Changes

The Ancient One, known as [[Unkulunkulu]], is the [[Zulu]] creator. He came from the reeds and from them he brought forth the people and the cattle. He created everything that is: mountains, streams, snakes, etc. He taught the Zulu how to hunt, how to make fire, and how to grow food.

The Ancient One, known as [[Unkulunkulu]], is the [[Zulu]] creator. He came from the reeds and from them he brought forth the people and the cattle. He created everything that is: mountains, streams, snakes, etc. He taught the Zulu how to hunt, how to make fire, and how to grow food.

==Asia==

===Asia===

===India===

====India====

====Buddhist====

=====Buddhist=====

[[Buddhism]] itself generally ignores the question regarding the origin of life. The [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] regarding the origin of life has said "Conjecture about [the origin, etc., of] the world is an unconjecturable that is not to be conjectured about, that would bring madness & vexation to anyone who conjectured about it."[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an04-077.html AN IV.77], and in regard to ignoring the question of the origin of life the Buddha has said "And why are they undeclared by me? Because they are not connected with the goal, are not fundamental to the holy life. They do not lead to [[disenchantment]], dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge, self-awakening, Unbinding. That's why they are undeclared by me."<ref>http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn-063-tb0.html MN 63</ref>.  The Buddha also compared the question of the origin of life - as well as many other [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] questions - to the parable of the poison arrow: a man is shot with a poison arrow, but before the doctor pulls it out, he wants to know who shot it (arguing the existence of God), where the arrow came from (where the universe and/or God came from) why that person shot it (why God created the universe), etc.  If the man keeps asking these questions before the arrow is pulled out, the Buddha reasoned, he will die before he gets the answers.  Buddhism is less concerned with answering questions like the origin of life, and more concerned with the goal of saving oneself and other beings from suffering by attaining [[Nirvana]] (Enlightenment). However, the esoteric Buddhist teaching, the ''[[Kalachakra]] Tantra'', deals with the formation and functioning of reality. Modern day Buddhists such as the [[Dalai Lama]] don't perceive a conflict between Buddhism and science and consider they are complementary means of understanding the world around us.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2003/09/14/the_buddha_of_suburbia/ Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Ideas / The Buddha of suburbia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

[[Buddhism]] itself generally ignores the question regarding the origin of life. The [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] regarding the origin of life has said "Conjecture about [the origin, etc., of] the world is an unconjecturable that is not to be conjectured about, that would bring madness & vexation to anyone who conjectured about it."[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an04-077.html AN IV.77], and in regard to ignoring the question of the origin of life the Buddha has said "And why are they undeclared by me? Because they are not connected with the goal, are not fundamental to the holy life. They do not lead to [[disenchantment]], dispassion, cessation, calming, direct knowledge, self-awakening, Unbinding. That's why they are undeclared by me."<ref>http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn-063-tb0.html MN 63</ref>.  The Buddha also compared the question of the origin of life - as well as many other [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] questions - to the parable of the poison arrow: a man is shot with a poison arrow, but before the doctor pulls it out, he wants to know who shot it (arguing the existence of God), where the arrow came from (where the universe and/or God came from) why that person shot it (why God created the universe), etc.  If the man keeps asking these questions before the arrow is pulled out, the Buddha reasoned, he will die before he gets the answers.  Buddhism is less concerned with answering questions like the origin of life, and more concerned with the goal of saving oneself and other beings from suffering by attaining [[Nirvana]] (Enlightenment). However, the esoteric Buddhist teaching, the ''[[Kalachakra]] Tantra'', deals with the formation and functioning of reality. Modern day Buddhists such as the [[Dalai Lama]] don't perceive a conflict between Buddhism and science and consider they are complementary means of understanding the world around us.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2003/09/14/the_buddha_of_suburbia/ Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Ideas / The Buddha of suburbia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In the Buddhist scriptures, there is a story in the [[Digha Nikaya|Dīgha Nikā ya]] about how this world has come about. It is in the 27th Sutta, the Aggañña Sutta, and the Buddha uses it to explain how [[caste]]s have come about, and why one caste is not really any better than the other<ref>M. Walshe: ''The Long Discourses of the Buddha'', p. 407: "''On Knowledge of Beginnings''", Somerville, MASS, 1995.</ref>. At a point in time, this world contracts. When it expands again, beings are being reincarnated in it. All is water, and it is dark, but the beings are luminous. Later, earth is formed on the surface of the water. The beings start to eat from it, because this is tasty earth. Doing this, however, their own light disappears, and sun, moon, days and nights and seasons come into existence. The beings continue eating from the earth. They degenerate further: ugly ones and handsome ones come into existence. On top of that, the handsome ones get a bit arrogant. All of this makes the tasty earth disappear. Nice mushrooms take its place. The degeneration continues: beings become coarser, arrogant, and mushrooms are replaced by plants, and, then, good, ready-to-eat rice. Beings do still get coarser. They also become male or female. Sex is frowned upon, so people build shelter to be discrete. The next step is when people start to gather rice for a few meals at a time. Now, the rice's quality starts to deteriorate, and it does not grow back immediately. Later, people create rice fields with boundaries. This is the origin of theft and crime. To combat this crime, they offer a share of the rice to one of them to be their leader. In the end, all the different castes come about, originating from the same kind of beings.

