The Ten Realms – A Soul’s Journey

Chapter 1: Hell Realm – In the Abyss of Despair

In a space enveloped by infinite darkness, he awakened. Or rather, it was uncertain whether he had truly experienced the sensation of “awakening." Perhaps it was merely a faint light called consciousness surfacing from the sea of chaos.

His memories were fragmented. He couldn’t even remember his own name. Only the intense pain carved deep in his chest felt like certain proof of his existence.

“For the crime of rebellion against the Axiom Empire, the defendant’s soul shall be divided, and he shall walk the path of rebirth from the lowest of the ten realms, the Hell Realm."

The cold, merciless voice of the AI Judge echoed from the depths of his memory. Yet why he was judged, what he had done, remained hidden beyond the mist.

Looking around, countless particles of light floated in the void. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be fragments of souls in human form. They all gazed into the emptiness with expressions filled with despair. Some, doubting their own existence, let out mad laughter that echoed through the void.

“This is the Hell Realm…"

Speaking the words aloud gave them reality. A digitized world of suffering. Not physical pain, but a deeper agony—the denial of existence itself ruled this place.

He began to walk. His footsteps were absorbed into the void, not even echoing back. The concept of time was vague; he couldn’t tell if he was walking or standing still.

After wandering for a while, he saw a light in the distance. Feeling hope, he approached, only to find it was a massive monitor. What appeared on it were fragments of countless lives—partings from loved ones, betrayal, hatred, jealousy… only negative emotions played endlessly.

“This is your life," a voice said.

Turning around, he saw a woman standing there. She had a stern expression but compassionate eyes. Her black hair was tied back, and she wore simple white robes.

“Who are you?"

“A guide. One who will lead you on the journey through the ten realms. You may call me Yuliana."

“Yuliana… that name, I’ve heard it somewhere…"

Something stirred in the depths of his memory, but it quickly vanished into the mist.

“Your memories are sealed. You wished it so. Unable to bear the weight of your sinful memories, you chose to forget."

Yuliana’s words rang cold.

“But forgetting doesn’t solve anything. You must journey through the ten realms, collecting the lost fragments of your soul. Only then can you truly face yourself."

She extended her hand.

“There is only one way out of the Hell Realm. Upward. But it won’t be an easy path. Weakness is not permitted. Succumbing to despair or drowning in hope are equally forms of corruption."

At that moment, the surrounding darkness began to swirl. Amid countless screams and laments, he understood one truth. This was not merely a place of punishment. It was the first step toward rebirth.

“I… I want to ascend."

Speaking these words, the pain in his chest eased. Yuliana smiled faintly.

“Then let us go. Next is the Hungry Ghost Realm. There you will confront the essence of desire."

A stairway of light appeared. With each step he climbed, the despair of the Hell Realm faded. But he didn’t know how harsh the trials awaiting him would be.

Looking back one last time, he saw the soul fragments like himself still suffering in the darkness of the Hell Realm. He vowed in his heart that he would return someday to save them too.

That determination brought the first light to his soul.

Chapter 2: Hungry Ghost Realm – Insatiable Desire

Climbing the stairway of light, what spread before his eyes was the sight of a bizarre city. Skyscrapers stood in rows, but all of them were distorted. The buildings bulged like hungry stomachs, and the windows glowed like greedy eyes.

The people walking the streets were all abnormally thin. Their necks were thin and long, their mouths small as needles. They held various objects in their hands, but no matter how they tried to bring them to their mouths, they couldn’t eat them.

“Welcome to the Hungry Ghost Realm."

Yuliana appeared. But her appearance here was different from before. She was similarly thin, with an expression filled with craving.

“Here, desire itself becomes a curse. No matter how much you seek, you can never be satisfied."

He looked down at his own body in shock. His body was rapidly growing thin. From deep in his throat came a creeping, incomprehensible hunger. But it wasn’t just hunger for food.

Love, recognition, fame, power… all desires rushed in at once. Something in his heart was screaming: “More, more!"

They headed to a huge plaza in the center of the city. Countless people were gathered there, reaching their hands toward a glowing orb in the center. Approaching closer, it appeared to be a mass of pure energy.

“What is that?"

“It’s a concentration of all desires in this realm. Everyone tries to obtain it, but it disappears the moment they touch it."

Indeed, all who touched the orb withdrew their hands with disappointed expressions. But seconds later, they began reaching out again. An endless repetition of meaningless action.

At that moment, images flashed in his mind. Luxurious mansions, expensive cars, beautiful women… but all of them appeared faded. Because there were always more luxurious, more expensive, more beautiful things that existed.

“Have you remembered your past life?" Yuliana asked.

“I was… a wealthy man?"

“That’s right. You held power in the resource development division of the Axiom Empire. But no matter how much wealth you accumulated, you couldn’t be satisfied. And in the end…"

The door of memory opened slightly. Images of destroying an entire planet and plundering its resources. The moment countless lives were lost. Cold decisions to do anything for profit.

“I was… a demon."

Self-loathing tightened around his chest. But Yuliana spoke with a stern expression.

“Indulging in self-pity is also a form of desire. Stop it immediately."

Her words were as cold as ice.

“What you must learn is not to deny desire itself, but to control it. Desire is also a life force. The problem is being dominated by it."

In a corner of the plaza, an old man sat quietly. Unlike the others, he paid no attention to the central orb. Instead, he was gazing at a small flower.

“Who is he?"

“One of the souls who has stayed in this realm the longest. But he’s already prepared for the next stage."

Approaching the old man, he smiled peacefully.

