Buddhist Cosmology - DMCTV

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BuddhistCosmology

Currently,cosmologyhascometoplayacentralroleinshapingwhatisnowknownasphysical cosmologybybringingtogetherobservationsandmathematicaltoolsinordertoanalyzethe universeasawhole:inotherwords,itistheunderstandingoftheuniversethroughscientific observationandexperiment.Cosmology isfocusedontheuniverse,asitexistsonthelargest scaleandattheearliestmoment,anditisgenerallyunderstoodtobeginwiththeBIGBANG- anexpansionofspacefromwhichtheUniverseitselfisthoughttohaveemergedfrom13.7 billionyearsago.Fromitsviolentbeginnings,untilitsvariousspeculativeends, cosmologists proposethatthehistoryoftheUniversehasbeengovernedentirelybyphysicallaws.Between thedomainsofreligionandscience,standsthephilosophicalperspectiveofmetaphysical cosmology.Thisancientfieldofstudyseekstodrawintuitiveconclusionsabouttheoriginof theuniverse,man,gods,andtheirrelationships.Cosmologyisoneofthemostimportant aspectsofreligionbecauseitseekstoexplaintheexistenceandnatureofreality.Viewingthe creationanddestructionoftheuniversewillplayacentralroleintheunderstandingof humanity'srolewithintheuniversity. Questionsabouttheearth'soriginationhavebeendiscussedthroughouthistory.Aristotlesaid theearthwasthecenteroftheuniversethroughhisexperiments.Hesaidtheearthexists unchangedthroughouteternity.Thisbeliefwasheldstronglyasareligiousphilosophyformore than2000years.In1543AD,NicolausCopernicus,anastronomer,publishedhistheoryon heliocentriccosmology,debunkingtheancientbelievethatbegantherevolutionofastronomy. Butmanyastronomersstilldoubtedhistheoryoncosmicorigination.There,thequestions remain:"WhatistheoriginoftheUniverse?""Whatisitsfirstcause?""Isitsexistence necessary?"Or,"WhatistheultimatereasonfortheexistenceoftheUniverse?" IntheBuddhistSutta(thescripturescontainingtheBuddhist sermons),aconsistentBuddhist cosmologyispresentedwiththefinalanalysisandreconciliationofcosmologicalcomments.In severalsuttas,theLordBuddhadescribedotherworldsandstatesofbeing,andonesutta describedtheoriginanddestructionoftheuniverse:AggannaSutta,DhigaNikaya.Thissutta waspresentedasaformaltreatmentby twonovices,BharadvajaandVasettha.Therefore, accordingtotheoldestrecordofstudy,thesynthesisofthisdataforasinglecomprehensive systemmusthavestartedfromtehistoryofBuddhism.Buddhistcosmologyistheonlyreligion thatcanexplainthestructureoftheuniverseandtellyouhowallbeingshaverelationswithits existence.Beingproficientinthestudyofcosmologywilltelluswhywearebornandhowto developourselvesintoabetterlife. ThepictureoftheworldpresentedinBuddhistcosmologicaldescriptionscannotbedescribed literally,withaliteraldescription,orbyanyscientificexperiment.Thispicturemaybe inconsistentwithastronomicaldatathathasbeenuseduptothepresentday.However,itcan beperceivedbyeveryonethroughthemeansofmeditation:theentireuniversehasbeenseen throughtheDibbayacakkhu(thedivineeyes)bytheLordBuddhaandpeoplewhohavetrained themindenoughto perceivetheexistenceofallworldsandtheirinterrelatedness. Buddhistcosmologycanbedividedintotworelatedgroups:temporalcosmology,which describeshowtheworldscomeintoexistence,andhowtheypassaway;andspatialcosmology, whichdescribesthearrangementofthevariousworldswithintheuniverse.

Temporalcosmology

Buddhisttemporalcosmologydescribeshowtheuniversitycomesintobeingand, consequently,isdissolved.Thebasicunitoftimemeasurementisthemahakappaor"Great Bear".Theexactlengthofthistimeinhumanyearsisneverexactlydefined,butitismeantto beverylong.TheLordBuddha comparedthelengthoftimeofakappaasacubicholeinwhich

16kilometersoneachsideisfilledbycabbageseeds.Oneseedisthrownintheemptyhole,

andthenextisthrownonehundredyearslater.Thetotaltimefromthefirstseedbeing thrownuntil thelastseedisthrowninordertofilla16kilometerscubicholeisequaltothe lengthoftimeinonemahakappa. Amahakappa(asdescribedinAggannaSutta)isdividedintofourpartsor"minoreons",each distinguishedfromtheothersbythestageofevolutionof theuniverseduringthatkappa.The fourminorpartsofkappaare: Samvattakappa"EonofDissolution"-duringthiskappatheuniversedissolves. Samvattathayikappa"EonofDissolutionͲDuration"-duringthiskappatheuniverse remainsinastateofemptiness. Vivattakappa"EonofEvolution"-duringthis kappatheuniversecomesintoexistence. Vivattathayikappa"EonofEvolutionͲDuration"-duringthiskappatheuniverseremains inexistenceinasteadystate. EachoneoftheseminoreonsisdividedintosixtyͲfourantarakappas,soonemahakappais equatedtofourminorkappas,and,therefore,fourminorkappas areequaltotwohundredand fiftyͲsixantarakappas.Thelengthofoneantarakappawillbediscussedlater.Thisworldisa cycleofexistenceanddestruction.Fromtheendtimeoftheworld,toviattathayikappa,the worldisdestroyedbythreemeans:water,fireandwind,afterwhichthe chamberofthe universeisempty.

1.1Samvattakappa

ThesamvattakappabeginswhenbeingsceasetobeborninNaraka(hell).Thedevastation startsfromthelowestrealmofAveciNaraka(theeighthlowestrealm).Thedestructionbyfire isthefirsttypethatoccursattheendofthesamvattakappa.

Afterdestructionsbyfire,thereis

destructionbywater.Thisismoredevastating,becauseiteliminatesallthatisleftofthe BrahmaAbhassaraworldsandanyotherhigherworlds.Thisdevastationproceedsinreverse ordertotheverticalcosmology;i.e.,Pettas,thenAnimals,thenHumans,andsoonupthrough therealmsofthe deities(Theorigineachrealmnotedinitalicswillbediscussedlater). Whentheseworlds(excepttheBrahmanworlds)aredevoidofinhabitants,agreatfire consumestheentirephysicalstructureoftheworlds.Itturnsalltheworldsbelowthe Abhassaraworlds.Whentheyaredestroyed,theSamvattathayikappabegins.As mentioned, thelengthoftimeofthefirstminorkappacontainssixtyͲfouranatarakappas.

