Is the Buddhist idea of a kamma-loka the same as astral plane?

Question

and How would you allign the contemporary western cosmology (physical,astral,mental ,causal planes) with the eastern?


(the buddhist 33 planes of existence are on http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html)

Answer 1

The astral is the first metaphysical plane beyond the physical, but is "denser" than the mental plane. The astral plane is also sometimes termed the world of emotion or world of illusion, and corresponds to Kamic Plane.In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda characterizes the difference between the physical, astral, and causal planes, as per traditional Hindu philosophy. In this conception, when one dies the soul moves to the astral plane. There the result of past actions or karma is reaped.

The term "astral plane" has also more recently come to mean a plane of existence where otherkin believe their souls reside.
the astral plane can be visited consciously with the astral body through means of meditation and mantra, lucid dreaming, or other forms of training and development. Some people would visit the astral plane by accident, simply by getting out of bed while the physical body remains sleeping. Unconsciously, the astral plane is the location of our consciousness while the vital body repairs damaged tissue and processes the wastes of the physical body.

Some forms of Theosophy state that the astral world vibrates its energy through astral atoms that copenetrate the physical world without trouble or confusion; and that all physical things have astral (and other subtle) counterparts.

Hope that helped

Answer 2

Please forgive my poor insight, I'm afraid that I don't understand the term Astral Plane, if by this term you mean plane of existence, then it is possible that this term could be used to equate the different "realms" in the Karma Loka. Forgive my impertinence but you mentioned 33 "planes" of existence but there are 31, a minor criticism on a very good question.

The Karma Loka is just one of the 3 "worlds" of existence. Each of the "worlds" are again divide into "realms" we as humans inhabit the Karma Loka, or sensuous world which has 11 realms, 4 of which are hell realms, but there are 2 more worlds above us.

Beings can be born into any of these worlds and any of the realms, however it is understood that when the Karma that propelled that being there is finished, rebirth to any other world and realm occurs again due to Karmic influence.

Existence in all of the Loka's or worlds is only ever temporary and entirely due to the influence of Karma.

The message in the Dharma given to us by the Lord Buddha is that by using the skills contained in the Eightfold Noble Path and by a full understanding of the 4 Noble Truths we may escape all of the worlds and realms altogether thereby escaping the firm grip of Karma and rebirth.

Forgive me but I'm sorry that I am unable to align the contemporary western cosmology to the above explanation of Buddhist cosmology as I've never had the western terminology explained to me and I'm afraid that I've never heard of them. That said anything is possible. A fine question and one worthy of respect.

Peace from a Theravada Buddhist...

Answer 3

Nikita Buddhism is just a copy of Hinduism. Buddha was a Hindu but he had Half Knowledge about Hinduism, Hinduism is the religion which has given more importance to astrology, astronomy, maths and so to understand Buddhism better learn more about Hinduism, yes Hinduism is very vast and very philosophical and ordinary people cannot have the mental perseverance to study it completely. But who knows you can be one of those genius who could understand the worlds oldest religion which has given rise to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and some ten odd religions. Hinduism is mother of all Asian religions.