There is no uncaused cause that sets off anything, there is no
God or creator of the universe.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=299411
To those who talked about the
first cause of this world, the Buddha responded by saying that it
is impossible to find a first cause since everything is changing,
interdependent and conditioned by other things. Something that acts
as the cause in the present may become the effect in the future.
Later that same effect may again become the cause. Such phenomenon
continues ad infinitum. It is called the universal law of Anicca or
impermanency.
With regard to the origin of the world itself, the Buddha did not
claim it was the property of Buddhism or that existing world
systems and living things were controlled according to the Buddhist
Order, but by universal law or natural phenomenon. Man was simply
to accept his position in the world and regard himself and all
things, animate and inanimate, as a compound.
The idea that there must be an 'uncaused cause' that sets
everything off is precisely what is 'being tied down by an idea'
and not seeing reality as it is. It is a merely logical conclusion
and a theory, not an experiential nor intuitive insight.
Buddha's teachings are not ideas or theories.. for the Buddha
completely comprehends the world, he realised the truth of
Dependent Origination, and hence the reality of Karma and other
conditionality... and the realisation of this reality also leads to
the unbinding, Nirvana, end of suffering, the highest bliss.
The Perfect One is free from any theory, for the Perfect
One has understood what the body is, and how it arises, and passes
away. He has understood what feeling is, and how it arises, and
passes away. He has understood what perception is, and how it
arises, and passes away. He has understood what the mental
formations are, and how they arise, and pass away. He has
understood what consciousness is, and how it arises, and passes
away.
Therefore, I say, the Perfect One has won complete deliverance
through the extinction, fading away, disappearance, rejection, and
getting rid of all opinions and conjectures, of all inclination to
the vainglory of I and mine.
- Majjhima Nikaya, 72
All who practice the Buddhist teachings can attain enlightenment
himself -- it is not just a belief, but something that everyone
realise/attain for himself, and there have been countless, up till
today, who have intuitively experienced/attain enlightenment.. even
some in this forum.
"The world exists only when we think about it; creation stories are
for children. In reality the world is created every moment." ~ Jean
Klein
Finally, with regards to 'creation',
"Malunkhyaputta Sutta stresses that whether the universe was
created or uncreated, finite or infinite, is irrelevant to our main
spiritual concerns: the cause and cessation of suffering:
"Therefore Malunkhyaputta, bear the undeclared as undeclared.
Malunkhyaputta, what are the not declared? The world is eternal, is
not declared by me. The world is not eternal, is not declared by
me. They are not essential for the principles of the holy life,
they do not lead to turning away, to detachment, to cessation, to
appeasement, to realisation, to enlightenment and to extinction.
Malunkhyaputta, what are the declared by me? This, is unpleasant,
is declared. This, is its arising, is declared. This, is its
cessation is declared. This is the path to its cessation, is
declared. Malunkhyaputta, why are these declared by me? These are
the essentials for the principles of the holy life; they lead to
turning away, to detachment, to cessation, to appeasement, to
realisation, to enlightenment and to extinction. Malunkhyaputta, I
declare them." MN 64"
