Mount Sumeru

[Tsuru]

Hey everyone, been a long time since I’ve said much on here. I’ve been enjoying reading some takes (mostly from a Hindu perspective) on Mount Sumeru. Aside from Wumen’s mention in a poem I haven’t found much reference to the idea from zen and wondered if anyone could highlight some texts

Any input is appreciated, hope you’re all safe and wel!

StLah

P.S

I’m not necessarily looking to treat the mountain or any cosmology as fact or a point of practice. Simply enjoying the stories and concept as for what they are


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[Tai Shi]

We have four poetry threads on Treeleaf under the Poetry collection of Threads. You could spend a lot hours reading poetry and Haiku there. There are other interesting threads too. Give it a try. Anyone.
Gasso
sat/lah


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[Jundo]

Hey everyone, been a long time since I’ve said much on here. I’ve been enjoying reading some takes (mostly form a Hindu perspective) on Mount Sumeru. Aside from Wumen’s mention in a poem I haven’t found much reference to the idea from zen and wondered if anyone could highlight some texts

Any input is appreciated, hope you’re all safe and wel!

StLah

Well, I usually point folks to this amazing article on how Buddhist folks until very recently (some still do) thought the earth/universe literally flat with Mt. Sumeru at the middle ...

First There Is a Mountain (Then There Is No Mountain)
How science brought down the Buddha’s Mount Meru.

https://tricycle.org/magazine/first-there-mountain-then-there-no-mountain/

Classical Buddhist cosmology describes multiple worlds that pass in and out of existence over four cosmic phases: nothingness, creation, abiding, destruction. After the period of nothingness, or cosmic vacuity, this is how a world forms: At its foundation is a vast circle of wind, surmounted by a vast circle of water, surmounted by a vast circle of golden earth. In the center of that earth is a great mountain, called Meru or Sumeru. It is surrounded by seven mountain ranges of gold, each separated from the other by a sea. At the foot of the seventh range, there is a great ocean, contained at the distant perimeter of the world by a ring of iron mountains. In this vast ocean, four island continents are situated in the cardinal directions, each flanked by two island subcontinents. ... According to Buddhist doctrine, the beings who wander in the realm of rebirth are of six types: gods, demigods, humans, animals, ghosts, and hell beings; each has a place in this world system. There are three types of gods: those of the Realm of Desire, those of the Realm of Form, and those of the Formless Realm. In the Realm of Desire, the gods of the Four Royal Lineages inhabit the upper reaches of the four slopes of Mount Meru. The gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-three inhabit its summit. Four other types of gods inhabit celestial domains at differing heights above Mount Meru. ...

... [However, in the face of modern evidence] The Dalai Lama thus has simply rejected the traditional cosmology, writing, “The purpose of the Buddha coming to this world was not to measure the circumference of the world and the distance between the earth and the moon, but rather to teach the Dharma, to liberate sentient beings, to relieve sentient beings of their sufferings.” Here, the Dalai Lama expresses a willingness to dismiss those Buddhist teachings that are contradicted by the discoveries of modern science. ...

I find it difficult to believe literally in a flat earth and Mt. Sumeru ... let alone gods and demigods, hungry ghosts, hells and deva realms ...

Maybe it is so somehow in this vast universe, but it is not important to me. My practice has its pivot point in this life and place, whatever is in some other possible life and place. Thus, I take them a mostly states of human nature in this life, for I see human beings each day who sometimes act like greedy hungry ghosts, make their own living hells, etc.

Sorry to run long.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Tsuru]

Well, I usually point folks to this amazing article on how Buddhist folks until very recently (some still do) thought the earth/universe literally flat with Mt. Sumeru at the middle ...

First There Is a Mountain (Then There Is No Mountain)
How science brought down the Buddha’s Mount Meru.

https://tricycle.org/magazine/first-there-mountain-then-there-no-mountain/

I find it difficult to believe literally in a flat earth and Mt. Sumeru ... let alone gods and demigods, hungry ghosts, hells and deva realms ...

Maybe it is so somehow in this vast universe, but it is not important to me. My practice has its pivot point in this life and place, whatever is in some other possible life and place. Thus, I take them a mostly states of human nature in this life, for I see human beings each day who sometimes act like greedy hungry ghosts, make their own living hells, etc.

Sorry to run long.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Thank you for this! I agree with all you said, I’m certainly not looking into this as a literal concept. Rather I’ve enjoyed done of the stories I’ve come across about the idea

Thank you for the article and response

Gassho
StLah


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[Kenku]

Mount Kailash in Tibet is also identified as Mount Meru.

"Mount Kailash (Kailasa) is known as Mount Meru in Buddhist texts. It is central to its cosmology, and a major pilgrimage site for some Buddhist traditions." (Wikipedia)

Kailash_north.JPG

sat&lah