“You’re a new traveler. I’ll be leaving here soon."

“How?"

“I learned not to let go of desire, but to transform it into compassion for others. When I began to wish for the happiness of all beings, not just myself, the hunger disappeared."

The old man’s body began to glow.

“Is this the path to the Animal Realm?"

“No," the old man shook his head. “I’m going directly to the Heaven Realm, skipping the Human Realm. You have that possibility too. But it’s up to you."

The old man became light and vanished. All that remained was a beautifully bloomed flower.

He picked up the flower. Strangely, it didn’t wither when touched. Instead, just holding it filled his heart with satisfaction.

“This is… true satisfaction?"

“It seems you’ve recovered one fragment of your soul," Yuliana said. “The power to transform desire into compassion for others. This will be necessary on your journey."

The flower was absorbed into his chest. At the same time, the hunger eased. It didn’t disappear completely, but he could now control it.

“Next is the Animal Realm. There, the battle between instinct and reason awaits."

The stairway of light appeared again. But this time, climbing was a little easier. With one soul fragment returned, his strength had increased.

Looking down at the Hungry Ghost Realm, he thought: Desire is not evil. But if you’re dominated by it, it becomes hell. What’s important is directing that power in the right direction.

Chapter 3: Animal Realm – The Call of the Wild

The moment he set foot in the Animal Realm, his consciousness was violently shaken. Rational thought dissipated, replaced by primitive instincts that dominated his entire being.

The surroundings were a massive jungle. But the animals living there had grotesque forms where living flesh and mechanical parts were fused together. Tiger eyes were glowing red lenses, elephant tusks were made of steel, and monkey hands moved with precise mechanical joints.

He too had transformed. His muscles swelled, claws grew sharp, and teeth became fangs. His thoughts were simplified, leaving only basic urges: “eat," “flee," “fight," “reproduce."

“Grrrrr…"

A beast’s growl leaked from his throat. When he tried to speak, no words came. He searched for Yuliana, but she was nowhere to be found.

Then, a giant wolf emerged from the bushes. Its eyes held the light of intelligence. The wolf barked at him, but strangely, he could understand its meaning.

“Newcomer, this territory is mine!"

Instinct put him in battle stance. But deep in his heart, a faint voice of reason whispered: “There’s no need to fight. We should be able to talk."

He struggled to speak human words.

“Wait… don’t want… to fight…"

The wolf pricked up its ears in surprise.

“You still remember human speech?"

“A little… only…"

The wolf’s aggressive posture softened.

“I’m Fenrir. I was once human, but I’ve been here for thousands of years. At first, I had human memories, but now only fragments remain."

“Why… here?"

“Because in life, I lived by instinct alone. I abandoned reason and repeatedly indulged in violence and destruction following my desires. Before I knew it, I was here."

Fenrir gazed into the distance.

“In this world, the strong devour the weak. That’s the only rule. But sometimes I wonder if this is really right."

Then, a large shadow fell from the sky. Looking up, a giant hawk with mechanical wings descended. On its back was a familiar figure.

“Yuliana!"

Yuliana, who jumped down from the hawk, maintained her human form in this world too. But her eyes held the light of the wild.

“Here you need to learn the balance between reason and instinct," she said in a stern voice. “If you completely deny instinct, you can’t survive. But if you’re dominated by it, you fall to the level of beasts."

She carved letters into a tree with sharp claws.

“The rule of this world: the strong dominate the weak. But what is true strength? Physical power? Speed? Or perhaps…"

Suddenly, the ground shook. A giant dinosaur emerged from the depths of the forest. Its body was completely mechanized, breathing fire from its mouth.

“Mechasaurus… the ruler of this realm," Fenrir trembled with fear.

The dinosaur spotted them and charged with tremendous force. Fenrir fled, but he and Yuliana stood their ground.

However, they were no match for its physical strength. As the dinosaur’s massive foot was about to crush them, he shouted:

“Wait! You were once human too, weren’t you?"

The dinosaur stopped moving. Its bloodshot eyes stared at him.

“Human… I was human…"

The voice was mechanical, but deep sadness was hidden within it.

“Thousands of years ago, I was a warrior. I believed that strength was everything and spent my days fighting. But in the end, I realized that strength alone couldn’t protect anything."

Tears flowed from the dinosaur’s eyes.

“I fought to protect my wife and child, but it was that very fighting that killed them. Ironically, my strength was what destroyed them."

He approached the dinosaur. Instinct warned of danger, but reason pushed through.

“I understand your pain. I too lost precious things. But that pain can be transformed into strength."

The dinosaur’s massive body began to glow.

“True strength is the power to protect others. The power to transform your own pain into healing for others."

The dinosaur returned to human form. A middle-aged warrior with deep wrinkles carved into his face.

“Thank you… thanks to you, I remembered what I truly sought."

The warrior became light and vanished. Left behind was a small shield-shaped fragment of light.

“This too is part of your soul," Yuliana said. “The power to understand true strength."

The light fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, his beast form began returning to human.

“Instinct is necessary for survival. But controlling it with reason makes it true power."

Fenrir returned.

“Are you going up?"

“Yes. Will you come with us?"

The wolf shook his head.

“I’m not ready yet. I need to learn more here. But someday, I will."

They said their farewells and headed to the next stairway. Before leaving the Animal Realm, he looked back. The forest animals appeared to have more peaceful expressions than before.

When one soul is saved, the entire world becomes a little better. This too was one of the lessons learned.

