Cosmology in Tibetan Buddhism
This is a lecture given by Khenpo Sodargye on October 29, 2014, at the University of Toronto in Canada, with the theme "Cosmology in Tibetan Buddhism." Khenpo's core perspective is that Tibetan Buddhism possesses a cosmological understanding that transcends its era, ultimately pointing toward inner awakening. Buddhism holds that the universe contains infinite worlds and undergoes cycles of formation, abiding, destruction, and emptiness—concepts that resonate with modern cosmology's Big Bang theory and stellar evolution. What is even more astonishing is that 5th-century Eastern Buddhist scholars already proposed the concept of Earth's rotation, and the calculations of planetary orbital periods in the Kalachakra Tantra align almost perfectly with modern astronomical data. However, Khenpo particularly emphasizes that while studying the external world is important, recognizing the inner world is more crucial. "The world can be condensed into the small world around you, and further condensed into your own mind." This reveals the ultimate concern of Tibetan Buddhism—that exploring inward and recognizing the nature of mind is the true path to understanding the world.