1.2Samvattathayikappa

Thereisnothingtosayaboutthesamvattathayikappabecausenothinghappensinitbelowthe Abhassaraworlds.Itendswhentheprimordialwindbeginstoblowandbuildthestructureof theworldsagain. Asmentioned,thisperiodcontainssixtyͲfourantarakappas,equaltothe

Samvattakappa.

1.3Vivattakappa

Thevivattakappabeginswiththearisingoftheprimordialwind,whichbeginstheprocessof buildingthestructuresoftheuniversethathadbeendestroyedattheendofthemahakappa.

Becausetheextentofthe

destructioncanvary,thenatureofthisevolutioncanvaryaswell, butitalwaystakestheformofbeingsfromahigherworldbeingbornintoalowerworld.The exampleofaMahabrahmabeingtherebirthofadeceasedAbhassarabrahmaisjustone instanceofthis,which continuesthroughoutthevivattakappauntilalltheworldsarefilledfrom theBrahmalokadowntoNaraka.DuringtheVivattakappa,thewindblowsthechamberofthe universetocoolitdownandtheelementscomposethemselvesaswater.Solidcomposites floatonthewater.Then,landappearsasthefloatingsolid abovethewater.Thefirsthumans appearherealthoughtheyarenotlikepresentdayhumans,butarebeingsshiningintheirown light.Infact,theyarebeingsfromtheAbassaraBrahmaworld,capableofmovingthroughthe airwithoutmechanicalaid,livingforalongtime,andnot requiringsustenance.Theyaremore likeatypeoflowerdeitythantheyarelikepresentdayhumans. Overtime,theyacquireatasteforphysicalnutriment,andastheyconsumeit,theirbodies becomeheavierandmorelikehumanbodies:theylosetheirabilitytoshine,begintoacquire differencesintheirappearance,andtheyexperienceadecreaseintheirlifespan.Atthispoint, andinorder tolightthisnewplaneofexistence,thesuncomesintobeing.Humansarethen differentiatedintotwosexes,dependingonthepastlife'sretribution.Forexample,abeing whohadcommittedadulteryintheirpastlifewillbecomeafemale,andwillbegintobecome sexuallyactive.Withthis sexualactivitycomespassionandwithpassioncomestheneedto hidetheirsexualactivity.Thiscreatestheneedforindividualhousing.Then,greed,theft,and violenceariseamongthem,andtheyestablishsocialdistinctions.Whenthishappens,a governmentisformedandtheyelectakinginordertorule them.Thispersoniscalleda Mahacakavatti,or,theGreatAppointedOne.Sincebecominghuman,thedivinebodiesturn morecrude,orbase.Someofthembegintohuntandeatthefleshofanimals,whichhaveby nowcomeintoexistence.ThesedevelopmentsarealsodescribedintheAgganna

Sutta.The

thirdminorkappaalsocontainssixtyͲfourantarakappas.

1.4Vivattasthayikappa

TheVivattasthayikappabeginswhenthefirstbeingdiesandisbornintoNaraka,thusfillingthe entireuniversewithbeings.Duringthefirstantarakappaofthisfourtheon,humanlivesare decliningfromavastbutunspecifiednumber ofyearstowardthemodernlifespanoflessthan tenyears.Fromthedivinestate,theirlifespanisanasonkaiyaofyears;oneasonkaiyais approximately1x10 140
years.Thelifespanofhumansdecreasesbecauseofthewickeddeeds theyperform.Everyonehundredyears,theirlifespanwilldecreasebyoneyear.The asonkaiyayearswillloseoneyeareveryhundredyearsuntiltheirlifespanaveragesatotalof tenyears.Atthepoint,when theirlifespanisatthelowestpoint,orleastnumberofyears, theymustrealizethattheyneedtodogooddeedsinordertocultivatemerit.Whentheydo realizethis,theirlifespanwillincreaseoneyeareveryonehundredyearsuntilitreachesthe maximumofasonkaiya years.Thelengthoftime(oronecycle)fromoneasonkaiyatothe tenth,andreverse,iscalledoneantarakappa.Atthebeginningoftheantarakappa,peopleare stillgenerallyhappy.Theyliveundertheruleofauniversalmonarch,or"wheelͲturningking" (Mahacakkavatti),whoconquers.TheMahasudassan

Sutta,DhigaNikayaMahavakka(the

longestBuddhistscripture),tellsthelifeofacakkavattiking,Mahasudassana(Sanskrit: Mahasudarsana)wholivedforcountlessyears.Asaresultofhumanbeingssubsequent misrule,povertyincreases;asaresultofpoverty,theftbegins;asaresultoftheft,capital punishmentisinstituted;and, asaresultofthiscontemptforlife,murdersandothercrimes becomerampant.Asthehumanlifespangraduallydecreasedfrom1x10 140
to100years,each generationincreasesothercrimesandevilmisdoings:lying,adultery,evilspeech,greed, hatred,wrongviews,incest,andothersortsofsexualabnormalities,anddisrespectforparents andelders.Therealmsgeneratethemselvesinordertosupportthedead.Everyonewho performsgooddeedsthroughouttheirlivesissupportedbyheavenlyrealms.

