With an Introduction by Venerable Narada Maha Thera of Vajiraramaya, Ceylon, (Sri Lanka)
And a Foreword by
W. Y. Evans-Wentz, M.A., D.LITT., D.SC.
By
MRS. H.M. GUNESEKARA TRUST
'Let a man of intelligence come to me, who is honest, candid, straightforward
- I will instruct him, I will teach him the Norm',
said the supreme
Buddha 2,500 years ago.
(Udumbarika-Sihanada Sutta).
In the same spirit may Western peoples seeking Wisdom find their Liberation.
Dedicated to my Father,
To whom I have much to be grateful. Though himself a staunch Protestant Christian, yet he was liberal-minded enough to place no obstacles in the path of my own Emancipation. May he through realization that all compounded things are subject to dissolution, one day win his own Freedom.
Chapter 1 : The Theists and Science
Chapter 2 : A supreme Buddha arises in the world
Chapter 3 : The Buddha's Main Teachings
Chapter 4 : Kamma and the Life-flux - Santati
Chapter 5 : Can we Believe in Re-birth ?
Chapter 6 : Buddhism and Science
Chapter 7 : Buddhism Solves the Riddle of Life
INTRODUCTION
By The Venerable NARADA MAHA THERA
BUDDHISM is a moral and philosophical system which appeals, both to the masses and the intelligentsia.
As Buddhism emphasizes the importance of practice and self- realization, it is not a mere philosophy which deals with speculations and theories. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that the Buddha has forestalled many a philosopher.
Buddhism teaches a psychology without a psyche. When Professor James referred to stream of consciousness and remarked that 'thoughts themselves are the thinkers' he was echoing the Buddhists doctrine of Anatta, the crux of Buddhism, in his own words.
Apart from mind and matter, the constituents of this so-called being, there is no permanent soul either emanating from a Universal Soul or created by God.
The Buddha denied the fundamental teachings of most religions, based on the fear of the unknown and on blind faith. He expounded a rational and tolerant teaching that could be tested and verified by personal experience. To its unique credit it should be said that throughout its peaceful march of 2500 years not a drop of blood was shed to propagate the peaceful message of the Buddha.
Metta or boundless loving-kindness that binds all as fellow-beings, irrespective of creed, color, race, or sex, has always been the guiding principle of all Buddhists. This war-weary restless world that has almost reached the zenith of material progress ignoring all spiritual values, that has prostituted science to cause indescribable suffering to millions, that has sacrificed the most precious thing on earth-life at the alter of brute force, is greatly in need of this universal loving-kindness which is the only non-aggressive antidote to the powerful alphabetical bombs of this chaotic atomic age.
In this little book Mr Egerton Baptist, Buddhist by conviction, has made a humble attempt to present some of the fundamental teachings of the Compassionate Buddha to seekers of truth. He is to be congratulated on his noble endeavor to propagate the sublime teachings of Buddhism which are diametrically opposed to the fundamental tenets of Christianity, his ancestral religion.
Vajirarama,
Colombo, 28th June, 1955.
By Dr. W. Y. EVANS-WENTZ
Author of 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead', etc.
THIS small but precious treatise, on the scientific aspect of Buddhism in relation to modern developments in the realm of Western Science, may well prove to be a forerunning herald of awakenment for a planet hypnotically immersed in the Sleep of Ignorance. It was among the Mediterranean peoples when the Roman Empires was falling, so it is today in Europe and Americas. Occidental mankinds have lost that enthusiasm of their pioneer forefathers without which no social order, religious faith, or cultural heritage can long endure. The dreams of a generation now almost extinct have not been realized. The promises of the machine age and of a once boastful technology have failed, and, instead of a prophesied era of triumphant and joyous living, there is dark despondency and bitter disillusionment. And precisely as the Mediterranean people means of self-directed effort, so do the peoples of the Occident look for their own deliverance now.
Western scientists have sought and in some encouraging and not unimportant measure have found truth, not in their inherited theology, but in their laboratories and test tubes and by means of their mathematics and microscopes and telescopes. But, unfortunately, unlike their brethren in Asia, they have been content to study effects rather than causes, phenomena rather than noumena. Nevertheless, although thus limited in outlook and understanding they have, as Mr. Baptist very rightly emphasizes, approached closer to the supreme Science of the Buddha.
I perceive as Mr. Baptist does, that the failure of the West to advance culturally rather than utilitarianly has been due to lack of Right Guidance. Instead of the Right Knowing of Gnostic and Esoteric Doctrine of the Christos, the West has been taught, exoterically and vulgarly, to believe in an anthropomorphic deity full of vengeance and jealous of all other deities and as much an advocate of human warfare as are his worshippers, and in a personal immortal self, or 'soul', and in a one incarnation sojourn on Earth followed by transference to an eternal heaven of blissfulness for the elect or to a state of never-ending torture called hell for damned.
Had Right Christianity prevailed in Europe and the Americas the two world wars would have never been fought, nor would there have been need for missionaries to go from the nations of the West to Ceylon or to any other Buddhist land, for, as I made clear in my controversy with the missionaries of the Church-Council, Christianity in Ceylon more than thirty years ago - Right Christianity like Buddhism - is based upon the fundamental and scientifically-tenable doctrines of Kamma and Rebirth, which, I am glad to observe, Mr. Baptist has expounded in an altogether new and fascinating way.
There is in the West at the present time a remarkable revival, emotional rather than intellectual, of that form of exoteric Christianity which commonly opposes, in an unscholarly and untenable manner, as its missionaries in Ceylon do, the doctrines of Kamma and Rebirth. This revival is, in large degree, the outcome of the fear-obsession of the occidental peoples. After two world-wars have destroyed their over-lordship of the Earth and their scientists have discovered means of national and all world suicide, they grasp the old dogmatism in desperation, as though it were a life preserver afloat in a storm-tossed sea. Buddhism is, as yet, too little known in the Occident to be, as it otherwise could be, the efficient means of restoring confidence to the bewildered and error-fettered people.
Monasticism, which in all known ages and faiths has ever afforded the disillusioned an easy escape from disordered society, is, like the revival, also enjoying such precipitate prosperity that there are today three times as many Roman Catholic renunciates in the United states alone as there were fifty-five years ago. This too, parallels a like condition which prevailed in the days of the disintegrating Empire of Rome.
