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an “upward direction” their age, capacities, joy, radiance, purity and thought-color (leśya), sensory powers and visual knowledge ever increase, and that their attachment to the world and their pride decrease. But even the most advanced remain attached to the guru they had during their earthly existence. High heavenly beings may still feel a loving connection with their family left on earth when they physically passed away. All these heavenly beings are we ourselves – after our physical death – depending on our spiritual advancement. Some of them, who have already passed through an intensive spiritual self-training, need to be born as humans only once more, and then, through penitence, they will reach final liberation. Others, who at present live in the highest heavens, need only two more human lives. The human kingdom is the only gate to nirvāna.
The inhabitants of the lower heavens still enjoy pleasures in their consciousness which are akin to the human, but become of an ever more subtle nature, and less "intense.” They express their sexuality, for example, in an ever nobler way. In the lowermost heavens they still do so in the same way as humans, but above this stage only through touch, in the next heaven only through seeing, and finally only mentally (by remembering or hearing). In the high heavens sensual desires no longer exist. The state of consciousness is of course more important than outer form or color, but the descriptions of their outward appearances as given to us in literature are symbols – reflections - of their inner state. Their bodies, consisting of subtle matter, reflect the condition of their soul; they are far less rigid and inconstant than the physical body. Perhaps those who have developed an eye fit for that purpose and are pure and well-trained against illusions can properly perceive them in these forms and colors.
Those who live in the kalpa heavens (the lower 16 (or 12) heavens), like those in the lowest heavens, are organized in a hierarchical “social” structure. Their leader or king is an Indra, then follow gurus, priests, courtiers, bodyguards, protectors (police”) of the four directions, the “populace”,
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