Difference between revisions of "Extraterrestrial life"
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| − | [[People]] of different cultures have long believed that [[beings]] of various types – [[gods]], {{Wiki|angels}}, [[spirits]], etc, – have existed beyond the [[Earth]], usually in a place called [[heaven]]. Since the [[development]] of {{Wiki|modern}} {{Wiki|astronomy}} and after a {{Wiki|realistic}} [[knowledge]] of the [[universe]] became widespread, [[people]] began speculating about whether there could be [[life]], even {{Wiki|intelligent}} [[life]], on other {{Wiki|planets}}. In the | + | [[People]] of different cultures have long believed that [[beings]] of various types – [[gods]], {{Wiki|angels}}, [[spirits]], etc, – have existed beyond the [[Earth]], usually in a place called [[heaven]]. Since the [[development]] of {{Wiki|modern}} {{Wiki|astronomy}} and after a {{Wiki|realistic}} [[knowledge]] of the [[universe]] became widespread, [[people]] began speculating about whether there could be [[life]], even {{Wiki|intelligent}} [[life]], on other {{Wiki|planets}}. In the [[Acchariyābbhūtadhamma Sutta]], the [[Buddha]] speaks of ‘the black, gloomy regions of {{Wiki|darkness}}, between the [[world systems]], where the [[light]] of our {{Wiki|moon}} and {{Wiki|sun}}, powerful and majestic though they are, cannot reach’ or what we would call intergalactic [[space]]. Then he says that there are [[beings]] there (M.III,124-5). This comment seems to refer to [[gods]] etc, not to [[embodied]] [[beings]] actually inhabiting {{Wiki|planets}}. But while [[nothing]] the [[Buddha]] said suggests that there could be [[life]] on other {{Wiki|planets}}, there is [[nothing]] in his [[Dhamma]] which would cancel out this possibility. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=476 www.buddhisma2z.com] | [http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=476 www.buddhisma2z.com] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Cosmology]] | [[Category:Buddhist Cosmology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:25, 18 September 2015
People of different cultures have long believed that beings of various types – gods, angels, spirits, etc, – have existed beyond the Earth, usually in a place called heaven. Since the development of modern astronomy and after a realistic knowledge of the universe became widespread, people began speculating about whether there could be life, even intelligent life, on other planets. In the Acchariyābbhūtadhamma Sutta, the Buddha speaks of ‘the black, gloomy regions of darkness, between the world systems, where the light of our moon and sun, powerful and majestic though they are, cannot reach’ or what we would call intergalactic space. Then he says that there are beings there (M.III,124-5). This comment seems to refer to gods etc, not to embodied beings actually inhabiting planets. But while nothing the Buddha said suggests that there could be life on other planets, there is nothing in his Dhamma which would cancel out this possibility.