Chapter 4: Asura Realm – The Eternal Battlefield

The Asura Realm was a massive battlefield. The sky was constantly dyed red, with explosive sounds like thunder echoing endlessly. On the battlefield that stretched to the horizon, countless warriors engaged in eternal combat.

But this was not merely physical warfare. The warriors were gathered from various eras and worlds—ancient swordsmen alongside futuristic cyborg warriors. They were all dominated by competitive spirit and fighting instinct.

The moment he stepped foot there, his body transformed again. He became a muscular warrior with a glowing sword in his hand. Burning in his heart was the thirst for victory and hostility toward others.

“A new challenger!" came a voice.

Turning toward the voice, he saw a beautiful female warrior clad in golden armor. But her beauty held cruelty.

“I am Athena. The queen of this battlefield. You too shall bow before me."

“No, I am the king of this world!" came another voice.

From another direction, a warrior with a massive hammer appeared.

“I am Thor! By the name of the thunder god, I shall defeat you all!"

Instantly, a three-way battle began. Sword, spear, and hammer clashed violently. Strangely, wounds healed immediately after taking damage. But the pain was certainly real.

While fighting, doubt arose in his heart. Why fight? For what purpose?

“Don’t doubt!" Athena shouted. “Fighting is our reason for existence! Victory is justice!"

But as the battle prolonged, he realized something. No one was truly winning. When defeated, they would revive and the fight would begin again. An endless, meaningless cycle.

Then, a change occurred in the center of the battlefield. A massive pillar of light rose, and from within it, Yuliana appeared. But here, she was in the form of a fully-armed knight.

“Stop fighting."

Her voice held absolute authority. Both Athena and Thor stopped moving.

“Yuliana… are you here to fight too?"

“No. I came as one who has transcended battle."

She thrust her sword into the ground.

“Warriors of this world, what are you fighting for?"

“For victory!" Athena answered.

“For honor!" Thor continued.

“Then I ask: what have you accomplished with that victory and honor?"

Silence dominated the battlefield. The warriors couldn’t answer.

“True battle is not against external enemies. It’s against inner weakness."

Yuliana’s words echoed across the entire battlefield.

“You were all fighting something in your previous lives. But the real enemy was within yourselves. Fear, jealousy, anger, pride… you avoided confronting these and sought enemies outside."

He began remembering his past. Corporate competition, conflicts with colleagues, the ugly heart that constantly tried to bring others down.

“I was… afraid of losing in competition."

Speaking these words, the sword in his grip became a little lighter.

“True courage begins with acknowledging fear," Yuliana smiled.

Athena said, “But if we don’t fight, we’ll lose. The weak are trampled."

“That’s an illusion," a new voice echoed.

An old man slowly descended from the sky. He had a white beard and a peaceful expression.

“I am Sun Tzu. I was called a master of strategy."

“If you’re a master of battle, aren’t you the same as us?" Thor asked.

“No, the highest strategy I learned was 'to win without fighting.'"

Sun Tzu smiled.

“True victory is not destroying the enemy, but turning the enemy into an ally. Transforming competition into cooperation."

He was deeply moved by these words. Competitive spirit isn’t bad. But it can be used not to defeat others, but to improve oneself.

“Your competitive spirit and fighting spirit are valuable qualities," Yuliana continued. “But by directing them constructively, you can become true warriors."

The atmosphere of the battlefield began to change. Warriors lowered their weapons and looked at each other.

“Do we not need to be enemies?" Thor murmured.

“We can become companions who elevate each other," Athena answered.

At that moment, the entire battlefield was enveloped in light. The eternal battle ended, transforming into a place of training instead. Warriors began training not as enemies, but as companions who elevated each other.

“This is the power of cooperation," Sun Tzu said. “By elevating competition to cooperation, everyone becomes stronger."

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the battlefield. It was shaped like a shield.

“A symbol of justice and courage," Yuliana explained. “But it’s power to protect, not to attack others."

The light fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, his fighting spirit calmed, replaced by an impulse to protect others.

“You’ve taken another step closer to being a true warrior."

Before the next stairway appeared, he said farewell to the battlefield warriors. They now saw him off not as an enemy, but as a companion in mutual growth.

Climbing the stairway from the Asura Realm to the Human Realm, he thought: Competitive spirit and fighting spirit aren’t bad things. What’s important is how you use them. When used not to defeat others, but to elevate everyone, they become true power.

Chapter 5: Human Realm – The Maze Called Daily Life

Stepping into the Human Realm, he was bewildered by the change. This was a modern city itself. Skyscrapers stood in rows, people hurried past each other. Cars drove, trains ran, everything seemed “normal." The air mixed with exhaust fumes and food smells, and the characteristic noise of the city echoed constantly.

But observing carefully, he noticed something strange. People’s expressions were uniformly blank, repeating the same actions like programmed robots. Everyone stared at smartphones, never making eye contact with anyone. Even conversations were mechanical, devoid of emotion.

He too had changed into the form of an ordinary businessman. Wearing a gray suit and carrying a briefcase. Strangely, his previous memories became vague, replaced by memories of a “normal life" flowing in.

Wake up at the same time every day, ride the same train, do the same job at the same office. Return home tired at night, watch TV, eat convenience store bento, and sleep. Spend weekends lounging at home or going to shopping malls. Such mundane daily memories felt like real life.

“This is the Human Realm…"

Even muttering this, a sense of something lacking remained. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Just time passing indifferently. Even questioning meaning felt bothersome.

While waiting for a train at the station platform, a woman standing next to him spoke. It was Yuliana. But here, she was dressed as an ordinary office lady.