In the Buddhist scriptures, there is a story in the [[Digha Nikaya|Dīgha Nikā ya]] about how this world has come about. It is in the 27th Sutta, the Aggañña Sutta, and the Buddha uses it to explain how [[caste]]s have come about, and why one caste is not really any better than the other<ref>M. Walshe: ''The Long Discourses of the Buddha'', p. 407: "''On Knowledge of Beginnings''", Somerville, MASS, 1995.</ref>. At a point in time, this world contracts. When it expands again, beings are being reincarnated in it. All is water, and it is dark, but the beings are luminous. Later, earth is formed on the surface of the water. The beings start to eat from it, because this is tasty earth. Doing this, however, their own light disappears, and sun, moon, days and nights and seasons come into existence. The beings continue eating from the earth. They degenerate further: ugly ones and handsome ones come into existence. On top of that, the handsome ones get a bit arrogant. All of this makes the tasty earth disappear. Nice mushrooms take its place. The degeneration continues: beings become coarser, arrogant, and mushrooms are replaced by plants, and, then, good, ready-to-eat rice. Beings do still get coarser. They also become male or female. Sex is frowned upon, so people build shelter to be discrete. The next step is when people start to gather rice for a few meals at a time. Now, the rice's quality starts to deteriorate, and it does not grow back immediately. Later, people create rice fields with boundaries. This is the origin of theft and crime. To combat this crime, they offer a share of the rice to one of them to be their leader. In the end, all the different castes come about, originating from the same kind of beings.

====Hindu====

=====Hindu=====

In [[Hinduism|Hindu]] philosophy, the existence of the universe is governed by the [[Trimurti]] of [[Brahma (god)|Brahma]] (the Creator), [[Vishnu]] (the Sustainer) and  [[Shiva]] (the Destroyer). The sequence of [[Avatar]]s of Vishnu - the [[Dasavatara]] ({{lang-sa|Dasa}}—ten, {{lang|sa|Avatara}}—divine descents) is generally accepted by most Hindus today as correlating well with Darwin's theory of evolution i.e. the first Avatar generating from the environment of water. Hindus believe that the universe was created from the Word ([[Aum]]/OM : ॐ) - the sacred sound uttered by every human being at the time of birth. The first five great elements or [[Panchamahabhuta]] ({{lang-sa|Pancha}}—five + ''Maha''—great + ''Bhuta''—elements) are: [[Akasha]], [[Vayu]], [[Agni]], [[Ap (water)|Ap]], and [[Prithvi]].

In [[Hinduism|Hindu]] philosophy, the existence of the universe is governed by the [[Trimurti]] of [[Brahma (god)|Brahma]] (the Creator), [[Vishnu]] (the Sustainer) and  [[Shiva]] (the Destroyer). The sequence of [[Avatar]]s of Vishnu - the [[Dasavatara]] ({{lang-sa|Dasa}}—ten, {{lang|sa|Avatara}}—divine descents) is generally accepted by most Hindus today as correlating well with Darwin's theory of evolution i.e. the first Avatar generating from the environment of water. Hindus believe that the universe was created from the Word ([[Aum]]/OM : ॐ) - the sacred sound uttered by every human being at the time of birth. The first five great elements or [[Panchamahabhuta]] ({{lang-sa|Pancha}}—five + ''Maha''—great + ''Bhuta''—elements) are: [[Akasha]], [[Vayu]], [[Agni]], [[Ap (water)|Ap]], and [[Prithvi]].

