Tibetan Buddhist Cosmology: Six Realms, Bardos & the Wheel of Life

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist Cosmology

Tibetan Buddhist cosmology presents a complete map of existence—from the hell realms to the god realms, from death through the bardo states to rebirth. At its heart is the Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra), a profound teaching diagram showing the Six Realms of cyclic existence (samsara), the Three Poisons that bind us, and the path to liberation. This is not mere mythology but a psychological and spiritual map: the realms represent both literal destinations after death and states of mind experienced in life, the bardos reveal the journey between incarnations, and the entire wheel teaches that suffering arises from ignorance and can be transcended through awakening. Understanding this cosmology provides the foundation for Tibetan Buddhist practice and the path to enlightenment.

This comprehensive guide explores the Six Realms, the Bardo states, the Wheel of Life, and the cosmological structure of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra)

The Complete Teaching

The Wheel of Life is a visual representation of Buddhist cosmology, traditionally painted at temple entrances. It contains:

• The Hub: Three animals representing the Three Poisons
• The Second Ring: Karma—beings rising and falling
• The Six Realms: The outer sections showing six types of existence
• The Rim: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
• Yama: The Lord of Death holding the entire wheel
• The Buddha: Outside the wheel, pointing to liberation

The Three Poisons (Hub)

At the center, three animals chase each other:

• Pig: Ignorance (moha) - delusion, not seeing reality
• Snake: Hatred (dvesha) - aversion, anger, aggression
• Rooster: Greed (raga) - attachment, desire, craving

These three poisons are the root causes of suffering and rebirth in samsara.

The Six Realms of Existence

Understanding the Realms

The Six Realms are:

• Literal destinations after death based on karma
• Psychological states experienced in life
• All within samsara (cyclic existence)
• All characterized by suffering
• All impermanent—beings cycle through them

1. Deva Realm (Gods)

Location: Top of the wheel
Dominant Emotion: Pride
Karma: Virtuous actions, meditation
Lifespan: Extremely long (eons)

Characteristics:

• Bliss, pleasure, beauty
• Long life but not eternal
• Absorbed in enjoyment
• Forget to practice Dharma

Suffering:

• Pride and complacency
• Fear of death as life ends
• Can see their next rebirth (often lower)
• Wasted opportunity for liberation

As Psychological State: Extreme pride, spiritual bypassing, bliss addiction

2. Asura Realm (Jealous Gods/Titans)

Location: Upper left
Dominant Emotion: Jealousy, envy
Karma: Competitive virtue, jealous generosity
Lifespan: Very long

Characteristics:

• Constant warfare with the gods
• Powerful but never satisfied
• Fighting over the wish-fulfilling tree
• Competitive and aggressive

Suffering:

• Endless conflict and competition
• Never winning permanently
• Consumed by jealousy
• Paranoia and aggression

As Psychological State: Jealousy, competitiveness, never feeling good enough

3. Human Realm

Location: Middle right
Dominant Emotion: Desire, passion
Karma: Mixed—good and bad
Lifespan: Short (decades)

Characteristics:

• Birth, aging, sickness, death
• Mixture of pleasure and pain
• Capacity for choice and reflection
• Best realm for achieving enlightenment

Suffering:

• The eight worldly sufferings
• Impermanence and loss
• Desire and dissatisfaction
• Existential anxiety

Why Precious:

• Not too much pleasure (like gods)
• Not too much pain (like hell beings)
• Can encounter the Dharma
• Can practice and achieve liberation

4. Animal Realm

Location: Lower right
Dominant Emotion: Ignorance, stupidity
Karma: Ignorance, instinct-driven actions
Lifespan: Varies

Characteristics:

• Driven by instinct
• Prey and predator dynamics
• Limited awareness
• Exploitation by humans

Suffering:

• Fear of being eaten
• Hunger and cold
• Exploitation and abuse
• Cannot understand Dharma

As Psychological State: Dullness, stupidity, living on autopilot

5. Preta Realm (Hungry Ghosts)

Location: Lower left
Dominant Emotion: Greed, craving
Karma: Extreme greed, miserliness
Lifespan: Very long

