Throughout history, people have sought to understand the world through stories. Generally, cosmology talks about the universe’s history over time, including various periods or eras, as well as the spatial makeup of the universe. Stories, games, physical models, and illustrations have all been utilized to illustrate these systems.

NOTE: Cosmology is a vast system for explaining or mapping the universe. Knowing the basic, most common aspects of Buddhist cosmology—such as the wheel of life and the six realms of existence—is helpful for understanding the Buddhist view and for appreciating stories, metaphors, and techniques based on these systems.

Buddhist cosmology describes the cyclical formation and destruction of the universe(s) over an infinite span of “beginningless” time.

Hindu cosmology has a similar view, though there are different theories found in ancient Hindu texts.

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity (Abrahamic faiths) share a common belief that the universe was created (once) by an all-powerful creator god.

Some indigenous traditions describe a diving animal who brings sand or mud up from the bottom of a primordial ocean to create the world.

Chinese traditions have many different and original theories, though very few include a creator deity.

The narrative we adopt about the origin and parameters of the universe shapes the way we relate to the world.

Listen to origin stories about the world or universe and reflect on how these stories shape humans’ relationship with the world.

• What creation stories did you grow up with?
• How do you think a creation story affects people's ideas about the world?

Compare and contrast Buddhist cosmological narratives with at least two other creation stories (Abrahamic, indigenous, or scientific); analyze how different origin stories influence cultural worldviews and values; and evaluate the impact of cosmological beliefs on human behavior and environmental relationships.