Buddhist Cosmology for Westerners 

Thank you! Agreed, it is a very interesting topic.

Thanks for sharing! There are a number of sutras that go into different parts of the cosmology that are very interesting.

Thank you and may be peaceful and happy.

Thank you for watching! Take your time and enjoy growing in the religion and practice. If you can, it can be a great opportunity to learn at a temple under monastics, even if that means a short trip. While not always possible, it might be a great option to explore.

Thank you. Jason! You're not alone with rebirth (note I have an article on my website and video on it), because 'Westerners' don't have the background to readily accept it (and often, baggage from other beliefs). As with a lot of concepts in Buddhism, there's faith that is needed (or refuge, take your pick on wording here). This doesn't mean a blind faith (yes, you are to verify this on your own), but it's impossible to "get it" right away (or even after decades!). We put faith in the Buddha(s) that what they are telling us is the truth and path towards enlightenment (there's a whole structure and teaching to show what an authentic teaching is as it aligns with the Dharma, etc.). A lot will remain confusing for quite some time. I always like to compare it to a very dirty window that has caked on dirt, grime, discoloration, etc. This is the unimaginably long periods of rebirth where we are more and more clouded in ignorance and delusion. Being exposed to the Dharma is like a light rain on it...it doesn't clear it away with that first "sprinkle", but it may loosen a little piece where we can see clearly if only for a moment. These are flashes of enlightenment/wisdom ("Prajna"). The more effort (which can take lifetimes) the more that window gets "clearer". The Buddha is a great example where in his last lifetime, that window became spotless. Then, we see...clearly...what those "shadows" were on the other side of the glass. Our perceptions and assumptions are gone, and we fundamentally understand and are liberated. It's exciting, but hard work. Stick in there! Even I don't fully understand it all (nor does most Buddhists...it's so vast), but we walk down that path even though ahead of us is very dark, the candle of the Buddha's Dharma allows us to walk a few feet 'safely' each day until we get to the end.

@@AlanPeto Thank you for the detailed reply! I’m going to read that article and watch the video you mentioned. Also, I see your point in how understanding could take decades. 🙏🙏🙏

Consider the concept of rebirth as more in line with current scientific knowledge and understanding vs. Judeo Christian eternal heaven or eternal hell and no conservation of energy or matter at all...ie. no recycling. To help swallow the concept of rebirth, you need to discard any notion of a "self/personality" that is being reborn, as that would be impossible since each life is unique and different from the next and they are not to be seen as the same person. No more than if you use the flame of a dying candle to light a new candle... one comes from the other but they completely different entities.

🙏

Think you might be referring to Mahayana Buddhism? While there are indeed many Buddhas there, the Buddha (Shakyamuni) is indeed central to the religion and we even have several major holidays devoted specifically to him. Without the Buddha, we wouldn’t know about any of the other Buddhas, etc. Mahayana, generally, follows the path of the Bodhisattva as that is the path the Buddha took. While we do have some celestial Buddhas, such as Amitabha, which are popular and help laypersons with the path in a way they can’t do on their own. It never negates Shakyamuni. And the cosmology is huge in Mahayana, and you even find it in Theravada.

Interestingly, Buddhas do care. A Buddha is one who rediscovered the truth (dharma) and teaches the liberating path. This, a Buddha. Being a Buddha is also a choice and action, in addition to other factors.

It was meant to be general, in nature, and to introduce a Westerner to Buddhist cosmology. Generally, all traditions should mirror this. However, as you mentioned, it can get much more in-depth with Mahayana!

That's a great book! I'm glad to find another person who read it :) It's a great explanation by him. Most of East-Asian Buddhism takes that approach (essentially the meditation school/practice and pure land school/practice). It's only really in Japan you see it separated. Check out my Pure Land video if you haven't already! I do have an article on my website about Buddhist cosmology, but there is so much to it that it only scratches the surface. Is there any part that has caught your interest you'd like to learn more about?

