‘World’,the moment we hear the word the picture that comes to our mind is a planet. We learn about other planets. We see science fiction stories about aliens. We hear about paranormal activities in different parts of the world. The question of whether we are alone or not is raised by many scientists and others who are interested in learning about other worlds. The search for extraterrestrial life has started as early as 17thcentury and many scientists and physicists spend their entire life focusing on this mission.Starting from the basic telescope to the latest spaceships, many different instruments were and are being built to learn about the universe. Millions of dollars and lifetimes of many are being spent on finding other worlds. However, what we have found using technology is minute compared to what is out there.

But dear meritorious friends, without these instruments and technology of the modern science, a glorious person who was born in India 2637 years ago explained about the world, the world systems, the origination and also the destruction of the world, after attaining the Supreme Enlightenment under the bodhi tree at Gaya by the river Neranjara. With the supreme enlightenment the exalted Buddha attained immeasurable number of supreme qualities and one of those great qulities is ‘Lokavidu’. Lokavidu means Supreme Buddha is the knower and the seer of all worlds as well as led the life having liberated from all those worlds.The omniscient Buddha did not refer to planets as worlds, instead He explained that there are worlds called the human world, the animal world, the Hell world, the Ghost world,the Titan world, Divine worlds, and the Brahma worlds. The Supreme Buddha, not only saw all these worlds, He saw the causes and conditions that results a birth in any of these worlds, and also how to be free from all these worlds.

Dear meritorious friends, the Supreme Buddha also explained the world in terms of planets and universe. Let us learn from the great teacher’s own words. This is taken from Chulanika Sutta (Discourse about The thousandfold world system, AnandaWagga , ThikaNipathaya ,AnguttaraNikaya)

One day Venerable AnandaTheroapproached the Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said: Lord Buddha, these words I heard from the Blessed One and are acknowledged by the Blessed One: “Ananda, Abhibhu, a disciple of the Supreme BuddhaSiki makes announcements to the thousand-fold world systems at one and same time from the world of Brahma.”Lord Buddha, the Blessed One worthy and rightfully enlightened,making an announcement how far could you be heard?

Ananda, he is only a disciple of a Supreme Buddha. The ability of a supremely enlightened One is much greater.

For the second and third time venerable Anandaasked the same thing then Lord Buddha out of compassion disclosed a remarkable fact about the universe.

Ananda, as long as the moon and sun illuminate the directions, till then the thousand fold world systems will prevail, with a thousand, moons, suns, Mahameru mountains, Indian peninsulars, Aparagoyanas, Uttarakurus, Pubhavidehas, fourfold oceans, fourfold rulers, fourfold guardian kings, heavens of the thirty-three, heavens of Titan gods, heavens of happiness, heavens of the gods of creation, heavens of the gods who create others, worlds of Brahma. Ananda, to this is called the thousand-fold,Chulanika, world system. Ananda, as long as the thousand foldChulanika world system prevails till then the thousand fold world system, calls this the two thousand fold middle world system.Ananda, as long as the two thousand fold middle world element prevails till then the thousand fold world system calls this the three thousand fold and the great thousand fold world system. Ananda, if the The Lord Buddha desires, he can announceto the three thousand fold and the great thousand fold world system.

Lord Buddha, how does the Blessed One, if he desires to announce to the three thousand fold and the great thousand fold world system?

Here Ananda, the Lord Buddha pervades the three thousand fold and the great thousand fold world system with an effulgent light, so that those sentient beings see it, then the Lord Buddha makes a sound. In this manner an announcement is made to the three thousand fold and the great thousand fold world system if he desires.

Dear meritorious friends, this is the understanding and the power of the supreme Buddha about Worlds. This is a fact that no science has yet discovered. In fact, no science will ever be able to discover the world systemsas explained by the Buddha, using technology. According to the Supreme Buddha, the subject of worlds is only subjected to the Supreme Buddhas. In the RohitassaSutta, the Fortunate One gives a different explanation to the meaning of ‘world’ and how to be free from the worlds.

According to the discourse at that time Blessed One was living in Savatthi.One day Rohita, the son of the gods approached and worshipped then, standing on a side said this in the presence of the Blessed One.

Lord Buddha, is it possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by travelling, to the end of the world?

Then Lord Buddha said; Friend, I say, it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by travelling, to the end of the world.

Lord Buddha, these are good words of the Blessed One. `Friend, I say it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by travelling, to the end of the world’

Lord Buddha, in the past there was a sage named Rohita, the son of Bhoja. He was very powerful and travelled, through the air.

Lord Buddha, it was me and I had a speed similar to the speed of a well-trained archer who could split a palm, shooting with his bow and bring it down in no time.

If I put one foot in the eastern ocean, the other was in the western, such was my span. And I had a wish like this, by walking I shall arrive at the end of the world.

Lord Buddha, gifted with that speed and length of walking, I, a being with a life span of a hundred years and living a hundred years, did not stop other than for eating drinking, enjoying food, for urinating and excreting, other than to dispel sleepiness and tiredness. Yet I died before reaching the end of the world, at the end of the hundred years.

Lord Buddha, these words of the Blessed One are wonderful and surprising. `Friend, I say, it is not possible to know, see, and attain that state where there isn’t birth, decay, death, decrease and rebirth by travelling, to the end of the world’.

Yet, friend, without reaching the end of the world, I say, there is no ending of suffering. Yet friend, in this fathom long body, this perceptive form, I appoint the world, its arising, its ceasing and the path leading to its cessation.

The end of the world cannot be reached by travelling.Yet, without coming to the end of the world, there’s no release from suffering.Therefore be wise, know the nature of the world.Lead the holy life to the end of the world.The appeased, know the end of the world.And do not wish for, this or the other world.

Dear meritorious friends, see themightiness of the qualities of the great teacher whom we have taken refuge. Be happy thinking “I waslucky enough to be a disciple of such a great teacher”. You will be the luckiest if you can reach the end of the world by understanding according to the great teachings of the Lord Buddha.

May the merits achieved be shared to have the Supreme Liberation which is achieved by the Lord Buddha who knows and sees the actual world in the Dispensation of Gautama Lord Buddha itself!

By Senaka Nayanananda