<p>The Avatamsaka Sutra speaks of &quot;worlds&quot; or &quot;realms&quot;, not of universes, and certainly not about the scientific theory of the multiverse:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In all atoms of all lands Buddha enters, each and every one, Producing
miracle displays for sentient beings: Such is the way of Vairocana....
The techniques of the Buddhas are inconceivable, All appearing in
accord with beings’ minds.... In each atom the Buddhas of all times
Appear, according to inclinations; While their essential nature
neither comes nor goes, By their vow power they pervade the worlds.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The characters written in the text for this are usually 境界 (<em>Jìngjiè</em>), where 境 means &quot;territory&quot; and 界 means &quot;world&quot;, usually rendered in English as &quot;realm&quot;.</p>
<p>For &quot;universe&quot;, the characters 宇宙 (<em>Yǔzhòu</em>) would be used. These do not appear anywhere in the <a href="http://ntireader.org/taisho/t0279_01.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chinese text</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-28T20:56:10.290Z
What's the difference between infinite realms/worlds vs universes?
Orionixe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-29T08:34:57.840Z
"Multiverse" is a specific concept in theoretical physics.
Codosaur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-29T12:44:07.940Z
The Buddhist scripture that aligns most closely with a vision of a potential multiverse is probably the Avatamsaka Sutra (Huayan jing in Chinese or Kegon kyo in Japanese). This sutra, purportedly transferred immediately after Sakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment, presents a visionary multiverse reflected in the tiniest particle. -- Buddhistview Door
Orionixe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-29T17:09:57.047Z
The difference between a "world-system/lokadhatu/世界" and a "universe" is that a world-system is a series of disks that float in a cosmic ocean surrounded by a cosmic cloud. The ancient Indians conceived of each world as having its own Sumeru, its own four continents, its own sun and moon etc. The idea of a "modern universe" of different orbiting structures in space really isn't to be found in Iron Age Buddhist literature or the literature of latter ages based upon it.
Caoimhghin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-30T02:23:20.033Z
Well from what I've read, modern science has been heavily inspired by Buddhist multiverse teachings so I don't know
Orionixe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-30T11:49:23.853Z
It's really not. Modern physics' multiverse is a prediction that comes out of calculations in quantum mechanics, something that didn't even exist as a concept before 1952, when Shrodinger first mentioned it in a lecture.
Codosaur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-28T13:05:19.670Z
2021-01-28T13:05:19.670Z
Codosaur
<p>I know the Avatamsaka Sutra teaches about a multiverse flower garland, which represents all of reality, is made up of infinite universes which all reflect one another.</p>
<p>Is this the only scripture that talks about multiverses?</p>

<philosophy><sutras><texts><scripture><avatamsaka-suttra>
Is the Avatamsaka Sutra the only Buddhist scripture that talks about multiverse?
# Is the Avatamsaka Sutra the only Buddhist scripture that talks about multiverse?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-28)

I know the Avatamsaka Sutra teaches about a multiverse flower garland, which represents all of reality, is made up of infinite universes which all reflect one another.

Is this the only scripture that talks about multiverses?

**Tags:** philosophy, sutras, texts, scripture, avatamsaka-suttra


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-28. Score: 1

The Avatamsaka Sutra speaks of "worlds" or "realms", not of universes, and certainly not about the scientific theory of the multiverse:

> In all atoms of all lands Buddha enters, each and every one, Producing
> miracle displays for sentient beings: Such is the way of Vairocana....
> The techniques of the Buddhas are inconceivable, All appearing in
> accord with beings’ minds.... In each atom the Buddhas of all times
> Appear, according to inclinations; While their essential nature
> neither comes nor goes, By their vow power they pervade the worlds.

The characters written in the text for this are usually 境界 (*Jìngjiè*), where 境 means "territory" and 界 means "world", usually rendered in English as "realm".

For "universe", the characters 宇宙 (*Yǔzhòu*) would be used. These do not appear anywhere in the [Chinese text](http://ntireader.org/taisho/t0279_01.html).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: What's the difference between infinite realms/worlds vs universes?  
> **username_1**: "Multiverse" is a specific concept in theoretical physics.  
> **username_0**: The Buddhist scripture that aligns most closely with a vision of a potential multiverse is probably the Avatamsaka Sutra (Huayan jing in Chinese or Kegon kyo in Japanese). This sutra, purportedly transferred immediately after Sakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment, presents a visionary multiverse reflected in the tiniest particle. -- Buddhistview Door  
> **username_2**: The difference between a "world-system/lokadhatu/世界" and a "universe" is that a world-system is a series of disks that float in a cosmic ocean surrounded by a cosmic cloud. The ancient Indians conceived of each world as having its own Sumeru, its own four continents, its own sun and moon etc. The idea of a "modern universe" of different orbiting structures in space really isn't to be found in Iron Age Buddhist literature or the literature of latter ages based upon it.  
> **username_0**: Well from what I've read, modern science has been heavily inspired by Buddhist multiverse teachings so I don't know  
> **username_1**: It's really not. Modern physics' multiverse is a prediction that comes out of calculations in quantum mechanics, something that didn't even exist as a concept before 1952, when Shrodinger first mentioned it in a lecture.  

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