[18holesin]

I was intrigued to find that Ajahn Buddhadasa was using the term 'bhumi' in
'Emancipation from the World' from 'Handbook for Mankind'.

for example: ..."the mind transcends the worldly condition and attains the level
known as the Supramundane Plane (Lokuttara-bhumi)".

He also names the mundane plane as "Lokiyabhumi ".

http://www.buddhanet.net/budasa12.htm

Previously I had associated the word 'bhumi' with the Bodhisattva Bhumis (levels) in Vajrayana.

Have I missed something - do Theravadins normally use this word? I hadn't noticed it anywhere before.

[Brainpole]

Bhummi1 (f.) [fr. bhumma] that which belongs to the ground, i. e. a plane (of existence), soil, stage (as t.t. in philosophy) DhsA 277 (˚y -- āpatti), 339 (id.), 985 (dukkha˚), 1368, 1374 sq. (see Dhs trsl.2 231).

http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/phi...2.pali.1846027

[Hpdovoxm]

Thanks very much Element !

I had looked in 3 Pali dictionaries and couldn't find it.

[jeraveike]

I'm sure they are just jazzed-up versions of the levels described in Jhana. I seem to recall being told something along those lines; it's not the level per se, but the Bodhisattva motivation which makes it a Bhumi.

[feannigvogten]

In Thailand, we also use like a "Realm".

From Thai-Pali-English dict.

1. ground; plane; stage; level.
2. state of consciousness; a plane of existence; a plane of consciousness

http://www.dhammathai.org/bd/thai24_phosamphao.php

[Kilsimpaile]

Thank you, Sukitlek