And,viceversa,

theoneswhoperformbaddeedsaresupportedbyhell.Inotherwords,theconsequenceofa person'sdeedscometofruitioninsubsequentrealms.Peoplewillreappearintheloweror higherrealmsaccordingtothepreviouslife'skammaorthefruitsoftheiractions.During this period,thepettas,surakaya,animals,humans,deities,andBrahmasoccurinthisworld. Becausethebeingsinthisworldsuffer,manyhumanstrytoescape.Theoneswhotryto escapefromthecycleofliving,Samsara,arecalledBodhisattvasorpeoplewhoaimtoward enlightenment.IntheMahapadanaSutta, threeofthefourBuddhasofthisfourthminorkappa lived:KakusandhaBuddha,atthetimewhentheaveragelifespanofhumanswas100,000 years;KonagamanaBuddha,whentheaveragelifespanofhumanswas80,000years;and KassapaBuddha,whentheaveragelifespanofhumanswas20,000years.Ourpresent timeis thoughttobeapartoftheendofthesecondlastantarakappaofthisVivattasthayikappa,when theaveragelifespanisapproximately100years.ThisistheageoftheSakyamuniBuddhaor GotamaBuddha,wholivedtotheageof80.AftertheGotamaBuddha'snirvana,the remainder ofthefourthkappaisprophesiedtobemiserable:lifespanswillcontinueto decrease,andalltheeviltendenciesofthepastwillreachtheirultimateindestructiveness. Theworldwillleadtotheendofanantarakappaagain.Peoplewilllivenolongerthanten years,andwillmarry atfive;foodswillbepoorandtasteless;noformofmoralitywillbe acknowledged.Themostcontemptuousandhatefulpeoplewillbecomerulers.Incestwillbe rampant.Hatredamongpeople,evenmembersofthesamefamily,willgrowuntilpeoplethink ofoneanotherashuntersdototheirprey.

Eventually,agreatwarwillensue,inwhichthe

mosthostileandaggressivebeingswillarmthemselvesandgoouttokilloneanother.Theless aggressivewillhideinforestsandothersecretplaceswhilethewarrages.Attheendofthe war,thesurvivorswillemergefrom theirhidingplacesand,seeingwhatevildeedstheyhave doneinthepast,repent.Astheybegintodogooddeeds,theirlifespanincreases,andthe healthandwelfareofthehumanracewillincreasewithit.Afteralongtime,thedescendants ofthosewithatenͲyearlifespan willgraduallyincreaseuntilitreachesthemaximumasonkaiya years.Thenitwillgraduallydecreaseagainuntilithitstheaverageof80,000years,andatthat time,therewillbeacakkavattikingnamesSankha.Duringhisreign,thecurrentbodhisattvain theTusitaheavenwilldescendandbe rebornunderthegreatfamilyofBrahma.Hewillenter thelifeofanasceticandwillgainperfectenlightenmentasaBuddha.Hewillthenbecome knownbythenameofMetteyya,thelastBuddhaofthisMahakappa. AfterMaitreya'stime,theworldwillagainbecomeworse,andthelifespanwillgradually decreasefrom80,000yearsto10years,eachantarakappabeingseparatedfromthenextby devastatingwarsbutwithpeaksofhighcivilizationeventhoughmoralitywillbeatthe minimum.Aftertheendofthe256 th antarakappa,thelifespanwillnolongerincreasebecause theVivattasthayikappawillhavecometoanend.ItwillthenentertheSamvattakappaagain.

2.SpatialCosmology

SpatialCosmologycanalsobedividedintotwobranches.Verticalcosmologydescribesthe arrangementofworldsinaverticalpattern,somebeinghigherandsomelower.Incontrast, horizontalcosmologydescribesthegroupingoftheseverticalworlds.

2.1VerticalCosmology

Inverticalcosmology,theuniverseconsistsofmanyworlds (lokah),orplanes,stackedone uponthenextinlayers.Eachworldcorrespondstoamentalstateorstateofbeing.Aworldin Buddhismisnotsomuchalocationasitisthebeingsthatcomposeit;itissustainedbytheir karmaandifthebeingsina worldalldieordisappear,theworlddisappears,too.Likewise,a worldcomesintoexistencewhenthefirstbeingisbornintoit.Thephysicaldifferenceor separation,isnotasimportantasthedifferenceinmentalstate;humansandanimals,though theypartiallysharethesamephysicalenvironments,still belongtodifferentworldsbecause theirmindsperceiveandreacttothoseenvironmentsdifferently. VerticalcosmologyisdividedintothirtyͲoneplanes,thirtyonerealmsorthirtyonebumis,each correspondingtoadifferenttypeofmentality.Allthirtyonecanbedividedintothree categories(Tridhatu):theArupadhatu(Arupabumi),the

Rupadhatu(Rupabumi)andthe

Kamadhatu(Kamabumi).Inthelatterscheme,allofthebeingsbornintheArupadhatuandthe Rupadhatumaybeclassifiedas"gods"or"deities"(devah),ascanaconsiderablefractionof thebeingsbornintheKamadhatu,eventhoughthedeitiesoftheKamadhatudiffermore from thoseoftheArupyadhatuthantheydofromhumans.Itshouldbeunderstoodthatdevaisan imprecisetermreferringtoanybeinglivinginalongerͲlivedandgenerallymoreblissfulstate thanhumans.However,allofthemarenot"gods"inthecommonsenseoftheterm,but they areinvolvedwithgooddeedswhentheyarehumans.Thefruitsofdifferentlevelsoramounts ofgooddeedsallowedthemtobeborninahigherandhappierrealm.Butwhenthefruitof thosedeedshaverunout,theywillbereincarnatedashumans,orlowerbeings, accordingto theinnerfruitsoftheirdeeds. Theterm"brahma"isusedbothasanameandasagenerictermforoneofthehigherdevas. Initsbroadestsense,itcanrefertoanyoftheinhabitantsoftheArupadhatuandthe Rupadhatu.Inmorerestrictedsenses,itcanrefertoaninhabitantofoneof theninelower worldsoftheRupadhatu,orinitsnarrowestsense,tothethreelowestworldsofthe Rupadhatu.Alargenumberofdevasusethename"Brahma",e.g.BrahamSahampati,Brahma Sanatkumara,BakaBrahma,etc.ThisisalsodiscussedfurtherintheBuddha'sbiography.

2.1.1Arupadhatu

TheArupadhatu,

or"FormlessBrahmarealm",belongstothosedevaswhoattainedand remainedintheFourFormlessAbsorptions(catuhͲsamapatti)ofthearupajhanaorthelevelof formlesstranquilmeditationinapreviouslife.Thosewhoareinthisrealmconsumethefeeling ofhappinessinarupajhanasamapattiasnutritionand enjoythefruits(vipakka)ofthegood karmaofthataccomplishment.Niyatabodhisattvas,theBodhisattvaswhosedestinyitistobe futureBuddhas,areneverbornintheArupadhatuevenwhentheyhaveattainedthe arupajhana. TherearefourworldsorrealmsoftheArupadhatuBrahmas,correspondingtothefourtypesof arupajhanathatrangefromthedepthofJhana. Nevasannanasannayatana"SphereofneitherperceptionnornonͲperception".Inthis spheretheformlessbeingshaveattainedaluminalstateorthefourthformless absorptionofmeditation.Forexample:ThiswasthespherereachedbyUddaka

Ramaputta,thesecondofPrince

Siddhattha'stwoteachers,whowronglyconsideredit

equivalenttoenlightenment.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately

84,000Mahakappas.