Several scholars have attempted breaking the code of [[cosmogenesis]] of the [[Rig Veda]]. According to Rig Veda, creation happened gradually. The universe in its primitive form was made up of [[Ishwar]] [[Tattva]], which primarily spread homogeneously throughout the universe. The complete equilibrium and homogeneity, when broke, arose an inhomogenous state of the primordial fluid, [[Ap (water)|Ap]]. With the transformation of undifferentiated primordial fluid into differentiated fluid through polarization of opposites, the universe moved from a homogenous to inhomogenous state when particles were formed first.

Several scholars have attempted breaking the code of [[cosmogenesis]] of the [[Rig Veda]]. According to Rig Veda, creation happened gradually. The universe in its primitive form was made up of [[Ishwar]] [[Tattva]], which primarily spread homogeneously throughout the universe. The complete equilibrium and homogeneity, when broke, arose an inhomogenous state of the primordial fluid, [[Ap (water)|Ap]]. With the transformation of undifferentiated primordial fluid into differentiated fluid through polarization of opposites, the universe moved from a homogenous to inhomogenous state when particles were formed first.

====Jainism====

=====Jainism=====

According to Jain beliefs, the [[universe]] was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. It is eternal but not unchangeable, because it passes through an endless series of cycles. Each of these upward or downward cycles is divided into six world ages ([[yugas]]). The present world age is the fifth age of one of these "cycles", which is in a downward movement. These ages are known as "Aaro" as in "''Pehela Aara''" or First Age, "''Doosra Aara''" or Second Age and so on. The last one is the "''Chhatha Aara''" or Sixth Age. All these ages have fixed time durations of thousands of years.

According to Jain beliefs, the [[universe]] was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. It is eternal but not unchangeable, because it passes through an endless series of cycles. Each of these upward or downward cycles is divided into six world ages ([[yugas]]). The present world age is the fifth age of one of these "cycles", which is in a downward movement. These ages are known as "Aaro" as in "''Pehela Aara''" or First Age, "''Doosra Aara''" or Second Age and so on. The last one is the "''Chhatha Aara''" or Sixth Age. All these ages have fixed time durations of thousands of years.

When this reaches its lowest level, even Jainism itself will be lost in its entirety. Then, in the course of the next upswing, the Jain religion will be rediscovered and reintroduced by new leaders called ''Tirthankaras'' (literally "Crossing Makers" or "Ford Finders"), only to be lost again at the end of the next downswing, and so on.  

When this reaches its lowest level, even Jainism itself will be lost in its entirety. Then, in the course of the next upswing, the Jain religion will be rediscovered and reintroduced by new leaders called ''Tirthankaras'' (literally "Crossing Makers" or "Ford Finders"), only to be lost again at the end of the next downswing, and so on.  

====Sikhism====

=====Sikhism=====

The [[Sikh]] Scripture, [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] (SGGS), recorded in the 16th century CE, details include planning and execution by the Creator and are briefly as follows, (pages are those of SGGS): prior to creation, all that existed was God ([[Waheguru|Vāhigurū]]) and his will ([[hukam]]). God contemplated over myriad ages in utter darkness when he alone existed.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dev | first = Nanak | authorlink = Guru Nanak | title = Gurū Granth Sāhib | url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1035&punjabi=t#l44288 | accessdate=2006-06-15 | pages=1023 and 1035 | quote=For endless eons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky; there was only the <s>infinite</s> Command of His Hukam. }}</ref> When the planning was complete all the resources required were created and enclosed in a shell like that of an [[cosmic egg|egg]]. When God willed, the entire cosmos was created as the shell was burst and all elements of the universe started moving away from the point of bursting (P 839). It has been stated that in the process of creation involved first the creation of the ability for the living creatures and then the creatures came into being (P 130). From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to ''[[Maya (illusion)|māyā]]'', or the human perception of reality.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dev | first = Nanak | authorlink = Guru Nanak | title = Gurū Granth Sāhib | url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1036&punjabi=t#l44327 | accessdate=2006-06-15 | pages=1036 | quote=When He so willed, He created the world. Without any supporting power, He sustained the universe. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya. | unused_data = |14}}</ref>

