Answer: Heaven and Hell are two of the six realms that beings can go to after death.
The Buddha taught that there are six realms to which beings can be reborn after death: the realm of Heavens, the realm of Demi-Gods, the realm of Humans, the realm of Animals, the realm of Hungry Ghosts, and the realm of Hells.
In the Human and Animal realms, beings must be reborn by entering a mother’s womb and starting anew as an embryo. In the other four realms (Heavens, Demi-Gods, Hungry Ghosts, and Hells), the soul transforms and moves to the new existence directly, a process known as spontaneous rebirth.
The realm of Heavens (Deva) is for those who lived very kindly and righteously, with a virtuous and saintly inner morality. In Heaven, Celestial Beings live in happiness, get what they wish for, have long lifespans, and possess clear wisdom, with everything being transparent and just.
The realm of Demi-Gods (Asura) is for those who contributed greatly to life but still have inner anger, competitiveness, and jealousy. In this realm, Divine Beings enjoy many blessings and get what they want, but often experience depression due to frequent quarrels and conflicts.
The realm of Humans (Manusa) is for those with imperfect morality, sometimes good and sometimes bad, with unfinished past obligations and unfulfilled desires. In this realm, beings have vastly different fortunes, with some living in wealth and comfort while others endure hardship and poverty.
The realm of Animals (Tiryak) is for those who lived instinctually, doing whatever they liked without considering right or wrong. They may have been cruel, stubborn, greedy, aggressive, arrogant, dismissive of morality, disrespectful to people, and tend to criticize others.
The realm of Hungry Ghosts (Preta) is for those who lived selfishly, only caring for themselves, wasting food, and indulging in pleasures until their blessings were exhausted. In this realm, beings are constantly tormented by hunger and suffering.
The realm of Hell (Naraka) is for those who have been malicious and obstinate, causing suffering to others, refusing to heed the advice of others, and clinging to their own harmful beliefs. In Hell, beings undergo many painful punishments that seem to last forever, experiencing endless suffering without dying, as they are already dead.
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