What if I told you that, according to an ancient Buddhist scripture, the first humans did not walk on the Earth...
They floated through the sky.
Their bodies glowed with light.
They didn't need food to survive.
There were no kings, no rich or poor, no borders, and no wars.
Does that sound like science fiction?
Surprisingly, it comes from a Buddhist scripture called The Sutra on the Origins of the World
(Kise Inbon Gyeong), written more than 1,500 years ago.
Whether you see it as history, mythology, or spiritual symbolism, it offers one of the most fascinating stories
about human origins ever told.
Humans Were Not Created—They Arrived
If you're familiar with the Book of Genesis, you know the story of Adam and Eve.
God creates Adam from the dust of the earth and breathes life into him.
Buddhism tells a completely different story.
Instead of a Creator making the first humans, Buddhism teaches that the universe goes through endless
cycles of birth, existence, destruction, and renewal.
When one world ends, living beings continue according to their karma.
When a new world begins, some are reborn there.
In other words...
Humans were not created from nothing.
They continued a journey that had already begun long before this world existed.
The First Humans Were Beings of Light
According to the scripture, our distant ancestors came from a heavenly realm called Abhassara Heaven,
often translated as the Realm of Radiant Light.
They were unlike us in almost every way.
Their bodies shone naturally.
They could travel freely through the sky.
Joy itself nourished them.
There was no need for houses.
No need for money.
No need for governments.
Most importantly...
Nobody thought,
"This belongs to me."
Without ownership, there was no stealing.
Without comparison, there was no jealousy.
Without greed, there was no conflict.
It was a world of remarkable simplicity.
But these beings were not Buddhas.
Neither were they eternal gods.
They were still ordinary beings carrying the seeds of desire deep within their minds.
The Sweet Taste That Changed Humanity
Then something extraordinary happened.
As the new Earth formed, a mysterious sweet substance appeared on its surface.
The scripture calls it Jimi, literally meaning "the Taste of the Earth."
At first, no one needed it.
But curiosity appeared.
One being wondered,
"What does this taste like?"
He touched it with his finger.
It was delicious.
He tasted it again.
Others watched and did the same.
That tiny moment changed human history.
Curiosity became desire.
Desire became attachment.
Attachment slowly transformed both body and mind.
When the Light Began to Fade
As they continued enjoying Jimi, something unexpected happened.
Their bodies became heavier.
The beautiful light shining from within gradually disappeared.
They could no longer fly.
For the first time, they depended on the light of the sun and moon.
The scripture is not teaching that eating food is sinful.
Its message is much deeper.
It is not food that weighs us down.
It is endless desire.
Even today, we often believe happiness is waiting just beyond the next promotion...
the next bigger house...
the next luxury car...
or a few thousand more followers online.
Yet the more we own,
the more we worry about losing.
Sometimes the things we possess end up possessing us.
The Beginning of Comparison
As their bodies changed, they no longer looked exactly alike.
Some appeared brighter.
Others looked less attractive.
For the first time, people compared themselves with one another.
"I'm better."
"I wish I looked like that."
"I deserve more."
According to the scripture, this was the true beginning of human suffering.
Not because people became different...
but because they started judging their worth through comparison.
How little has changed.
Today we compare our appearance...
our careers...
our homes...
our vacations...
even our happiness.
Perhaps the ancient scripture understood social media long before smartphones existed.
How Did Money, Property, and Governments Begin?
Originally, nature provided enough for everyone.
People simply took what they needed.
Then someone had an idea.
"Why not collect extra for tomorrow?"
Others collected even more.
Soon there wasn't enough for everyone.
People began marking land.
"This field is mine."
"Don't touch my crops."
Ownership was born.
Then came theft.
Lies.
Arguments.
Laws.
Finally, people chose leaders to settle disputes.
According to this Buddhist story, kings and governments did not begin because humans were evil.
They appeared because human desire became stronger than human wisdom.
A Surprising Similarity to Genesis
Although Buddhism and Christianity are very different, these two stories share some remarkable similarities.
Both begin with a peaceful world.
Both describe a special food that changes humanity.
Both show human life becoming more difficult afterward.
But the lessons are different.
In Genesis, suffering begins after disobeying God's command.
In Buddhism, suffering begins when desire grows beyond balance.
One focuses on disobedience.
The other focuses on attachment.
Different stories.
Different beliefs.
Yet both ask the same timeless question:
What happens when desire controls the human heart?
Were Humans Really Beings of Light?
Some Buddhists understand this story literally.
Others see it as a profound spiritual metaphor.
Perhaps the "light" represents something deeper.
Have you ever met someone whose face seemed to glow with kindness?
Someone who spoke honestly...
shared generously...
forgave easily...
and made everyone nearby feel peaceful?
We often say,
"That person has a light about them."
Maybe this is the light the scripture is talking about.
Not a physical light...
but the light of compassion.
The light of wisdom.
The light of gratitude.
What Can We Learn Today?
Whether or not we believe this ancient story actually happened, its message feels surprisingly modern.
Today's Jimi may not be a mysterious food.
It may be money.
Power.
Popularity.
Luxury.
Or the endless desire to have more than everyone else.
The scripture gently asks us:
What are you chasing?
And perhaps even more importantly...
Has it made your heart lighter... or heavier?
Final Thoughts
The Kise Inbon Gyeong does not say that humans are born evil.
Neither does it say we are perfect.
It teaches that every human heart contains two possibilities.
Greed...
or generosity.
Anger...
or compassion.
Pride...
or humility.
Every day we choose which one grows.
Perhaps the greatest lesson of this ancient Buddhist story is not that humans once shined with light.
It is that we can still choose to shine today.
Not by glowing from our bodies...
but by illuminating the lives of others.
As the scripture quietly reminds us:
Humans are precious not because we once lived in the light,
but because even in darkness, we can choose to become the light again.
A Question for You
If humans really were beings of light...
What do you think caused us to lose that light?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
