In short: Buddhism describes many realms of rebirth, from hellish to heavenly, but none is eternal. Where a being is reborn depends on karma, and every realm eventually ends. The goal is not a better realm but freedom from the whole cycle, called nirvana. Some read the realms literally, others as states of mind.
The realms
- Hell beings, hungry ghosts and animals (lower realms).
- Humans, who have the best chance to practise.
- Gods or heavenly beings (higher realms).
Why they are not final
All realms are impermanent. See samsara, karma and rebirth. The way out is the Noble Eightfold Path.
Basics: what is Buddhism? · what Buddhists believe · how to become a Buddhist
Questions people ask
Does Buddhism have a heaven and hell?
Buddhist cosmology describes many realms, including heavenly and hellish ones. Unlike in some religions, none is permanent: beings are reborn according to karma until they reach awakening.
Are the realms real or mental states?
Traditions differ. Some teach them as literal places; many modern teachers also read them as states of mind we pass through, such as rage or bliss.
What is the goal, then?
Not a better realm but freedom from the cycle of rebirth altogether, called nirvana.