Desire realm

The Deva domain (also known as the God domain or Blissful State) is the domain of bliss. The disadvantage of this domain is that things are so very comfortable there, that these beings completely neglect to work towards enlightenment. Instead they gradually use up the good karma they had previously accumulated, and so they subsequently fall to a lower rebirth.

The Deva domain is sometimes also referred to as the gods' domain, because its inhabitants are so powerful within their own domain, that compared to humans, they resemble the gods of Greek or Roman mythology. However, while the Devas may be referred to as gods, they are not immortal, omniscient, nor omnipotent, and they do not act as creators or judges at death, so they are notably very distinct from the monotheistic Western concept of God, although they are very similar to the gods of most European polytheism.

The Asura domain (also known as the Jealous God domain) is the domain of the Asuras (demigods). They are here because of actions in past lives based on egotistic jealousy, envy, insincerity, struggle, combat or rationalization of the world. They may be here because in human form they had good intentions but committed bad actions such as harming others. The Asuras of some other domains, however, are fully malevolent (such as the corruptor Mara) and can be more closely related to the translation of demon that is sometimes ascribed to them. These evil Asuras can be alternatively referred to as Rakshasas.

The Asuras are said to experience a much more pleasurable life than humans, but they are plagued by envy for the Devas, whom they can see just as animals can see humans.

The Manuṣya domain (also known as the Human domain) is based on passion, desire, doubt, and pride.

Buddhists see this domain as the realm of human existence. Although it may not be the most pleasurable domain to live in, a human rebirth is in fact considered to be by far the most advantageous of all possible rebirths in samsara, because a human rebirth is the only samsaric domain from which one can directly attain Bodhi (enlightenment), either in the present rebirth (for Buddhas and Arhats) or in a future rebirth in a Deva domain (for Anagamis). This is because of the unique possibilities that a human rebirth offers: beings in higher domains just choose to enjoy the pleasures of their realms and neglect working towards enlightenment, while beings in lower domains are too busy trying to avoid the suffering and pain of their worlds to give a second thought to liberation. Humans have just the right balance: enough suffering to motivate them to achieve liberation, but not too much that every moment of their lives is consumed by it.

A human rebirth is considered to have tremendous potential when used correctly, however in most cases humans waste their lifetimes in materialistic pursuits rather than working towards enlightenment, and so end up reinforcing their unhelpful emotions, thoughts, and actions, rather than letting go of them. Because of this, it is almost always the case that one descends to a lower domain of rebirth after a human life, rather than immediately going on to another human birth, or going up to a higher domain.

In the lower domains, such as the animal domain, it is a very slow and difficult process to accumulate enough merit to achieve a human rebirth once again, so it may be countless lifetimes before one has another chance. This means that we should not choose to delay attaining enlightenment for a future life, since that may be thousands or even millions of years in the future, but should instead embrace the teachings of the Buddha in our present life, so that we can attain enlightenment here and now.

The Tiryagyoni domain (alternately spelled Tiryag-yoni or tiracchānayoni) (also known as the Animal domain) is based on strong mental states of stupidity and prejudice cultivated in a previous life or lives.

Buddhists believe that this domain is the domain of existence of the nonhuman animals on the Earth. Although humans and animals live in separate domains of existence, they can still see each other because their domains are so close to each other in the vertical cosmology, just like how the Devas and Asuras can see each other despite being in separate domains.

The Preta domain (also known as the Hungry Ghost domain) is a rebirth based on strong possessiveness and desire which were cultivated in a previous life or lives.

The sentient beings in this domain are known as "hungry ghosts". They are constantly extremely hungry and thirsty, but they cannot satisfy these needs. In Tibetan versions of the Bhavacakra these beings are drawn with narrow necks and large bellies. This represents the fact that their desires torment them, but they are completely unable to satisfy themselves.

The Naraka domain (also known as the Niraya domain or the Hell domain) is a rebirth based on strong states of hatred cultivated in a previous life or lives.

The Buddhist view of Naraka differs significantly from the concept of Hell in most monotheistic religions in that those being punished in Naraka are not trapped permanently, but will eventually be released, in contrast to most monotheistic religions which say that Hell is permanent. Exceptions include Judaism and Catholicism, which have a temporary hell domain called purgatory, in which souls are punished and purified of their sins by fire and then continue on their journey to paradise. In Buddhism souls remain in Naraka until their negative Karma is used up, at which point they are reborn into another domain.