---
title: 他方世界 Other World Systems
description: "In the light of modern, scientific discoveries, we can appreciate the limitations of the human world and the hypothesis "
---

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.

根據現代科學的發現，我們了解人類世界的局限性，同時也重視宇宙還有其他世界的說法。

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，佛陀論及宇宙的本質與構成，佛陀說：總共有三十一種不同形態的生命生活在這宇宙間。

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

較人類世界為低的有四類眾生。它們是阿蘇羅(asura)、畜生、餓鬼和地獄。

1 Human world.

人世有一類眾生──人類。

6 Develokas or heavenly realms.

欲界天有六類眾生。

16 Rupalokas or Realms of Fine-Material Forms.

色界天有十六類眾生。

4 Arupalokas or Formless Realms.

無色界天有四類眾生。

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.

這些人類世界以外的生界，並沒有被科學所接受和認可。然而，現代的科學家們致力于探索其它星球生命形式存在的可能性。按照科學發展的速度，他們將很快的在銀河系里發現其他的眾生。到時，我們或許會發現到他們也和我們一樣，受限制于某些生存法則。他們或許在外表、生理與我們不同，組成的物質和生活也和我們不同，他們或許超越我們，或許遠不如我們。

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.

為什麼一定要認為地球才有生命的存在呢？地球在浩瀚的宇宙里只有一顆微塵。按照著名的天文學家詹姆斯.金士爵士的估計，整個宇宙大約是十億倍現代天文望遠鏡所能看到的空間。在他的著作《奇異的空間》里說到，宇宙的樹木可能比海灘的沙粒還要多，在宇宙中，地球只是一顆沙粒的百萬分之一。他又說，光速在七分之一秒的時間里可以環繞地球一周，要環繞宇宙一周，可能要花一千億年。這就是「大宇宙」，就是我們所認識的無窮無盡的宇宙，也就是一般所說的「外太空」。從科學的角度推測他方世界的存在，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.

按照科學的發現，我們了解到人類世界的局限性。科學界已經證明，人類的世界是存在于我們感官所能接受的頻率范圍。科學家證實了在人類能接受的頻率范圍外，還有很多或高、或低的頻率，如：無線電波、X 光、高頻、低頻或微波的存在。因此，我們了解到我們的感官認識的侷限性，如果從這有限的感官認識的「隙縫」中去窺探宇宙，就好像是小孩子從門縫里看外面的世界一樣。但是，這有限的認識和覺知，也畢竟為我們顯示他方世界存在的可能性。他方世界或許與我們隔絕，或許也能與我們聯系。

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.

對于宇宙的本質，佛陀說，宇宙的起始和終結是一件不可思議的事。佛教不相信宇宙會突然終結或完全毀滅。當宇宙的某一部份消失時，另一部份仍然存在，此起彼伏，循環不息。宇宙是由分子、基因、氣體和無數的能源所組成，宇宙消失就是各種能源被分解，而這些被分解的能源，也會因為宇宙的動力和吸引力重新凝結和組合，一個新的星體又出現了。這時宇宙的自然規律，也就是為什麼佛陀要說，宇宙的起始和終結是一件不可思議的事。

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.

只有在特殊的場合，佛陀才會發表對宇宙本質的看法。他在解說時，也同時顧慮到信徒的理解能力，佛陀不願意在這個問題起爭議，因為這個問題無法導致心靈的發展。

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認為，當這個世界有太多的人不信仰「神」而稱為墮落的「人」時，這宇宙將被「神」所毀滅的看法。我們要問持有這種信仰的人，為什麼「神」不用它的力量來阻止宇宙的毀滅？為什麼不用它的力量去使人類對他產生信仰？為什麼不用它的力量去改造人類的不道德行為？不管「神」是否能毀滅宇宙，世間萬物只要有生就有滅，這是自然規律，也是遲早要發生的事。用佛陀的話來說，宇宙是聚集(成)、存在(住)、毀壞(壞)、消失(空)和名與色的再組合。

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.

最後，我們認識到，佛陀的教義充滿了科學性。而科學家掌握科技的目的是為了物質的享受和個人的安全感。佛陀重點在于如何讓人類獲得智慧和離苦得樂。一個人必須清楚的了解自己的本性和宇宙變化的自然性。當一個人去除了貪欲和感官的欲望，通過正確的心識，才能獲得真正的自由。一個人如果想戰勝「無常」，他的做法就好像唐吉柯德企圖戰勝風車一樣。一個人應該消除我見及一切不重要也不必要的欲念，以正見把精力放在降伏自己的心識上。