< Kappa | Back to Title of Contents | Hermits > The Most Carefree Humans Celestials Ususal threat level: Very low Frequency of encounters: Very low Variety: Normal Places likely to be encountered: Unknown Times likely to be encountered: Unknown Characteristics Humans that live in Heaven. They live forever in Heaven, separated from the world of daily cares, and even from the circle of transmigration. As they are bright and carefree, and love song, dance and fishing, they spend their days on activities such as listening to music, fishing and playing go. Celestials are hermits who have long pursued ascetic knowledge, but they can be divided into those who have achieved immortality and ascended to heaven (*1), and those who have attained enlightenment and entered Nirvana after death. The former have physical bodies, so they can appear on earth with ease, but the latter cannot descend from Heaven without borrowing somebody's body. Sometimes they descend to earth, say absurd things that confound normal humans, and return to Heaven. A celestial's body is like poison to youkai, and as a result, youkai almost never attack celestials, so they have nothing to fear on earth. Even the most ferocious of beasts would be tamed if they only held out their hand. They are also able to ride on clouds, and the divine appearance this gives them is almost frightening. 1: It's said one would need to pursue enlightenment for hundreds, or thousands, of years. Conditions for Becoming a Celestial Celestials spend their days listening to music, fishing, and playing go, never bothered with the need to do work, and always able to eat the highest quality food. Certainly, no small number of people would like to live their dream-like lifestyle (*2). However, to become a celestial, humans must free themselves of worldly desires. In other words, the first requirement is certainly to not be the sort of person who would yearn for such a life. Likely, most people would not meet this requirement. 2: Of course, I'd like to, as well. The World of the Celestials The celestial world is said to exist above the clouds, but in reality this is not the case. It actually exists far above the Netherworld. The dead are naturally able to go there, but it's also possible for living people to visit. This is because throwing away all desires includes freeing oneself of the desire to live, in which case one essentially becomes a living dead. < Kappa | Back to Title of Contents | Hermits >