Akincannayatana"SphereofNothingness"(literally"lackinganything").Inthissphere, formlessbeingsdwellcontemplatinguponthethoughtthat"thereisnothing"orthe stateofthirdformless absorptionmeditation.Forexample:Thiswasthesphere reachedbyAlaraKalama,thefirstofPrinceSiddhattha'stwoteachers,whowrongly consideredittobeequivalenttoenlightenment.Theaverageageofbeingsinthis sphereisapproximately60,000Mahakappas. Vinnanancayatana"SphereofInfiniteConsciousness".Inthissphere,formless beings swellmeditatingontheirconsciousnessasinfinitelypervasive,orthestateofsecond formlessabsorptionmeditation.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereis approximately40,000Mahakappas. Akasanancayatana"SphereofInfiniteSpace".Inthissphere,formlessbeingsdwell meditatinguponspace,orextensions,asinfinitelypervasive.Thisisthestateofthefirst formlessabsorptionmeditation.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereis approximately20,000Mahakappas.

2.1.2Rupadhatu

TheRupadhatu,orFormRealm,is,

asthenameimplies,thefirstofthephysicalrealms:Allof theinhabitantsofthisrealmarelocatedwithinthisrealminsometypeofphysicalbody.The beingsintheFormrealmarenotsubjectedtotheextremesofpleasureandpain,norarethey governedbydesiresfor thingspleasingtothesenses,asarethebeingsoftheKamadhatu.The bodiesoftheFormrealmbeingsdonothavesexualdistinctionsbut,instead,lookandrogynous. LikethebeingsoftheArupadhatu,thedwellersintheRupadhatuhavemindscorrespondingto therupajhanas,thetranquilityformofmeditation.

However,thebeingsoftheRupadhatucan

bedividedintoelevengrades,correspondingtothefourlevelsofrupajhana,plusfive"Pure Abodes"correspondingtotheSuddhavasaBrahmabeingswhoattainedthethirdstream enterer(Anagami)intheirpreviouslives.

2.1.2.1TheWorldsofSuddhavasa(FivePureAbodes)

Therearefive

levelsofattainmentintheworldsofSuddhavasacategorizedbypurityinthe followingfivefaculties:faith(saddha),effort(viriya),mindfulness(sati),concentration (Samadhi),andwisdom(panna). Akanittha:TherealmoftheSupremeBrahmas:TheseareBrahmasinwhomwisdomis thestrongestoffaculties.AkanitthaBrahmasareendowed withthegreatestheavenly wealthandhappiness.BrahmasinthefourotherrealmsofthePureAbodesareableto moveintoupperrealms,butSupremeBrahmasarebornanddieintheirownrealm.An importantsanctuaryislocatedwithintheRealmofSupremeBrahmasnamedDussaͲ

Cetiya.Keptin

thismonumentaretheroyalrobesofPrinceSiddhatthathathewore thedaythatherenouncedhiskingshipandwasordainedasaBuddhistmonk. GhatikaaraBrahmacamedownfromtheSupremeBrahmarealmtooffertheeight requisitestotheordainingprince.Hekepttherobestogetherwith oneofthe requisites,intheDussaͲCetiya,whichisabout192kilometers(twelveleagues[yojana] inheight.)Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately16,000

Mahakappas.

Sudassii:TheRealmofBrahmasWhoAreClearͲSighted:TheseareBrahmasinwhom concentrationisthestrongestoffaculties.Theycanseeevenmoreclearlythan BeautifulBrahamasespeciallythroughtheirtwophysicaleyes:Divine

EyeandWisdom

Eye.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately8,000Mahakappas. Sudassaa:TheRealmofBeautifulBrahmas:TheseareBrahmasinwhommindfulness isthestrongestoffaculties.TheythereforehavetheFiveEyesoftheBlessedOne;The physicaleyewhichisexceptionally powerfulandsensitive,theDivineEye,theWisdom Eye,theBuddhaEyeandtheAllͲseeingEye.Theyareendowedwithgreatbeauty. Theyareendowedithgreatbeautiful-apleasureforallotherstolookupon.The averageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately4,000Mahakappas. Atappaa:TheRealmofSereneBrahmas:TheseareBrahmasinwhomperseveranceis thestrongestoffaculties.Theyneverfallfromhappinessbecausetheirmindis immersedinmeditationthewholetime.Theyarefreefromallmentalhindrances.The averageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately2,000

Mahakappas.

Avihaa:TheRealmofBrahmasWhoDoNotFallfromProsperity:TheseareBrahmasin whomfaithisthestrongestoffaculties.Theywillnotberebornbeforereachingtheir allottedspan.Brahmasinthefourhigherrealms,however,canchoosetobeborn beforereachingtheirallotted span.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereis approximately1,000Mahakappas.

2.1.2.2TheElevenRealmsoftheFourthAbsorption(Catuthajhana)

Theotherabsorptionspheresareinhabitedbythosewhohaveattinedthefourlevelsof Absorption,includingelevenspheresrankingfromthedeepestoftheabsorptionspherestothe lessdeepabsorptionspheres. Asanniisattaa:TheRealmofNonͲPercipientBeings:Thesebeingsareendowedwithno sensation(vedanaa),perception(sannaa),mentalformations(sankhaara)or consciousness(vinnaana).Theyareonlyendowedwiththeaggregateofcorporeality withtheabilitytoputoutallfeelings-buttheystill havedefilements.Theyhavea goldenformsimilartoaBuddhaimage,andcantakeanyoneofthethreepostures: sitting,lying,orstanding,dependingonthepositiontheydiedin,intheirpreviouslife. Theywillremaininsuchapositionthroughouttheirlives.Therealmsinthefourth absorptionspherearelocatedhigherthanthethirdabsorptionsphere.Brahmasinthe higherrealmscanseethoseinthelowerrealms,butthoseinthelowerrealmscannot seethoseinthehigherones.FormͲBrahmasintheelevenrealmsmentionedsofarwill allreturntobereborninhellorheaven,dependingontheirpastkarma,foraslongas theyhavenotattainedthestagesofsainthood.Theaverageofbeingsinthissphereis approximately500Mahakappas. Vehapphalaa:TheRealmofBrahmawithAbundantRewards:Thepowerofmeritthere isexemptfromdestructionanddissolution.AmongthoseBrahmasintheninelevels mentionedsofar,thoseintherealmofBrahmaswithsteadyauralivethelongestlives orsixtyͲfourworldcycles.AnyonewhoreachessixtyͲfourworldcycleswillreturntobe rebornduringthereͲevolving oftheworldsystem.TheseBrahmasarefollowedby otherBrahmaswithshorterlives.AftersixtyͲfourworldcycles,thethirdabsorption spherewillbedestroyedbywind.However,theRealmofBrahmaswithabundant rewardsisresistanttodestructionbyfire,waterorworldͲcycleswinds.Brahmasin

