Concept
Pacha (Inca mythology)
Overview
The pacha (Quechua pronunciation: [pætʃæ]) is an Andean cosmological concept associating the physical world and space with time, and corresponding with the concept of space-time.
The literal meaning of the word in Quechua is "place". Pacha can have various meanings in different contexts, and has been associated with the different stages and levels in the progressive development of the cosmos towards discontinuity and differentiation of forms, and attributed as encoding an Inca concept for dividing the different spheres of the cosmos akin to 'realm' or 'reality'. This latter interpretation, disputed by some scholars since such realm names may have been the product of missionaries' lexical innovation (and, thus, of Christian influence), is considered to refer to "real, concrete places, and not ethereal otherworlds".
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
The whole universe is One. There is only One Self in the universe, only One Existence, and that One Existence, when it is passing through the forms of time, space and causation, is called _buddhi_, fine matter, gross matter, etc. All physical and mental forms, everything in the universe is that One, appearing in various ways. When a little bit of it gets into this network of time, space and causation, it apparently…
Swami Vivekananda, Jnâna Yoga, Part II
States what Pacha is.
Petersburg, Moscow, and Kief. By J. BEAVINGTON ATKINSON. 8vo. 12_s._ BAILEY.--THE SUCCESSION TO THE ENGLISH CROWN. A Historical Sketch. By A. BAILEY, M.A., Barrister-at-Law. Crown 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ BAKER (SIR SAMUEL W.)--Works by Sir SAMUEL BAKER, Pacha, M.A., F.R.S., F.R.G.S.:-- CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879. With Frontispiece. 8vo. 12_s._ 6_d._ ISMAILÏA: A Narrative of the Expedition to Central Africa for the…
R. W. Church, Dante. An essay. To which is added a translation of De Monarchia.
Names Pacha.
Taken by itself, however, the notion is incapable of engendering a myth. It is to be regarded merely as an isolated case to be classed with a more richly developed set of demon-ideas that dominate the daily life of primitive man. At this stage, these ideas are the only elements of an incipient mythology that are clearly discernible and that at the same time exercise an important influence upon life. In so far as the…
Wilhelm Max Wundt, Elements of Folk Psychology Outline of a Psychological History of the Development of Mankind
States what Pacha is.
Related ideas
- God in Christianity
- Dualism in cosmology
- Western philosophy
- Neologism
- Cosmology
- Western world
- Paris
- Quechuan languages
- Space
- Spacetime
- Time
- Cosmos
- Deity
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Christianity
- Catholic Church
- Concept
- Compound (linguistics)
- Etymology
- Pre-Columbian era
- Andean civilizations
Place in the tradition
Part of Philosophy of space and time.