@@AlanPeto I will definitely check out the article. I am interested in understanding the different buddhas and bodhisattvas and getting some clarification on those concepts. I am aware of Amitabha obviously, but I know there are other concepts (I've seen discussion of "the medicine buddha, etc) and I would definitely be interested to learn more about that concept and possibly read multiple interpretations on that subject

Wonderful! Yes, Buddhism is not limited to just this planet or any other concepts we currently understand.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You may take Buddhism at whatever level you are able to, and if that's a everyday level, that's great. Belief in the realms of rebirth, or not, you can still gain benefit. In Buddhism, you're still bound by the realms (if believed in or not). Being able to understand the most important part of the realms is that the human relam, where you are right now, is a very rare and special place because you are able to hear and understand the teachings, practice them, and have the right conditions for enlightenment, is something we can take with urgency. You may be right, that none exist, or Buddhism may be right. Why not focus on cultivation to remain in this realm (believed in or not) because it provides the right conditions? That's a more practical approach. You can look at the realms as a condition of mind and actions (although this is not considered the primary belief). For example, when you are constantly craving and lusting after things - you're in the hungry ghosts realm. When you act impulsively, the animal realm. When you have committed violations of the precepts and hurt someone, the hell realm. Maybe you're super rich and life is a dream - the heavenly realm. While the heavenly realm sounds great, you're removed from really understanding and practicing Buddhism (a reason the Buddha left his childhood home of luxury). Ultimatley, we can look with our 21st century eyes, but still not see. I have never seen the realms of rebirth, for instance. But someone in the time of the Buddha being told you could travel hundreds of miles per hour in the sky? Supernatural (even if we consider it technical nowadays). I'm not sure of which story you are referencing about monks with superpowers, but they would not be called superpowers in Buddhism. Buddhism looks at supranormal and supernatural abilities as a result of enlightenment. That what we consider normal is simply our hindered state. But the key thing there, to highlight your overall concern, is that Buddhism *rejects* using supranormal/supernatural powers. What religion can you point to where the main figure (in ours, The Buddha), flatly rejects using such abilities to get converts? The Buddha rejected using these abilities for such a purpose. Did he use them? Yes, at times, but in conjunction to reinforce a teaching, help people understand, etc. In-fact, the Buddha said that the Dharma/Dhamma is key and wisdom is the most important thing, not these abilities. So, yes, Buddhism has what we consider supranormal and supernatural because these terms mean they are either 1) within the abilities of humans but not normally encountered and/or 2) within the realm of our world and reality, but not fully understood by us conventionally. We may accept or reject them, "Buddhism" simply shrugs it's theoretical shoulders because it's simply what the Buddha taught (and showed) us during his life. We need only to follow the teachings and practice. Whenever we reach enlightenment, we can then understand/test this for ourselves.

Is your question related to when there were no humans? “Humans” is just the term we use for that realm, and it’s not restricted to human beings.

@@AlanPeto Correct. From what I've been reading, realms as categories of being have corresponding locations and those locations exist in relation to one another. For example, Devadatta being sucked below the earth eventually landing in Avici. There's a spacial location linked to an ontological realm (heaven/divinities above earth/humans/animals and hell/hell beings below earth/humans/animals). Humans have only been on earth for a certain period of time and evolved from beings that wouldn't generate karma (single cell organisms and animals), and certainly haven't been around long enough for someone to have been a human and gone to hell and come back, so I don't quite understand how the whole thing works. There doesn't seem to be enough time to make it happen.

Yes, and since most (Western) scientist are very, very far from the state of Bodhisattva, how much faith can we put in their findings??

Your questioning is correct! Technically it is above the human realm, and below the heavenly realms. But it’s a place of constant warfare and anger which is unwholesome, so I place it below. It is not a realm one wants to be reborn into.

