Sage of the six paths

Sage of the six paths was called Rokudou Sennin and is the founder of the ninjutsu. The idea originally come from the believe of Buddhists religious called The Six Realms or Six Paths possible states of rebirth in Buddhist tradition. They represent all the possibilities of good, bad and life. six divisions which described the six realms or six paths of existance are:

1) The god realms.
2) The demi-gods or asura (jealous god) realms.
3) The human realms.
4) The animals realms.
5) The hungry preta ghosts realms.
6) The hell realms.

The Six Realms of Existence

The paths within the realm of Birth and Death some call it six paths of suffering, wheel of life which includes the three Evil Paths that is hells, ghosts, animal and the good paths are of humans, asuras and celestials. These paths can be understood as states of mind. For Buddhists, these six realms represent all possible states of existence. They were traditionally conceived as real places, but can also be interpreted symbolically. The animal, ghost and hell realms are all places of punishment for previous sins about the bad thing that they have done in the past, whereas birth in the heavenly, asura, or human realms comes through the accumulation and spending of karmic merit that done from the past. Life in any of these realms is ultimately impermanent one does not suffer forever in hell nor enjoy eternal bliss in heaven.

Birth in any of the these realms is based on one past karma action essentially the moral causality that good actions bring good results and bad actions bring bad results. Since one motive is critical for goodness or badness, one thoughts become at least as important as one actions for example killing something by accident is far less serious than intentional killing.

Birth as a human their actions either good or bad determine their own future births. This gives added emphasis to their moral choices and it also means that a change of heart can help them lay a positive foundation for the future life. Such guidance can range from simple moral precepts all the way to instructions on how to select their next birth.

We can see that these six paths or six realms has a resident Buddha, through which its inhabitants can hear the dharma, this may reflect the Mahayana Buddhist notion that the ultimate Buddha nature (dharmakaya or Suchness) pervades the entire universe. The six paths of transmigration or six realms of existance are:

1) Heaven Realm.
2) Asura Realm.
3) Animal Realm.
4) Hell Realm.
5) Ghost Realm (Preta).
6) Human Realm.

Heaven Realm

Heaven realm is the realm of bliss and pride. In the heavens paths many beings are is rewarded for past good deeds that they make in their past as a human being. Life in heaven is a continual round or pleasure and enjoyment with no suffering, anxiety, or unfulfilled desires until they finished all the past good deed that they have done and reborn in another realm again. This is one of the problems life in heaven is extremely long for example thirty thousand years but is impermanent and one must inevitably leave to take birth in another realm. To be able to born in heaven, one also needs to spend an enormous amount of religious merit and life there is so carefree that people have no inclination toward religious life. For these reasons religious authorities have discouraged seeking birth in heaven.

Asura Realm

Asura mean jealous god. Asura are one who seek power and try to get what ever they want by force. Their realm is divided from the heaven, their ambition and envy make them spend most of their time on competition and warfare, so most of them will never seriously consider religious training. The realm of the Asuras points out the painful futility of war and competition as a means of finding happiness in their own way, whatever is gained has to be defended. The Buddha representation in this realm holds a sword which is the symbol of wisdom to show beings understanding and insight rather than power.

Animal Realm

Animal birth is seen as the result of past sins and one expiates these sins through suffering in animal form being killed, hunted, driven, etc. They often rebirth as an animal for consecutively thousands of time. Birth as an animal cannot generate good karma, they are simply working off the bad karma that they have done in their past. This lack of control and suffering make birth as an animal undesirable. The conviction that animals are sentient beings also underlies the prohibition on intentionally killing anything which goes back to the Buddha's earliest teaching the Buddha was also vocally opposed to the animal sacrifice prevalent in his time. The resident Buddha has his hand raised in abhaya mudra, in which the hand is raised with the fingers up and the palm facing outwards which means do not be afraid.

Hell Realm

In a hell there are many punishment for one's evil actions that they have made in the past. Buddhist visions of hell as Hindu visions of hell often link particular punishments to particular sins doubtless to warn the hearers. One expiates one's evil deeds through suffering, hunger and thirst, torture, psychological distress, being boiled in the very hot water etc. Such suffering can last enormously as long as sixty thousand years but is impermanent and when one's term is up, one is reborn in a presumably higher state. The resident Buddha has his hand lifted in a teaching gesture.

Ghost Realm (Preta)

Same as hells realm, beings in the preta realm expiate for what they have done in their past misdeeds through painful and suffering. Pretas are described as tormented by hunger and thirst for example preta that have tiny thin necks which they can never eat or drink enough to satisfy themselves, this is described as the result of greed and stinginess in their previous lives. Other torments are psychological, since pretas remain in the places where they used to live but cannot be seen by the living which brings feelings of frustration, isolation, and despair. For people who suffer violent or sudden death will become wandering spirits travel from places to places,since they may have had unfinished business that they have to make or unfulfilled desires on earth for example Preta would go inside the person dream who related to them and tells theem goodbye for the last time.

Human Realm

The human realm is the realm that one's had the choices to do good or bad which affect one's future in all the others, one is either being rewarded or punished for one's actions as a human being. One's present human condition for example wealth, social status, and physical and psychological qualities is based on one's past karma, but one's present choices also determine one's future in this life or a future life. As conscious moral agents, human beings have agency that the beings in other realms do not, this clearly underscores the importance of moral action and spiritual development.