Rotating on a fixed axis, Sumeru (wikipedia.org: worm gear.gif)
Astronomers confirm Earth twin
(BBC) Astronomers have confirmed the existence of an Earth-like planet in the "habitable zone" around a star not unlike our own. [That "second Earth"], Kepler 22-b, lies about 600 light-years away and is about 2.4 times the size of Earth, and has a temperature of about 22 C. It is the closest confirmed planet yet to one like ours -- an "Earth 2.0"... More
Human World in Buddhist Cosmology
In the broad view of the human world presented in Buddhist cosmology, humans live on four worlds. These worlds are spoken of as lands, continents, or "islands" (dvipas) in a vast ocean of space surrounding Sumeru, an axial world-mountain.Space fills most of the system. But this oceanic space is, in turn, surrounded by a circular mountain wall called in Sanskrit/Pali Cakravāḍa, Cakkavāḷa. It marks the horizontal limit of the human world.
Because of the immensity of space, the worlds or lands in space cannot be reached one from the other by ordinary sailing vessels.
(If this cosmology were actually speaking of mere continents separated by water, as it is commonly interpreted, the land masses would be accessible. Ancient navigators traveled between them long before the Buddha's time).
In the past, when world-monarchs (cakravartins) ruled, communication between the planets was possible. It was possible by means of a treasure called the "wheel gem" or jewel (cakraratna, cakkaratana). A chakra is a "wheel" or wheel within a wheel -- an ancient reference to chariots of the space-faring shining-ones (akasha-devas).
(N010) "Vimanas: The UFOs of Ancient India" are described in the Vimanika Shastra as spinning spacecraft (wheels in wheels), missiles (brahmastras), and nuclear power.
"And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the color of a beryl [gem] stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel" (Galgal).
A cakravartin (literally, "wheel-turning monarch") and retinue could use this miraculous "wheel treasure" to fly through space between the worlds. (Vimanas are space vehicles in ancient India able to travel without measure). In Sanskrit these four worlds, or islands in space, are called:
- Earth (Jambudvīpa) located in the south.
- Pūrvavideha is located in the east.
- Aparagodānīya is located in the west.
- Uttarakuru is located in the north.
