A Buddhist view of how the world began?

Answer 1

Buddhist cosmology relies on a belief that there are many different worlds or realms, inhabited by different sorts of beings. The one you and I are inhabiting right now is Samsara, or the world of rebirth. Time is thought to be both infinite and cyclical, with certain natural events recurring and giving structure to time. Many different "ages" or 'eons" are described in great detail, outlining the evolution of the universe. After all beings have exited the cycle of rebirth, the physical universe will be destroyed, and a new universe will emerge in its place. While the language used to describe this cycle is quite colorful, the process described is very similar to that described by M Theory of modern physics, which envisions membranes of various dimensions colliding and creating the Big Bang.

Answer 2

According to what the Buddha taught, how the world began is completely irrelevant.

The Buddha taught about anguish, the causes of anguish, that we can be free of anguish, and the methods to be free of anguish. How the world began has no impact on these things, and so the Buddha did not spend time on cosmological theory. However, lots of people in his time did want to know such things, and his answer to one of them was this: Imagine you got shot by an arrow and I came along and said that I could save you, but you insisted in knowing first, what the arrow was made of, who made it, when it was made, who first owned it, who brought it here, and what kind of bow it was shot from. The Buddha, acting as doctor, can cure the suffering caused by the arrow in your side, but he's not going to be able to save you if he has to answer all those irrelevant questions first!

Answer 3

It began. How it began is irrelevant, as it is one of an endless succession of worlds, in one of an endless succession of universes.

Answer 4

Buddhists do not have a creation story. It is not a concern. Ending human suffering is the main objective of practicing Buddhism.