Faith

Taken aback, Jesus said, "I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God's kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened."

Matthew 8:10-12

Be Not Lost

For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 30

Worth Fighting For?

(Originally posted 13 April 2006)

"Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill or die for."

- The First Mindfulness Training, taken from No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh

A Negative Emanation of Mind

(Originally posted 5 April 2005)

"This particular quirk of the human mind is so common that the ancient books of Tibet list it among the top ten mental troublemakers. We seem to have the habit of taking an unhealthy interest in the woes of others around us; at its worst, you can see this in the public obsession with the troubles of famous people."

- Geshe Michael Roach, The Diamond Cutter

A Charter

(Originally posted 30 March 2005)

"Confess your hidden faults. Approach what you find repulsive. Help those you think you cannot help. Anything you are attached to, let it go. Go to places that scare you."

- Advice from her teacher to the Tibetan Yogini Machik Labdron

Bend but not Break

(Originally posted 27 March 2005)

Kuan Yin, believed to be the female form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, is often portrayed holding a willow branch. The branch is a symbol of being able to bend but not break.

As life continues to challenge us, we continue to adapt. If we are to rigid, we break. But by adapting, and bending, we overcome these challenges without losing ourselves.

Why?

(Originally posted 17 March 2005)

"Why do you make us suffer?..." God replies, "Because you sinned on earth." And they ask, "Who created us?" To which God replies, "I did." And they ask, "If you created us, did we know evil when we came or did you give it to us?" God replies, "I gave it to you." Then the people ask God, "Why was it that you knew it was evil and gave it to us?" God replies, "Stop, let me think and find the answer." - From The LoDagaa people of Ghana (Benjamin Ray, African Religions)

Talking Apples and Apples

(Originally posted 15 March 2005)

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." - Richard Feynman

If the follower of a faith tries to convince the ardent atheist of divine creation, the argument will probably fall flat on its face. The atheist will probably ask for proof, and the follower will be left with only their faith to support it.

If the ardent atheist tries to convince the same follower about the Big Bang, they'll probably similarly fail.

Now, the atheist might say that they don't have blind faith, and their findings are based on a "system". Here I would quote Feynman again: "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool."

The last line of the Big Bang article states: "Although the Big Bang Theory is widely accepted, it probably will never be proved; consequentially, leaving a number of tough, unanswered questions." Doesn't that pretty much sum up our existence? It does not matter if you are a die hard atheist, Christian, Muslim or Buddhist! We simply can not operate without some amount of faith in something.

The atheist might drive their car to work everyday, but couldn't the wheels fall off? We best have faith that someone built it right! What if another driver on the same road has been drinking? Whether we call it faith or not, that is what it is! How many of us have actually sat down and figured out the big bang for ourselves? Not many probably, so even if you are an atheist who believes the theory, you have taken faith in the person who did the calculations!

In the end, it isn't really about who has faith and who doesn't. The problems arise in our explanations, and how they differ. In the end, we are all left standing on this planet not really knowing where it all began or why.

Let's go with the old saying and "agree to disagree" on such matters then, and move on to something more proactive: the things we agree on!

Can the Christian agree that good social order, coupled with compassion and understanding can be a good thing? I think so.

How about the atheist? I think so, I don't think they want suffering, and want a good environment to live and grow.

The Buddhist? I believe so.

So be it: We agree to disagree about some things, but wish each other well, and care for each other despite that. It's a bit like a large family isn't it?

The Lesson of Simon of Cyrene

(Originally posted 8 March 2005)

The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke speak of what is referred to as the fifth station of the cross. It is a brief story, albeit very important one, of Simon of Cyrene.

By chance (providence, karma or something else depending on your lexicon) Simon was unwillingly forced to carry the cross for Jesus. And while there is little known about Simon, it is generally believed that Simon was transformed by this event. He was transformed from being a mere spectator, to an unwilling participant, to finally having compassion for Jesus.

Compassion is the awareness of the suffering of another combined with the desire to relieve it. If we are forced to help another, we are not demonstrating compassion. If we see another suffering and are even pained by it, but do not have the desire to relieve the suffering, still we are not demonstrating compassion. It is only through the coupling of both these things that we demonstrate one of the greatest of virtues.

Simon learned compassion by directly experiencing the sufferings of Jesus. What wonderful kindness Jesus showed us by taking on the sufferings of all beings. Mahayana Buddhism teaches us of Bodhisattvas, those beings motivated by compassion for all beings. One of the most popular Tibetan mantras is Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of compassion. The vast majority of religions exalt compassion. Even as an atheist, one can still benefit from compassion. Let us spend less time focused on differences, and more on helping each other.

A Return

Greetings one and all,

I originally began this blog in March of 2005, but due to the everyday events that seem to cascade down upon us at times, had to take a respite. Though, that makes it sound much too serious.

I've returned now, and along with the changes that blogger has made recently, I have also given the blog a facelift. Without further todo, I'd like to christen the new site with the following introduction from the original. Following that, I intend to incorporate many of the original posts from the original.

Introduction (Originally posted March 5, 2005)

Greetings to all fellow seekers! I know I'm not alone on the path, trying to find meaning and understanding. And why not talk with fellow travellers about this journey?

While I'm a practicing Buddhist, I also believe that Buddhism is just one of many paths available to find truth. I believe strongly in spiritual freedom, as religion is just a tool used to realize truth. In the words of Nêng Hai:

As evidence of the truth of all this, consider how many men of different faiths have wrought marvels and achieved sainthood through the power of their God or gods, all attained through fervent prayer and contemplation. What is that God but another name for the Centre, those gods but other names for the Transformers? Names are unimportant. Have you not met Buddhists groping in the outer darkness and Mussulmans or Christians whose faces shine with Truth? Just as many Mongols here regard Manjusri as a god, rather than the personification of Divine Wisdom, so do Christians mistake the Divine Forces for angels, the Centre for God; yet what does it matter? All prayers, rites and methods of concentration which open up the inner man must bring forth the inner Light, whereon their purpose is achieved. I am a Vajrayanist only because I conceive, rightly or wrongly, that the Vajrayana Sages have mapped the road more completely and better understood the methods of harnessing the Transformers than people of most other sects and faiths. I have met Christian missionaries at Kokonor who are laughable in their ignorance; I have also met two missionaries of the Heavenly Lord (Catholic) Sect who are fully Enlightened Bodhisattvas! Let those Buddhists who are still lost in darkness kneel before them in all humility (The Lost World of Chinese Buddhism, John Blofeld - taken from Adventures with the Buddha, Jeffery Paine).

So, perhaps I can help illuminate someone's path just a bit more. At the very least, maybe I can just help keep them company on the journey.