The [[Sikh]] Scripture, [[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]] (SGGS), recorded in the 16th century CE, details include planning and execution by the Creator and are briefly as follows, (pages are those of SGGS): prior to creation, all that existed was God ([[Waheguru|Vāhigurū]]) and his will ([[hukam]]). God contemplated over myriad ages in utter darkness when he alone existed.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dev | first = Nanak | authorlink = Guru Nanak | title = Gurū Granth Sāhib | url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1035&punjabi=t#l44288 | accessdate=2006-06-15 | pages=1023 and 1035 | quote=For endless eons, there was only utter darkness. There was no earth or sky; there was only the <s>infinite</s> Command of His Hukam. }}</ref> When the planning was complete all the resources required were created and enclosed in a shell like that of an [[cosmic egg|egg]]. When God willed, the entire cosmos was created as the shell was burst and all elements of the universe started moving away from the point of bursting (P 839). It has been stated that in the process of creation involved first the creation of the ability for the living creatures and then the creatures came into being (P 130). From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to ''[[Maya (illusion)|māyā]]'', or the human perception of reality.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dev | first = Nanak | authorlink = Guru Nanak | title = Gurū Granth Sāhib | url=http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1036&punjabi=t#l44327 | accessdate=2006-06-15 | pages=1036 | quote=When He so willed, He created the world. Without any supporting power, He sustained the universe. He created Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; He fostered enticement and attachment to Maya. | unused_data = |14}}</ref>

====Surat Shabda Yoga====

=====Surat Shabda Yoga=====

Surat Shabda Yoga [[cosmology#Esoteric cosmology|cosmology]] depicts the whole of creation (the [[macrocosm]]) as being [[Emanationism|emanated]] and arranged in a spiritually differentiated hierarchy, often referred to as eggs, regions, or [[Plane (cosmology)|planes]].  Typically, eight spiritual levels are described above the physical plane, although names and subdivisions within these levels will vary to some extent by mission and Master.  (One version of the creation from a Surat Shabda Yoga perspective is depicted at the Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Memorial Site in [http://www.santji.allegre.ca/planes-640.jpg “The Grand Scheme of All Creation”].) All planes below the purely spiritual regions are subject to cycles of creation and dissolution (pralya) or grand dissolution (maha pralya).

Surat Shabda Yoga [[cosmology#Esoteric cosmology|cosmology]] depicts the whole of creation (the [[macrocosm]]) as being [[Emanationism|emanated]] and arranged in a spiritually differentiated hierarchy, often referred to as eggs, regions, or [[Plane (cosmology)|planes]].  Typically, eight spiritual levels are described above the physical plane, although names and subdivisions within these levels will vary to some extent by mission and Master.  (One version of the creation from a Surat Shabda Yoga perspective is depicted at the Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Memorial Site in [http://www.santji.allegre.ca/planes-640.jpg “The Grand Scheme of All Creation”].) All planes below the purely spiritual regions are subject to cycles of creation and dissolution (pralya) or grand dissolution (maha pralya).

The constitution of the individual (the [[microcosm]]) is an exact replica of the macrocosm.  Consequently, the microcosm consists of a number of [[Subtle body|bodies]], each one suited to interact with its corresponding plane or region in the macrocosm.  These bodies developed over the [[yuga]]s through [[Involution (metaphysics)|involution]] ([[Emanationism|emanating]] from higher planes to lower planes) and [[spiritual evolution|evolution]] (returning from lower planes to higher planes), including by [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]] in various [[altered state of consciousness|states]] of [[higher consciousness|consciousness]].

The constitution of the individual (the [[microcosm]]) is an exact replica of the macrocosm.  Consequently, the microcosm consists of a number of [[Subtle body|bodies]], each one suited to interact with its corresponding plane or region in the macrocosm.  These bodies developed over the [[yuga]]s through [[Involution (metaphysics)|involution]] ([[Emanationism|emanating]] from higher planes to lower planes) and [[spiritual evolution|evolution]] (returning from lower planes to higher planes), including by [[karma]] and [[reincarnation]] in various [[altered state of consciousness|states]] of [[higher consciousness|consciousness]].

===Japan===

====Japan====

====Shinto====  

=====Shinto=====

Shinto, being focused on Japan, relates its narratives about Japan, rather than other places. The god [[Izanagi]] and goddess [[Izanami]] churned the ocean with a spear to make a small island of curdled salt. Two deities went down to the island, mixed there, and bore main islands, deities, and forefathers of Japan. Beyond this, Shinto  belief is that everything else has, simply, always been.

