Mount Meru (Buddhism)

Mount Meru (also Sumeru (Sanskrit) or Sineru (Pāli) or Kangrinboqe/Kailash) is the name of the central world-mountain in Buddhist cosmology.

It also descends beneath the surface of the surrounding waters to a depth of 80,000 yojanas, being founded upon the basal layer of Earth.

The dimensions stated in the Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam are shown in the table below: (circular edge of the world) The 80,000 yojana square top of Sumeru constitutes the Trāyastriṃśa "heaven" (devaloka), which is the highest plane in direct physical contact with the earth.

The first terrace constitutes the "heaven" of the Four Great Kings and is divided into four parts, facing north, south, east and west.

Half a day later, when the Sun has moved to the south, it is noon in Jambudvīpa, dusk in Pūrvavideha, dawn in Aparagodānīya, and midnight in Uttarakuru.

[5] The issue of Mount Meru was also discussed by modern Buddhist intellectuals like Gendün Chöphel and the 14th Dalai Lama.

[7] The Dalai Lama sees the falsehood of this traditional cosmology as not affecting the core of Buddhism (the teaching of the four noble truths and liberation) since it is "secondary to the account of the nature and origins of sentient beings".