THE INCONCEIVABLE REALM A visual introduction to Mahayana Buddhist Cosmology, with MC Owens

Buddhist cosmology is typically divided into two traditions, an early, abhidharma system, which has many similarities to traditional Indian cosmology, and a later Mahayana system that, while in dialogue with both those systems, is a unique tradition unto itself, with a truly inconceivable cosmology.
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On January 31, 2020, M.C. Owens gave a visual presentation for the SFDC called Escape from Samsara ( • Escape from Samsara: I... ), introducing the original Buddhist view of the cosmos and general understandings about Time & Space within the Buddhist tradition. The Inconceivable Realm expands upon these ideas and goes into depth exploring one of the primary concepts of Mahayana Buddhist cosmology, the Trisāhasra-mahāsāhasra-lokadhātu (‘Three Thousand, Great Thousand World-System’) - the billion-fold holographic multiverse.

[@jamyangloden4935]

Hi I'm a Buddhist monk from Bhutan. I was searching for a better Buddhist cosmology explanation and I couldn't find better than your's. If you've animated video or PPT of cosmology I would be very grateful to receive. It's because I need to do presentation and come up with a model as class project. Your response will be highly appreciated.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

That's a great endorsement!

[@SFDharmaCollective]

Michael will be doing a new presentation on Buddhist Cosmology on his Lotus Underground site this weekend: ESCAPE FROM SAMSARA: Introduction to World-Systems - Saturday May 18, 2024 9:00am - 11:00pm (Pacific) www.lotusunderground.com

[@emj970]

Wow! This was beyond amazing. I absolutely love the layout and your presentations are so special. I can’t wait to see part 3! Thank you for taking the time to make these 💜.

[@michaelowens8509]

Thank you! And, thanks for reminding me. Part III - coming in September.

[@gurugord]

Powerful and illuminating. Thank you for sharing ☺️ The SF Dharma Collective video collection has become part of my daily routine. A surrogate Sangha.

[@SFDharmaCollective]

Hey Gordon - Great to read your note and happy that you have us as your surrogate. MC Owens is going to do another cosmology presentation on Friday, September 24 at SFDC... sfdharmacollective.org/events/michael-owens-visual-buddhism/9-24-2021

[@jimmurdoch7346]

When the scorching is done, space (mind) remains untouched and is just as it is and has always been - void - beginningless and without end, it is unborn. The wisdom of primordial self-perfecting awareness is the subjective clear light of mind and its nature is the objective clear light of emptiness. The universe is a self-created karmic experience and is a projection of the consciously arisen mind. Its appearance is like a dream and is void of self-existence. In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha said: ‘The void of the first principle (i.e. the mind) is the reality of all existence. (Form is emptiness and emptiness is form. The form of the wisdom body and the emptiness of the truth body is Buddha-Dharma. In the mantra of the Heart Sutra, the Buddha said, ‘Tadyatha, Om Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi! Svaha!’ In this way, go beyond, beyond, totally beyond, completely beyond. Perfect wisdom! So be it! As it was for the Buddha, so it is for us. The Dharmakaya is without difference and this why it is inconceivable.

[@SonicPhonic]

Wow thank you! Just spectacular! I have been trying to figure out how Devas and "Gods" fit into the Buddhist concept of "Anatman" or "Annata". (I like Woody Allen's quote: "I don't have a problem with reincarnation, I have a problem with this life!")

[@happyy1010]

That's what you said on your previous life too. "I don't have a problem with reincarnation, I have problem with this life". Cycle repeat.

[@Kyle_Warweave]

@@happyy1010 Woody didn't live back then. Or he split souls, of course.

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

knwing what the unknown is will let you get around the data constraint... that is to say, to kow when there is no data and be highly accurate or precise, this outsider/one way mirror/ seed syllable hum.... is what allows for one to get far without the data, or the knowing...

[@SonicPhonic]

Ok, I'm really loving this! It's epic in the best way imaginable! Peace and Love from Toronto, Brothers and Sisters...

[@binauraldeandean7028]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful offering of damma. Sadhu sadhu sadhu.

[@TintomaraAriadne]

I would say that there was a linearity to the cyclical time in this presentation as well, as the demands on jhanic skills increased and more were eliminated at the end of each cycle. Thus, in that sense, as well as in the sense that it was related to a widening of scales, it was a spiralling time.

