| There are many ways to classify Heaven. | | | | planets would collapse; and all matters and life |
| Buddhism partitions Heaven into three major | | | | cannot exist. The function of this Heaven is to |
| regions: Heaven of Desire, Heaven of Image, and | | | | control the growth and decline of "Yin" and "Yang" |
| Heaven of Non-image. It further subdivides these | | | | so that their transitions are continuous and |
| three regions into twenty-eight sub-regions, | | | | smooth. For example, the flow of the four |
| depending on their pureness. Heaven of Desire | | | | seasons is smooth and continuous. This Heaven |
| has six-regions, Heaven of Image has eighteen, | | | | also governs the beginning and end of all matters. |
| and Heaven of Non-image has four. Taoism | | | | Heaven and Hell, which are created by the good |
| partitions Heaven into thirty-six sections because | | | | and evil of human minds, exist in this space. It is |
| there are three-hundred and sixty degrees ia a | | | | the Spiritual world. It is sometimes referred to as |
| circle. Taoism also classifies Heaven into seven | | | | the space with more than three dimansions. |
| levels, which correspond to the seven levels of | | | | Li-tien: This is the void. It has no form nor shape, |
| one's pratice, and is similar to that of Christianity | | | | no sound nor scent. It is an infinite spiritual energy. |
| and Islam. Heaven is also commonly classified into | | | | It is the space of pure souls. It is absolutely |
| twelve levels. Tao Te Ching states: One gives rise | | | | empty and still. It is immense that It comprises |
| to Two. Two gives rise to Three. Three gives | | | | every thing. It is so divine that Its existence can |
| rise to everything." Thus, it is sufficient to partition | | | | only be reconized through supernatural inspiration. |
| Heaven into three spaces. | | | | It is so tiny that It can be anywhere. It can |
| "I Ching" describes the mysticism of the creation | | | | create and cultivate all lives and matters. It cannot |
| of Heaven and Earth with three characteristics: | | | | be observed with any scientific means nor can It |
| first, the Non-Change, which is "Wu-ji Li-tien; | | | | be detected by any human senses. It has no |
| second, the Change, which is Tai-ji Qi-tien; and | | | | beginning or end. It always exists and is always |
| lastly Huang-ji Xiang-tien. These three Heavens | | | | divine. It is the origin of both the material world |
| are described as follows: | | | | and spiritual world, the Creator of all matters and |
| Xiang-tien: Everything that has matter, shape, and | | | | lives. When the material world and spiritual world |
| or form belongs to this space, including all items | | | | do not exist, It is still present. The Buddhist Sutra |
| that can be observed with the human eyes. | | | | saying "no beginning, no end, not polluted, not |
| Planets, earth, mountains, rivers, humans, animals, | | | | purified, cannot be increased, and cannot be |
| plants, and minerals, whether having life or not, all | | | | decreased" refers to the essence of Li-tien. It is |
| exist within this space. It is the material world and | | | | the Void, yet mysteriously exists. It is what the |
| the three dimensional space. | | | | saying "No image and image are the same. No |
| Qi-tien: This space consists of the gaps between | | | | physical existence and physical existence are the |
| matters, also commonly known as the "space" or | | | | same" desribes. It is the Kingdom of God. |
| "Heaven." The gaps between matters cannot be | | | | In conclusion, Li-tien is the essence of the Void, |
| seen with the human eyes. However, it can be | | | | Qi-tien is the "Yin" and "Yang" of Tai-ji, and |
| felt with other sensory organs. For example, our | | | | Xiang-tien is the material world. In the genesis, |
| feelings and consciousness exist within this space. | | | | Li-tien created Qi-tien, which in turn created |
| Inside this space, the light and pure "Qi" belongs to | | | | Xiang-tien. In the destruction cycle, Xiang-tien will |
| "Yang" and the heavy and non-pure "Qi" belongs | | | | collapse first, followed by Qi-tien. Li-tien will always |
| to "Yin." Yang and Yin confront each other. This is | | | | exist. |
| also called "qian" and "kun." Thus, "I Ching" states | | | | Confucius said,"One who awakes to Tao in the |
| "Qian" is Heaven and "Kun" Earth. When we say | | | | morning will not have any regret even if he dies in |
| "Heaven, Earth, and all matters," "Heaven" here | | | | the same night." This clearly states the |
| actually implies "Qi-tien." | | | | importance of transcending the cycle of birth, |
| Without this space, Earth will be without support; | | | | death and rebirth and return to Li-tien. |
| mankind cannot live; the sun, the moon, stars, and | | | | Author: T. |