Oswald Spenglar may yet prove to have been a true seer when he wrote The Decline of the West. At all events, when the course of empire on its Western way shall have crossed the Pacific and reached India And Ceylon and so completed the circuit of the planet, as, of yore, there will dawn a truly New age; and a Federated World will be in the enjoyment of that Right Guidance to which this small volume refers and which all the Buddhas since prehistoric times have made available to mankind. Only then will the race of men be restored to sanity, economically, politically, and psychically.
Valuable for all who seek Right Understanding is Mr. Baptist's praiseworthy dethronement of the anthropomorphic God of the Bible in Chapter 1. The next two chapters contain an excellent outline account of the life and chief teachings of the Buddha. Then in Chapters 4 and 5, is set forth one of the best expositions available on Kamma and Rebirth. In his treatment of Buddhism and science, in Chapter 6, Mr. Baptist shows deep insight and originality; and in Chapter VII he expounds convincingly how Buddhism solves the riddle of life.
Once a communist of the Church of Rome, Mr. Baptist has, in virtue of intense search and meditation, arrived at the sound conviction that Church-Council Christianity is not, as I made clear to the people of Ceylon during the Rebirth Controversy, Right Christianity. And in the wondrous and scientific teachings of the Enlightened One, he has discovered the Port of Self-Realization and Self-Salvation, having left far behind, as being of no further use on the Voyage to the Other Shore, the Port of Salvation by Faith.
May those Great Ones who assist mankind in the aeon-long journey, vouchsafe their blessings on this book, and empower its author, for many years to come, to continue his service on behalf of his brethren seeking to emerge from the mist-enshrouded valleys and attain the sun-illuminated Heights.
San Diego, California
Vaisakha 1955.
The purpose of this book is to commemorate the Sambuddha-Jayanthi - the 2500th year of the Supreme Buddha's Pari-Nibbana.
The seed from which this little book has sprung, however, was planted in the columns of the Ceylon Observer, a Lake House Journal, wherein I initiated a controversy in good humor on the existence or non-existence of God. A storm broke out in the press, and when calm was restored my good friend Prema de Silva suggested that I might suitably adapt and present the main arguments of that controversy for analysis by thinking men in the West who had not heard of the Buddha Dhamma, and who as Dr,. Evans-Wentz aptly remarks in his Foreword, have been studying for long 'phenomena rather than noumena'.
In a time when the world is torn between conflicting ideologies, when primitive beliefs are from their foundations, when men despair, the Message of the Supreme Buddha stands like a mighty Rock unshaken by the challenge of this Atomic Age. His Message neither added to nor subtracted from, holds true today as it did 2500 years ago. Its appeal is not to emotion, but to the intelligence of all thinking men and women the world over.
May this little book play its modest part in promoting knowledge of the Sublime Buddha Dhamma wherever the English language is spoken, especially among our brothers and sisters across the seas in that great land of freedom, the United States of America.
My thanks are due
to the Venerable Narada Maha Thera, for having kindly written the introduction
to this book. Like Bodhisattas of old, sacrificing his own opportunities of
emancipation, he has taken the Message of the Dhamma to the four corners of
the world. Where it not for his efforts to spread Enlightenment, far and wide,
many would still be languishing in a backyard of ignorance. But this work has
been sufficiently appreciated, and it is a privilege for me to pay him this
tribute. To those whose interest is aroused by this little book to go deeper
into the subject and make a fairly comprehensive study of the pure unadulterated
teachings of the Buddha as found in the Theravada schools of Ceylon, Burma and
Siam, I cam do no better than recommend the Venerable Maha Thera's own book,
The Buddha Dhamma. It is one of the finest books ever written on the Buddha
Dhamma.
To Dr. Evans-Wentz, I am deeply indebted for his very encouraging and illuminating Foreword. Hailing as he does from the Americas, and himself a profound and independent thinker, his appeal to the West to study not only the original teachings of Jesus, but the Sublime Doctrines of the Blessed One would, no doubt, not fall on deaf ears.
Mr Dharmapriya Mahinda, Proctor, Supreme Court of Panadura has kindly met the cost of printing. His response to my appeal was immediate and spontaneous and was at a time I had almost despaired of ever being able to place the manuscript in the Printer's hands. I offer to him my sincere thanks for his generosity. May his tireless efforts in the cause of the Dhamma, when his work is done, bring him the peace of Nibbana, which he so richly deserves.
A meed of praise is due to a very young friend, Denzil Dissanayaka, still a student, who sought my help and guidance in an endeavor to understand some of the deeper teachings of the Buddha. His contract with me, was like the erupting of a volcano that had long been smoldering. With rare intelligence and equally rare sincerity, he set to work questioning and cross-questioning me on many human problems that had earlier eluded his comprehension. For like most born-Buddhists he too had little appreciation of the Sublime Buddha-Dhamma. But now through conviction, he feels that through a study of Buddhism, he would be able 'to get reason out of the mass of incongruity we call human life'. There is every hope that he would some day blossom forth into a worthy apostle of the Sublime teaching. I need hardly add that he would some day blossom forth into a worthy I need hardly add that his persistent questioning helped me in no small measure to make many of my own views clearer to the average reader.
I also think my good friend Alec Robertson for reading the proofs for me. He has followed my every footstep so sincerely and zealously that I have now come to regard him as a Kalyanamitta (a genuine friend of abiding sincerely on the path to emancipation). My deep conviction is that we have often been together, through the ups and downs of life in previous incarnations.
For myself no praise is sought. Fame and glory are cherished only by the foolish. For, even if one were to rule a kingdom today, there is the ever grim possibility of being reborn a dog tomorrow, in the household of even an enemy. So intricate is the working of Kamma. All I seek is to present the available evidence, in as simple a manner as possible, having sifted and analyzed what I have myself gathered from time to time in my own search for enlightenment. And in doing this, when dealing with intricate scientific processes, language easily understood by the man-in-the-street has been used to bring home to the average reader the great truths propounded by the Supreme Buddha, and which now 'find confirmation in the laboratories and test tubes of the West'. If even a few adults, among religionists, are aroused by this little book to give more serious thought to the problem of Existence, my pains will be well repaid.
By my efforts to promote Right Knowledge and Right Understanding among peoples of goodwill in all climes and in all lands, it is my hope that I too would one day win the fruits of Liberation from the recurring cycles of birth and death through Full Enlightenment.