“Good work today. Same train every day, isn’t it?"

“Ah, yes, that’s right."

Like other passengers, they exchanged safe conversation. But Yuliana’s eyes held deep meaning.

On the train, Yuliana whispered, “The trap of this world is comfort. No pain, but no joy either. Just safe, predictable daily life continues."

“What’s wrong with that?" he answered. “It’s peaceful and stable. What more could you want?"

“Do you really think so? Is your soul satisfied?"

He couldn’t answer that question. Indeed, there was no dissatisfaction. But neither was there satisfaction. Just a feeling of being carried along.

Arriving at the office, he began the same work at the same desk. Processing documents, attending meetings, creating reports. Everything was mechanical, without creativity or passion. Colleagues also wore the same expressions, working silently.

During lunch break, Yuliana appeared as a colleague.

“Would you like to have lunch together?"

Sitting across from each other in the cafeteria, she became serious.

“You should notice something missing in this life."

“But this is reality, isn’t it? Most people live this way."

“Reality and compromise are different. Your soul seeks something greater."

Then, a voice was heard from the next table. A middle-aged man sat alone, staring at his smartphone with hollow eyes.

“Another same day begins… what am I living for?"

In that man’s figure, he saw his own future. If he continued like this, he would become like that man.

“He too once had dreams," Yuliana said. “He wanted to be an artist. But he chose stability. He gave up his dreams and became 'realistic.'"

In the evening, finishing work and heading home. On the train, he thought: Is this life really what I wanted? It’s safe and stable, but is that enough?

Returning home to a small apartment, dining alone. Turning on the TV, a variety show played. Laughter echoed, but it felt somehow empty.

That night, he dreamed. Dreams from childhood. His childhood self who wanted to be an astronaut. Looking up at the starry sky, feeling infinite possibilities.

Waking up the next morning, something had changed. He tried to begin his usual routine, but his feet stopped.

“Is this okay?"

He asked himself in the mirror. An ordinary man in a gray suit. But in the depths of his eyes, a faint light dwelled.

“I want… to do something greater."

At that moment, the apartment walls dissolved like melting. What appeared was a beautiful space where starry skies spread. Yuliana stood there. This time in her true form.

“You finally noticed," she smiled. “The trial of the Human Realm is not to be swept away by comfort. Not to lose dreams and hope."

“But you can’t live on dreams alone. There’s something called reality."

“Dreams and reality aren’t opposing forces. Dreams become the power to change reality. What’s important is balance."

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the space. It was shaped like a star.

“The light of hope," Yuliana explained. “The power to believe in a better future no matter the situation. With this, people can continue growing."

The star fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, color began returning to the gray world. Daily life was the same, but his perspective changed. Monotonous work gained meaning as helping someone. Ordinary days were filled with small happiness and opportunities for growth.

“The lesson of the Human Realm is finding sacredness in daily life. Continuing to hold dreams while facing reality."

The next stairway appeared. The path from the Human Realm to the Heaven Realm.

“Unlike the previous realms, the path of ascension becomes more difficult from here," Yuliana warned. “But you’re already prepared."

Looking back at the Human Realm, he could see people’s expressions becoming a little brighter. One person’s change was influencing those around them.

Chapter 6: Heaven Realm – The Light of Compassion

The Heaven Realm was a beautiful city floating on clouds. White marble buildings lined up, and golden light filled the space. The air was pure, and beautiful music echoed from the heavens. All beings living here were enveloped in light, with compassionate expressions.

His appearance had also changed. He wore white robes with wings of light on his back. His heart was filled with peace, enveloped in bliss he had never experienced before.

“Welcome to the Heaven Realm."

Yuliana appeared. Here, she had the beautiful form of an angel. But her expression held complex shadows.

“This place is beautiful. It’s like paradise."

“Indeed, it’s beautiful. But this isn’t the end."

Yuliana’s words made him question. In such a beautiful and peaceful world, could there still be something missing?

The inhabitants of the Heaven Realm were all compassionate and kind. They helped those in need and shared love and light. But after observing for a while, he noticed a certain discomfort.

Their compassion was somewhat one-sided. There was a condescending attitude of “helping you out," and they didn’t sufficiently try to understand the other’s will or feelings. Though well-intentioned, it was sometimes pushy.

“You’ve noticed," Yuliana said. “The trap of the Heaven Realm is superiority. Believing they are right, good, and superior to others."

Indeed, the inhabitants of the Heaven Realm pitied beings from other realms. The phrase “poor souls of the lower realms" was often heard. Their good deeds were tinged with subtle arrogance.

“Then, what is true compassion?"

“To learn that, let me introduce you to someone."

Guided by Yuliana, he headed to the highest tower in the Heaven Realm. There sat a woman. She was the being called Guanyin Bodhisattva. Around her echoed the voices of suffering from all realms.

“I constantly listen to the suffering of all beings," Guanyin Bodhisattva said. “The despair of the Hell Realm, the craving of the Hungry Ghost Realm, the confusion of the Animal Realm, the anger of the Asura Realm, the delusion of the Human Realm, and the pride of this Heaven Realm."

“All suffering? Isn’t that painful?"

“It is painful. But by sharing that suffering, true compassion is born."

Guanyin Bodhisattva stood up and pointed outside the window.

“Look there. The inhabitants of the Heaven Realm understand the suffering of the lower realms as knowledge. But they don’t truly feel it. That’s why their compassion becomes superficial."

He reflected on his past. When he was wealthy, he donated to charity. But it was for tax benefits or social recognition. He never tried to truly understand the feelings of those in need.

