The Buddha's descent from the Heaven of the Thirty-Three —exploring the canonical sources behind Lhabab Düchen and what this story reveals about teaching across human and celestial realms.
Photograph by Suhash Villuri.
The Buddha is said to have passed his seventh rainy season retreat in one of the god realms, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three (Trayastriṃśa), teaching his mother Māyādevī who had been reborn there, along with a large assembly of monks and celestial beings. The event, which is celebrated on Lhabab Düchen, marks the Buddha’s long-awaited, public and demonstrative return from the god realms back to the human world. He returned to Saṃkāśya, descending down a staircase made by the gods out of precious materials and accompanied by Brahmā, Śakra, and many gods, to be greeted by a great crowd of his human followers. Joie and John’s conversation traces the story, its canonical sources, and what it tells us about the Buddha’s activities for non-human as well as human beings and the many interactions between the gods and the Buddha’s teachings as recorded not only in the canonical scriptures, but also in Buddhist tradition and arts.
Dr. John Canti was a founding member of 84000’s executive committee and editorial team and is now senior editor.
