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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:26 pm
Another article is “Four Heavenly Kings.”
“The Four Heavenly Kings — in Buddhism — are four guardian gods, each of whom protects one of the four cardinal directions. Collectively, they are referred to in different languages as follows: Sanskrit — Devarāja — ‘king of the gods’ or Lokapāla — ‘guardian of the world’;
Chinese — Sì Tiānwáng — ‘four heavenly kings’;
Korean — Cheonwang — ‘heavenly king’;
Japanese — Shitennō — ‘four heavenly kings’;
Tibetan — Gyalchen Shi — ‘four great kings’;
Mongolian — Dörvön makhranz (монг. дөрвөн махранз) — ‘the four maharajas’; Dörvön ikh khan — ‘the four great khans’.
Their dwelling, Cāturmahārājika, is located on the slopes of Mount Sumeru, and this world is the lowest of the abodes of the gods in Buddhist cosmology. The inhabitants of this world live in the air around the mountain. The kings are named Virūḍhaka, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūpākṣa, and their leader is called Vaiśravaṇa. In this world also live the gods accompanying the Sun and Moon, as well as beings subordinate to the kings — kumbhāṇḍas (dwarves), gandharvas, nāgas (serpents or dragons), and yakṣas. The Four Heavenly Kings are protectors of the world and fighters against evil; each commands a legion of supernatural beings to protect the Dharma. They guard the four continents and do not allow the asuras to enter the higher worlds of the gods.”
You see how interesting this is. All these trials I’m going through, all these worlds, all these spirits... To reach that place above, I have to go through all of this. And that’s why no one can get beyond everything — because it’s impossible to endure these trials, especially Mara, these dark spirits. You have to go through all of it and overcome it all. And only when you are completely pure and possess all the luminous qualities can you pass through these four, let’s say, guardians who protect the throne of God. “The World of the Four Heavenly Kings is ruled by Śakra, the king of the devas, who resides among the Thirty-Three Gods. On the 8th, 14th, and 15th days of each lunar month, the Four Heavenly Kings descend from the heavens or send messengers to observe morality and virtue in the human world.
“The Four Heavenly Kings — in Buddhism — are four guardian gods, each of whom protects one of the four cardinal directions. Collectively, they are referred to in different languages as follows: Sanskrit — Devarāja — ‘king of the gods’ or Lokapāla — ‘guardian of the world’;
Chinese — Sì Tiānwáng — ‘four heavenly kings’;
Korean — Cheonwang — ‘heavenly king’;
Japanese — Shitennō — ‘four heavenly kings’;
Tibetan — Gyalchen Shi — ‘four great kings’;
Mongolian — Dörvön makhranz (монг. дөрвөн махранз) — ‘the four maharajas’; Dörvön ikh khan — ‘the four great khans’.
Their dwelling, Cāturmahārājika, is located on the slopes of Mount Sumeru, and this world is the lowest of the abodes of the gods in Buddhist cosmology. The inhabitants of this world live in the air around the mountain. The kings are named Virūḍhaka, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Virūpākṣa, and their leader is called Vaiśravaṇa. In this world also live the gods accompanying the Sun and Moon, as well as beings subordinate to the kings — kumbhāṇḍas (dwarves), gandharvas, nāgas (serpents or dragons), and yakṣas. The Four Heavenly Kings are protectors of the world and fighters against evil; each commands a legion of supernatural beings to protect the Dharma. They guard the four continents and do not allow the asuras to enter the higher worlds of the gods.”
You see how interesting this is. All these trials I’m going through, all these worlds, all these spirits... To reach that place above, I have to go through all of this. And that’s why no one can get beyond everything — because it’s impossible to endure these trials, especially Mara, these dark spirits. You have to go through all of it and overcome it all. And only when you are completely pure and possess all the luminous qualities can you pass through these four, let’s say, guardians who protect the throne of God. “The World of the Four Heavenly Kings is ruled by Śakra, the king of the devas, who resides among the Thirty-Three Gods. On the 8th, 14th, and 15th days of each lunar month, the Four Heavenly Kings descend from the heavens or send messengers to observe morality and virtue in the human world.