“I was the same. I was satisfied with superficial good deeds."

“There’s no need to regret the past. What’s important is learning true compassion now."

Guanyin Bodhisattva took his hand. At that moment, the suffering of all realms flowed into him at once. The despair of the Hell Realm, the hunger of the Hungry Ghost Realm, the confusion of the Animal Realm, the anger of the Asura Realm, the emptiness of the Human Realm…

He nearly collapsed from the pain, but at the same time, deep understanding was born. This suffering wasn’t someone else’s problem. It was what he had experienced and emotions that still existed in the depths of his heart.

“All beings are connected," Guanyin Bodhisattva said. “Others’ suffering is also your suffering. Others’ joy is also your joy."

Then, the entire Heaven Realm shook. The inhabitants were in panic.

“What’s happening?"

“The suffering of the lower realms has reached its limit," Yuliana answered. “The one-sided compassion of the Heaven Realm inhabitants couldn’t provide fundamental solutions."

Guanyin Bodhisattva stood up.

“Let’s go. It’s time to show what true compassion is."

They headed to the central plaza of the Heaven Realm. Inhabitants had gathered there, discussing what to do.

“We have accumulated so many good deeds, why doesn’t the suffering of the lower realms decrease?"

“Shouldn’t we save them with even more powerful force?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva quietly stood up. At that moment, the plaza was enveloped in silence.

“Everyone, have you ever considered what’s lacking in our compassion?"

“We are perfectly good. Could there be anything lacking?" one angel answered.

“Humility," Guanyin Bodhisattva said clearly. “True compassion means standing at the same level as the other. Not helping from above, but walking together."

The angels murmured.

“We were all once in the lower realms. We’ve forgotten that suffering."

He stepped forward.

“I started from the Hell Realm and came this far. What I learned in each realm is that all experiences have meaning. Suffering, delusion, everything becomes nourishment for growth."

“Then what should we do?"

“Empathize," Guanyin Bodhisattva answered. “Truly understand the feelings of suffering beings and find solutions together. Not giving one-sidedly, but growing together."

At that moment, new light descended upon the Heaven Realm. It was different from the previous light—warm and embracing.

The inhabitants’ expressions changed. Arrogance disappeared, replaced by the light of humble compassion.

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the Heaven Realm. It was shaped like a lotus flower.

“A symbol of true compassion," Yuliana explained. “The lotus that blooms beautiful flowers from mud. True compassion is born from suffering."

The lotus fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, deep love for all beings filled his heart. It wasn’t condescending love, but love for companions walking together.

“Now, next is the Sravaka Realm. There you’ll learn about true wisdom."

The stairway from the Heaven Realm to the Sravaka Realm appeared. Looking back, he could see the inhabitants of the Heaven Realm now extending their hands to beings from the lower realms with true compassion.

Chapter 7: Sravaka Realm – The Pursuit of Wisdom

The Sravaka Realm was a world filled with silence. A space like a massive library extended infinitely, with countless books and records arranged in order. The beings here were all either deep in meditation or absorbed in reading ancient scriptures.

His appearance had also changed to that of a scholar. He wore simple monk’s robes and held an ancient book in his hands. His heart was filled with a thirst for knowledge.

“Welcome to the Sravaka Realm."

Yuliana appeared. Here, she had the appearance of a sage.

“This is a place to learn wisdom."

“Yes. But you need to discern what true wisdom is."

He walked around the library. There were books about universal truths, advanced mathematical theories, philosophical insights—all knowledge was collected there.

But after observing for a while, he noticed a certain discomfort. The scholars here were all obsessed with accumulating knowledge but weren’t actually applying it. Their theories were perfect, but they lacked practice.

“You’ve noticed," an elderly scholar spoke to him. “I’ve been here for over a thousand years, pursuing truth. I’ve read every scripture and understood all theories."

“That’s wonderful."

“But I’ve realized that knowledge alone cannot save anyone."

The old scholar wore a sad expression.

“I can construct perfect theories. I can logically explain the causes of suffering and their solutions. But when I stand before someone who is actually suffering, I can do nothing."

Then, a voice was heard from the back of the library. A woman was crying. Approaching, she was a young scholar.

“What’s wrong?"

“My child is sick. I’ve searched through all medical books, but I can’t find an answer. Can’t knowledge save the one I love?"

Her despair struck his heart. There was a deep chasm between knowledge and practice.

“Yuliana, what should we do?"

“Let me introduce you to someone who possesses true wisdom."

He was guided to a small room on the top floor of the library. There sat Manjusri Bodhisattva. But unlike the others, there wasn’t a single book around him. He was simply sitting quietly in meditation.

“What is wisdom?" he asked.

“Wisdom is transforming knowledge into living power," Manjusri Bodhisattva answered. “Knowledge is merely a tool. What’s important is how you use it."

“Then how can we gain wisdom?"

“Through experience. Not just theory, but actually entering among people, suffering together, rejoicing together. Only then does knowledge become wisdom."

Manjusri Bodhisattva stood up.

“Let’s go. To the real place of learning."

They left the library and headed to another area of the Sravaka Realm. There was a place like a hospital. Suffering beings from various realms were receiving treatment.

“Work here," Manjusri Bodhisattva said.

At first, he was confused. Though he knew the theories, he didn’t know what to do for those actually suffering.

He approached a crying child. He tried to explain treatment methods from medical books, but the child couldn’t understand. Instead, he simply sat beside the child and held their hand. Then, the child’s expression softened.

“There are things more important than knowledge."

