lokaṁ

world, primarily “visible world,” then in general as “space or sphere of creation, with var. degrees of substantiality. Often (unspecified in the comprehensive sense of “universe.” Sometimes the term is applied collectively to the creatures inhabiting this or var. other worlds, thus, “man, mankind people, beings.”- Loka is not a fixed & def term. It comprises immateriality as well as materiality and emphasizes either one or the other meaning according to the view applied to the object or category in question Thus a translation of “sphere, plane, division, order” interchanges with “world.” Whenever the spatial element prevails we speak of its “regional” meaning as contrasted with “applied” meaning. The fundamental notion however is that of substantiality, to which is closely related the specific Buddhist notion of impermanence (loka = lujjati).

1. Universe: the distinctions between the universe (cp. cakkavāḷa) as a larger whole and the world as a smaller unit are fluctuating & not definite. A somewhat wider sphere is perhaps indicated by; sabba-loka (e.g. SN.i.12; SN.iv.127, SN.iv.312; SN.v.132; Iti.122 Mhvs.1, Mhvs.44; cp. sabbāvanta loka DN.i.251; DN.iii.224) otherwise even the smaller loka comprises var. realms of creation. Another larger division is that of loka as sadevaka, samāraka, sabrahmaka, or the world with its devas, its Māra and its Brahmā, e.g. SN.i.160, SN.i.168 SN.i.207; SN.ii.170; SN.iii.28, SN.iii.59; SN.iv.158; SN.v.204; AN.i.259 sq. AN.ii.24 sq.; AN.iii.341; AN.iv.56, AN.iv.173; AN.v.50; Iti.121; Mnd.447 (on Snp.956), to which is usually added sassamaṇa-brāhmaṇī pajā (e.g. DN.i.250, see loci s. v. pajā). With this cp. Dhp.45, where the divisions are paṭhavī, Yamaloka sadevaka (loka), which are explained at Dhp-a.i.334 by paṭhavī = attabhāva; Yamaloka = catubbidha apāyaloka; sadevaka = manussaloka devalokena saddhiṃ-The universe has its evolutional periods: saṃvaṭṭati and vivaṭṭati DN.ii.109 sq. The Buddha has mastered it by his enlightenment: loko Tathāgatena abhisambuddho Iti.121. On loka, lokadhātu (= cosmos) and cakkavāḷa cp. Kirfel, Kosmographie p. 180, 181.
2. Regional meaning.
   1. in general. Referring to this world, the character of evanescence is inherent in it; referring to the universe in a wider sense, it implies infinity, though not in definite terms. There is mention of the different metaphysical theories as regards cosmogony at many places of the Canon. The antānantikā (contending for the finitude or otherwise of the world) are mentioned as a sect at DN.i.22 sq. Discussions as to whether loka is sassata or antavā are found e.g. at MN.i.426, MN.i.484; MN.ii.233; SN.iii.182, SN.iii.204