檢視 World 世間的原始碼

[[Image:Four Continents.jpg|frame|Illustration of our world system]]
A '''world''' (Skt. ''loka''; Tib. ''jikten''; [[Wyl.]] '' 'jig rten'') or '''small universe''' (Skt. ''cāturdvīpalokadhātu''; Wyl. '' 'jig rten gyi khams'') is, according to [[Abhidharma]] cosmology, a cosmographical unit composed of mountains, continents, islands, freshwater lakes, oceans and inhabited by [[sentient beings]] belonging to the [[six classes]] or [[three realms]] of [[samsara]]. [[Kangyur Rinpoche]] writes, "In Tibetan, the word for universe ('' 'jig rten'') is a pejorative term, since it means 'basis of decay'. It is so called because, from the moment it comes into being, decay and death are intrinsic to it."<ref>[[Kangyur Rinpoche]], ''Treasury of Precious Qualities'' (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2001), page 35.</ref> The universe or world is also sometimes referred to as 'the [inanimate] environment and [animate] beings within it' (Skt. ''bhājana-sattva''; Tib. ''nö-chü''; Wyl. ''snod bcud'').

In the centre of each of these worlds, lies a large mountain named [[Mount Meru]] with four sides. Around it are seven oceans (Skt. ''Sītā'') separated by [[seven rings of golden mountains]]. Outside are [[four continents]] and [[eight subcontinents]] (two out at sea, left and right of each of the continents). All continents, islands, mountains and oceans are supported by a [[universal golden basis]] that is suspended in empty space. This entire world system is surrounded by a ring of iron mountains (Skt. ''Cakravāḍa'') and has its own sun and moon.

There are an unimaginably vast number of these world systems. For instance, a [[trichiliocosm]] is composed of one billion such worlds. 
The trichiolocosm in which we live, the realm of the present Buddha [[Shakyamuni]], is called the [[Saha world]].

==Literature==
* [[Vasubandhu]], ''The [[Treasury of Abhidharma]]'' (Skt. ''Abhidharmakośa'') and its Auto-Commentary (Skt. ''Abhidharmakośa-Bhāṣya''), Chapter Three.

==Alternative Terms/Translations==
*four-continent world system
*universe

==Notes==
<small><references/></small>

==Further Reading==
*[[Jamgön Kongtrul]], ''Myriad Worlds'' (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1995), Chapter II, 'Our Universe according to the Individual and Universal Ways'.
*''Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam'' by Louis de La Vallé Poussin, translated by Leo M. Pruden (Berkeley: Asian Humanities Press, 1988-1990), Volume II, 'Chapter Three: The World'.
*Lopez Jr., Donald S., ''Buddhism & Science'' (Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2008) 'Chapter 1: First There Is a Mountain'.

[[Category:Key Terms]]
[[Category:Cosmology]]
[[Category:Abhidharma]]
[[Category:Three Realms]]