Vehapphalatherefore

livefor250Mahakappas. Subhakinha:TheRealmofBrahmaswithSteadyAura.Theaverageageofbeingsinthis sphereisapproximately64Mahakappas. Appamanasubha:TheRealmoftheBrahmasofInfiniteLuster.Theaverageageof beingsinthissphereisapproximately32Mahakappas. Parittabhaa:The Real;moftheBrahmasofLimitedLuster.Theaverageageofbeingsin thissphereisapproximately16Mahakappas. Aabhasara:TheRealmofBrahmaswithRadiantLusterBeingsarerebornhereasa resultoftheirbrightandclearmind.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereis approximately8Mahakappas. Appamanabha:TheRealmofBrahmaswithInfiniteAura.Theaverageageofbeingsin thissphereisapproximately4Mahakappas. Parittabha:TheRealmofBrahmaswithLimitedAura:Thesebesingshaveanauraas thatofthemoon,however,lessbrilliantthanthatofBrahmasin higherrealms.The averageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately2Mahakappas. Mahabrahma:TheRealmoftheGreatBrahmas:TheseinhabitantsareBrahmaswho haveattainedthehighestleveloffirstabsorption.Theyaretheleadersofthefirsttwo typesofBrahmas.SahampatiBrahma,whooriginally invitedtheLordBuddhatoshare hismessagewithteachablebeings,wasalsoaninhabitantofthisrealm.Brahmaswho haveattainedthehighestleveloffirstabsorptionwillbeatthecenterofeachrealmand surroundedbythosewhohaveattainedlowerlevelsofAbsorption.Theaverageageof beingsinthissphereisapproximately1Vivattasthayikappa. Brahmapurohita:TheRealmoftheGreatBrahmas'Ministers:Theinhabitantsare Brahmaswhohaveattainedthemediumleveloffirstabsorption.TheyhelptheGreat Brahmaswithvarioustasks.Inhabitantsofthisrealmarethosewhohaveattainedthe firstabsorption. Thefollowingthreelevelsofthisfirstabsorptionrealmarelocatedon thesamelevelasoneanoter,ratherthanbeingoneabovetheotherasintheheaven realms.Theaverageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately½Vivattasthayikappa. Brahmapaarisajja:TheRealmoftheGreatBrahmas'Attendants:Theinhabitantsare brahmaswhohaveattainedthebeginningleveloffirst

Ͳabsorption.Theyareordinary

Brahmaswithnoextraordinarypower.TheyarefollowersoftheGreatBrahmas.The averageageofbeingsinthissphereisapproximately1/3Vivattasthayikappa.

2.1.3Kamadhatu

TheworldsofKamadhatuare1,344.000yajanas(21,504,000kilometers)belowthe Brahmapaarisajjaworld.ThebeingsbornintheKamadhatudiffer indegreeofhappiness,but theyareall,otherthanArahatsandBuddhas,underthedominationofMaras(Evils)andare boundbysensualdesire,whichcausesthemsuffering.Alldevasintheserealmsreappearafter deathinhumanformbecauseofthefruitsoftheirgooddeeds-such asgiving(dana),sila (precepts)andbhavana(meditation)-sincetheywerebornashuman.Allsixlevelsofthese realmsarealignedverticallyabovetheMountofSumeru(thecentermountainofthe universes).

2.1.3.1TheSixLevelsofHeavenRealm

Thefollowingfourlevelsareboundedplanes.Each

levelisseparatedbyair,about84,000 yojanas(1.344.000kilometers)thick,andfloatsintheairabovethetopofMountSumeru. Althoughalloftheworldsinhabitedbydevas(thatis,alltheworldsdowntothe CaturmaharajikakayikaworldandsometimesincludingtheAsuras)aresometimescalled "heavens"andin thewesternsenseoftheword,thetermbestappliestothefourworldslisted below: ParanimmittaͲvasavatti:Theheavenofdevas"withpowerover[others]creations". Thenameofthislevelcomesfromthetworulersofthisrealm:the"ParanimittaKing" (therightthoughtone)and"Vasavatti"(the wrongthoughtone)whohavelongerlife spans,greaterbeauty,morepower,morehappiness,andmoredelightfulsenseͲobjects thantheotherdevasofthisworld.Thesedevasdonotcreatepleasingformsthatthey desireforthemselves,buttheirdesiresarefulfilledbytheactsofotherdevaswho wish fortheirfavor.Therulingareasofthisworldaredividedintotwoparts:oneforhomes oftherightthoughts(Vimaras),andtheotherforhomesofthewrongthoughts(beings oftheevildivineracecalledDevaputtaMaraandtheirhomesarecalledVasavatti).One fulldayinthisworldisequatedto1.600yearsofhumantime.Thebeingsofthisworld livefor9,216,000,000years. Nimmanarati:Theworldofdevas"delightingintheircreations".Thedevasofthis worldarecapableofchangingtheirappearanceinordertopleasethemselves.Thelord ofthisworldiscalledSunimmita.Thebeingsofthisworldlivefor2,304,000,000years. VisakahMahaupasika,theforemostfemaledonatorandthefirststreamenterer,who alsoreappearsinthisrealmastheQueenof

Sunimmita.

