Other World Systems

他方世界

In the light of modern, scientific discoveries, we can appreciate the limitations of the human world and the hypothesis that other world systems might exist in other parts of the universe.

根据现代科学的发现，我们了解人类世界的局限性，同时也重视宇宙还有其他世界的说法。

On certain occasions, the Buddha has commented on the nature and composition of the universe. According to the Buddha, there are some other forms of life existing in other parts of the universe. The Buddha has mentioned that there are thirty-one planes of existence within the universes. They are:

有一回，佛陀论及宇宙的本质与构成，佛陀说：总共有三十一种不同形态的生命生活在这宇宙间。

4 States of unhappiness or sub human realms: (life in hells, animal life, ghost-worlds and demon-worlds)

较人类世界为低的有四类众生。它们是阿苏罗(asura)、畜生、饿鬼和地狱。

1 Human world.

人世有一类众生──人类。

6 Develokas or heavenly realms.

欲界天有六类众生。

16 Rupalokas or Realms of Fine-Material Forms.

色界天有十六类众生。

4 Arupalokas or Formless Realms.

无色界天有四类众生。

The existence of these other-world systems is yet to be confirmed by modern science. However, modern scientists are now working with the hypothesis that there is a possibility of other forms of life existing on other planets. As a result of today's rapid scientific progress, we may soon find some living beings on other planets in the remotest parts of the galaxy system. Perhaps, we will find them subject to the same laws as ourselves. They might be physically quite different in both appearance, elements and chemical composition and exist in different dimensions. They might be far superior to us or they might be far inferior.

这些人类世界以外的生界，并没有被科学所接受和认可。然而，现代的科学家们致力于探索其它星球生命形式存在的可能性。按照科学发展的速度，他们将很快的在银河系里发现其他的众生。到时，我们或许会发现到他们也和我们一样，受限制于某些生存法则。他们或许在外表、生理与我们不同，组成的物质和生活也和我们不同，他们或许超越我们，或许远不如我们。

Why should the planet earth be the only planet to contain life forms? Earth is a tiny speck in a huge universe. Sir James Jeans, the distinguished astrophysicist, estimates the whole universe to be about one thousand million times as big as the area of space that is visible through the telescope. In his book, The Mysterious Universe,he states that the total number of universes is probably something like the total number of grains of sand on all the sea shores of the world. In such a universe, the planet Earth is only from the sun which takes a seventh of a second to reach the earth, takes probably something like 100,000 million years to travel across the universe! Such is the vastness of the cosmos. When we consider the vastness of the many universes making up what is popularly known as 'outer space', the hypothesis that other-world systems might exist is scientifically feasible.

为什么一定要认为地球才有生命的存在呢？地球在浩瀚的宇宙里只有一颗微尘。按照著名的天文学家詹姆斯.金士爵士的估计，整个宇宙大约是十亿倍现代天文望远镜所能看到的空间。在他的着作《奇异的空间》里说到，宇宙的树木可能比海滩的沙粒还要多，在宇宙中，地球只是一颗沙粒的百万分之一。他又说，光速在七分之一秒的时间里可以环绕地球一周，要环绕宇宙一周，可能要花一千亿年。这就是「大宇宙」，就是我们所认识的无穷无尽的宇宙，也就是一般所说的「外太空」。从科学的角度推测他方世界的存在，是完全可能的。

In the light of modern scientific discoveries, we can appreciate the limitations of the human world. Today, science has demonstrated that our human world exists within the limitations of the vibrational frequencies that can be received by our sense organs. And science has also shown us that there are other vibrational frequencies which are above or below our range of reception. With the discovery of radio waves, X-rays, TV waves, and micro waves, we can appreciate the extremely limited vision that is imposed on us by our sense organs. We peep out at the universe through the 'crack' allowed by our sense organs, just as a little child peeps out through the crack in the door. This awareness of our limited perception demonstrates to us the possibility that other world systems may exist that are separate from ours or that interpenetrate with ours.