EGERTON C. BAPTIST
159, Hill Street, Dehiwela, Ceylon(Sri Lanka).
13th July, 1955 (2499)
Chapter 1: The Theists and Science
God
There arises from time to time the question of God, His existence or non-existence.
People ask what is the ultimate origin of life?
Hinduism, in endeavoring to solve the problem, traces the origin of life to a mystical Paramatma from which emanate all Atmas or souls that transmigrate from existence to existence until they are finally reabsorbed in Paramatma.
Theistic creeds, like Christianity for example, in attempting to give an explanation attributes everything to the fiat of an Almighty God. But before we direct our energies to the solving of the riddle of the universe, it is as well that we begin by asking what is implied by God, as theists are themselves confused in their minds on this question. Is God for instance, a personal God as depicted in the guise of an old man with long white hair and beard and flowing robes pictured in the paintings of Michaelangelo in the Sistine Chapel in Rome and the Cathedral of Chalons or as depicted in ecclesiastical dress with a bishop's mitten in the Church La Chapellsur-Crecy, or is God a Supernatural Force? Either way the difficulties are great and innumerable for any one to surmount.
Science
Notwithstanding their theories theists also assert that eminent scientists testify
to the presence or existence of God. However eminent, sincere and unprejudiced
such scientists may be, such testifications are not a scientific method of approach
to the question whether 'God' exists.
Scientific thinking is a process which proceeds from the basis of known facts; and if unknown assumptions are brought in, it is only till such time that they are either confirmed or rejected by experience. Hence, to rely on such 'testifications' of 'eminent scientists sincere and unprejudiced', is not a scientific approach to the problem of God.
The medieval philosophers and their ancestors, Descartes, Berkeley, Leibniz, Spinoza, maintained, it is true that the existence of God could be demonstrated by logical reasoning. But these so-called classical proofs of God's existence, including the much vaunted Metaphysical and Teleological Arguments of Theologian Aquinas received such devastating treatment at the hands of Kant, that they need not be resurrected today.
Hermon Minkowski resorting to mathematics proved that if we accept the velocity of light as constant, then the measuring instruments must have undergone a change as a result of their motion. He showed that when the velocity of the observer is increased his distance begins to shorten and his time intervals begin to lengthen so that when he attains the speed of light his distance will dwindle down to zero and his time intervals will extend to eternity. This makes the existence of God a definite possibility, for God alone is represented as being eternally present everywhere at the same time.
Unfortunately, however for the theist, Minkowsky also proved mathematically that the velocity of light is a critical velocity which can never be attained by any physical force. Thus Minkowski proved mathematically, that even as a force God does not exist.
It may be mentioned here, however, that while the West always keeps thinking in terms of physical forces and seems unable as yet to alter its materialistic theory in the East, Buddhist psychology taught so long as 2500 years ago, that thought has an infinite velocity; that is to say that it could transcend time and space overcoming all barriers. It is a faculty, which when developed, enables one to penetrate for instance: into the most secret recesses of other peoples' hearts, see how people die and are re-born in other spheres of existence, see distant objects (clairvoyance), hear distant sounds (clairaudience), go through physical barriers, walk on water, traverse through space etc -(magical powers). In Buddhist parlance, these powers are known as the pancha-abhinna (i.e. the five supernormal powers).
Dr. J. B. Rhine, the US Scientist, is now conducting certain experiments in extra-sensory-perception in that branch of science known as Para-psychology, seeking to explain telepathy, pre-cognition etc., and it may perhaps be only a matter of time before the West too proves conclusively what the East has all the time known, namely that Mind is Supreme in all human activity:
Manopubbangama dhamma
manosettha manomaya - said the Buddha: meaning thereby that:
All states arising have Mind for their cause,
Of Mind are the offspring.
Let us digress for a while to clarify this statement. Mind is certainly, as the Buddha taught, supreme in all human activity. And, the primary aim of mental exercise is to bring the mind to a state of one-pointed-ness. Thereafter transcending in four stages in the space-time continuum of phenomenal perception, one reaches to the timeless and unconditioned state known to Buddhists as Nibbana. If we are to view phenomena objectively, then our Minds must be unconditioned and outside the causal process. And, that is the aim of every Buddhist. For, the Mind that is circumscribed by ideas, imposes 'limits' as it were, on phenomena or 'events' in the continuum of space and time. And, we therefore use such conventional modes of expression as 'past', 'present' and 'future' because our Minds are still circumscribed by concepts. We are still within the subject-object relationship.
When a yogi, for instance, through mental exercise attains one-pointed-ness(Samadhi)in the fourth jhana, he begins to transcend the 'limits' of time and space imposed by our conceptual thinking. And, develops the faculty referred to earlier as the Panca-abhinna which enables him to 'see' and to 'hear' what we do not. This faculty is the natural outcome of one's ability to concentrate on one point to the exclusion of all the distracting sensations that normally arise in ordinary thinking. Hence such a person's insight is beyond the capacity of ordinary mortals though, of course, he too still remains within the subject-object relationship.
There are sects in every country who try to gain control of the vital forces in nature, whether among the Jains, the Hindus, the early Christians in the Hermetic Lodges of Egypt where Christianity first took root or among the early Buddhists and Brahmans inhabiting the Eastern valley of the Ganges in the time of the Buddha. In Egypt, people were trained in the temple of Ma-at to develop the psychic eye and when they responded to the training were called 'Seers' because they were able to look into the past and foretell the future. This psychic faculty was called the 'Third Eye', and corresponds to one of the five Supernormal Powers or Pancha-abhinna of Buddhists with (but one) fundamental exception. Ancient Egyptians and other 'Seers' had a limited vision, extending to a maximum range of forty kalpas (world-cycles of time) into the past and forty kalpas into the future. The limited vision was because they had still to destroy what are known to Buddhists as the Asavas (Defilements) i.e. Kama-tanha (Sense-desires), Bhava-tanha (desire for Eternalism), Ditti (False Views) and Avijja (ignorance) which bind beings however exalted they might be to the recurring cycles of birth and death.
