user20115: Is being reborn as a deva or human better? Can you achieve nirvana if you are reborn as a deva as well as a human?

user471: From Awareness Itself by Ven. Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, compiled by his disciple Ven. Thanissaro:

A group of laypeople who had studied the Abhidhamma together came to
Ajaan Fuang to try out his version of mental training, but when he
told them to sit, close their eyes, and focus on the breath, they
immediately backed off, saying that they didn't want to practice
concentration, for fear that they'd get stuck on jhana and end up
being reborn in the Brahma worlds. He responded, "What's there to be
afraid of? Even non-returners are reborn in the Brahma worlds. At any
rate, being reborn in the Brahma worlds is better than being reborn as
a dog."


user21432: Ideally, you're a healthy human during a Buddha's dispensation so you can understand the teachings and practice them. Devas can still practice Dhamma but their world is so pleasurable that they're less likely to.
When it's not the Buddha's dispensation, being a deva seems like the better choice. Much less pain and much more pleasure than a human. And since the Dhamma is lost, there's no point in being a human.
But a better goal is to reach a level of awakening so you'll eventually escape samsara. Periods where the Dhamma are revealed are rare.

user13375: Your future rebirth will depend upon specific past karma (from a limitless supply) ripening at an exact critical moment. Beings reborn in the deva realm have gone on to become Buddha. Beings reborn in the human realm have gone on to become Buddha.
Any rebirth in a higher realm is considered a fortunate rebirth so focus on generating karma for future rebirths in any higher realm while avoiding generating karma resulting in future rebirths in any lower realm.
Don't worry too much about human vs deva rebirth as our ability to control such rebirths at this point on the path isn't practical. Only advanced practitioners can hope to accomplish something with this and only at a very precise moment of death. More practical is to rejoice that you have a human rebirth for this very life and the opportunity to practice dharma!

20115: <p>Is being reborn as a deva or human better? Can you achieve nirvana if you are reborn as a deva as well as a human?</p>
 471: <p>From <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/fuang/itself.html#med" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Awareness Itself</a> by Ven. Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, compiled by his disciple Ven. Thanissaro:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A group of laypeople who had studied the Abhidhamma together came to
Ajaan Fuang to try out his version of mental training, but when he
told them to sit, close their eyes, and focus on the breath, they
immediately backed off, saying that they didn't want to practice
concentration, for fear that they'd get stuck on jhana and end up
being reborn in the Brahma worlds. He responded, &quot;What's there to be
afraid of? Even non-returners are reborn in the Brahma worlds. At any
rate, being reborn in the Brahma worlds is better than being reborn as
a dog.&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
 21432: <p>Ideally, you're a healthy human during a Buddha's dispensation so you can understand the teachings and practice them. Devas can still practice Dhamma but their world is so pleasurable that they're less likely to.</p>
<p>When it's not the Buddha's dispensation, being a deva seems like the better choice. Much less pain and much more pleasure than a human. And since the Dhamma is lost, there's no point in being a human.</p>
<p>But a better goal is to reach a level of awakening so you'll eventually escape samsara. Periods where the Dhamma are revealed are rare.</p>
 13375: <p>Your future rebirth will depend upon specific past karma (from a limitless supply) ripening at an exact critical moment. Beings reborn in the deva realm have gone on to become Buddha. Beings reborn in the human realm have gone on to become Buddha.</p>
<p>Any rebirth in a higher realm is considered a fortunate rebirth so focus on generating karma for future rebirths in any higher realm while avoiding generating karma resulting in future rebirths in any lower realm.</p>
<p>Don't worry too much about human vs deva rebirth as our ability to control such rebirths at this point on the path isn't practical. Only advanced practitioners can hope to accomplish something with this and only at a very precise moment of death. More practical is to rejoice that you have a human rebirth for this very life and the opportunity to practice dharma!</p>
