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Entry: cosmology
Chinese char:
Explanation:
The Buddha proclaimed that on the highest level of understanding the entire cosmos is pure Mind. On the ordinary level of understanding he painted a picture of a cosmos filled with countless world-systems (see entry) with countless planets filled with living beings of every sort. Our particular world-system is neither unique nor central in any way. Other world systems also have their Buddhas, who also teach the path to enlightenment.
The Flower Adornment Sutra describes the universe as consisting of an infinitely large lotus-flower in which our world occupies the thirteenth tier. The lotus is suspended on various oceans of primal mind-energy forces called Great Elements.
Our World System: the Saha World
Our particular world-system, as is the case with all world systems, can be described in both 'horizontal' and 'vertical' directions. The 'horizontal' refers to its layout in space, while the 'vertical' dimension refers to the levels of consciousness of the various types of beings who inhabit it.
The center of our world is Mount Sumeru, which is surrounded by four great 'continents'. Earth is located in the southern continent, named Jambudvipa. The continents are surrounded by seas and rings of iron mountains.
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diagram of the Saha world ('horizontal')
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Within the Saha world are Six Paths of Rebirth (see entry), that is, six different types of living beings, each with its own distinctive kind of karma. The Beings are generally categorized according to which of the Three Worlds (see entry) they abide in. The Three Worlds are the world of desire, the world of form, and the formless world. The characteristics of some of these beings are described in the entries for gods, ghosts, asura, Six Desire Heavens, Four Dhyanas, Four Formless Realms.
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See Also: three Worlds, Six Paths of Rebirth, world-system, gods, ghosts, asura, Six Desire Heavens, Four Dhyanas, Four Formless Realms, creation, time.
BTTS Ref: FAS Ch5; SPV 53-60, 139-143.
Last Updated: 12/26/2001 6:13:05 PM EST
Updated by: 66.124.251.162
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