Shinto, being focused on Japan, relates its narratives about Japan, rather than other places. The god [[Izanagi]] and goddess [[Izanami]] churned the ocean with a spear to make a small island of curdled salt. Two deities went down to the island, mixed there, and bore main islands, deities, and forefathers of Japan. Beyond this, Shinto  belief is that everything else has, simply, always been.

===Korea===

====Korea====

There were heavenly ones in the sky domain. JoMulJu created everything in the universe, and the heavenly ones had their own kingdom. The son of the Supreme Being (JoMulju or Hwan-in) came to the Earth with ministers (people and animals) who control rain, cloud, wind, and 360 kinds of things to govern the Earth, as he is in fact a human being as well as some kind of deity. A bear and a tiger wished to become humans. They prayed to the Supreme Being, Hwan-ung, and he gave them 20 cloves of [[garlic]] and a handful of [[mugwort]], and told them to live in a dark cave for 100 days. The bear was patient enough to withstand the hardship of the cave and the starvation from eating only garlic and mugwort, but the tiger failed at the last minute and ran out of the cave. The bear became a girl and wanted to have a child, so the son of the Supreme Being married her. The son was Dangun who established the kingdom of Korea.

There were heavenly ones in the sky domain. JoMulJu created everything in the universe, and the heavenly ones had their own kingdom. The son of the Supreme Being (JoMulju or Hwan-in) came to the Earth with ministers (people and animals) who control rain, cloud, wind, and 360 kinds of things to govern the Earth, as he is in fact a human being as well as some kind of deity. A bear and a tiger wished to become humans. They prayed to the Supreme Being, Hwan-ung, and he gave them 20 cloves of [[garlic]] and a handful of [[mugwort]], and told them to live in a dark cave for 100 days. The bear was patient enough to withstand the hardship of the cave and the starvation from eating only garlic and mugwort, but the tiger failed at the last minute and ran out of the cave. The bear became a girl and wanted to have a child, so the son of the Supreme Being married her. The son was Dangun who established the kingdom of Korea.

===Mansi===

====Mansi====

The traditional account of creation by the [[Mansi]] people of [[Siberia]] involved two [[loon]]s which dove to the bottom of primeval waters to retrieve a piece of the bottom and placed it on top of the water. From there the Earth grew. After a time, at the behest of his daughter, the spirit of the sky ordered his brother, the spirit of the lower world to create humanity. His brother made seven earthy, clay figures and which were quickened by the gods' sister, [[Mother Earth]].

The traditional account of creation by the [[Mansi]] people of [[Siberia]] involved two [[loon]]s which dove to the bottom of primeval waters to retrieve a piece of the bottom and placed it on top of the water. From there the Earth grew. After a time, at the behest of his daughter, the spirit of the sky ordered his brother, the spirit of the lower world to create humanity. His brother made seven earthy, clay figures and which were quickened by the gods' sister, [[Mother Earth]].

===China===

====China====

====Mongol====

=====Mongol=====

There is no singular [[Mongol]] account of the creation and the beginning of the world, but from a variety of accounts from Mongol tribes of Central Asia, a general outline can be made. The creation of the world is attributed to a [[lama]] named [[Udan]] who is sometimes also conflated with [[God]] or [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha Sakyamuni]] by the tribes influenced by [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. The primordial world is usually described as being covered in darkness with no separation between earth and sky. The construction of the cosmos proceeds in a variety of fashions. One account describes ninety-nine golden columns holding apart the sky and earth. In this description the world has three stories, the upper one being heaven where gods and goddesses live, the middle one being earth where man dwells, and the lower one being the place where man goes after death; heaven (sky) is the father and earth is the mother of man, animals, etc. Another narrative recounts that when the creator divided the heaven and earth he created a nine-story heaven, a nine-story earth, and nine rivers. In some accounts, the world first was a vast ocean, but dust and sand rose to cover the ocean surface and become earth. In another account, the land is placed on the back of a golden [[frog]] who was pierced with arrows causing fire and water to spew from him at various places  

