On the ordinary level of understanding, he painted a picture of a cosmos filled with countless world systems with countless planets filled with living beings of every sort. Our particular world system is neither unique nor central in any way. Other world systems also have their Buddhas, who also teach the path to enlightenment.

The Flower Adornment (Avataṃsaka) Sutra describes the universe as consisting of an infinitely large lotus-flower in which our world occupies the thirteenth tier. The lotus is suspended on various oceans of primal mind-energy forces called Great Elements.

Our particular world system, as is the case with all world systems, can be described in both ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ directions. The ‘horizontal’ refers to its layout in space, while the ‘vertical’ dimension refers to the levels of consciousness of the various types of beings who inhabit it.

The center of our world is Mount Sumeru, which is surrounded by four great ‘continents.’ Earth is located in the southern continent, named Jambudvīpa. The continents are surrounded by seas and rings of iron mountains.

Within the Saha world are six paths of rebirth, that is, six different types of living beings, each with its own distinctive kind of karma. The beings are generally categorized according to which of the Three Worlds they abide in. The Three Worlds are the world of desire, the world of form, and the formless world. [See the chart under the entry three worlds.]

宇宙論