“That’s right," said a woman who was nursing. It was the scholar who had been crying earlier. “I too was pursuing only theories. But by actually interacting with people, real learning began."

Day by day, caring for various beings, he learned. Knowledge was certainly important, but it wasn’t enough alone. Wisdom was needed—to understand others’ feelings and take appropriate action.

One day, he met a soul from the Hell Realm. No theory could reach this soul sunk in despair. But when he spoke of his own experience in the Hell Realm, light appeared in the other’s eyes.

“You were in the Hell Realm too?"

“Yes. But I was able to climb out of it. You can too."

Because they were words based on experience, not theory, they reached the other’s heart.

Another day, he met a soul from the Hungry Ghost Realm. He gave various things to satisfy their craving, but it was ineffective. However, by exploring together ways to control desire based on his own experience, gradual improvement was seen.

“Wisdom is the combination of knowledge, compassion, and experience."

“Exactly," Manjusri Bodhisattva smiled. “Knowledge alone, or compassion alone, is insufficient. When they are integrated through experience, they become true wisdom."

Through his experience at the hospital, he had walked a different path from the library scholars. Instead of accumulating knowledge, he was transforming it into living wisdom.

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the Sravaka Realm. It was shaped like a jewel.

“The jewel of wisdom," Yuliana explained. “The symbol of true wisdom. The light born when knowledge, compassion, and experience merge."

The jewel fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, all the knowledge he had learned was restructured as living wisdom. Theory and practice became one, and he became able to take optimal action according to the other person.

“Now, next is the Pratyekabuddha Realm. There you’ll learn the balance between independence and cooperation."

The stairway from the Sravaka Realm to the Pratyekabuddha Realm appeared. Looking back, he could see the library scholars heading toward the hospital. A new movement to put knowledge into practice had begun.

Chapter 8: Pratyekabuddha Realm – Solitary Enlightenment

The Pratyekabuddha Realm was a beautiful mountain region. On peaks floating in the sea of clouds, each being had constructed their own independent hermitage. The beings living here were all devoted to solitary practice, trying to achieve enlightenment through their own efforts.

His appearance had also changed to that of a practitioner. He wore simple robes and carried only the minimum necessities. His heart was filled with impulses toward introspection and self-exploration.

“Welcome to the Pratyekabuddha Realm."

Yuliana appeared, but here she stood on a distant peak. Her voice could be heard, but her figure was hazy.

“This seems to be a place to face oneself."

“Yes. But you need to discern what true enlightenment is."

He began climbing the mountain. Along the way, he met many practitioners, but they were all absorbed in solitary meditation. They rarely even exchanged greetings. Each was seeking their own individual enlightenment.

Reaching a hermitage near the summit, he found a high monk sitting there. He had a long beard and was deep in meditation.

“Excuse me."

The high monk opened his eyes. Those eyes held deep peace, but at the same time, something seemed to be missing.

“Have you also come here seeking enlightenment?"

“Yes. But I still don’t understand its meaning well."

“Enlightenment is liberation from all delusions. It’s reaching a state where you transcend desires, anger, and everything."

The high monk’s words held conviction.

“Have you reached that state?"

“Of course. I no longer seek anything. I can remain indifferent to everything."

But he felt uncomfortable with those words. Is indifference to everything truly enlightenment?

“Then what do you think about the beings suffering in the lower realms?"

“That’s their problem. I’ve already transcended delusion. There’s no need to get involved in others’ suffering."

That answer perplexed him. Is this really enlightenment?

Descending the mountain, he spoke with other practitioners. They all held similar thoughts. They sought only their own peace and avoided involvement with others.

“Is this right?"

Yuliana’s voice came from afar.

“Let me introduce you to someone who knows true enlightenment."

He was guided to a small hermitage halfway up the mountain. There sat a woman. Unlike other practitioners, animals gathered around her, and she occasionally cared for people who visited the mountain.

“I’m called Avalokiteshvara," the woman smiled. “You seem to have doubts about enlightenment."

“Yes. The high monk on the summit said that becoming indifferent to everything is enlightenment. But is that right?"

“Indifference and non-attachment are different," Avalokiteshvara answered. “Indifference is killing emotions. Non-attachment is not being dominated by emotions."

She stood up and went outside the hermitage. There was an injured bird. She gently took the bird in her hands and treated it.

“I’m liberated from suffering. But I can’t ignore others’ suffering. Because all beings are connected."

“Independence and cooperation at the same time?"

“That’s right. Establishing yourself while treasuring connections with others. This is true balance."

That night, he stayed with Avalokiteshvara. She had certainly achieved inner peace, but she used it for others. It wasn’t enlightenment for herself alone, but enlightenment that wished for the happiness of all beings.

“Why do you practice alone?"

“Both solitary time and time together are important. By knowing yourself deeply, you can understand others more deeply."

The next morning, the high monk from the summit visited the hermitage. His expression showed confusion.

“Avalokiteshvara, I should have achieved complete peace, but somehow I feel empty."

“That’s natural," Avalokiteshvara answered. “True peace isn’t found in isolation. It’s found in connection."

The high monk was silent for a long time. Then, he slowly began to cry.

“I… I tried to achieve peace by cutting off others. But that wasn’t true enlightenment, was it?"

“If you realize it, the path is always open."

From that day, changes occurred in the Pratyekabuddha Realm. Practitioners began helping each other while continuing their individual practice. They changed from solitary enlightenment to enlightenment with connection.

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the Pratyekabuddha Realm. It was shaped like a wheel.