按照科学的发现，我们了解到人类世界的局限性。科学界已经证明，人类的世界是存在于我们感官所能接受的频率范围。科学家证实了在人类能接受的频率范围外，还有很多或高、或低的频率，如：无线电波、X 光、高频、低频或微波的存在。因此，我们了解到我们的感官认识的局限性，如果从这有限的感官认识的「隙缝」中去窥探宇宙，就好像是小孩子从门缝里看外面的世界一样。但是，这有限的认识和觉知，也毕竟为我们显示他方世界存在的可能性。他方世界或许与我们隔绝，或许也能与我们联系。

As to the nature of the universe, the Buddha said that the beginning and ending of the universe is inconceivable. Buddhists do not believe that the world will suddenly end in complete and utter destruction. There is no such thing as complete destruction of the whole universe at once. When a certain section of the universe disappears, another section remains. When the other section disappears, another section reappears or evolves out of the dispersed matters of the previous universe. This is formed by the accumulation of molecules, basic elements, gas and numerous energies, a combination supported by cosmic impulsion and gravity. Then some other new world systems appear and exist for sometime. This is the nature of the cosmic energies. This is why the Buddha says that the beginning and the end of the universe is inconceivable.

对于宇宙的本质，佛陀说，宇宙的起始和终结是一件不可思议的事。佛教不相信宇宙会突然终结或完全毁灭。当宇宙的某一部份消失时，另一部份仍然存在，此起彼伏，循环不息。宇宙是由分子、基因、气体和无数的能源所组成，宇宙消失就是各种能源被分解，而这些被分解的能源，也会因为宇宙的动力和吸引力重新凝结和组合，一个新的星体又出现了。这时宇宙的自然规律，也就是为什么佛陀要说，宇宙的起始和终结是一件不可思议的事。

It was only on certain, special occasions, that the Buddha commented on the nature and composition of the universe. When he spoke, He had to address Himself to the understanding capacity of the inquirer. The Buddha was not interested in this kind of metaphysical speculation that did not lead to the higher spiritual development.

只有在特殊的场合，佛陀才会发表对宇宙本质的看法。他在解说时，也同时顾虑到信徒的理解能力，佛陀不愿意在这个问题起争议，因为这个问题无法导致心灵的发展。

Buddhists do not share the view held by some people that the world will be destroyed by a god, when there are more non-believers and more corruptions taking place amongst the human beings. With regard to this belief people can ask, instead of destroying with his power, why can't this god used the same power to influence people to become believers and to wipe out al immoral practices from men's mind? Whether the god destroys or not, it is natural that one day there will be an end to everything that comes into existence. However, in the language of the Buddha, the world is nothing more than the combination, existence, disappearance, and recombination of mind and matter (nama-rupa).

佛教不同意某些宗教认为，当这个世界有太多的人不信仰「神」而称为堕落的「人」时，这宇宙将被「神」所毁灭的看法。我们要问持有这种信仰的人，为什么「神」不用它的力量来阻止宇宙的毁灭？为什么不用它的力量去使人类对他产生信仰？为什么不用它的力量去改造人类的不道德行为？不管「神」是否能毁灭宇宙，世间万物只要有生就有灭，这是自然规律，也是迟早要发生的事。用佛陀的话来说，宇宙是聚集(成)、存在(住)、毁坏(坏)、消失(空)和名与色的再组合。

In the final analysis, the Teaching of the Buddha goes beyond the discoveries of modern science however startling or impressive they may be. In science, the knowledge of the universe is to enable man to master it for his material comfort and personal safety. But the Buddha teaches that no amount of factual knowledge will ultimately free man from the pain of existence. He must strive alone and diligently until he arrives at a true understanding of his own nature and of the changeable nature of the cosmos. To be truly free a man must seek to tame his min, to destroy his craving for sensual pleasure. When a man truly understands that the universe he is trying to conquer is impermanent, he will see himself as Don Quixote fighting windmills. With this Right View of himself he will spend his time and energy conquering his mind and destroying his illusion of self without wasting his effort on unimportant and unnecessary issues.

最后，我们认识到，佛陀的教义充满了科学性。而科学家掌握科技的目的是为了物质的享受和个人的安全感。佛陀重点在于如何让人类获得智慧和离苦得乐。一个人必须清楚的了解自己的本性和宇宙变化的自然性。当一个人去除了贪欲和感官的欲望，通过正确的心识，才能获得真正的自由。一个人如果想战胜「无常」，他的做法就好像唐吉柯德企图战胜风车一样。一个人应该消除我见及一切不重要也不必要的欲念，以正见把精力放在降伏自己的心识上。