I personally think there is no such thing as "above" and "below" when it comes to realms. The Bavachakra is the perfect illustration of how rebirth is cyclical and inherently Dukkha. Not to mention that many sutras indicate that the barrier between the Six Realms isn't exactly clear-cut -- many individual particularities of Karma affect the conditions of rebirth (e.g. Humans being born in peaceful prosperous countries while others are born in poverty and have terrible congenital diseases). Humans, Asuras, Gods, Preta, Demons, Animals-- we're all equally trapped in Samsara, so ultimately there is no "above" or "below".

That's a great observation! I'd say not super knowledge per se, but fundamental understanding. We are clouded with delusion, so when that is removed, one can see clearly. It's not restricted to someone 2,600 years ago, it's available to all (even now...it's). It sounds and feels supernatural, but what is super/supranatural to us is often because we don't understand the 'natural' part of it. Whether we believe it, or not, the enlightened have that insight. They don't explain it for the purpose of bragging about what they know, but instead as teaching tools. For example, the Buddha used it specifically to teach/provide examples of morality, conduct, endurance on the path, generosity, compassion, etc. The path of the Bodhisattva and that of impermanence, samsara, etc. So, it's like opening a book. We, as everyday humans, decide not to open the book even to the first page, or, aren't even aware there is a book to be opened. But, again, these are used as Buddhists largely to help with understanding the path of the Bodhisattva towards enlightenment and the qualities, morality, and conduct one should strive to have in their lives now. That's something I'm sure we can all agree on.

There were a few peole like that. Also, Balangoda Ananda Maithriya thero who lived in the 20th century had a few supernatural powers. The Thripitaka in Theravada Buddhism contains the original Buddhist teachings. Buddhism explains the formation of matter. According to Buddhism, there are four great forms that make 24 derived material forms in a matter zone. I could make an equation to derive some dimensional interactions similar to the material forms explained in those teachings. Buddhism mentions 23 matter zones that make matter body/particle (Rupa Sarira) that can make connected formations like atoms (Rupa Santhana). Furthermore, there is an explanation about generations of matter (Rupa Santhati) in Buddhism that are similar to the generations of elementary particles in the standard model of particle physics. Perhaps, the Planck time is not the smallest time in the universe. Buddhism mentions, 51 smallest moments in the smallest matter zone called Rupa-Kalapa. Perhaps, the length of a Rupa-Kalapa is similar to the Planck length. The observers/minds use the 3 smallest moments in the universe to arise, exist and dissolve. The mind/Citta moment can mainly have 31 states of existence that can cause to be an observer (born) in the 31 Planes of existence mentioned in Buddhism. According to Buddhism, The universe (Maha-Kalpa) ended with a rain (called Sampaththi Mahamegha rain) like high energy plasma of elementary particles that filled the universe with them after the contraction (Sanvattai). And the end of the Maha-Kalpa was the start of the expansion (Vivatta) of the universe until the formation of worlds. And the duration of the further expansion (Vivattai) is similar to the duration of the first expansion. Again it contracts (Sanvatta) within a similar duration. There are a lot more explanations in Buddhism about reality. So if you can learn those somewhat hidden teachings, then you will be able to understand the process of life.

@@AlanPeto You are talking from a Buddhist teaching perspective. Adam Mobile is talking from a non-Buddhist perspective. Though I am a Buddhist, I have to agree with Adam Mobile. Understanding dependent origination plays an important role in the spiritual path. Insight is dependent on direct experience and/or reasoning. People in the past did not have super knowledge. People have super knowledge when they investigate and practice what they accept and understand.

I see where you're coming from but I think it is possible. Let's say that current humanity's consciousness level has been extremely narrowed down (contrary to common belief, which says that we are now at the summum of all possible evolution ever), by means of government, education, science, religion, media etc etc for the last few 100s of years, into a pure materialistic world-view, which has become dominant (in The West at least). This would make sense, since we're in Kali Yuga now

and both are not scientific and actually proven incorrect. I recommend Avi Loeb 'Extraterrestrial'