In the Buddhist understanding, what is "The World"?

Question

10 points to the Best Answer.

There is an official one, which I'll reveal at the end.

To the keyboards ... :-)

There've been some good answers.

This is one of the (short) discourse(s) on which my understanding is based.


http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.044.than.html

Most of you seem to've got the picture, though, on your own. :-)

One discourse, points to 'the world' as being what is impermanent & subject to change.

Another sees it as the means by which 'the world' is Perceived, which is again explained as the six sense bases.

Your answers are consistent.

I like them. :-)

Note also that in the sutta above, the Buddha speaks of what is beyond the world, its 'end'... (in a good way). :-)

Nirvaana

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.082.than.html

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn35/sn35.023.than.html

Answer 1

Form is not other than perception,
and perception is not other than form.

What you see and define as "the world" is a delusion, the belief that something called "the world" permanently and inherently exists.

Answer 2

A test...? You offer points for an answer to a question about an impermanent, illusory, Sensuous World...when you already have an answer...? /shrugs/ so be it...

What is the World then...in Buddhist Cosmology, there a 3 Worlds, each having several Realms...we are living in one of those Realms in the Sensuous World. There are 11 such Realms. There are 31 Realms in all customarily divided into 3 Worlds.

This world is one of 11 Realms in the Sensuous World. There are several Lower Realms and several higher ones. Our 11 Realms are grouped together into what is known as the Karma Loka, the World of Karma.

This is the "World" to Buddhists...

But why bother to know this...our purpose is to escape these Worlds altogether, escape from suffering into Nibbana, escaping from Karma and Rebirth out of these Worlds and Realms altogether..the Lord Buddha was wise to leave these discussions alone so that concentration and effort could be focused on the true purpose of Practising the Path..

This is why the Lord Buddha expounded on the only 2 ways to reach Nibbana..they are persistence and effort...in the Buddha's words..Viriyena Dukkhamacceti....

Peace from a Buddhist...

Answer 3

There is a hill forming the northern boundary of the city I live in, and to the South, there is the sea.
I have no doubt that they will still be there after enlightenment.
I am not a Buddhist scholar, so I can only say what I see with the eyes of a Buddhist.

Answer 4

You don't have to read Christian answers. But we have to provide them. Just chill out, enjoy the ride and honor your god by being nice! Luk 19:40 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Jam 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Answer 5

Buddha was always silent about this question and he instructed his students not to answer this nor discuss this as it is meaningless and waste of time and leading to confusion, disagreements and misunderstanding.

Answer 6

Apparently, it is supposed to be an illusion.
(So can I throw a rock at your head? What the
heck, it's just an illusion. Come to think of it, so's
all your money. It's fake, so give it all to me! I'll
email ya with my addy...)

Answer 7

if you think there is an official one, you are sadly mistaken. Like other religions, buddhism has many variations and most allow a lot of flexibility.

Answer 8

There isn't ONE Buddhist view of the world, just like there isn't ONE Christian view, etc...
One though is that it is Maya (illusion).

Answer 9

To the enlightened it is enlightenment flowering or unfolding. This view of course is unofficial. ~*~

Answer 10

The five skandhas.