The Buddhist Arahat's capacity to 'see' into the continuum of space and time, on the other hand, is not restricted; but dependent on his attainments he could see far into space and time. A Pacceka-Buddha's vision is even greater than that of an Arahat, but a Supreme Buddha's vision surpasses them all, and He alone possesses an added faculty, namely the ability to see at a glance what previous good or evil acts(Kamma) conditioned a being's present existence and would condition his future existence. He alone knew when the moment of fruition -the ripening of Wisdom- can come. This faculty is peculiar to a Supreme Buddha because He has practiced the ten Perfections (Paramis) to saturation point over a longer period of time than an Arahat or even a Pacceka-Buddha and has gained excellence in every department of knowledge - mundane and supra-mundane. Hence His vision is unsurpassed both in the realms of gods and among men. They may be likened to three types of beings who 'see' with the aid of Starlight, Moonlight and Sunlight respectively.
Now, in keeping with each individual person's development, there are some among us who we say are psychic. Indeed, to a greater or a lesser degree we are all psychic but most of us only to an infinitesimal degree. A few there are, however to a marked degree. The latter have practiced to a greater or lesser degree in previous incarnations the mental exercises leading to one-pointed-ness though they do not apparently know it now. Equipped thus with a more sensitive mental apparatus than most beings, they are now possessed with an uncanny deeper insight into events in the continuum of space and time.
Accordingly, some are able to predict events by merely 'reading' cards or holding an article to their foreheads against the awakened or dormant 'Third Eye' which tunes into (consciously or unconsciously) and commingles with the vibrations emanating from the article. And, as these vibrations represent a certain picture or 'event', just as do our thoughts, such folk are able to describe the associations attached to it. The emanations are often so fine and numerous that they continue to be given off for thousands of years just as with radium. That, this is so, is evidenced by an episode narrated in the Buddhist Scripture.
There was once, we were told, a man, a great yogi called Vanghisa. He was able to tell by merely tapping on a skull where a particular person had been re-born. He was an adept in the science of sound. Many people flocked to him with the skulls of their dead, if only they might hear a word of hope - a word of good cheer! The Buddha in his compassion, always seeking to lead men on to the Path that brings peace through Nibbana, reasoned that so clever a man was likely to grasp His teachings easily. Accordingly, having arranged to produce three skulls before Vanghisa He went to see him. Vanghisa was naturally flattered and not a little amused and so was the populace. For, here was the Supreme Buddha Himself visiting the Yogi Vanghisa with skulls. The customary greetings were exchanged and the skulls produced. Vanghisa (so the story goes) examined the skulls and pronounced that the first skull showed rebirth in the Peta world (i.e. one of the lowest ghost purgatorial states). 'Very well', the Buddha said, 'You are right'. The second skull, Vanghisa said, showed rebirth in the Deva world (i.e. a celestial realm). 'Quite right', agreed the Buddha. But, tap as he made the third skull, Vanghisa was literally 'stumped'. He tried and tried but could not tell. Thereupon he enquired of the Buddha if he knew. And, the Buddha smilingly replied 'Yes, I do know, but I will explain only if you will visit me sometime'. Vanghisa was an honest man, and decided to visit Buddha. And, while expounding the sublime Dhamma, the Buddha explained why the third skull had baffled him. That being, indeed had actually not been re-born in any one of the thirty one states of sentient existence. His Kamma had been brought to a state of Perfect Balance, and there was no 'attraction or repulsion'. It was the skull of an Arahat. Hence Vanghisa had failed to locate a place of rebirth. For, Arahats are reborn no more in the worlds of sentient existence. Since there is no rebirth for and Arahat, there were no vibrations linking this skull with a new abode. There being no vibrations, there was no 'wave length' established too. That is why Vanghisa had failed.
And, just as a clean cloth from which all stain has been washed away will readily take in the dye, so did Vanghisa obtain, in no long time, the pure and spotless Eye for the truth, and he knew: 'Whatsoever has a beginning in that is inherent also has the necessity of dissolution'. In other words, Vanghisa too attained to the unconditioned -he became another Arahat.
This briefly explains certain aspects of extra-sensory perception like card reading etc., which work more or less on the same principles of modern Radar and which were known to Buddhists from ancient times. But in certain instances of pre-cognition, where no object that gives off vibrations is made use of and an event is seen before it actually 'occurs', what really happens is that that person touches momentarily the 'summits' of his former achievements, which through mental exercise had bordered on the unconditioned and timeless. The latter have indeed confounded some of the greatest thinkers of our time.
Dr. Rhine's researches, therefore, into the realms of precognition, when concluded, should be not only interesting but even revealing to many who now through fear and superstition believe in Devine inspiration.
Theists have also tried to learn on the Second law of Thermodynamics in their efforts to maintain the existence of God. Now, what is the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Briefly, this law says that natural processes cannot be reversed. In other words, it means that the universe has been expanding, or going 'forward' and does not and cannot go 'backwards'. The layman or non-scientific mind can grasp the underlying principle of this Law by considering a few simple examples: say for instance, a child is born of a woman's womb. Now, according to the Law of Thermodynamics, this child must develop in a 'forward direction' that is to say, it cannot go back into the same womb, as it were; no not at any rate in that incarnation! Take another simple example: say a seed is planted and a tree results. Now, the tree that sprouts forth from the seed cannot get back into that seed again. The process is one of going 'forward' all the time. From this, theists try to argue that as natural processes cannot be reversed, the universe has had a beginning in time, implying 'Creation'. In fact some scientists in hazarding a guess have actually calculated the beginning to have occurred about two billion years ago.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics cannot be challenged. But there is one important weak link in the chain of argument which appears to have been safely ignored by theists and such scientists in their calculations.
For, while it is true that scientists have proved that natural processes cannot be reversed, it is also equally scientifically true that the universe has been both expanding and contracting. And, this process has been going on through eternity. Where then is the beginning of time that is said to have occurred two billion years ago?
Thus, if the underlying principle of the Second Law of Thermodynamics is understood, it could be of no practical value or assistance to theists who vainly endeavor to find a beginning in time that might imply creation.
Now, let us examine the theistic view a little further. Theists say that God created the earth (matter) first and then man (mind). But we know that man is to this world what mind is to matter. That is to say, man and his external world is a relationship, for if there is no man there would be no world as far as he is concerned; and if there is no mind there would be no matter to be observed. This is confirmed by Einstein who says that mind and matter must arise together or not at all. Hence all philosophical views which look upon mind as evolved from matter are clearly wrong. For, the Theory of Relativity proves the simultaneous genesis of mind and matter quite conclusively.
