The Story of Dhammika Upasaka (Dhammapada 1 : 16)

I. Yamaka Vagga –Twin Verses 

Verse 16:
Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices;
one who performed meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences.
He rejoices and rejoices even more when he sees the purity of his own deeds.
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While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered Verse (16) of this book, with reference to Dhammika, a lay disciple.

Once there lived in Savatthi, a lay disciple by the name of Dhammika, who was virtuous and very fond of giving in charity. He generously offered food and other requisites to the bhikkhus regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in fact, the leader of five hundred virtuous lay disciples of the Buddha who lived in Savatthi. Dhammika had seven sons and seven daughters and all of them, like their father, were virtuous and devoted to charity. When Dhammika was very ill and was on his death-bed he made a request to the Sangha to come to him and recite the sacred texts by his bedside. While the bhikkhus were reciting the Maha satipatthana Sutta, six decorated chariots from six heavens* arrived to invite him to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for a while for fear of interrupting the recitation of the Sutta. The bhikkhus, thinking that they were being asked to stop, stopped and left the place.

A little while later, Dhammika told his children about the six decorated chariots waiting for him. Then and there he decided to choose the chariot from the Tusita world and asked one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Then he passed away and was reborn in the Tusita world. Thus, the virtuous man rejoices in this world as well as in the next.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

"Idha modati pecca modati

katapuñño ubhayattha modati

so modati so pamodati

disvā kammavisuddhim attano."

Here he rejoices, hereafter he rejoices;

one who performed meritorious deeds rejoices in both existences.

He rejoices and rejoices even more when he sees the purity of his own deeds.

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Notes :

* According to Pali canon, there are 31 realms / planes of existence.

Below is the short version – more emphasised in the 6 type of heaven.

31 realms :  

I.  4 Arupa Lokas (Formless/Immaterial realms; inhabitants of these realms have no physical body, and they are born here because they have Arupa/Formless Jhana),

II. 16 Rupa Lokas (Form/Material realms; including in this category are Brahma worlds, Pure Abodes(suddhavasa realm where Anagamis are born), and realms where meditator who reached Jhana 1 – 4 are born)

III. 11 Kama Lokas (the inhabitants of these realms are still bound in sense pleasure)

11 Kama Lokas consist of :

• 6 Sugati Lokas / heavens
• 1 Manussa Loka / human world  ( => You are here !! For now  :P )
• 4 Apayas / states of deprivation ;

-    Asura realms

-    Peta realms / hungry ghost

-    Tiracchana yoni / animals

-    Niraya / hells

Following are the 6 Sugati Lokas / heavens :

1. Paranimmita-vasavatti Bhumi. The devas (heavenly beings) who live here enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them. Their leader is Vasavatti. Māra, the personification of delusion and desire, lives here.

2. Nimmãnarati Bhumi. The world of devas "delighting in their creations". The devas of this world are capable of making any appearance to please themselves. The lord of this world is called Sunirmita (Pāli Sunimmita); his wife is the rebirth of Visākhā, formerly the chief of the upāsikās (female lay devotees) of the Buddha..

3. Tusita Bhumi. A realm of pure delight and gaiety. The ruler of this world is a deva called Santuṣita. Bodhisattas abide here prior to their final human birth. Bodhisatta Setaketu was here before being born as Prince Siddhartha. The Buddha visited Tusita to teach Abhidamma to his mother. This is also where the bodhisatta Nātha dwells, until the time he will become Maitreya (Metteya), the next Buddha.

4. Yãma Bhumi. The realms of Yama Devas. Sometimes called the "heaven without fighting", because it is the lowest of the heavens to be physically separated from the tumults of the earthly world. Its ruler is the deva Suyāma; according to some, his wife is the rebirth of Sirimā, a courtesan of Rājagṛha in the Buddha's time who was generous to the monks.

5. Tãvatimsa Bhumi (the world of 33 devas). Its ruler is Śakka/Indra, "lord of the devas". (more stories later on verse 30)

6. Cãtummahãrãjika Bhumi (The world of the Four Great Heavenly Kings (四天王 Sì Tiānwáng) ;

-   Dhatarattha : guardian of the east, leader of Gandhabbas (devas who are known for their skill as musicians).

-   Virulhaka : guardian of the south, leader of Kumbhandas (who guards forest, mountains and hidden treasure).

-      Virupakkha : guardian of the west, leader of Nagas / dragons

-   Vessavana/Kuvera : guardian of the north, leader of Yakkha (夜叉 yè chā, Yakkha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots.).

Catummaharajika-bhumi can also be categorised as:

• Bhumamattha Devata : devas who dwell on the ground, mountain, river, seas, house, temples, etc.
• Rukakkhattha Devata : devas who dwell on the trees.
• Akasattha Devata : devas who lives in the air.

This 31 realms of existence in Theravada tradition is slighlty differrent from Mahayana tradition or in Tibetan tradition, for example the Tibetan has 6 realms. But it’s essentially the same, it doesn’t mean they have different type of 6 realms altogether, it's just a different way of classification.

Having said that, in Mahayana there is something called Buddha-ksetra / Buddha’s field / Buddha’s realm, for example Sukhavati / Si Fang / Dewachen / Pure Land. This is Amitabha’s Buddha-ksetra, and it is outside the scope of  31 realms of  existence. Our 31 realms of existence is considered as Sakyamuni’s Buddha-ksetra.