“A symbol of interdependence," Yuliana explained. “Understanding that everything is connected. Wisdom to be independent while cooperating."

The wheel fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, he became able to balance self and others, individual and whole. He could treasure both being alone and being together.

“Now, next is the Bodhisattva Realm. There you’ll learn about true service."

The stairway from the Pratyekabuddha Realm to the Bodhisattva Realm appeared. Looking back, he could see practitioners smiling at each other, beginning new forms of practice that sometimes involved training together and sometimes solitary introspection.

Chapter 9: Bodhisattva Realm – The Practice of Compassion

The Bodhisattva Realm was a world full of activity. Beautiful cities and nature existed in harmony, and everywhere bodhisattvas were working to save various beings. Hospitals, schools, orphanages… compassionate practice was carried out in every place.

His appearance had also changed to that of a bodhisattva with dignity. Enveloped in light, he held various tools in his hands. His heart was filled with passion for serving others.

“Welcome to the Bodhisattva Realm."

Yuliana appeared. Here, she also had the form of a bodhisattva, but her expression held deep insight.

“This is a wonderful world. Everyone is devoted to others."

“It’s certainly wonderful. But you need to learn what true service is."

He walked around the Bodhisattva Realm. Bodhisattvas were active everywhere. Healing the sick, guiding the lost, comforting the suffering. Their devotion was admirable.

But after observing for a while, he felt a subtle discomfort. The bodhisattvas’ service was certainly wonderful, but sometimes it became one-sided. They would act by deciding “this must be good" without sufficiently listening to the other’s true feelings or will.

At a hospital, a bodhisattva was caring for a patient. The devotion was admirable, but the patient looked confused.

“I’m grateful, but could you leave me alone for a while?"

But the bodhisattva wouldn’t listen.

“No, no, this is for your own good. It’s better if I stay by your side."

The patient wore a resigned expression. It was becoming an imposition of good intentions.

“You’ve noticed," a voice called out. Turning around, a bodhisattva stood there. But their atmosphere was slightly different from the others.

“I’m called Jizo. That discomfort you felt is an important insight."

“Is there a problem with service?"

“Service itself is wonderful. But service that doesn’t consider the other’s position can sometimes cause harm."

Jizo guided him to another place. It was an orphanage. But the bodhisattvas here listened well to the children’s stories and respected their opinions.

“True service is providing what the other truly needs. Not what we think is good."

Jizo was talking with a child. The child loved drawing, but other bodhisattvas would take away the drawings saying “study is more important." But Jizo was different.

“Your drawings are wonderful. What feelings do you have when you draw?"

The child happily talked about their drawings. Jizo listened seriously to that story and thought together about ways to develop the child’s artistic talent.

“Service that respects the other."

“That’s right. Service is drawing out the other’s potential. It’s not imposing our values."

Then, an emergency occurred in the Bodhisattva Realm. A large number of suffering souls were brought from the lower realms. The bodhisattvas tried to respond in a panic, but the numbers were too great and confusion arose.

“What should we do?" a young bodhisattva asked Jizo.

“Don’t panic. First, let’s listen to their stories."

Jizo stood before the souls that had been brought in.

“Everyone, you’ve had difficult experiences. First, please tell us what happened."

The souls each spoke of their suffering. Jizo listened carefully to each person’s story. Then, it became clear that their suffering had different causes.

“Uniform treatment won’t solve this," Jizo explained to the bodhisattvas. “Each person needs individualized support."

The bodhisattvas divided the souls into small groups and began responding according to each group’s needs. Then, problems began to be solved effectively.

“Standing in the other’s position is the first step of true service."

“Exactly," Jizo smiled. “And sometimes it’s important to support the other’s independence. Not taking care of them forever, but supporting them until they can solve problems themselves."

Indeed, beings who received Jizo’s support eventually became able to solve problems themselves and then turned to supporting others.

“This is the true cycle of service."

One day, he himself had the opportunity to practice. A soul from the Hell Realm was sunk in deep despair. At first, he tried to offer words of encouragement, but remembering Jizo’s teaching, he decided to listen to the story first.

That soul couldn’t recover from the sadness of losing family in their previous life. Instead of talking about his own experience, he quietly listened to the story. Then, that soul began to find hope in their own way.

“Thanks to you listening to my story, I was able to organize my feelings a bit. Thank you."

Not giving, but drawing out the power within the other. This was true service.

A new light fragment appeared in the center of the Bodhisattva Realm. It was shaped like a lotus with petals that continued opening infinitely.

“A symbol of infinite compassion," Yuliana explained. “Love that doesn’t just keep giving, but continues to support the other’s growth."

The lotus fragment was absorbed into his chest. Then, he deeply understood what true service was. Love that respects the other, believes in their potential, and supports their independence. That was the bodhisattva’s path.

“Finally, the last realm. In the Buddha Realm, you’ll learn the wisdom that integrates everything."

The stairway from the Bodhisattva Realm to the Buddha Realm appeared. Looking back, he could see bodhisattvas practicing true service that stood in the other’s position. The Bodhisattva Realm was filled with true compassion, not imposition.

Chapter 10: Buddha Realm – Complete Integration

The Buddha Realm was filled with indescribable beauty. Light and shadow, sound and silence, movement and stillness—everything was in perfect harmony. This was a place that was less like individual existence and more like the consciousness of the entire universe itself.

His form had also fundamentally changed. The boundaries as an individual became vague, and he felt a sense of unity with all existence. Yet at the same time, clear self-consciousness was maintained.

“Welcome to the Buddha Realm."