Tusita:Theworldofthe"joyful"devas.Thisworldisbestknownforbeingtheworldin whichaBodhisattvalivesbeforebeingrebornintotheworldofhumans.Untilafew thousandyearsago,therulerofthisworldwasSantatusitaKing,whowasrebornas

Siddhattha

andbecametheLordBuddhaGotama.NowtheBodhisattvahasbeenNatha whowillberebornasAjitaandwillbecometheBuddhaMetteyya.Whilethis BodhisattvaistheforemostofthedwellersinTusita,therulerofthisworldisanother devacalledSantusita.Theworldhasdividedintofour partsfrominsidetooutsideas follows:

1. TheareafortheRuleranddevaswhoarefirstandsecondstreamenterers

(SotapannaandSakidagami).Themillionaire,Anathapindika,whowasthe foremostmaledonatortotheLordBuddhaGotama,reappearsinthisarea.

TheLordBuddha'smother,QueenMaya,also

reappearsasamaledevain thiszone.

2. TheareaforNiyatabhodhisattvas,thecertainfutureBuddhazone.Thisarea

isthezoneoftheBodhisattvawhohasbeenpredictedbytheprevious BuddhaswhowillbecomeenlightenedasoneofthefutureBuddhas.The specialmeritzoneofLuang

PuWatPaknamandhisfollowersarealsointhis

zone.

3. TheareaforAniyatabhodhisattvas,theuncertainfutureBuddhaszone.This

areaisthezoneoftheBodhisattvawhohasnotbeenpredictedbythe previousBuddhasthatwillenlightenasoneofthefutureBuddhasbutisstill cultivating perfectionsinordertobecomeoneofthefutureBuddhas.

4. Theareafornormalgooddeeddoerswhoaccumulatemeritandperfection

enoughtoreappearinthisworldbutwhodonotwanttobecomefuture

Buddhas.

Thebeingsofthisworldlivefor576,000,000years

Yama:Sometimes calledthe"heavenwithoutfighting"becauseitisthelowestofthe heavenstobephysicallyseparatedfromtheturmoiloftheearthlyworld.Thesedevas liveintheair,freeofalldifficulties.ItsruleristhedevaSuyamaKing.Thebeingsofthis worldlivefor144,000,000years.Thisworld,andtheworldsabove,liesovertheshining ofthesun:Thedayandnightarerecognizedbythecelestialflowersthatbloomand close.Therefore,thelightofthisworldarefromthedeva'saura.

WorldsofSumeru

TheworldmountainofSumeruisanimmense,strangelyshapedpeak,whicharisesinthe centeroftheuniverse,andaroundwhichtheSunandMoonrevolve.Itsbaserestsinavast ocean,anditissurroundedbyseveralringsoflessermountainrangesandoceans.Thethree worldslisted belowarealllocatedonoraroundSumeru:theTavatimsadevasliveonitspeak, theCaturmaharajikakadevasliveonitsslopes,andtheAsurasliveatitsbase.Sumeruandits surroundingoceansandmountainsarethehomenotjustofthesedeities,butalsovast assembliesofbeings ofpopularmythology,whoonlyrarelyintrudeonthehumanworld. Tavatimsa:ThisworldisnamedforthethirtyͲthreedevarulersandisawideflatspace onthetopofMountSumeru,filledwiththegardensandpalacesofthedevas.Its highestrulerisSakka,Devaindra,or

Magawan,meaning"ministerofthedevas".This

worldhasbeendividedintothreephaseswhicharethendividedintothirtyͲthreezones. Eachzoneisnamedforaregionaldeva,althoughmanyotherdevasandsupernatural beingsdwellhere.ThisistheworldwheretheLordBuddhaspentthreemonths (Vassa) indiscoursewithhismother.Thebeingsofthisworldlivefor36,000,000years. Catumaharajika:Theworldof"TheFourgreatKings"isfoundonthelowerslopesof MountSumeru,althoughsomeofitsinhabitantsliveintheairaroundthemountain.Its rulersarethefour GreatKings:Virundhaka,Dhatarattha,Virapaksa,andVesuvanna. ThedevaswhoguidetheSunandtheMoonarealsoconsideredtobeapartofthis worldbecausetheyaretheretinuesofthefourkings.Theyarecomposedofthe following:Grudha,thephoenixes;Kandhabba,themusicians;Vidhayadara,the physicians;Nagas, thedragons;and,Yaksas,theogres.Thebeingsofthisworldarein theformofdevas,buttheyareabletotransformthemselvesintomanynonͲdeva forms.Theyliveherefor9,000,000years.KingBimbhisara,thefirstdonatorofa BuddhistmonasteryandthefirststreamͲenterer,also reappearsasaYaksainthis realm.Inthescriptures,itissaidthathecouldbeinanylevelofKamadhatuor Rupadhatu(excepttheSuddhavasaworlds)buthechosetoliveherebecausehelikes thefamiliarityofthisworld. Asura:TheworldoftheAsurasisthe plainunderthefootofMountSumeru.Itisnot theAsura'soriginalhome,buttheplacetheyfoundthemselvesaftertheywerehurled, drunken,fromTavatimsawheretheyhadformerlylived.TheAsurasarealwaysfighting toregaintheirlostkingdomonthetopofMountSumeru,buttheyareunabletobreak theguardoftheFourGreatKings.TheAsurasaredividedintomanygroups,andhavea rulercalledVepacitti.TheaverageageisthisworldisalmostequaltotheTavatimsa world.

2.1.3.2EarthlyRealms

Manusaloka:ThisistheworldofhumansandthehumanͲlikebeingswholiveonthe surfaceoftheearth.ThemountainͲringsthatencircleSumeruaresurroundedbyfour vastoceansthatfillmostoftheworld.Intheseoceans,therearefourcontinentsthat are locatedonthefourearths.Becauseofthevastnessoftheocean,theycannotreach oneanotherbyordinarysailingvessels.Inthepast,whenthecakkavattikingsruled, communicationbetweenthecontinentswaspossiblebymeansofatreasurecalledthe cakkaratana(theCrystalWheel),whichthecakkavattiand hisretinuewouldusetofly throughtheairbetweenthecontinents.Thefourcontinentsare:

1. JambuContinentislocatedinthesouthofSumeruandisthedwellingof

ordinaryhumanbeings.Itissaidthatonthiscontinent,theshapeofa human'sfaceisoverwhichis theshapeoffacesinoffacesinourownworld. Thisworldiswhereweareliving,andthedescriptionprobablyechoesthe shapeofthecoastlineofsouthernIndia.Thecontinenttakesitsnamefroma giantJambutree(Syzygiumcumini),100yojanastall,thatgrowsinthe middlecoreofthecontinent.Everycontinenthasoneofthesegianttrees. AllBuddhasandarahantsappearonlyinJambucontinents.Thepeoplehere areonetoeightyfeettallandtheirlifespanvariesbetween100,000and10 years,dependingonthemahakappainwhichtheyareliving. 2. PubbavidehaContinentislocatedintheeastofSumeruanditissaidthatthe shapeofthehuman'sfaceislikeasemicircle.Itstreeistheacacia.The peoplehereareabout12feettallandtheylivefor250years.