Characteristics:

• Huge bellies, tiny mouths and throats
• Constantly hungry and thirsty
• Cannot satisfy their cravings
• Food turns to fire or filth

Suffering:

• Insatiable hunger and thirst
• Frustration and desperation
• Isolation and loneliness
• Endless craving never satisfied

As Psychological State: Addiction, insatiable desire, consumerism

6. Naraka Realm (Hell Beings)

Location: Bottom
Dominant Emotion: Hatred, anger
Karma: Extremely negative actions
Lifespan: Extremely long (eons of suffering)

Characteristics:

• Hot hells (fire, molten metal)
• Cold hells (ice, freezing)
• Intense, unrelenting suffering
• No respite or escape

Suffering:

• Extreme physical and mental torment
• Seems endless (though impermanent)
• No opportunity to practice
• Complete overwhelm

As Psychological State: Rage, hatred, depression, complete suffering

The Bardo States

What is Bardo?

Bardo (བར་དོ་) means 'intermediate state' or 'in-between':

• Traditionally: states between death and rebirth
• Broadly: any transitional state
• Opportunities for liberation
• Described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol)

The Six Bardos

1. Bardo of This Life (Kyenay Bardo):

• From birth to death
• The waking state
• Opportunity to practice Dharma

2. Bardo of Dreaming (Milam Bardo):

• The dream state each night
• Practice lucid dreaming
• Recognize the illusory nature of experience

3. Bardo of Meditation (Samten Bardo):

• Deep meditative absorption
• Direct experience of mind's nature
• Training for death

4. Bardo of Dying (Chikhai Bardo):

• The moment of death
• Dissolution of elements
• The Clear Light appears
• Opportunity for instant liberation

5. Bardo of Dharmata (Chönyi Bardo):

• After death, before rebirth
• Visions of peaceful and wrathful deities
• Projections of one's own mind
• Opportunity to recognize and liberate

6. Bardo of Becoming (Sipa Bardo):

• Seeking rebirth
• Drawn to future parents
• Karma determines next realm
• Last chance to choose consciously

The Path to Liberation

Escaping the Wheel

The Buddha stands outside the wheel, pointing to the moon (enlightenment):

• Liberation is possible
• The wheel is not ultimate reality
• Through practice, one can escape samsara
• Nirvana is beyond all six realms

The Three Trainings

• Sila (Ethics): Moral conduct
• Samadhi (Meditation): Mental discipline
• Prajna (Wisdom): Insight into reality

Recognizing the Bardos

• Practice recognizing dream state (lucid dreaming)
• Meditate on impermanence and death
• Study the Bardo teachings
• Prepare for death consciously
• Recognize all experience as mind's projection

Practical Application

Recognizing the Realms in Daily Life

• Notice when you're in 'god realm' (pride, complacency)
• Recognize 'asura realm' (jealousy, competition)
• Appreciate 'human realm' (the precious opportunity)
• Avoid 'animal realm' (ignorance, autopilot)
• Notice 'hungry ghost realm' (addiction, craving)
• Recognize 'hell realm' (rage, despair)

Using the Wheel as Mirror

• Which realm are you in right now?
• What poison is active?
• Can you recognize it as mind's projection?
• Can you choose liberation?

Further Study

Primary Texts:

• The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol)
• Liberation Through Hearing in the Bardo
• The Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa

Conclusion

Tibetan Buddhist cosmology, expressed through the Wheel of Life, the Six Realms, and the Bardo states, provides a complete map of existence and the path to liberation. The realms show where beings wander based on karma and the Three Poisons, the bardos reveal the journey between lives, and the entire teaching points to the possibility of escape through recognizing the mind's true nature. Whether understood literally or psychologically, this cosmology offers profound insight into suffering's causes and the path to freedom, reminding us that the human realm is precious, impermanence is certain, and liberation is possible.

May you recognize the precious human birth. May you escape the wheel of suffering. May you achieve liberation in this very life.