This confutes the Biblical story of special creation, quite apart from the fact that it looks somewhat superfluous to call in am Almighty God to create two illusions. For is not the material world including mind and matter an illusion dependent on the arising of causes?
And, now, finally we come to an argument that is a favorite among theists. In Ceylon it is known as the 'Watchmaker' argument. Here we are told that even so small and relatively simple a piece of machinery as a watch must have a maker. It cannot come into existence automatically. And so it follows say the protagonists of the theory of God that the Universe with all its complex balance of forces, all its wonders, all its stars and planets and other celestial bodies working in perfect co-ordination must have had a creator.
But there are many objections to this argument, a few of which we shall consider here.
For instance, who ever heard of any watchmaker coming into existence automatically? If we are therefore to be logical this should apply equally to the Universe-maker as well. He too must have had a maker, who in his turn must have had a maker and so on. The argument ends in futility for where is one to stop?
Now can we ever find a watchmaker who made a watch out of absolutely nothing? How then, can we think of a Universe-maker who achieved this impossible feat? On the assumption, however, that he too like our watch maker had materials; from where did he obtain his materials? Had these materials any prior existence?
On the watchmaker theory, if we are to regard this as an argument at all, we are led inevitably to the conclusion that the universe was built not by one Universe-maker but by several of them. For, we find that even so simple a mechanism as a watch is the work or creation of several people each one a specialists in his own branch of activity. On this analogy, the Universe, if ever it was created by a conscious and intelligent agency, would have had a large body of people working for that Agency. There would have then been a team of makers rather than one sole maker, a Syndicate in fact.
The purpose of mentioning this point of view is not as an argument in support of a Syndicate or Agency as the Creating Force of the universe, but merely to point out that it is a logical conclusion perfectly consistent with the data provided and the reasoning sought to be applied thereto by reference to the 'Watchmaker' theory.
The Buddha has however spoken of gods. For, in Buddhist cosmology there are many gods. They are called Devas. He taught the hard truth that these gods too, like us human beings, are subject to decay and death as the inexorable law of change applies to gods in as much as it does to men. The gods live long, much longer than humans, because of their own good Kamma. Some of these gods are very powerful, again this is a result of their own good Kamma, and this fact should not surprise any one and create the impression of omni-potency. For, do we not find even among us humans, some who are endowed with much power, some with much wisdom and so forth. Unfortunately, as with most humans, gods too sometimes imagine that since they live long and are very powerful they would continue as they are through eternity. And, when the hard day comes of separation from their lofty pedestals, with the exhaustion of the Kamma force that propelled them into such positions, once again there is grief, pain, lamentation, suffering and misery at the prospect of having to give up what they prized so much and held before. The greatest fallacy from which the gods themselves suffer is this erroneous belief that they will live for ever. They do not realize that their glory will not last for ever and will cease with the expending of their Kamma or Merit. They are lulled into a sense of false security and complacency owing to their longevity and power. But, in time, the gods too must die, and are once again reborn into some other phenomenal state, in keeping with the law of Kamma. For, just as cattle die, so do men and flies; and gods too must one day die because they also are conditioned beings not as yet having attained the supreme, unconditioned state of Nibbana which alone can provide immunity from the recurring cycles of birth and death.
The gods often suffer from self-complacency, and in their ignorance, they appear from time to time among men and mislead them by urging them to endeavor to reach the god- states. It is a case of blind leading the blind!
But it must be understood that the Buddha's denial of God is only in respect of a Supreme Being - as Creator, Vanquisher and Controller of the Universe! There is no such Deity, Omnipotent and Unchanging, even in Nibbana the highest Goal of Buddhism. For, Nibbana is 'soulless' or without the substratum of self, void of even a 'causeless cosmic power'. This is admirably brought out without ambiguity and doubt by the use of the word Dhamma in the third line of the Buddha's own words:
Sabbe sankhara anicca (all component things are transient)
Sabbe sankhara dukkha (all component things are sorrowful)
Sabbe dhamma anatta (all mundane and supra-mundane 'things' are 'soulless')
Chapter 2 : A Supreme Buddha Arises
in the World
His Early Life
Now, unlike the theists who have played into the hands of the Communists and do not yet realize the damage they have done and are continuing to do even today to the Free World by persisting in their own pet theories, there arose in the Eastern valley of the Ganges in India, 2500 years ago, a great World Teacher -a Supreme Buddha- who satisfactorily solved the riddle of life.
The Communist point of view was not unknown to the Buddha. In fact, it was well known to the peoples of Jambudvipa (India) ever so long as 2500 years ago. In the Brahma-Jala Sutta (or Supreme Net), the Buddha enumerates 62 False Theorisings (Micchaditti) prevalent at the time, and among these is Uccheda-Vada which, in effect, is the Marxist view of today. That perhaps is why Eastern peoples have refused to be scared by the Communist bogey and is only concerned with restoring their ancient cultures and civilizations and re-establishing those forms of governments that were in existence prior to the invasions by Western colonial rulers. For, inherent in such systems was a type of Sociologist Democracy built in the best traditions of Cakkravati kings.
Briefly, this is the history of Supreme Buddha. He was born about 623 B.C. in the district of Nepal, an Indian Sakyan Prince, by name Siddhatta Gotama. At the age of sixteen he married his cousin, the beautiful Princess Yasodhara.
After his happy marriage he lived for nearly thirteen years in royal splendor and luxury, blissfully ignorant of the vicissitudes of life outside the palace gates.
As the years passed, truth gradually illuminated him. In his twenty ninth year, which marked the turning point of his career, his son Rahula was born. Realizing that all living things are without exception subject to birth, decay and death and that all worldly pleasures are merely a prelude to suffering, he regarded even his own offspring as bondage. Comprehending thus the universality of sorrow, he decided to discover a panacea for this universal malady of humanity.
Accordingly, he renounced his royal pleasures, donned the simple garb of an ascetic and became a wandering Seeker of Truth. He approached many a distinguished teacher of his day, but none could solve for him the riddle of existence. All the so called philosophers were groping in the dark. As they were ignorant and themselves caught in the whirlpool of life and death, it was again an instance of the blind leading the blind.
