Who made the Earth?

 

Who made the Earth?

 

 

Answer:

by: Venerable Nicolas Thanissaro

 

 

In Buddhism we believe that the world might not have been created at all. The world and universe we live in may come into being, exist for a certain period of time then break down in a naturally occurring cycle which happens repeatedly over the aeons. Thus the emergence of the universe in Buddhism relates more to scientific theories (such as that of Gott and Li) than that of creator gods found in other religions. The Buddha didn't talk directly about the origins of the universe because for most people this is a question which leads people to waste time speculating rather than encouraging people to practise Buddhist virtues. However, the Buddha did mention in passing about the origins of mankind in the Agga~n~na Sutta (there is a translation at www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/agganna_sutta.htm). In fact the driving force in the origin of the universe according to the Agga~n~na Sutta is the craving of semi-divine beings that were the precursors of ancient man. Thus it is impurities in the mind of man and not the action of a creator god which according to Buddhists originated the universe.