[@damianmadrigal1663]

Excelent presentation. This should have thosands of thousands of likes

[@michaelowens8509]

Thank you!

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

time should be termed i feel, as measurement, space-measurement, or space -cesium 147 measurement, recursions can be measured in different ways, both perturbatively and nonpurturbatively. the measurements can be of complexity and other factors, complexity may be a good measurement to use because you could actually measure outside of this kosmos. think of the idea in e8 geometry, there is a crystal of sorts, in which something is sent thru it, the projection displays all of the complexity in a complex and recursive way, like our kosmos, but the generators of the kosmos may be indeed highly ordered, but it is hidden that they are such like eternity, and eternal recursion.

[@user-Void-Star]

The manner in which all dharmas interpenetrate is like an imperial net of celestial jewels extending in all directions infinitely, without limit. … As for the imperial net of heavenly jewels, it is known as Indra’s Net, a net which is made entirely of jewels. Because of the clarity of the jewels, they are all reflected in and enter into each other, ad infinitum. Within each jewel, simultaneously, is reflected the whole net. Ultimately, nothing comes or goes. If we now turn to the southwest, we can pick one particular jewel and examine it closely. This individual jewel can immediately reflect the image of every other jewel. As is the case with this jewel, this is furthermore the case with all the rest of the jewels-each and every jewel simultaneously and immediately reflects each and every other jewel, ad infinitum. The image of each of these limitless jewels is within one jewel, appearing brilliantly. None of the other jewels interfere with this. When one sits within one jewel, one is simultaneously sitting in all the infinite jewels in all ten directions. How is this so? Because within each jewel are present all jewels. If all jewels are present within each jewel, it is also the case that if you sit in one jewel you sit in all jewels at the same time. The inverse is also understood in the same way. Just as one goes into one jewel and thus enters every other jewel while never leaving this one jewel, so too one enters any jewel while never leaving this particular jewel. "Huayan texts" If untold buddha-lands are reduced to atoms,In one atom are untold lands,And as in one,So in each.The atoms to which these buddha-lands are reduced in an instant are unspeakable,And so are the atoms of continuous reduction moment to momentGoing on for untold eons;These atoms contain lands unspeakably many,And the atoms in these lands are even harder to tell of. "Avatamsaka Sutra" In each of the lion's eyes, in its ears, limbs, and so forth, down to each and every single hair, there is a golden lion. All the lions embraced by each and every hair simultaneously and instantaneously enter into one single hair. Thus, in each and every hair there are an infinite number of lions... The progression is infinite, like the jewels of Celestial Lord Indra's Net: a realm-embracing-realm ad infinitum is thus established, and is called the realm of Indra's Net. The Huayan Patriarch Fazang (643-712) used the golden statue of a lion to demonstrate the Huayan vision of interpenetration to empress Wu:

[@joearchuleta7538]

WOW!!! I have never seen that information before!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

the kosmic membrane, the spacing between different types of kosmoses and also the inhabitants of the kosmos can be groked and approximated now, what is required is the data to do so, but even without data, it still can be understood, and guesed at to a degree that would be accurate over 50 percent.

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

The Kosmos can be analogized as an amophous material undergoing slow deformations... the doping can be evidenced and studied from solid state physics...

[@karthikacalista476]

So for one terrestrial realm 1st dhyana realms. For 1000 TRs, 2nd dhyana realms. For 1000*1000 TRs , 3rd dhyana realms For 1000*1000*1000 TRs , 4th dhyana realms... Up to this they written. We do no if it still goes on....

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

the kosmos sequencing, or relative positions to one another is given by a certain correspondence, based on shared uniqeness evidenced be deformations in the membranes, and also, the correspondence between the internal structure and external purturbations...

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

the individual suppling the answers is one way to look at it, the other way is that the field of energy is a vibratory frequency which is nonlocal in design, due to the biases inherent in space itself... that also can serve as an indicator for the data constraint...

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

yes a long time ago, unit conversion, and timespans were taught to the buddhists beautiful :-)

[@ananda_miaoyin]

It sounds like you are pronouncing "Dhayana" like "Jannah" as in the Arabic word for heaven; from the Islamic faith. Interesting that these two words would sound so similar. I could not find a linguistic link between the two. "Jannah" is of the garden in Arabic. I believe Sanskrit is much older than Arabic, so I wonder if some language or even concept borrowing might be going on. Do you have any knowledge of this? Awesome presentation, by the way.