The Middle Path
Departing from his teachers, he decided to go forth on the Great Quest alone and independently. And, one morning as he sat in solitude and profound meditation under the Bodhi Tree (or Tree of Enlightenment as it afterwards came to be called) at Budh-Gaya, unaided and unguided by any Supernatural Agency, but relying solely on his own efforts and wisdom he attained understanding of things as they really are and became the Fully Awakened One. He became a Supreme Buddha -a World Teacher- a Teacher of both Gods and Men.
His method of attainment which avoided the two extremes of self-mortification and self-indulgence came to be known as the Middle Path - Majjhima Patipada.
Having attained Supreme Enlightenment, that is to say, the Perfection of Nibbana, He devoted the remainder of His life to the service of mankind both by example and precept dominated by no personal motive whatsoever; and after a very successful ministry of forty-five years passed away into Pari-Nibbana.
This Extraordinary Man Defeated God
The Buddha was not a God. He was born human and died human, but He was an extraordinary man. He left no room for anyone to fall into the error of believing Him to be an immortal being or a reincarnation of a saint or god. There is no deification of this great Teacher.
He exhorted His disciples to depend on themselves for their Salvation, for both defilement and purity depend on oneself.
'You yourselves should
make the exertion. The
Tathagathas (another name applied to Buddha) are only
teachers'.
He used to say.
To depend on others for Salvation (or liberation from the recurring cycles of birth and death) is negative, but to depend on oneself is positive. Dependence on others means surrender of one's efforts. Hence the saying, 'the beginning of Wisdom is fear of the Lord' has no meaning to the Buddhist. For, says the Buddha, 'Wheresoever fear arises it ariseth in the fool, not in the wise man' (Maj. Nik. 115). Buddhist Saints -Arahats- do not weep. People weep because they are ignorant, emotional, unbalanced-worldlings yet! The foolish weep: the wise do not weep!
The Buddha's last Message to His disciples, when He lay dying was :-
'Be ye islands unto
yourselves, be ye a refuge unto
yourself; seek for no refuge in others.
Subject to decay
are all component things: With
diligence, work out your own Salvation'.
In effect, His teachings seemed to say: 'What I have achieved, you too can accomplish. For, what Man has done, Man can Do!'
Chapter 3 : The Buddha's Main Teachings
Transiency, Sorrow and Substance-less-ness
The Buddha's main teachings concerned the transience of all component things - phenomena, the non-existence of a 'soul' or 'atma' or the substance-less-ness of the mundane and supra-mundane things, and the impossibility of finding an eternal heaven in a process of continual change. He also taught that we ourselves are responsible for the conditions or the situations we find ourselves in today and at any time. His teaching is tersely summed up in the Anguttara Nikaya-pt.1,p.286, which reads :-
'Whether the Tathagatas appear or not, O Bhikkhus (i.e monks) it remains a fact , an established principle, a natural law that all conditioned things are transient (Anicca), sorrowful (Dukkha), and everything (including even supra-mundane things) is soul-less (Anicca). This fact the Tathagata realizes and understands and when He has realized and understood it, He announces, teaches, proclaims, establishes, discloses, analyses and makes it clear that all conditioned things are transient sorrowful, and everything (including even supra-mundane things) is soul-less'.1
Soul
Denying the existence of an unchanging 'Soul' or 'atma', the Buddha said :-
'The body (Rupa), O Bikkhus, is soul-less (Anatta). If, O Bhikkhus, there were in this a soul (i.e. a permanent unchanging "entity" or "ego" created by a God, or emanating from a Paramatma), then this body would not be subject to ill. "Let this body be thus, let this body be not thus" -such possibilities would also exist. But O Bhukkhus in as much as this body is soul-less, it is subject to ill and no possibility exists for (commanding the body from within) saying: "Let this be so, let this not be so"'.
'In the same manner sensations (vedana), perceptions (sanna), volitional activities (sankhara) and consciousness (vinnana) are soul-less' (Anattalakkhana Sutta).1
The so-called being is composed of these five Groups. Outside them there is no being. If one removed the Groups nothing remains. A Soul abides neither in any groups nor in all of them nor outside them.
'And just as when
the parts are rightly set.
The word "chariot" ariseth (in our minds);
So doth our usage covenant to say
"A being" when the aggregates are there'. 1
'No doer is there
who does the deed,
Nor is there one who feels the fruit
Constituent parts alone roll on…' 1
Anatta or 'No-Soul' is the central pivot on which the whole of the Buddha's philosophy turns. Even as all sea-water has the same taste of salt, so if we take any part of the Dhamma, or for the matter of that, ant phase of life in a Buddhist country, we shall find it saturated with the blessedness of its saving grace.
The belief in a permanent 'Soul' or 'Atma' is due to the deceptive data provided by the five senses. This belief is the chief impediment to the attainment of complete freedom from sorrow.
The teaching of 'No-Soul' has a profound ethical value. So long as man believes in a soul-entity, it is impossible for him to get rid of selfishness. Hence the Buddha says 'Where-so-ever self is, virtue cannot exist'. Banish the self idea and altruism is replaced on its proper ethical basis. Even as in the domain of astronomy the heliocentric system has supplanted the now exploded geocentric theory, the teaching of 'No-soul', or the new psychology has overthrown the ego-centric system of the attavadi.
The anattavadi alone can thus realize the full significance of all life. Once this sublime idea is grasped it would be folly to steal one's neighbor's purse or to kill one's brother man, for these offences would be committed against one's self.
Heavens
The Buddha taught that heavenly conditions and states are attainable, but that they are fleeting and impermanent, being characterized by transience (Anicca) and substance-less-ness (Anatta) which are the inherent features of all phenomena. For, when the energy that gave birth to a being in a celestial realm is exhausted, that being of necessity dies to that state and re-manifests on some other appropriate plane of consciousness.
Heavenly states endure for a long period, thousands of years and aeons of time, which when compared with 60, 70 or a 100 years of human life seem to be almost eternal. But this is only a Delusion (Moha) and is based on deceptive data provided by the senses, says the Buddha. Delusion springs from ignorance (Avijja) and beings crave for happiness, now here and now there, not realizing the real nature of the cosmos. Ignorance (Avijja) is therefore, according to the Buddha's Message, the suffering humanity, the source of all Sorrow.
Being of impermanency, hells too are not eternal; and gods also must eventually die.
'Transient, alas!
Are all component things,
Subject are they to birth, -and they decay;
Having gained birth to death the life-flux swings:
Bliss truly dawns when unrest dies away'.
