Lord, forgive three sins that are due to my human limitations.
Thou art everywhere but I worship three in these places.
Thou art without form but I worship three in these forms.
Thou needeth no praise yet I offer you these prayers and salutions.
-from The Far Pavillons by M.M. Kaye.
The only true censorship is yourself. Your ability to separate the straw from the chaff. The ability to know what is good and bad for you. What is too much. No one can hand it to you. You need to develop it for yourself and steadily use it. Anybody else's version can do more harm than good.
The abbot thoughtfully fingered the edge of his saffron robe.
"You are too dogmatic, and too self-important. And," he smiled, "too specific. You define your God and give names to his son. We cannot define anything so immense, so.....inscrutable. That is why Buddha is but a guide, a teacher to show the righteous path. For there are many paths to God, my son. It is human arrogance to think otherwise."
"But what you teach, Your Holiness, is it not ultimately rejection? The annihilation of emotion and feelings, an escape from the wheel of life?"
"Yes, but it will take millions of cycles to achieve such a condition and only a chosen few will ever do so." The abbot smiled. "And think of all the emotions you can enjoy in the meantime." A film came over his eyes. "Nirvana is man's ultimate state of serenity."
"But is it not also human arrogance to believe that we are constantly reborn? Are we that important, Your Holiness?" asked Phaulkon.
"We are of little significance, my son, for life is but an endless cycle. Like the phases of the moon or the movements of the stars. Everything is born and dies and is born again. Look at the flowers and trees and everything that surrounds you. Why should we be any different? No, what is human arrogance is to believe that one brief life can determine all eternity! That is what our people will find impossible to accept in your doctrines. For it is not comforting to think that we are given but a single chance. But you, my son," said the abbot suddenly rising, "are retarding my own progress to serenity with your interesting chatter." He turned to go. "Nevertheless, I shall help you and we will speak together often."
- from "The Falcon of Siam" by Axel Aylwen
What if there really was reincarnation. And the sole purpose of each rebirth was to correct one fault. That you were specifically born into this life because it gave you the exact setting necessary to change that one thing you were sent here to change. Not a physical thing, a skill, or a knowledge, but a thing of the spirit. So that your soul could evolve, go on to a better life.
What one fault would it be for you? Procrastination? Selfishness? Gluttony? The list goes on and on, but, in this reincarnation, one, only one, is your soul's lifetime challenge. What would it be for you? What one fault, if corrected, would, most put you on a higher plain, make you a better person?
If you believe in reincarnation or not, it is still a worthy question.
(in response to a question on a website)
Why does God allow suffering?
People that ask this question have a much too narrow view of what God is, or what His purpose of life is. Everyone must develop their own philosophy. Mine is best described as Buddhism with a believe in God. I do not yet know what this God is but I know He is not a friendly bearded man, who, at the saying of a quick prayer, will miraculously pay your mortgage or something like that. That kind of thing is an underestimation of His abilities. And yours.
God has been around since before time began, the Creator of the Universe and is much too mysterious to really understand. It is only possible to try through an examination of the natural laws that He put in place. To seek to discover those laws that apply to all things, at all times, that govern the universe and make physical and moral law compatible with one another. Root causes. Thus, this seeking can be the most important journey of your life. So far, I have discovered two. The one is change, the constant change of all things over time, nothing remaining the same. The other most elementary law is that all nature, physical and moral, seeks a balance. For each side of the coin, there is another. If there is a west, there must be an east. If there is an up, there must be a down. And if there is good, there must be bad.
I believe that the purpose of life is realized over a much longer period than most think. Over many lifetimes. I tend to believe that there are many reincarnations, and that the purpose of each is moral, to learn from your experiences, to better prepare your soul for the next reincarnation. Each lesson to be truly learned, must be lived. So that ultimately you find nirvana or the highest level of the soul. Heaven in other words.
Which brings us to the original question. Why does God allow suffering. Buddhists say that all suffering is caused by craving. And this is perhaps correct in a theoretical way. Without cravings, there would be no search to satisfy them. And without struggling to satisfy, there would be no suffering. Thus to minimize cravings is to minimize suffering. This, in itself, is a good idea.
However, the greatest gift God gave mankind (or womankind ) is free choice. And with each choice must come the consequences. The other gift He gave is the ability to learn from that experience, to progress, to go on to better ways. Unfortunately, in spite of our attempts to do better, it is human nature to learn best through mistakes, and thus though suffering. And, if mankind does not profit from these mistakes, and continually repeats them, then the fault is not God's, but ours.
Therefore, it is not the sufferings but the lessons we learn from them that is important . Two of the most important lessons can be expressed in one saying "God grant me the ability to change those things that can be changed, to accept those things that can't be changed, and to know the difference." In other words, to seek for any pattern in life's accidents or regrets, to discover their root cause and, if possible, work to end them. Both for you and mankind in general. The other lesson is to realize that, in spite of your best efforts, all things are temporary. Even good things must come to an end and we must accept their passing. There are more than likely many more lessons life's experiences teach. And as you learn each, the wisdom of the soul increases and brings you closer to the true meaning of life. And, thus, to its enjoyment.
That is perhaps another reason for suffering. Without first suffering, how can we fully appreciate the opposite which is Joy? Those people, those things that we hold most dear?
There is nothing worse than meeting a great opportunity with little preparation.
- Quincy Jones
Everything that moves constantly negates itself. All things change to their opposite through movement. The present becomes the past, the future the present. Constant change is the very essence of all existence. Everything in time passes into its opposite. Change is the force which compels it to move and this very movement becomes something different from what it was. New life arises from the old, and this new life is the combination of the old with that which destroyed it. The contradiction that caused the change goes on forever.
