ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

more evil deeds. In the past when a young Bhikkhu had listened to Deva Duta Sutta, he asked
his teacher not to teach him any more scriptures but to show him the proper way to practice
kammatthana. He practiced kammatthana diligently and became an Arahat. Only then did he
continue his academic studies. Countless beings have attained Arahatship by practicing
kammatthana after listening to this Sutta. In addition, all previous Buddhas have preached on this
Sutta. [Refer to Ratana Gonyi for a brief account on animals, petas and asurakayas].
11.2 How The World Came To An End
All things must end one day. This is the impermanent (anicca) nature of everything.. So
also, the world, the habitat of sentient beings must one-day face destruction and oblivion.
The world may end in fire, water or wind. If the world ends in the fire, two suns appear, one
during the day and the other during the night. Water streams and creeks dry up under the heat.
When the third sun arises rivers dry up. With the appearance of the fourth sun, the seven great
lakes near Himavanta evaporate completely. The fifth sun dries up the ocean; the sixth removes
all remaining traces of moistures and humidity.
When the seventh sun comes up one hundred thousand worlds are incinerated. Enormous flames
rise up to the plane of First Jhana Brahmas, burning all mountains including Himavanta, Meru,
etc. and the jewel mansions located at those mountaintops. Everything is burnt to ashes. Only
then, the death of the world is completed. (Visualize for yourself how the world would end by
water or by wind).
11.2.1 When and How Long
These destruction period last for a very long time. When the age limits of the human ascending
from 10-year to infinity and again diminished to 10 years, this duration is called antara kappa
(World cycle between). The burning of the world lasts such 64 immediate kappas. Then the
world stays in this ruined state, just as a house burned down by fire, for another such 64 kappas.
11.2.2 Beings Take Refuge in Brahma Loka
During the destruction of the world, all living beings become Brahmas and dwell in Brahma
which is not affected by the fire. One hundred thousand years prior to the end of the world,
Devas who foresee the doom announced the coming obliteration. On hearing a warning, they all
got rid of their reckless way of life and start practicing meritorious deeds. Due to their good
kamma all beings achieve jhana and become Brahmas. Therefore all beings except those who
profess wrong views reach Brahma world at least once.
11.3 How The World Is Created
After the destruction of the world, when the time is ripe, world creation rain starts to fall. First it
drizzles, gradually increasing in intensity until the raindrops are as large as house. The entire
world is flooded up to the Brahma world. After many years the flood recedes, the burnt higher
celestial abodes are rehabilitated. When the water level reaches the human abode, mountain,
hills, valleys, rivers, creeks and plains begin to take shape. The creamy upper crust slowly
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