Creator
The Buddha refuted the theory that everything is the creation of a Supreme Being, a God or a Creator. On one occasion, He said (Jataka 528-Mahabodhi):-
'If there exists
some Lord all powered to fulfill,
In every creature bliss or woe, and action good or ill,
That Lord is stained with Sin. Man does but work his
will'. 1
On another occasion (Jataka 543-Bhuridatta),the Buddha said:-
'He who has eyes
can see the sickening sight;
Why does not Brahma (i.e. God) set his creatures right?
If his wide power no limits can restrain,
Why is his hand so rarely spread to bless?
Why are his creatures all condemned to pain?
Why does he not to all give happiness?
Why do fraud, lies and ignorance prevail?
Why triumph falsehood-truth and justice fail?
I count your Brahma (i.e. God) one with unjust among
(like other unjust beings Buddha regards God also as
another unjust being),
Who made a world in which to shelter wrong' (as He had
made a world to shelter wrong). 1
Origin of the World
But could there have been a beginning in time? If Einstein's Theory of Relativity is accepted, space and Time are merely ideas giving us one concept in mathematics, and there could never have been a beginning in time as the concept of time itself depends on the movement of objects occupying physical space. For, without material bodies and the physical space they occupy, there could be no time. Conversely, without time nothing could come into existence and without the existence of phenomena there could be no time. It is therefore meaningless to talk of the beginning of 'Creation' or a First Cause. Because Creation of something out of nothing can only mean the creation of 'time', and to create 'time' there must be phenomena, which again means the prior existence of 'time' or a time when the phenomena was not there as there can be no time without phenomena. Hence, as the Buddha insists, there could never have been a time when Sansara (i.e. phenomenal existence) and physical universe in some form or another did not exist2.
With scientific exactness, therefore, the Buddha's own view on the matter is recorded thus:-
'Without cognizable end in this Sansara (cycles of birth and death - phenomenal existence). A first beginning of beings who, obstructed by ignorance and fretted by craving, wander and fare on, is not to be perceived. Incalculable is the beginning, brethren, of this faring on. The earliest point is not revealed of the running on, the faring on of beings cloaked in ignorance tied to craving'.
How Belief in a Creator Originated
Explaining the origin of the belief in an Almighty God, as represented by Maha Brahma, the so-called Creator and how certain supposedly-inspired teachers of humanity from time to time come to believe in such an illusory creature, the Buddha said:-
'There comes a time, friends, when sooner or later, after the lapse of long epoch, the world is dissolved and evolved. When this takes place, beings have mostly reborn in the World of Radiance. There they dwell, made of mind, feeding on rapture, radiating light from themselves, traversing space, continuing in beauty, and thus they remain - for a long long period of time'.
'Now there comes a time, friends, when sooner or later this world-system begins to re-evolve. When this happens, the abode of the Brahmas appears, but it is empty. And some being or other, either because his span of years has passed, or because his merit is exhausted, deceases from the world of Radiance and comes to life in the abode of the Brahmas. And there also he lives, made of mind, feeding on rapture, radiating light from himself, traversing space, continuing in beauty; and thus does he remain for a long long period of time. Now there arises in him, from his dwelling there so long alone, a dissatisfaction and a longing: Oh, would that other beings too might come to join me in this place! And just then, either because their span of years had passed, or because their merit was exhausted, other beings fall from the world of Radiance and appear in the abode of the Brahmas as companions to him; and in all respects they lead a life like his (They are One with the Father, as it were!).'
'On this, friends, that being who was first re-born thinks thus: I am Brahma, the Great Brahma, the Vanquisher, the Unvanquished, the All-seeing, the Disposer, the Lord, the Maker, the Creator, the Chief, the Assigner, the Master of Myself, the Father of all that are and are to be. By me are these beings created.'
'And why is that so? A while ago I thought: Would that other beings too might come to this state of being! Such was the aspirations of my mind, and lo! These beings did come.'
'And those beings themselves who arose after him, they too think thus: This worthy must be Brahma (i.e. God). The Great Brahma, the Vanquisher, the Unvanquished, the All-seeing, the Disposer, the Lord, the Maker, the Creator, the Chief, the Assigner, the Master of Himself, the Father of all that are and are to be. By this Brahma (i.e. God) have we good sirs being created. And why is that so? Because he, as we see, arose here First, but we arose after him.'
'On this friends,
that being who first arose becomes longer lived, handsome and more powerful,
but those who appeared after him become shorter lived, less comely, less powerful.
And it might well be, friends, that some other being, on decreasing from that
state, should come to this state (on Earth). So come, he might go forth from
the household life unto the homeless state (i.e. become a homeless Wanderer
or Ascetic). And having thus gone forth by reason of ardor effort, devotion,
earnestness, perfect intellection, he reaches up to such rapt concentration
(through Meditation) that with rapt mind he calls to mind his former dwelling
place (with Brahma) but remembers not what went before. He
says thus: That Worshipful Brahma (i.e. God) the Vanquisher, the Unvanquished-Father
of all that are and are to be, he by whom we were created, he is permanent,
constant, eternal, unchanging, and he will remain so for ever and ever. But
we who were created by that Brahma (i.e. God), we have come hither all impermanent,
transient, unstable, short-lived, destined to pass away.'
'Thus was appointed the beginning of things which ye, sirs, declare as your traditional doctrine, to wit, that it has been wrought by an overlord, by Brahma (i.e. God).'3
A New Heaven and a New Earth
In the Agganna Sutta, the Buddha explains that at the stage when the world re-evolves, the Earth is dark and covered with water. This, it will be noted, is an exact description of the early phase of the Earth before the Sun dissipated the stream that filled the atmosphere. Beings existing then were un-differentiated as to sex. Ages having passed, the moisture gradually cleared and the Earth begins to appear, 'Earth with its savor' was spread out in the waters. Even as a scum forms on the surface of boiled milky rice that is cooling, so did the dry land appear. The description is one of scientific exactness.