- from "The Art of Dramatic Writing" by Lajos Egri.
A man who knows what he knows, and knows what he doesn't know, is a man who knows.
- Confucius
"Take what you want," says God. "And pay for it," quoted Ash. 'Do you really believe all that, Juli?'
'That we must pay for all we do? Of course.'
'No: that we are born over and over again. That you and I, for instance, have already lived many lives and will live many more.'
'If one has been born once, why not again?' asked Juli. 'Besides, the Upanishads (part of the Vedic literature) tell us that this is so, and according to that teaching it is ony those who attain to the knowledge of the identity of the Soul of Brahma who reach "the way of the Gods" and do not return to earth. Therefore it follows that you and I have not yet freed ourselves from the cycle of re-birth; and as I do not think either of us are seekers after holiness--or anyway, not yet --we shall surely be born again.'
'As a worm or a rat, or a pariah dog?'
"Only if we have committed great sin in this life. If we are kind and just, and give to the poor--'
'And the priests,' interjected Ash derisively. 'Don't forget the priests.'
'And the priests also.' amended Anjuli gravely, 'then -- who knows/ --we may even be born as great ones. You a king or a famours warrior; or even a Mahatma. And I a queen-- or a nun.'
'The gods forbid.' said Ash with a laugh.
-from The Far Pavillons by M.M. Kaye.
Courage is like a bank account to be drawn on in time of need.
The difference is that you never know what your balance is
until you come to make a withdrawal.
- Lord Moron about World War II
The most valuable form of courage is that of a man who knows what fear is and who, recognizing that it is compounded of selfishness and ignorance, succeeds in repressing and controlling it.
- General Harry Crerar, Commander Canadian Army, World War II
Through preparation will lead to success. Neglect to nothing.
- General Sir Arthur Currie, Canadian Army, World War I
Thought without action is useless. Action without thought is
dangerous.
Clausewitz "On War"
Luck is a combination of time, place, ability..... And nerve.
"Such talk," he said, admonishing her kindly. "You cannot hedge everything in life with 'what ifs'. A mariner learns that there is in life a current that carries him where it will. And there is a power within us all, which, if we heed it, takes us around shoals and enables us to skirt the storm safely." "When a man lives true to his inner tide, then he actions Fate instead of being at its whim."
Aramada by Robert Carter
I believe in luck. And I find that the harder I work, the more of it I have.
- Stephen Leacock, humorist, Orillia.
A man wishing TO APPEAR wise and powerful associates himself with
those lesser than
himself. A man wishing TO BE wise and powerful associates himself
with those stronger
than himself. That way their talents compliment his and he learns
from each.
In Hindostan there is a belief in the four pursuits. We believe
that a man should look for
wealth and for pleasure, but also he should seek to uphold order
under the law, and it is
also his duty to search for spiritual purity. Know that you cannot
pursue these aims in
isolation. You must pursue them all. If you choose one, or two, or
even three, you will
not attain any of them. Pursue all four simultaneously and equally,
and you will gain all.
from "Talwar" by Robert Carter
Nobody grows old by merely living their allotted span. People grow
old by abandoning their ideals.
You are as young as your faith and as old as your doubts.
Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, Brigadier, Highland Chieftain - 1911-1996
Too late we are too wise
- Old saying
Too much of anything is good for nothing
- My father
To make the same mistake once is foolish, twice is stupid.
This is the Sura of Timur. May it be the Sacred Word of Scholars, Slaves, and Rulers.
To Scholars is given the power of the Word, the power to twist and
distort and subvert any
creed or ideology to serve the ends of the Way.
The reward of Scholars is the satisfaction of knowing that they
can make Truth and persuade
men to believe.
To Slaves is given the power of the Passions, the power of Fear
and Envy and Hate, to drag
down their masters and all other men.
The reward of Slaves is the satisfaction of their Passions, the
destruction of the fruits of their
enforced labour, the impoverishment and humiliation of their
masters.
To Rulers is given the power of the Flaming Sword, the power to
levy taxes and wage war, the
supreme power to reduce all men to Slavery and Beggary, the power to
which the Word and the
Passions must be subservient.
The reward of Rulers is the satisfaction in Power for its own
sake, as most Rulers understand it, the
Power to control the riches and minds and lives of all men according
to the Will of Allah.
The outer facts of my life are irrefutable testament to the truth
and the efficacy of these tenets. For
seventy years I have been invincible. So too, may Scholars, Slaves
and Rulers be forever invincible
if they will but combine their several powers and wield the Flaming
Sword to keep the Way of the
Tree of Life.
Written in the presence of Timur, at Otrar, on the 17th day of Shaaban, 807 A.H., by the hand of his son.
I tried to explain this belief to Taylor, that a whole life's
mission might be to
move a flowepot from one table to another; all the years of education
and suffering and
laughter, marriage, parenthood, education, serving merely to put a
particular person in a
particular room with a certain flower. If the universe is one room
known only to God,
then God alone knows how to furnish it, how to populate it.
"I couldn't live in a world like yours," he said. "If rearranging
a particle of dust is
as important as discovering relativity, that's a formula for total
anarchy. Total futility.
Total fatalism. Where's the incentive to do anything?"
The incentive, I should have said, is to treat every second of
your existence as a
possible assignment from God. Everything you do, if you're a
physicist or a caregiver, is
equally important in the eye of God.
from "Jasmine" by Bharati Mukherjee
|
|
|
|
|
|