Buddhists/Lokas

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Expert: - 12/7/2011


Question
Hello sir,
It is said that there are 14 lokas(i.e earth and all heavens&hells) in our galaxy there are many earth like planets(I mean life) multiply by my galaxies in the universe I want to know is there any relation between aliens and lokas,how 14 lokas equation is satisfied.

Answer
Hi OM,

In Buddhist cosmology, existence is divided into 31 planes.  Depending on the manner one divides these planes, there may be variations in the number.  However, the accepted division is 31 planes.  You can read it here @
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html

With the exceptions of the human and animal realms, the other planes "exist" in different dimensions which we can't see.  

It is not only within our galaxy that there may be planets with life forms.  In the vastness of space stretching through countless galaxies, there are probably countless planets that can sustain life forms.  Just recently BBC reported @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16040655 which I quote:

"Astronomers have confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet in the "habitable zone" around a star not unlike our own.

The planet, Kepler 22-b, lies about 600 light-years away and is about 2.4 times the size of Earth, and has a temperature of about 22C."

This is just one "sighting".  As I said, there are most probably countless of such planets out there, beyond our imagination.

As for "aliens" I would say they belong to "sensual beings" just like us.
The term "loka" may mean either the physical world, or the plane of existence in a different dimension.

Hope this helps.

Justin Choo

Buddhists

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Justin Choo

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When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition, and have been studying Buddhism for more than 40 years. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than 1500 questions since joining this category. You may like to give me the honor to answer your question.

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I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 40 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple. My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @ http://www.ksridhammananda.com

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I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.

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YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @ http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/ Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)

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