What's the role of the detailed descriptions of the other planes of existence? Why it was important for the Buddha to tell them?
Upvote:0
So what am I missing? Why the Buddha couldn't reduce it to "bad karma leads to hellish worlds, good karma leads to heavenly worlds" but went for this detailed naming and descriptions of beings, deities living there?
Well, the Teaching wouldn't be complete if the Buddha just provided only a bird's-eye view to everything. There're the bird's-eye view, worm's-eye view, view from 10,000 feet, or close-up view. One cannot use a microscope to view the stars and galaxies nor use a telescope to view bacterias and viruses. Similarly, to teach math to small kids, one would use arithmetics; for college kids, calculus; and for grad students, topology..
Upvote:1
Mr Ivan ("god is merciful"), because the Buddha did not like Mr Ivan to mistake an realm of existence for Nibbana, or the heartwood. That is why he described those states of being in detail. So when you start to travel, and do not just ponder why you should not travel yet, Mr Ivan is well prepared.
In which plane of existence did you now take place? Nobody aside of Mr Ivan would know that, does Mr. Ivan do?
(Note: this answer has not been given with the agreement to be means of trade or the purpose of/for trade and/or keep people trapped and bound. How you handle it lies in your sphere, but does not excuse the deed here either.)
More post
- π What is Mastery of reflectionJhana mastery
- π Four Analytical Knowledges
- π Canki Sutta (MN95) Buddha's use of "Bharadvaja" as a term of address
- π If sex is prohibited, how do we survive?
- π Memories of previous lives
- π Noticing Sensations
- π Is there a "canon" of Zen Koans?
- π When you are an enlightened Buddha do you have no more worries or fears and desires?
- π Law of Karma in the Buddha's own words
- π What is the "sensual desire" fetter?
- π How to deal with fixation towards an old relationship?
- π Why do Buddhist Stupas have various shapes?
- π Looking for an online resource of the commentary(SNA.ii.476; SA.i.155) which says that the Brahma Sahampati was an Anagami from the Suddhavasa realms
- π Is Nibbana a state of mind or an element (dhamma)?
- π What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
- π What can I practise to avoid expectations?
- π Sitting suggestions for a tall and inflexible meditator
- π What to do if (somehow involuntarily) one kills an animal?
- π How can an arahant still perceive without ignorance?
- π What is the meaning behind different robe colors?
- π Ultimate Lack of Discipline
- π Garu kamma explanation
- π Is appropriate to mentally talk to myself during meditation?
- π Need reference for the two conditions need to realize path to Nibbana
- π How does the Buddha address powerful spiritual experiences in monks?
- π Where is the description of the vow and the Bodhi tree?
- π My short story with anxiety problems - could meditation be the cause?
- π Buddha's opinion on late night talk shows
- π The commonly acceptable hypotheses/theories among scholars to explain how come PrajΓ±ΔpΔramitΔ sutra have existed so early as about 75 CE?
- π Source of Golden Rule quote
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π What's the role of the detailed descriptions of the other planes of existence? Why it was important for the Buddha to tell them?
- π Supernatural beings and the 31 planes of existence
- π If science can't prove the existence of other dimensions forever
- π References to descriptions of the formless realms in the suttas (or other Theravada texts)
- π What are the other Theravada Councils held between the 4th and 6th
- π Practice of the other three Brahmaviharas
- π What is the role of relics in Buddhism?
- π What is the role of kΕans in contemporary Buddhism?
- π Role of suicide in the context of Dalai Lama's birthday and inevitable deathday
- π Is the mind different from the other 'six senses'?
- π The six realms of existence
- π How did this material world come into existence if the ultimate reality is voidness?
- π What is the role of karma in rebirth?
- π What other suttas instruct how to do Anapanasati, apart from the Anapanasati Sutta?
- π Does Pure Land Buddhism ever have a Buddha other than AmitΔbha as the object of devotion?
- π The role of doubt in Zen Buddhist practice?
- π Sleep, references to the buddha and other arhats
- π How does Buddhism refute the inherent existence of sub-atomic particles?
- π Role of the Buddhist in preserving the original teachings
- π Is lack of inherent existence the same as 'not real'?
- π What is the role of thinking in Buddhism?
- π Do Cittamatra / Yogacara explicitly refute the existence of an external world?
- π Are there any descriptions of the deathless/unborn in any tradition of Buddhism?
- π Does loving kindness meditation help beings other than the practitioner?
- π Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
- π If we have the law of karma, why do we need other laws, or do we?
- π Did Lord Buddha teach any other meditation technique than the Anapana?
- π Is it in line with the pali cannon suttas to accept other scriptures?
- π What are other peoples minds according to the LaαΉ kΔvatΔra SΕ«tra?
- π What's the role of altruism in Buddhism?