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*'''Jigoku''': home to the Eight Hot Hells and The Eight Cold Hells, each of which has a detailed description I won’t get into here. The being [[Emma-O|Emma-Ô]] is the lord of this realm and has as his servants the great ogres known as [[oni]], famous for their ''tetsubô'' (iron studded clubs). Not a good place to be.  

*'''Jigoku''': home to the Eight Hot Hells and The Eight Cold Hells, each of which has a detailed description I won’t get into here. The being [[Emma-O|Emma-Ô]] is the lord of this realm and has as his servants the great ogres known as [[oni]], famous for their ''tetsubô'' (iron studded clubs). Not a good place to be.  

Eventually, the dedicated Buddhist will climb the ladder of The Six Realms and enter into Nehan, becoming one with the universe and never returning to the Realms.  

Eventually, the dedicated Buddhist will climb the ladder of The Six Realms and enter into Nehan, becoming one with the universe and never returning to the Realms.

 

Traditionally, women were said to be hindered from attaining enlightenment in five ways, known as the Five Hindrances (Skt: ''pañca nivāraṇa''; J: ''gokai''): sensory desire, ill-will, sloth, restlessness/worry, and doubt.<ref>"[http://shunga.honolulumuseum.org/2013/index.php?page=47&language=&maxImageHeight=470&headerTop=0&headerHeight=109&footerTop=579&bw=1366&sh=0&refreshed=refreshed#.VHwJmcmTLqM Tongue in Cheek: Erotic Art in 19th-Century Japan]," Honolulu Museum of Art, exhibition website, accessed 30 November 2014.</ref> Belief in this has fallen away in the modern period, however.

Most modern Buddhists do not take the Six Realms literally but rather as metaphors for states of being. The "state" of being a Hungry Spirit is linked with greed and materialism. The "state" of dwelling in Jigoku is linked with anger and violence, either towards oneself or others. The "state" of dwelling in the Asura realm is linked with jealously, envy, and selfishness. The "state" of dwelling in Tengoku is linked with arrogance. The "state" of being an animal is linked with ignorance.  

Most modern Buddhists do not take the Six Realms literally but rather as metaphors for states of being. The "state" of being a Hungry Spirit is linked with greed and materialism. The "state" of dwelling in Jigoku is linked with anger and violence, either towards oneself or others. The "state" of dwelling in the Asura realm is linked with jealously, envy, and selfishness. The "state" of dwelling in Tengoku is linked with arrogance. The "state" of being an animal is linked with ignorance.