3. AparagoyanaContinentislocatedinthewest

ofSumeruanditissaidthat theshapeofthehuman'sfaceislikeafullmoonorcircle.Thetreeofthis continentisagiantKadambatree.Thehumaninhabitantsofthiscontinent donotliveinhouses,butsleepontheground.Theyareabout24 feettall andtheylivefor500years.

4. UttarakuruContinentislocatedinthenorthofSumeruanditissaidthatthe

shapeofahuman'sfaceislikeasquare.Thiscontinent'streeiscalleda kapparukkhaorkappaͲtree,becauseitlastsfortheentirekappa.The inhabitantsofUttarakuruaresaidtobeextraordinarilywealthy.Theydonot needtolaborforaliving,astheirfoodgrowsbyitselfandtheyhavenot privateproperty.Theyareabout48feettallandlivefor1,000years.

2.1.3.3UnpleasantRealms

Theunpleasantrealmsoftheuniverseoftheexistencearetheabodeswherebeingssuffer frompainand woe.Theybeingsareunabletoperformanygooddeeds.Theseworldsconsist offourrealms:tiracchana(animals),petasorpetaloka(hungryghosts),asuurakaya(hungry monsters),andnarakas(hells).

2.1.4.1Tiracchana:Thisworldcomprisesallmembersoftheanimalkingdomthatarecapable

offeelingsuffering,fromthesmallest(invisible tothenakedeye)insectstotheelephants.

2.1.4.2PretalokaorPetaloka:Thepetas,or"hungryghosts",aremostlydwellersonearth,

thoughduetotheirmentalstate,theyperceiveitverydifferentlyfromhumans.Themajority ofpetasareunderneaththeMountofSumeruwheretherearetwelvespeciesof them.Some ofthemarelivinginthehumanworldalthoughtheyareinvisibletothenakedeyeexceptfor Dhammacakkhu(thedhammakayaeyes).Mostliveinthedesertandwastelands.

2.1.4.3Asuurakaya:Thisworldistheabodeofunrelentinganddejecteddemons.Allofthem

arestarvingandemaciated. Themajorkarmaorsinthatmadethemreappearinthisrealmis stealingmonasticbelongingsordoingextremelybaddeedswhileinoneoftheirprevious humanlives.

2.1.4.4NarakaorNiraya:Thisisthenamegiventooneoftheworldsofthegreatestsuffering,

usuallytranslatedintoEnglish as"hell"or"purgatory".Aswiththeotherrealms,abeingis bornintooneoftheseworldsasaresultofhiskarma,andresidesthereforafinitelengthof timeuntiltheresultsofhiskarmahasbeenfulfilled,afterwhichhewillberebornintoone of thehigherworldsastheresultofanearlierkarmathathadnotyetripened.Thementalityofa beinginthehellscorrespondstostatesofextremefearandhelplessanguishinhumans. Physically,NarakaisthoughtofasaseriesoflayersextendingbelowtheMountofSumeru. ThereareseveralschemesforcountingtheseNarakasandenumeratingtheirtorments.Oneof themorecommonisthatoftheHotEightMajorNarakas,onehundredandtwentyͲeight satellitehells,andthreehundredandtwentypurgatories.Intotal,therearefourhundredand fiftyͲsixrealmsof"hot" hellsandone"cold"hell,calledLokanta.Theseareexplainedinthe followingmanner: EightMajorHells:TheMajorHell,comprisingeightlevels,isthelargestregion withinthehellrealms.Insidetherearedenizensofhellwhoareobligatedtoinflictpunishment onthosereborninhell.Thesedenizensarisespontaneouslyasaresultofevildeedsdoneby theirvictims.TheeightlevelsofMajor

Hellareasfollows:

Sanjiva:Thislevelisoneinwhichbeingsarebrutallypunishedaccordingtotheirevil deedsdoneinthepast.Theyarepunishedinseveralways,suchasbeingcutintopieces orbeingburnedtodeath.Whentheydie,asoͲcalled"karmicwind" willblowandthey willbebornagain.Thiscyclewillrepeatitselfagainandagainuntiltheirkarmicdebt hasbeenpaidoff.Killingisthemainkarmaleadinghumanbeingstobeborninthis majorhell.ThislevelofHellisalsocalledthe"reviving"Narakaand"life" hereis

162*10

10 yearslong. Kalasutra:Thislevelisknownasthe"blackthread"Narakabecauseinthislevelthe denizensofhellpunishthevictimsbyputtingthemonredhotsteelplateswhichis markedoffwithblacksteelthreadsasbigasapalmtree.Thevictimsarethen puton thesteelplatesbeforecuttingthemintopiecesalongtheblackmarks.Stealingisthe mainkarmaearningaplaceforbeingsinthismajorhell.LifeinthisNatakais1296*10 10 yearslong. Samghata:Thisisknownasthe"crushing"Naraka.Thevictimsareroastedinagonyin thefiresofhellbeforebeingcrushedtodeathbetweentwosteelmountains.Sexual misconductisthemainkarmaearningaplaceforbeingsinthismajorhell.Lifein

Samghatais

10,368*10

10 yearslong. Raurava:Thislevelisknownasthe"screaming"Naraka.Beingsarelaidfacedownina steellotus.Assoonastheyareuptotheircheeksatoneendanduptotheirtoesand wristsattheotherend,flamesofafirereachupand incineratethelotuswiththevictim inside.Tellingliesisthemainkarmaearningaplaceforbeingsinthismajorhell.Lifein

