Does Buddhism hold that the nature of the universe is to create?

I would prefer answers from people who have actually studied Buddhism; not the westernized, hippie version of Buddhism. Not from "Buddhism for Dummies" or reading a wiki page. I'll be able to tell.





Thanks in advance!|||Good morning, Renee.





I must really be dense since I'm not sure what you mean by "鈥s the nature of the universe to create." Are you asking how the universe came into being? Does creation exist or is it illusion? Anyway, I'll base my response on my latter interpretation.





As I understand, the Nature of the Universe is Impermanence but then that ultimately leads to a new creation. Just as mountains wear down into their components (aggregates) by natural forces, the aggregates are re-made into new rocks and in time new mountains. The same holds true for sentient beings鈥攚e die, the aggregates that make us up dissipate, we decay, and eventually there is rebirth. Likewise, the universe expands and then collapses in time only to renew itself (like the so-called Big Bang theory) according to the Aganna Sutta.





There are two suttas that appear to relate to your question. You may want to download, read them, and make your own decision: the Aganna Sutta ( http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/AggannaSu鈥?/a> ) gives an account of how the universe came to be and the Aggivaccagotta Sutta ( http://www.vgweb.org/sutta/m72.pdf ) which states that such discussions are fruitless since they create inner unrest and confusion.





The following may explain the essence of the Aggivaccagotta Sutta as stated by Ven. Ajahn Brahmanvamso:





"鈥et me quote from an elegant and complete discourse of the Buddha, the Alagaddaupama Sutta, in paraphrase.





"The Dhamma is taught for the elimination of all standpoints (ditthithana), of all decisions [adhitthana], of all obsessions (gaha), of all adherences (abhinivesa), of all underlying tendencies (anusaya), of all determinations (sankhara), of all attachments (paramasa), for the destruction of craving (tanha), for attaining dispassion (viraga), for Nibbana (extinction) the Dhamma well proclaimed by me is thus is clear, open and free from patchwork those here who are arhants are completely liberated those who have abandoned the five lower fetters (orambhagiya-samyojana) shall attain Nibbana without ever returning, those who have abandoned the three lower fetters and attenuated lust, hate and delusion shall return once, stream-enterers (sotapanna) are headed for enlightenment those who are Dhamma-followers (dhammanusari) and faith-followers (saddanusari) are all headed for Nibbana." (from http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/03/25/fea06鈥?/a> ).





I'll leave you to read the referenced suttas and make your own decision.





May all be at peace.





John|||Well, in my brief time with SGI, and my longer time with Tibetan Buddhist teachers, noone has ever asked or brought this topic up.





The buddha taught that the "nature" of the universe was samsara (the cycle of life-death-rebirth), karma (cause and effect) and dukkha (suffering). He refused to answer any questions about the existence of a god, or a creator god, so Buddhism normally stays away from the subject of creation. The reason for this is because the issue of creation is not very important on the path to enlightenment.





On the other hand, dependent origination and interconnectedness are pretty important concepts. It all has to do with karma. To put it very basically, everything that happens, happens for a reason, and everything that happens to someone, is intricately connected to and caused by the actions of others.|||Desire created everything.





Including suffering and pain.





To end suffering, you have to stop desires.





Life is going through the samsara cycle, the cycle of continuous pain, ie life.





Once you have rid yourself of desire, the cycle of samsara pain cycle will end. Nirvana.





The goal is to achieve Nirvana, out of the samsara cycle by getting rid of desire.





So the Universe came from desire.|||In Ch'an Buddhism, it is believed that all things exist in balance: therefore, the nature of the universe is to create AND to destroy. In this, it is very similar to Taoism.





That's really the answer, I was studying Ch'an for a good number of years.|||No... Because the basic essence of Buddha's teachings are,- the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.


Hence i never came across anything .|||I'm not sure that Buddhism touches on that topic at all.





Most Eastern religions are practical 'how-to-live-your-life' religions; they don't take the 'what's it all about?' approach that judeo-christians go for.|||The Buddha taught only about the suffering in life, and how to cease that suffering. Everything else is commentary that came at a later time.|||No, Buddhists believe that the goal of sentient beings is to cease existing.