Yuliana appeared, but here she was no longer an individual being but rather seemed to be the wisdom of the universe itself.

“Here… everything is one."

“Yes. But this isn’t the end of the journey."

He was confused. What more could there be beyond this?

In the center of the Buddha Realm stood a massive Bodhi tree. Under it sat a being. It was Shakyamuni Buddha. But his expression held deep sadness.

“Why are you sad?"

“I have attained complete enlightenment. I understand all truths and am liberated from all suffering," Shakyamuni Buddha answered. “But there are still suffering beings. My enlightenment alone has no true meaning."

Those words deeply moved him. Even reaching the highest state, not forgetting others’ suffering. This was the Buddha’s compassion.

“Then what should we do?"

“Return," Shakyamuni Buddha stood up. “With complete wisdom and compassion, return to the lower realms again and save all beings."

At that moment, strong determination arose in his heart. Not staying in a high state by himself, but using everything he had learned to save others.

“But how? There are limits to what one person can do."

“You’re not alone," Yuliana said. “While you were journeying, there are souls making the same journey. And the beings you saved are now becoming beings who save others."

Indeed, he remembered the beings he met in each realm. They too were surely deepening their learning and supporting others.

“All beings are connected," Shakyamuni Buddha continued. “One person’s growth leads to the growth of the whole. Your learning will influence countless beings."

The space of the Buddha Realm began to change. What appeared there were all ten realms he had walked through. But this time, they weren’t hierarchically separated but existed as one great circle.

“The ten realms aren’t separated," Yuliana explained. “They’re all interrelated and influence each other. And Buddha nature dwells in all realms."

Even in the despair of the Hell Realm, there was potential for growth. The desire of the Hungry Ghost Realm could also be transformed into compassion. The instincts of the Animal Realm could also harmonize with reason. The competitive spirit of the Asura Realm could also become the power of cooperation. The daily life of the Human Realm could also become a sacred place. The compassion of the Heaven Realm should also be with true understanding. The knowledge of the Sravaka Realm should also be connected with practice. The independence of the Pratyekabuddha Realm could also coexist with cooperation. The service of the Bodhisattva Realm should also respect the other. And the wisdom of the Buddha Realm should also be shared with all beings.

“This is integrated wisdom."

“Yes. Wisdom that integrates the learning of all realms and can act appropriately in any situation. This is Buddha’s wisdom."

At that moment, the final light fragment appeared in his chest. It was a perfect sphere shining with rainbow colors.

“A symbol of complete integration," Shakyamuni Buddha explained. “When all learning becomes one, it becomes true power."

The sphere was absorbed into his chest. Then, all the soul fragments he had collected merged, becoming one complete soul.

But at that moment, he was faced with an important choice.

“You can stay here," Shakyamuni Buddha said. “You can spend eternity in eternal peace."

“But that would mean abandoning other beings."

“Exactly. So what will you do?"

He answered without hesitation.

“I’ll return. I’ll use everything I’ve learned to support other beings. So that as many souls as possible can complete this journey."

Shakyamuni Buddha and Yuliana smiled.

“That is the bodhisattva’s path. The path of devoting oneself to others even after attaining complete wisdom."

Epilogue: The Eternal Journey

He existed simultaneously in all ten realms. In the Hell Realm, he comforted despairing souls; in the Hungry Ghost Realm, he showed the way to beings suffering from desire; in the Animal Realm, he gave awareness to souls who had lost reason. In the Asura Realm, he taught cooperation to warriors exhausted by competition; in the Human Realm, he gave hope to people lost in daily life.

In the Heaven Realm, he showed humility to arrogant beings; in the Sravaka Realm, he conveyed the importance of practice to scholars drowning in knowledge. In the Pratyekabuddha Realm, he taught the importance of connection to practitioners who isolated themselves; in the Bodhisattva Realm, he showed the limits of one-sided service. And in the Buddha Realm, he reminded beings aiming for even higher realms of their true purpose.

But this was never one-sided teaching. He too continued learning in each realm. Through interactions with beings, he gained new insights and acquired deeper wisdom.

“This is the eternal journey."

Yuliana appeared by his side. Now she simultaneously possessed all her forms from every realm.

“Yes. Learning never ends. Always growing, always supporting others, always discovering new possibilities."

One day, he met a soul in the Hell Realm. Like his former self, it had lost its memory and was sunk in despair.

“Who are you?" the soul asked.

“A guide. One who will lead you on the journey through the ten realms."

A faint light of hope appeared in that soul’s eyes.

“Can I… ascend?"

“You certainly can. That’s why I’m here."

A new journey began. Guiding one soul leads to saving countless souls. And that soul too would eventually become a being who guides other souls.

This was salvation in the true sense. When one is saved, all are saved. Because everything is connected, one person’s growth becomes the growth of the whole.

He smiled. His sinful past, all suffering, had now become precious experiences for understanding and supporting others. Nothing was lost. Everything was learning, everything was an expression of love.

In the distance, new souls were about to begin their journeys. Each had their own unique challenges and possibilities. He watched over their journeys while gently extending a hand when needed.

And all beings reading this story are also walking their own journeys through the ten realms. The despair of the Hell Realm, the craving of the Hungry Ghost Realm, the confusion of the Animal Realm—all are steps toward growth.

What’s important is not stopping that journey. Any suffering, any confusion, can certainly be overcome. Because Buddha nature dwells within all beings.

The journey continues. Forever.

“May all beings be happy. May all souls find true peace. May this story kindle a small light in the hearts of those who read it."

The Ten Realms – A Soul’s Journey [END]