Rauravais82,944*10

10 yearslong. Maharaurava:Thisisthe"greatscreaming"Naraka.Beingsareforcedtostandina steellotuswhichhashot,sharp,blackpetals.Theyareburnedfromheadtotow,from theinsideout,throughtheirninebodilyopenings.Thefireissohotthatthislevelof hellissometimescalled"thehellthatisfilledwithfireͲinducedcriesofpain".Taking alcoholanddrugsisthemainkarmaearningaplaceforbeingsinthismajorhell.Lifein thisNarakais663,552*10 10 yearslong. Tapana:Thisisthe"heating"Naraka.Victimsareforcedtoclimbupontothepointofa spearthesizeofapalmtreeengulfedinflames.Theyfindthemselvesimpaledonthe pointofthespearandareburnedlikeachickenonaspitbefore beingeatenbyan enormousdogthattearsthefleshfromtheirbones.Beingaddictedtogamblingisthe mainkarmaearningaplaceforbeingsinthismajorhell.LifeinthisNarakais

5.308,416*10

10 yearslong. Mahatapana:Thisisthe"greatheating"Naraka.Beingsarestabbedwithswordsand spearsengulfedinflameastheyarechasedupavolcanobeforetheacidrainblows downonthem,whilefrombelowtheyarepiercedbygiganticsteelthorns.Alife involvedwiththe roadstoruin[apayamulkha]isthemainkarmaearningaplacefor beingsinthismajorhell.LifeinthisNarakais42,467,328*10 10 yearslong. Avici:Thislevelisthe"uninterrupted"Naraka.Insomeofthehells,therearetimes whenthetormentismore,andtherearetimeswhenthetormentisless.Inthishell, thetormentiscontinuous.Itisthebiggesthellthatisfullofterrorsand isalsothemost frightful.Itissurroundedbyburningsteelgates.Therearemorebeingsherethanin otherhells.Theyarepunishedinthesameposturethattheycommittedtheirevil deeds.Killingtheirparents,killingorharmingenlightenedones,harmingaBuddha,or creatingaschisminthe monasticcommunityareallthemainreasonsforbeingstobe subjectedtothiskarma.LifeinthisNarakais339,738,624*10 10 yearslong.

Satellite[Ussada]Hells

Asatellitehellisagroupofrealmsoccupiedbythosewhohavealreadyexhaustedtheir retributionintherelevantmajorHell.Aroundeachlevelofmajorhellstherearesixteen satellitehells(fourineachofthecompassdirections).There,thereareatotal of128satellite hells.SatellitehellsarelocatedintheequivalentdirectionofeachmajorHellandarereferred tobythesamenameasthatmajorHellbutdifferindegreeofseverity.

Purgatory[Yamaloka]

Thosehumanbeingswhoseretributionhasnotbeenexhausted,cometothislevel of hellaftertraversingthesatellitehells.EachmajorHellhastenPurgatoryrealmsaroundit,at eachofthefourcompasspoints.Thereareatotalof320unitsofPurgatoryifalloftheeight majorHellsarecounted.Thereisnorealdifferencebetweenthepurgatoriesinthe different directionsorattachedtodifferentlevelsofeachmajorhellexceptforthedegreeofseverity. Insidethepurgatory,ajudgewithhisjurydecideswhatrealmbeingsshouldbesenttonext. Thejudgeandjuryareangels,unlikethedenizensofhellwhoarisespontaneouslybyforce of thebadkarmaineachofthevictims.

2.1.5ColdHell(Lokanta)

Thisisthespeciallevelofhellwherethereiseternaldarkness.Thebeingscondemned inthislevelofhellhavehugebodies.Theyclingontotherimofthecosmosbytheir fingernails.Iftheyencounterfellowvictimsinthishell,theyassumethattheyareoneanothers foodandattacheachothermercilessly.Sometimes,theyfallintoanicyseaofacidwhicheats awayattheirbody.Onceoutoftheacid,theyreͲaffixthemselvesontherimofthe cosmos. Theyenduretormentinthiswayforanundefinedlengthoftime.OnlywhenaBuddha becomesenlightened,isthereeverabriefflickerofbrightnessinthedarknessthere.Having extremefalseview(falseviewsoerroneousthattheycanevenhurtmonks)isthemainkarma earning aplaceforbeingsinthislevelofhell.

2.2Horizontalcosmologyandthefoundationsoftheuniverse

Allofthestructuresoftheearth,SumeruandtherestareexplainedbytheLord Buddha.Weneedtounderstandthatthisworld,thoughseemingtobeboundlessand consistingof innumerablethings,isindeedonlyasmallpointineventhisimmenseuniverse.If wecombinealltheuniversestogether,wewillfindthateventhecosmoscanvaryinsize:large andsmall,dependingonhowmanyuniversesexistineach.TheLordBuddhadiscoveredthe existenceofnotone, butcountlessuniversesmorethan2,500yearsago.TheBuddha's discoveryof2,500yearsagoconformstoscientificdiscoveriesmadeonlyinthelastfew decades.Itis,therefore,amazinghowtheLordBuddhacoulddiscoversuchfactsoaccurately

2,500yearsagowhenscientificknowledgehadnotdiscoveredthese

facts.TheLordBuddha's observationabouttheuniverseisrecordedinCulaniiSuttaasfollows: OnceVenerableAanandaaskedtheLordBuddhaabouttheVenerableAbhibhuuThera,a discipleofSikhiiBuddha,whopossessedthekindofvoicethatcouldbeheardacross1,000 universesifemanatedfromtheBrahma realm.AanandaaskedhowfartheLordBuddha'svoice couldbeheard.TheLordBuddhasaiditcouldbeheardasfarashewanted.ThentheLord Buddhatoldhimaboutdifferentsizesofthecosmoses:asmallcosmoscomprised1,000 universes[sahassiicuu.lanikaͲlokadhaata];amediumͲsizedonewithone millionuniverses [dvisahassiimajjhimikaaͲlokadhaata];andalargecosmoscomprisedonebillionuniverses [tisahassiimahassiiͲlokadhaata].ThevoiceoftheLordBuddhacouldbeheardacrossthewhole ofalargecosmos. Fromthissutta,wehavelearnedaboutthevirtuallylimitlessextentofthecosmos.TheLord

Buddhaalsocategorizedthe

universeindetailinthewaythatcannotbedonebyscientific instrumentsorconventionalhumanperceptions.Onlythosewhosemindhasbeencultivated tothesamedegreeastheLordBuddhacanseetheimmensityofspaceclearly.TheLord

Buddhathusdividedcosmosesintothreetypes:

1. Smallcosmoses:consistingofonethousanduniverses

2. MediumͲsizedcosmoses:consistingofonemillionuniverses

3. Largecosmoses:consistingofonebillionuniverses