01. The gods realm or heavenly realm (deva).
Life in the realm of the gods is brought about by a predominance of the spiritual defilement or kleśa of pride.
The Realm of the Gods is the highest realm of the Wheel of Life and is always depicted at the top of the Wheel.
Those born in the God Realm live long and pleasure-filled lives, they have wealth and power and happiness but because the Devas have such rich and happy lives they don't recognise the truth of suffering. Their happiness is, in a way, a curse, because they have no motivation to seek liberation from the Wheel. Eventually, their happy lives end, and they must face rebirth in another, less happy, realm.
The Devas are perpetually at war with their neighbours on the Wheel, the Asuras. This depiction of the Wheel shows the Devas charging the Asuras.
02. The demi-gods realm (asura).
Life in this realm of demi gods is brought about by a predominance of the spiritual defilement or kleśa of jealousy.
The Asura are afflicted with with paranoia, they are driven by a desire to beat their competition, and everyone is competition. They have power and resources and sometimes accomplish good things with them. But, always, their first priority is getting to the top.
Asuras are also sometimes called anti-gods, are they perpetually at war with the Devas of the God Realm. Asuras think they belong in the God Realm and fight with bows and arrows to get in. Some depictions of the Wheel of Life combine the Asura and God realms into one.
Sometimes there is a beautiful tree growing between the two realms, with its roots and trunk in the Asura Realm. But its branches and fruit are in the God Realm.
03. The humans realm (manuṣa or manushya).
Life in the human realm is brought about by a predominance of the spiritual defilement or kleśa of lust.
Liberation from the Wheel is possible only from the Human Realm.
The Human Realm is marked by questioning and curiosity. It is also a realm of passion; human beings (Manushyas) want to strive, consume, acquire, enjoy, explore. Here the Dharma is openly available, yet only a few seek it. The rest become caught up in striving, consuming and acquiring, and miss the opportunity.
04. The animals realm (tiryak or tiryagyoni).
Life in this realm is brought about by a predominance of the spiritual defilement or kleśa of stupidity.
Animal Beings (Tiryakas) are solid, regular and predictable. They cling to what is familiar and are disinterested, even fearful, of anything unfamiliar.
The Animal Realm is marked by ignorance and complacency. Animal Beings are stolidly un-curious and are repelled by anything unfamiliar. They go through life seeking comfort and avoiding discomfort.
Animal Beings may find contentment, but they easily become fearful when placed in a new situation. Naturally, they are bigoted and likely to remain so. At the same time, they are subject to oppression by other beings.
05. The hungry ghosts realm (preta).
Life in the hungry ghost realm is brought about by a predominance of the spiritual defilement or kleśa of greed.
Hungry Ghosts (Pretas) are pitiable things. They are wasted creatures with huge, empty stomachs. Their necks are too thin to allow food to pass. So, they are constantly hungry.
The Hungry Ghost Realm often, but not always, is depicted between the Asura Realm and the Hell Realm, it is thought the karma of their lives was not quite bad enough for a rebirth in the Hell Realm but not good enough for the Asura Realm.
Psychologically, Hungry Ghosts are associated with addictions, compulsions and obsessions. People who have everything but always want more may be Hungry Ghosts.
06. The hell denizens realm (naraka).
Life in this realm is brought about by a predominance though the spiritual defilement or kleśa of hatred.
The Hell Realm is marked by anger, terror and claustrophobia , it is depicted as a place partly of fire and partly of ice. In the fiery part of the realm, Hell Beings (Narakas) are subjected to pain and torment. In the icy part, they are frozen.
Hell Beings are recognised by their acute aggression and are angry and abusive, and they drive away anyone who would befriend or love them. Icy Hell Beings shove others away with their unfeeling coldness. Then, in the torment of their isolation, their aggression increasingly turns inward, and they become self-destructive.