Is that considered an important issue in Hinduism or Buddhism? Traditional Hindu cosmology tends to be cyclic, with the cycles being much the same; I don't know about Buddhism, however.

I recall something about the Big Bang not arousing much interest in Japan, or at least not as much interest as here -- which was attributed to Buddhism not making the origin-of-the-Universe question a high priority. the Abrahamic religions are, however, a different story

I note that the Buddha himself was depicted as not really caring about the origin of the Universe; he compared being preoccupied with that to being stuck with an arrow and asking where it came from rather than removing it.

ohwilleke

If I were struck by an arrow, I'd be pretty concerned about where it came from. Removing it could be a trival, if urgent matter, but where it came from could be both a long term and short term problem.

I think it was early Hinduism that had an idea similar to the Big Bang/Big Crunch theory we have today. In keeping with the cyclic nature of Indian thought, they believed that the universe ended and began over and over.

Also, there was a "heretical" sect of Buddhism called the Sect of Five Stages (I think that was its name). They taught that the universe ran in repeating stages as well.

Hinduism does believe in cyclic theory but honestly I can't tell how far one should equate it with the Big Bang.

EvilChameleon

As far as I know, Buddhism accepts the scientific views of the creation of the universe, but they really don't care. It is as you said with the arrow parable.

Answerer

All we know from Buddha is that we are here mainly because of our ignorance to treat this universe and ourselves as 'reality'. And the cause of our universe is not necessary the cause of our 'existence'. In Buddhism, we had been undergoing billions and billions of life and death cycles and the birth and death of an universe most likely make up only a very small period in our long 'existence'.

Seraphim

I think it was early Hinduism that had an idea similar to the Big Bang/Big Crunch theory we have today. In keeping with the cyclic nature of Indian thought, they believed that the universe ended and began over and over.

My reply : Good guess.

Yes, Early Hindusm has such theory similar to Big Bang. And the theory was repeated in Bhakti Yoga section in Bhagavad Gita about 5,000 years ago.

Only thing different between Hindusm's BB and Science's BB (Big Bang) is that the origin itself. In Hindusm, the origin of the Universe is Vishnu himself where He expended himself to become the Universe (our world can be considered as a living cell within a living organism).

And end of the Universe simply comes when the Universe collapses back into its original states (Vishnu), which should happen in another a few Billions years (not to worry so much).

Early Hindusm (and some society such as Mayans) have a timeline system. In Hindusm, this called Yugam (period). There are 4 - and I can only remember one - Kali Yugam (Age of Destruction) which the one we are on currently.

Sarpedon

The first "chapter" of the Rg veda (at least in my version) is very exciting about the creation of the universe. Basically, it starts out with a very evocative description of the nothingness that preexisted. then the statement "In that nothingness, what stirred?" And the idea that there was motion before there was being. The rest of the Rg veda goes downhill after this chapter, becoming more and more mundane myths and prayers, but the first few are fascinating, and they deal with the beginning of the world.

As far as buddhism goes, I recall hearing a story that the Buddha was asked how the universe came into being, and he answered: "I don't know, it doesn't really matter." And when you think about it, it doesn't. I am unsure whether this story is authentic.

A more orthodox version comes from the Pali canon. There the buddha dwells on (at great length!) how all things are engendered from ignorance. (Ignorance generates being, being generates "name and form", name and form generates...and that generates suffering) when ask "who's ignorance" he replies "not a valid question, there is no who." The parallel to the rg veda is interesting. Do you have a view on this, my learned hindu friends?

andy_d

Completely.

In fact, i've heard advice from some very senior Buddhsit teachers that if there were ever a situation where science were to disprove a common Buddhist idea about nature, then we should believe science. Indeed, the historical Buddha left instructions to that effect.

lugotorix

The beginning of the Universe is mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, but it's never treated as special in itself. It's used to illustrate the Buddhist teaching on karma. They adapted the standard Indian cosmology (a cyclic universe) so that the law of cause-and-effect drives it. For instance, in several sutras, like the Brahmajala Sutra, it is mentioned that this "world-system" or universe passes away and beings are reborn into an in-between formless realm for a long time. Finally, the world-system re-evolves and one of these beings whose good karma has run out is reborn in it. This being gets lonely after a while and wishes for some company. When other beings whose good karma has run out die in the formless realm and are reborn here, the first being thinks he has created them by his wish,
and so becomes worshipped as the Creator. (Basically, the whole story is a not-so-subtle dig at Brahamanism, repainting their gods as hapless dorks.)

So anyway, it's just a pedagogical device and not meant to be a literal description of the beginning of the Universe. At least, I've never met any other Buddhist who thinks of it like fundamentalist Christians think of Genesis.

lugotorix