During the Buddha’s time, the Brahmins were a group who believed they were favored by a creator god. In the Aggañña Sutta, two Brahmins who had joined the Buddha’s order shared their experiences of verbal abuse from their Brahmin kinsmen.

They recounted to the Buddha:

“The Brahmins say, ‘Only Brahmins are the superior class; others are inferior. Only Brahmins are the light class; others are dark. Only Brahmins are pure; others are impure. Brahmins are the true-born sons of the Divinity, born from his mouth, created by the Divinity, and heirs to the Divinity. Yet you two have abandoned the best class to join an inferior one—these shavelings, fake ascetics, primitives, dark spawn born from the feet of our kinsman. This is not right; it’s improper!’ That’s how they insult us.”

This account highlights the deeply ingrained discrimination of 2,500 years ago, based on class, skin color, and belief systems. Some people claimed superiority by asserting divine favor—an attitude that, regrettably, can still be observed today.

In response, the Buddha explained the origins and eventual destruction of the Earth, describing a process entirely independent of a supreme creator or divine being. He challenged the Brahmins’ worldview by offering a broader perspective on the nature of existence.

Reflecting on this teaching, consider how difficult it would be to explain nuclear fusion to people in an era when fire was worshipped as divine. Similarly, the Buddha likely used metaphors and analogies to convey profound truths about the universe in terms his audience could grasp.

Remarkably, the concept of an expanding and contracting universe was recorded in the scriptures and preserved for over 2,500 years. Even during the age of the steam engine, such an idea would have seemed unthinkable. This serves as a reminder to approach the sutta with humility and an open mind, recognizing that there is still much we may not fully understand.

Returning to the story: the Brahmin disciples of the Buddha faced ridicule from their kinsmen, who claimed nobility and holiness as “descendants of God.” The Buddha, however, reminded them that the Brahmins had forgotten their true origins and proceeded to explain how religion itself arose in the world.

The Buddha, in the Aggañña Sutta, described a cyclical view of the cosmos and humanity’s origins.

He explained that after a very long time, the cosmos contracts and the worlds destruct, and sentient beings are mostly reborn in the heavenly realm of streaming radiance. In this realm, beings are mind-made, feed on rapture, are self-luminous, and live gloriously for a long time. Eventually, after another vast period, the cosmos expands. As it does, those radiant beings pass away from the heavenly realm and are reborn here. Initially, they retain their ethereal qualities—mind-made, self-luminous, and feeding on bliss.

Over time, however, these beings become drawn to the coarse matter and energy of Earth. This indulgence marks the beginning of a reverse evolution: they develop physical bodies made of coarse matter. In this transformation, beings of “light” gradually become beings of “darkness.”

The Emergence of Social and Religious Systems

As humanity became more material and corporeal, social evils began to emerge—greed, conflict, and chaos disrupted the community. Amidst this, some individuals turned toward wholesome principles, refraining from unwholesome conduct and dedicating themselves to meditation. These pioneers of spirituality became role models, demonstrating how humans could live peacefully with higher aspirations.

Over time, however, not all spiritual practitioners could maintain this disciplined way of life. A new group emerged—those who turned away from austere practices and began compiling religious texts. These individuals, known as reciters or preachers, try to earn respect in society by narrating elaborate stories and impressing the common people.

Initially, these reciters were not highly regarded, as they represented a deviation from the original purpose of spiritual practice. However, as society evolved, they gained respect and recognition by latter generation of people.

Summary and Reflection

This narrative reveals the evolution of religion. In the beginning, there was no formal religion—only individuals striving to align their lives with principles of wholesomeness and inner exploration. Religion, as we know it today, arose when later generations could not live up to those ideals. Instead, they created complex religious doctrines and myths, using them to gain influence and sustenance.

The Buddha’s teaching subtly points to this:

• Religion was not a fundamental part of early civilization.
• It began as a natural response to chaos and lawlessness—a way to promote wholesomeness and inner peace.
• Over time, it became institutionalized and, in some cases, commercialized, as failed practitioners sought worldly respect and material gain.

By reflecting deeply on this progression, we can see how religion, while rooted in noble intentions, often strayed from its original purpose.

Another important thing to note is that humans were formerly heavenly beings. In other words, we were the gods that were beyond gender. Pure, radiant and bright. To revert back, we simply need to evolve spiritually. Therefore, in Buddhism, God did not create us because we are the Gods!

To be continued…..

May all be well and happy.