Buddhist system of timescale

In the Buddhist system of timescale, the word “kappa” meaning “cycle or aeon” is used to denote certain time-periods that repeat themselves in cyclical order.

Four time-cycles are distinguished;

a great aeon (maha-kappa),

an incalculable aeon (asankheyya-kappa),

an included aeon (antara-kappa) and a lifespan (ayu-kappa).

2. Great Aeon or World Cycle (Maha-kappa) A maha kappa or aeon is generally taken to mean a world cycle.

How long is a world cycle?

In Samyutta ii, Chapter XV, the Buddha used the parables of the hill and mustard-seed for comparison:

• Suppose there was a solid mass, of rock or hill, one yojana (eight miles) wide, one yojana across and one yojana high and every hundred years, a man was to stroke it once with a piece of silk.

That mass of rock would be worn away and ended sooner than would an aeon.