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Origin and existence of our universe

Some Buddhist explanations on the origin and existence of our universe (and other universes) in contrast to the non-buddhist beliefs of a creator god and creationism, by Josho Adrian Cirlea

Unenlightened beings are physically and mentally limited by their karma; they are born, they live, die and are reborn again in worlds determined by their karma. They cannot go further than the limitations imposed by their karma, and so they cannot see nor understand that which is beyond their karma. But the Buddhas, who are totally free from the bondage of karma, can move freely in the Samsaric worlds and universes - the collective dreams of unenlightened beings. The Buddhas are not creators of the Samsaric world, just like one person cannot create the dream of another, but teachers and saviors, or better said, Awakeners of others. Through various means, that is, various Dharma methods, they try to awake sleeping beings from the Samsaric dream.

Thus, as Buddhists, we cannot say that a creator god made the universe, because that would deny the law of karma, according to which one reaps what one sows – one is reborn in the worlds and dimensions one deserves, together with the beings one deserves to be there with (is karmically linked to). As we have seen, we cannot logically accept, in the same time, the law of karma and the existence of a creator god, as the two mutually exclude one another.

Instead of a creator god, the collective karma of a multitude number of beings is the primary cause and first impulse for the appearance of a new universe. This karma contains all the potentiality of that specific universe, including its general laws of physics. Thus, once it comes into existence from collective karmic causes, then all the laws of physics will follow. These will be responsible, for example, with what actually happens with the planets, changing of seasons, and so on.

Various universes may have different laws of physics, because their formation was due to a different karma with different potentialities, so once they are formed, they can develop into different ways than our own universe. Because of that, what we call human beings here, may look totally different in another universe, although the basic emotions and karma which generate rebirth into human dimension is the same.

Neither the law of karma, nor the various physical characteristics that appear in a specific universe, are created by a supreme god. Just like when you spit in the air, it will fall in your face, when you do an evil deed, you will automatically experience (in the same life or one of the next) the same suffering you inflicted on others. These things happen without the necessity that a supreme god giving a command, “from now on, if you spit in the air, it will fall on your face”. So, the law of karma, just like the law of gravity, has no creator, as both exist by themselves.

Because individuals and various smaller or larger groups of beings make certain choices, and plant certain seeds, they reap various results, which bring them for rebirth in different universes and realms – which are themselves the effect of those beings collective karma. Thus, the difference among unenlightened beings and the worlds and dimensions in which they live do not have the origin in the will of a creator god, nor do they appear from chance, but are the material imprint of individual karma and collective karma.

This is a very important teaching which clearly separates Buddhism from the monotheistic religions. In short, the karma versus the will of a god are the two main explanations of the world and the beings living in it that you can choose from, and which defines you as a Buddhist disciple or an externalist (non-Buddhist).

According to the Buddhist teaching, there are an infinite number of world systems where rebirth takes place. These were classified into three categories:

1. one small universe, which is traditionally called “a small one thousand-worlds”. It consists of one thousand worlds. Each single world (sometimes called “a Sumeru-world”) contains the various realms/dimensions of hells, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras and gods.

2. one middle universe, which is traditionally called “a medium one thousand-worlds”. It consists of one thousand small universes (or “a thousand small thousand-worlds”).

3. one large universe, which is traditionally called, “a great one thousand-worlds”. It consists of one thousand middle universes (or a thousand medium thousand-worlds).

These various worlds pass through an endless cycle of formation, existence, destruction, and annihilation after which they are again formed, come to existence, are destroyed, annihilated, and so on. The four periods of cyclic changes are called “kalpas”:

1. Period (kalpa) of Formation or generation (vivartakalpa)

2. Period (kalpa) of Duration or existence (vivarta-siddha kalpa)

3. Period (kalpa) of Destruction (samvarta kalpa)

4. Period (kalpa) of Annihilation (samvarta-diddha kalpa)

Each of these periods lasts 20 medium or intermediate kalpas (antara kalpa). Four periods of 20 medium kalpas each, is 80 medium kalpas. 80 medium kalpas is one great kalpa (mahakalpa). So, one cosmic cycle composed of the four periods above is called one great kalpa.

