are destined to attain parinibbana and it is not possible to come back to earth(maybe few come back to earth with their choices to help few people). Also in the spirit world there are no boundaries, every being in the spirit world can shift their awareness to the higher realms, but only enlightened beings stay there untill attaining parinibbana  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-04. Score: 20 | Accepted answer

There is suffering in heaven. They still have to eat to maintain their bodies. They feel frightened when they get to know that their lives are running out. I've heard that there's a divine tree with flowers in the palaces of the Devas. When an year of their world comes to completion, a flower will wither and fall down. That is how they know that they are ageing. When they see this, they get upset and worried. Then they come to human world to acquire fresh merits. Also, their radiance diminishes as they age. When they are about to die, the flower garlands around their necks wither and they start to sweat as well. It is also said that they can perish if they get angry or forget to eat because they are too caught up with other pleasures.

Yes, there are greater distractions to the path in heavens due to the extreme sensual pleasures, but there are Devas and Brahmas who spend their time meditating. Especially the ones who have attained Magga Phala. Also, in the suttas we hear about many Devas and Brahmas attaining enlightenment after listening to the Buddha's sermons. Ex: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, Anatta Lakkhana Sutta etc.

Here are some of the advantages of being a Deva or a Brahma with regards to practicing the Dhamma

1. They are born in full form with palaces and all the other requirements. They are not clumsy like humans at birth. So they don't need to spend a childhood orienting themselves to the world, studying and acquiring skills to make money just to get food, clothes and lodging. That saves a lot of time.
2. They don't get sick. It can be difficult to meditate if you get sick often.
3. They don't have bodily discomfort. So they can sit in one position for a long time. This is actually more useful if you do Samatha first and then turn it to Vipassana.
4. They don't have to take bath or cleanup as divine food has no excrements. So while meditations like [Patikulamanasikara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patikulamanasikara) won't work in heavens, it saves time for other meditations.
5. Their life spans are huge. So once they learn a meditation technique, they can keep practicing it without having to learn it all over again.
6. They don't get angry easily, so they can possibly attain concentration faster, if they seclude themselves (helpful for samatha pubbangama vipassana).
7. They possibly get to meet other Devas and Brahmas who have directly heard the Dhamma from the Buddha. The Abhidhamma was fully preached at Tavatimsa heaven. So there are Devas and Brahmas who have heard the comprehensive version. We humans only have the summarized version.
8. The higher chance of meeting enlightened beings in heaven compared to human world nowadays.
9. The ability to read the minds can help them recognize enlightened beings easily. The divine eyes and the divine ears can be used to listen to all the sermons of the Buddha even from the palace.
10. The chance to hear the Dhamma from several Buddhas

Also, bear in mind that suffering in the first noble truth doesn't just mean pain. A pleasurable experience is also an instance of suffering as it is subjected to change and death.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, so much I didn't know. Thank you Sankha! :)  
> **username_4**: Added a few more ;)  

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