Expert: Justin Choo - 4/25/2010

Question
Hi Justin Choo, I asked you a question earlier today. I chose you to answer these up coming questions because you are of the Theravada tradition. Okay, here we go.


I find the story of Maitreya very hard to believe. It's said that he will appear in a time when humans live eighty thousand years. "Maitreya will be a successor of the historic Śākyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism". How can this all be said? If there is no fate and everything is subject to change, how can all these statements be true? I hope you understand my disbelieve, I find it hard to believe that this is along side Buddha's teachings of which say there is no determined fate and everything can be changed by humans actions.

"The earliest mention of Metteyya is in the Cakavatti (Sihanada) Sutta in the Digha Nikaya 26 of the Pali Canon. He occurs in no other sutta, and this casts doubt as to the sutta's authenticity. Most of the Buddha's sermons are presented as preached in answer to a question, or in some other appropriate context, but this one has a beginning and an ending in which the Buddha is talking to monks about something totally different. This leads Gombrich to conclude that either whole sutta is apocryphal, or it has at least been tampered with."

Is this true?

On to my next questions. I am very new to Buddhism, and I want a explanation of what Buddha taught about the origin of the universe and a better understanding of rebirth. Will the universe ever end? If it does will it come back?

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Kenzo,

I used to have difficulties trying to believe all that were written in the suttas.  There were many instances where big question marks were everywhere.  There were many parts that seemed inconsistent or quite unbelievable.  I was too foolish enough to try seeking answers to all these, which obviously could not be found.  I even asked the learned monks and none could satify my foolish enquiring mind.

Nowadays, I don't waste time over such "questions."  Having reached a certain age, (I am now 60 years old) I think I am able to come to terms to the many discrepancies/contradictions which one may find in the suttas.  I just leave them to the Buddhist scholars.  

Nowadays I try my best to reduce my greed, hatred and delusion.  These are the three aspects of life that the Buddha advised us to concentrate on, if we wish to live a peaceful and contented life.  That simple.      

Now your second question:
"On to my next questions. I am very new to Buddhism, and I want a explanation of what Buddha taught about the origin of the universe and a better understanding of rebirth. Will the universe ever end? If it does will it come back?"
I have answere3d this many times.  Below is a "copy&paste":


When we talk about time-scale in the cycle of existence, we need to free our mindset from the conventional measurement of time. If you study the subject of astronomy, then you would realize that the time-scale is unimaginably long, stretching to billions and billions of light years. The life span of our lives is just a very minute fraction of a mere dot in the time-scale. What we seem to be a very long time is actually a minute fraction of a blink of the eye.

Apart from time-span, we also need to consider the countless number of life-forms spreading across the endless universe and also in different dimensions which we could not see and comprehend.

Realizing these universal dichotomy of "endless time" and "countless life forms", how could we discern the mysteries of the beginning and end of time and the beginning and end of life-forms? There cannot be an end nor a beginning. The subject of astronomy is a very fascinating one. If you understand the nature of this vast universe, you will understand the Buddha's teachings. The universe has no end; that's why the most appropriate term used is "space". We try to measure distance and time. In actual fact "distance" and "time" do not exist in the universe. There is just "existence".

This "existence" is cyclical in nature, but stretching to extremely unimaginable time-span. Such is the length of time that the Buddha called it an aeon; incalculable time period. Our present existence is but a cycle of "formation, evolution, dissolution and destruction". In astronomy, scientists could observe this "phenomenon" of formation, evolution, dissolution and destruction of planets and stars. There is no beginning and no end. The beginning is from the end, and the end is going to be the beginning! It is a perpetual cycle. It has been like this in time immemorial and will be likewise forever, ad infinitum.

Within one cycle, there is the "creation" of world systems. Life appears from other planes of existence and evolves. The cycle will again go through the stages of "formation, evolution, dissolution, and destruction".

At this point in time, countless world systems go through the different phases of this cycle of existence. Ask any astro scientist and he will confirm this truth. The Buddha, with his mind power (omniscience) could see through all these phenomena.


Have a nice day, take care.

Justin Choo