One Buddha may assume responsibility for the spiritual care of one large universe (“a great one thousand-world”), which then becomes that Buddha’s field of action, or “Buddha-field” (Buddhakshetra in Skt). This is also called a “Buddha-land”. The one large universe in which we ourselves live together with many kinds of visible, invisible and non-human beings, is called “Saha”. The sutras say that an infinite number of such large universes, or Buddha-lands, exist in the ten directions. As they are inhabited by beings in various stages of spiritual development, it should not be confounded with the Pure Land (Sukhavati), which is an Enlightened realm (outside of Samsara) manifested by Amitabha Buddha.

Of course, not all the worlds and universes appear or disappear at the same time. When one universe is destroyed, another one appears while myriads of other universes are in the duration period. Also, the mind-stream of beings transmigrates through these universes and planes of existence in all the four kalpas, and the period of destruction or annihilation does not destroy them. Thus, even if the bodies they receive according to their karma are destroyed, they are reborn elsewhere, in another realm of the same universe or even another universe.

It is in the nature of every composed thing, including planets, worlds and universes to appear, grow, decay and dissolve themselves. When the collective karma which brought them into existence is exhausted, they are to appear again when another collective karma manifest itself.

I believe the definition of imagination boils down to simply playing with mental formations.

@how 's comment in the previous thread is most agreeable to me. I think in the empty and infinite canvas, imagination is like any other formation and nothing more. It's a building block of this existence, usable but not given purpose by itself. The hindrance which takes hold defines its purpose.

A middle path reminds me to use it wisely, to not become attached. I'm hoping, like most other things, if examined honestly using the 8FP it will reveal how it is to be interacted with. Through practice I hope to use it more effectively vs it running the show with my hindrances most of the time.

I'm not good enough at staying mindful constantly yet so one of my practices is to "PowerPoint slide transition" my daydreams when I realize I'm lost in imagination or notice mental formations effecting my emotions. This usually instantly brings me back to present moment where I have an opportunity to hang out again before getting lost in thought a bit later on. My favorite is the broken glass screen that falls away to reveal the one behind it. Except in my case it falls my daydream away to real life!

As for mindfulness coupling with creativity, I have a few opinions on that. Meditation builds up elements that allow us to 100% something vs whatever autopilot percentage we were doing before. If we point that 100% at creativity, sky's the limit. If we point it at catastrophizing, we can drive ourselves sick with worry.

IDK, the same argument could be used for fire, or sharp objects, or lots of things. Should we get rid of fire because it can be used to destroy?

I honestly haven't really thought about it or looked into the topic. My initial reaction is that I think equanimity might be more like being at the eye of a storm rather than the lack of a storm, not that there has to be a storm per se. Like a great martial artist could be calm and focused in the middle of a fight, maintaining equanimity while in action.

I'd also worry about developing a sense of dullness rather than equanimity.

The psychology podcaster I listen to researches differing aspects of intelligence, I think primarily creativity and his latest book was on transcendence. Its a more western form of spirituality but at least from his point of view they aren't mutually exclusive.

Here's a scientific meta study into the topic I didn't want to read through if you're interested.

...Much literature suggests that the nature of the mindfulness-creativity relationship is positive and promising—in that mindfulness can enhance creativity. Research demonstrates that mindfulness improves a person’s ability to concentrate (Sedlmeier et al., 2012), decreases the fear of being judged, and enhances open-minded thinking while reducing aversive self-conscious thinking (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007)...
...Many aspects of ‘trait mindfulness,’ or skills that are facilitated by mindfulness training, increase creativity. For example, mindfulness is associated with the ability to change perspectives by expanding empathy and open-mindedness (Carson & Langer, 2006). It also increases a person’s capacity to respond to situations in a non-habitual fashion—which is at the crux of creativity (Moore & Malinowski, 2009)...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7395604/

Then I will gladly move to Monte Carlo or somewhere in the south of France.
It has nothing to do with it but since I am going to be a Buddha I would like to be one while looking at the Mediterranean.