user11615: Although I find this topic interesting, I wonder if study of it, e.g., the various worlds and universes and the beings that inhabit them, what they did to get there, where they go once they leave there, etc, is part of developing the eightfold path? All of the details can overwhelm me and lead toward doubt, so I recently found myself asking if that information is necessary for right view.

user12677: The real world is fundamentally unknowable, ignorance being the starting point of dependent origination. The mind makes a useful, practical sense of the real world using symbolism, memory etc. So that to break out of the constraints of formal language, visual symbolism is a powerful tool and is worth the time and effort to develop some fluency in this medium. The trick is to be imaginative, creative and relevant to one's personal experience; a "mapping out", as it were.  Secondly, stick religiously to the Buddhist system and you won't be disappointed.

user13190: I believe it is what makes up/ part of a comprehensive "right view", but not encouraged to be a main focus of realizing the Dharma. It is the kind of topic that leads to answers somewhere along the lines of "Don't ask about the shape of Arrow stabbed on your back" once this topic is dived into. 
From a worldly perspective, talking too much about the metaphysical cosmology will likely attract unnecessary skepticism from materialists and worldly scientists, which adds little to no value for one's own practice of the Eight-Folds Path.
Personally I feel it is good to know the framework / core principles of it, certainly satisfy the aspect of curiosity, and aspect of "how things work" logically, but that's about it.

11615: <p>Although I find this topic interesting, I wonder if study of it, e.g., the various worlds and universes and the beings that inhabit them, what they did to get there, where they go once they leave there, etc, is part of developing the eightfold path? All of the details can overwhelm me and lead toward doubt, so I recently found myself asking if that information is necessary for right view.</p>
 12677: <p>The real world is fundamentally unknowable, ignorance being the starting point of dependent origination. The mind makes a useful, practical sense of the real world using symbolism, memory etc. So that to break out of the constraints of formal language, visual symbolism is a powerful tool and is worth the time and effort to develop some fluency in this medium. The trick is to be imaginative, creative and relevant to one's personal experience; a "mapping out", as it were.  Secondly, stick religiously to the Buddhist system and you won't be disappointed.</p>
 13190: <p>I believe it is what makes up/ part of a comprehensive "right view", but not encouraged to be a main focus of realizing the Dharma. It is the kind of topic that leads to answers somewhere along the lines of "Don't ask about the shape of Arrow stabbed on your back" once this topic is dived into. </p>

<p>From a worldly perspective, talking too much about the metaphysical cosmology will likely attract unnecessary skepticism from materialists and worldly scientists, which adds little to no value for one's own practice of the Eight-Folds Path.</p>

<p>Personally I feel it is good to know the framework / core principles of it, certainly satisfy the aspect of curiosity, and aspect of "how things work" logically, but that's about it.</p>