[@michaelowens8509]

From what I know, the etymological root of the Arabic "Jannah" is 'Jann' which means to 'cover' or 'hide'. I guess the idea is that heaven or paradise is hidden away somewhere. Whereas the root of the Pali "jhana" (Sanskrit, dhyana) is either 'to burn' or 'to hold in mind' (depending on which source you refer to). Either way, once you really start pulling these words apart you realize they only seemingly sound alike.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

@@michaelowens8509 Semitic and Proto Indo-European roots do not have any formal known ties that I am aware of but I thought it was cool that they sounded similar. I only knew Dhyana from the Ashtanga meaning "meditation" like THE meditation. I did not know that it also meant a type of heaven but that does make sense.

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

is a good beginning to start with, not exact but it can be close to the truth.

[@KevinT318]

He is totally no idea what he is talking about. He put moon and sun to the center of that mountain. It’s not only this earth when you talk about Buddhism cosmology. 4 part of world . 3 of those human can’t reach in any means.

[@jorgeabraham3414]

source?

[@user-Void-Star]

Mount Meru is actually planet earth.

[@aryaliberty]

Read Suttas dude

[@SW-wf3gy]

This is great! Thank you

[@catroommate1482]

What an amazing explanation! Seeking teachers who are more obsessed with the information itself rather their own pride in attaining it is incredibly difficult to find at this time. I appreciate you!

[@murrik]

17:00

[@ruparkyitin]

Lokadhatu is equivalent to a solar system! Solar systems are going around in groups in a galaxy. The system of grouping is based on 10 system. 10 solar system on group. 10 solar system on group groups by 10 again. That makes 100 solar systems in bigger group. Then.. The group of 100 solar system groups again in 10 resulting 1000 solar system groups. 1000 solar system group in 10 resulting 10000 solar systems group resulted. This 10000 solar system group shakes when Buddha was born. 10 sol100

[@ruparkyitin]

Mount meru @ mount myint moh is a gigantic. Mount meru appears when galaxies start to form. From that gigantic mount meru many smaller mount merus develop. Mount Meru is a gigantic Bose Einstein Condensate BEC that is form when the temperature drops near absolute zero. Before BEC is developed.. there is hydrogen gas only in very cold condition -260°C Later, temperature lowers and lower and Hydrogen gas becomes liquid hydrogen which is explained as rain. Hydrogen liquid is seen as rain at very very cold condition. That hydrogen liquid collected as a round disk. There is no oxygen (so.---- No water formed yet in the galaxy ) at the very beginning of formation of a galaxy After that, temperature get lower and solid hydrogen is formed. The accumulation of gas

[@jeremycheng8478]

Happened to chance upon this and it is really an eye opening clear view as a fellow Buddhist! Thank you!

[@jordangloberson518]

Hi!

[@michaelowens8509]

Jordan! I hope you are well, living in touch with supreme happiness.

[@lichtoffiziell3884]

Wonderful! ❤

[@sunlovinsnowflake]

40:25 Do you believe we access this in dreams, depending on our “awake” state & how we live our lives?

[@michaelowens8509]

These realms are accessed through meditation. Dreams are considered projections of the confused mind, essentially just saṃskāra (conditioned thought formations).

[@sunlovinsnowflake]

@@michaelowens8509 that makes sense. I’ll have to find a guide. Thank you 🙏🏼✨🌌

[@rustypebble6196]

Phoenix Phenomenon

[@happyy1010]

What happened to the soul that get destroyed?

[@MarsKvaratskhelia]

Brahmajala Sutta: The Net of Perfection DN 1 First position (about Brahma the creator of the world) From time to time, monks, there comes a time when, after a long period, this world collapses. When the world collapses, the beings for the most part pass into the world of radiance. There they are for a long, long time, composed of mind, feeding on joy, radiating radiance, moving in space, being in glory.

[@tiedupsmurf]

​@MarsKvaratskhelia what do you mean, it's interesting what you said, but I'm a little confused

[@MarsKvaratskhelia]

Check out brahmajala sutta the net of perfection DN1