Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c7.592

v1.c7.592

Ābhassara.—A Brahma-world where live radiant devas from whose bodies rays of light are emitted, like lightning. It belongs to the *Rūpaloka* and is in the plane of second *jhāna*.¹ The devas living there subsist on joy (*pītibhakka*).² Their span of life is two kappas and there is no guarantee that a person who has been born there may not later be reborn in an unhappy condition.³ From time to time these devas utter shouts of joy saying “aho sukham, aho sukham.” This sound is the best of sounds. These devas are completely enveloped in ease (sukhena abhisaññā parisaññā).⁴ Their world forms the third station of consciousness (viññāṇaṭṭhiti), they are of uniform body, but their perceptions are diverse (ekattakāyā nānattasaññino).⁵ During the periods of the development of the world many beings are born in the Ābhassara realm and they are then called the highest of the devas, yet even they change their condition.⁶ In lists of devas⁷ they are given below the Appamāṇābhā and above the Subhā.