There is no singular [[Mongol]] account of the creation and the beginning of the world, but from a variety of accounts from Mongol tribes of Central Asia, a general outline can be made. The creation of the world is attributed to a [[lama]] named [[Udan]] who is sometimes also conflated with [[God]] or [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha Sakyamuni]] by the tribes influenced by [[Tibetan Buddhism]]. The primordial world is usually described as being covered in darkness with no separation between earth and sky. The construction of the cosmos proceeds in a variety of fashions. One account describes ninety-nine golden columns holding apart the sky and earth. In this description the world has three stories, the upper one being heaven where gods and goddesses live, the middle one being earth where man dwells, and the lower one being the place where man goes after death; heaven (sky) is the father and earth is the mother of man, animals, etc. Another narrative recounts that when the creator divided the heaven and earth he created a nine-story heaven, a nine-story earth, and nine rivers. In some accounts, the world first was a vast ocean, but dust and sand rose to cover the ocean surface and become earth. In another account, the land is placed on the back of a golden [[frog]] who was pierced with arrows causing fire and water to spew from him at various places  

Another account tells that in the beginning, seven suns rose in the sky so that the rivers and vegetation on earth dried up, so the people asked the archer [[Erkei-Mergen]] to shoot the suns out of the sky. The archer shot down six, but while he was taking aim at the seventh a [[martin (bird)|martin]] flew in front of the sun and was shot in the tail. From then on, the martin had a forked tail and there was a single sun remaining in the sky. The archer was so distressed that he fled to the [[steppe]], cut off his thumbs in shame, and became the ancestor of the [[marmot]].

Another account tells that in the beginning, seven suns rose in the sky so that the rivers and vegetation on earth dried up, so the people asked the archer [[Erkei-Mergen]] to shoot the suns out of the sky. The archer shot down six, but while he was taking aim at the seventh a [[martin (bird)|martin]] flew in front of the sun and was shot in the tail. From then on, the martin had a forked tail and there was a single sun remaining in the sky. The archer was so distressed that he fled to the [[steppe]], cut off his thumbs in shame, and became the ancestor of the [[marmot]].

====Taoism====

=====Taoism=====

[[Tao]] is the nameless void, the mother of the Ten Thousand Things.  Tao is considered by [[Laozi]] to be that which eternally gives without being depleted, and eternally receives without being filled.

[[Tao]] is the nameless void, the mother of the Ten Thousand Things.  Tao is considered by [[Laozi]] to be that which eternally gives without being depleted, and eternally receives without being filled.

That which does not exist for its own sake is able to endure.<ref>[[Tao Te Ching]] Ch 25: 有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，獨立而不改，周行而不殆，可以為天地母 。吾不知其名，強字之曰道。([[Ursula K. Le Guin#Translations and Renditions|rendition]]: There is something that contains everything. Before heaven and earth it is. Oh, it is still, unbodied, all on its own, unchanging, all-pervading, ever-moving. So it can act as the mother of all things. Not knowing its real name, we only call it the Way)</ref>

That which does not exist for its own sake is able to endure.<ref>[[Tao Te Ching]] Ch 25: 有物混成，先天地生。寂兮寥兮，獨立而不改，周行而不殆，可以為天地母 。吾不知其名，強字之曰道。([[Ursula K. Le Guin#Translations and Renditions|rendition]]: There is something that contains everything. Before heaven and earth it is. Oh, it is still, unbodied, all on its own, unchanging, all-pervading, ever-moving. So it can act as the mother of all things. Not knowing its real name, we only call it the Way)</ref>

====Zoroastrianism====

====Zoroastrianism====

The [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] story of creation has [[Ahura Mazda]] creating 16 lands, one by one, such that each would be delightful to its people.  As he finished each one, [[Angra Mainyu]] applied a counter-creation, introducing plague and sin of various kinds. The dualistic idea of two primordial spirits, called twins by Zoroaster, goes back to an Indo-European prototype.  Although the idea of dualism came from the idea that "god" could not create evil so both evil and good pre-existed before time.

The [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] story of creation has [[Ahura Mazda]] creating 16 lands, one by one, such that each would be delightful to its people.  As he finished each one, [[Angra Mainyu]] applied a counter-creation, introducing plague and sin of various kinds. The dualistic idea of two primordial spirits, called twins by Zoroaster, goes back to an Indo-European prototype.  Although the idea of dualism came from the idea that "god" could not create evil so both evil and good pre-existed before time.

==External links==

==External links==