How do Buddhists interpret the Buddha’s explanation of earthquakes in AN 8.70?
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In AN 8.70 , the Buddha lists eight causes for an earthquake. The passages read as follows:-
> Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one
> side, and said to him, “Sir, that was a really big earthquake! That
> was really a very big earthquake; awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and
> thunder cracked the sky! **What’s the cause, what’s the reason for a
> great earthquake?”**
>
> “Ānanda, **there are these eight causes and reasons for a great
> earthquake**. What eight?
>
> **This great earth is established on water, the water is established on
> air, and the air stands in space. At a time when a great wind blows,
> it stirs the water, and the water stirs the earth. This is the first
> cause and reason for a great earthquake.**
>
> Furthermore, there is an ascetic or brahmin with psychic power who has
> achieved mastery of the mind, or a god who is mighty and powerful.
> They’ve developed a limited perception of earth and a limitless
> perception of water. They make the earth shake and rock and tremble.
> This is the second cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening passes away from the
> host of joyful gods, he’s conceived in his mother’s belly, mindful and
> aware. Then the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the third
> cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the being intent on awakening comes out of his
> mother’s belly mindful and aware, the earth shakes and rocks and
> trembles. This is the fourth cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect
> awakening, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the fifth
> cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the Realized One rolls forth the supreme Wheel of
> Dhamma, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the sixth
> cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the Realized One, mindful and aware, surrenders the
> life force, the earth shakes and rocks and trembles. This is the
> seventh cause and reason for a great earthquake.
>
> Furthermore, when the Realized One becomes fully extinguished in the
> element of extinguishment with no residue, the earth shakes and rocks
> and trembles. This is the eighth cause and reason for a great
> earthquake.
>
> These are the eight causes and reasons for a great earthquake.”
Seven of these eight causes are clearly supernatural (e.g., divine beings, psychic powers, events related to a Buddha) while the first and the only natural explanation of earth resting on water stirred by cosmic winds being the cause of earthquakes does not align with what we understand today as the geological and entirely naturalistic explanation of earthquakes.
My question is:-
How do Buddhists, especially those who identify with traditional or orthodox readings of the suttas understand these earthquake causes today?
Do they:-
- Reject the modern scientific understanding of earthquakes and accept the sutta’s description literally?
- Interpret these causes allegorically or symbolically? If so, how?
I’m curious how different Buddhist traditions (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, etc.) approach this apparent conflict between scripture and modern scientific understanding.
Asked by user31982
Dec 4, 2025, 01:08 PM
Last activity: Dec 8, 2025, 01:29 PM
Last activity: Dec 8, 2025, 01:29 PM