Teaching overview
In the moral cosmology, lifespan and well-being reflect collective ethics: virtue lengthens life; unwholesome actions shorten it. After reaching a low point, renewal begins.
Cycle arc
Rise (long lives) → Decline (short lives) → Nadir → Renewal → Rise again. A rhythmic view across vast eras.
Lifespans Across Buddha Eras
| Era / Buddha | Typical Lifespan | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Kakusandha Buddha | ~40,000 years | Humanity in harmony, long lives due to virtue |
| Konagamana Buddha | ~30,000 years | Slight decline as greed and discord rise |
| Kassapa Buddha | ~20,000 years | Further decline, Dharma still strong |
| Shakyamuni Buddha (present) | ~100 years | Current age of decline, moral decay shortens life |
| Maitreya Buddha (future) | ~80,000 years | Renewal of Dharma, peace and prosperity restore longevity |
Buddhist lens
Mythic-moral framework: numbers like “80,000 years” function as pedagogical symbols highlighting ethics and the cosmic rhythm of impermanence.
Scientific lens
Empirical framework: lifespans vary by biology, environment, medicine, and public health; historical lifespans were short and have risen in recent centuries.
Note: This page offers an accessible synthesis. Depth and nuance differ by school, language, and commentary.