The radiant mind-formed beings then begin to feed on the scum of the waters: the taste is pleasing and craving enters into them. As they feed, bodies became grosser 'And in measure as they thus fed, did their bodies become solid, and did variety in their form and comeliness become manifest'. This process continues for ages and meanwhile the land and waters separate and the mist clears, allowing Sun and Moon to be visible. As beings develop, discrimination appears between them. And they became conscious of differences. Various species begin to differentiate. Gradually the pleasing savor of the earth on which they nourish themselves disappears. Craving for different nourishment arises: 'Then Vasettha, when the savory earth has vanished for these beings, outgrowths appeared in the soil. The manner of the rising up thereof was as springing up of a mushroom, it had color odor and taste... Then those beings to feast on these outgrowths of the soil, and thus continued for a long time.' This is the description of the first fungoid vegetation. 'And so did their bodies grow ever more solid and the differences in their comeliness more manifest...'
Thereafter creeping plants appear and beings take to eating these; after laps of ages rice begins to grow. Beings then feed on rice: 'And in measure as they, thus feeding went on existing, so did the bodies of those beings become even more solid and more differentiated.. In the female appeared the distinctive features of the female, and in the male those of the male. Then truly did the female contemplate the male too closely, and the male the female. In them contemplating overmuch the one the other, passion arose and burning entered the body. They in consequence thereof followed their lusts'. From this began hatreds and enmities. Here again the description of how beings from being sexually undifferentiated, became bisexual, is biologically exact. At this point the origin of sexual morality is described, followed by details of the social structure and property system; 'And so…they stored up rice enough for four, then for eight days. Now from that time Vasettha, the rice began to degenerate...they reaped or cut stems (which grew again before the hoarding for four and eight days began) did not grow again; a break became manifest where the rice had been cut and the rice-stubble stood in clumps'. Theft then begins together with laws against theft and ultimately the strongest and handsomest of the community is chosen as Chief or Lawgiver. 'Chosen by the people, Vasettha, is what is meant by Maha Sammata, the Great Elect. Maha Sammata, traditionally was the first great king of the Solar Dynasty, from which the Sakya clan, to which the Buddha belonged, was descended. (Perhaps the germ for our belief in a 'Divine Right of Kings' is to be found here). Lord of the fields is what is meant by Khattiya; so Khattiya (Noble) was the next expression o arise. Raja was the third standing phrase to arise... Their origin was from among those very beings, and no others'. After this rose the priest class of Brahmins, whose duty was to instruct the laity in moral Principles and themselves live austere lives, practicing meditation in forest retreats. Some who found this too arduous, returned to the villages and became known as Ajjhayaka, repeaters of Vadas: Thus the third phrase for such people came into use. At that time these were looked upon as the lowest; now they are thought the best.
Then follows a description of how certain men became merchants (Vessas) while others became hunters and followed other degrading pursuits thus becoming the Suddas (Sudras), the lowest caste. From each of the four castes, individuals from time to time forsake the world to become religious recluses, when all caste distinctions ceased to exist from them. And it took place according to a norm (a fitness, justly). Any one of the four castes who has lead a bad life in deed, word and thought whose views of life are wrong, will in consequence of his views and deeds be re-born after death in one of the realms of misery, but one who, no matter what his caste is self-restrained in deed, thought and word, and has fulfilled the Seven Principles of Enlightenment, will attain to complete liberation in this very life.
It can truly be said that no parallel or anything remotely approaching this accurate description of the genesis and biological development of life on the earth is to be found in the original teachings of any other religion. In its uniqueness, it establishes, beyond question, the supra-mundane insight and omniscience of the Buddha.4
Now such periods of dissolutions and re-evolutions of the world have been going on through eternity, and is well known to Buddhists throughout the world. It is no mere theory to those living in the Orient.
Perhaps it is this early phase of life on the earth at a time when the world re-evolves that is looked forward to by certain Christian sects who speak of a 'New Heaven and a New Earth', though perhaps they do not realize it themselves.
Buddhists admit all this, but maintain that inasmuch as sentient existence continues through each new world cycle, there is no cessation of Suffering, even if we are to be the first to enjoy such happy conditions on a new and savory Earth when the world begins to re-evolve. In fact, the Buddha explained that in three ways the world is destroyed (or dissolved) - by fire, water and wind. In whichever manner the world is dissolved, when the Earth re-evolves, conditions are as described herein.
The Buddha had Himself been through many such dissolutions of the world and re-evolutions, and had enjoyed heavenly conditions from time to time. Thus, through his own experience, He tells us rather than continue through such cycles in circles, birth itself must be stopped. For birth itself is Suffering.
Incidentally, it may be noted here that the 'New Heaven and New Earth' re-evolve from the matter of another dissolved universe. Nothing is destroyed.
The Buddha's Silence
Many were the questions asked of the Buddha, but He did not answer every question put to him by his followers. If questions were irrelevant and not conducive to deliverance from bondage, that is to say, the recurring cycles of birth and death, He observed silence. For instance, there was once a young man named Malunkyputta who had various speculations on whether the world was eternal, whether the world was finite or infinite, and to this question the Buddha made reply:-
'If it be the belief, Malunkyaputta, that the world is eternal, will there be the observance of the Holy life? In such a case-No. If it be the belief, Malunkyaputta, that the world (i.e. Sorrow) is not eternal, will there be the observance of the Holy life? In that case also-No. But, Malunkyaputta, whether the belief be that the world is eternal, undoubtedly, there is birth, there is old age, there is death... the extinction of which in this life itself I make known.'
'Malunkyaputta, I have not revealed whether the world is eternal or not eternal; whether the world is finite or infinite. Why have I not revealed these? Because these are not profitable, do not concern the bases of holiness, are not conducive to aversion, to passion-less-ness, to cessation, to tranquility, to intuitive wisdom, to enlightenment, or to Nibbana (i.e. the Deathless state). Therefore I have not revealed these'.(Majjhima Nikaya-Cula-Malunkyaputta Sutta, No 63)
Sometimes people made inquiry concerning the Death-less State of Nibbana. Here too the Buddha observed Silence. For, Nibbana is beyond imagination and description and the Buddha made no attempt to depict it, knowing that any such attempt could only present a false picture which would raise itself objectively-a deceptive goal-before the mind striving for liberation. The mind creates concepts and is shackled by them; this is part of the mental craving for ideas. Hence, Nibbana cannot be described though Nibbana can be experienced here in this very life.
A beautiful and interesting fable related by the late Silancara Thero brings this point out well.
Once upon a time there was a fish. And just because it was a fish, it had lived all its life in the water and knew nothing whatever about anything else but water. And one day it swam about in the pond where all its days had been spent, it happened to meet a turtle of its acquaintance who had just come back from a little excursion on the land.
'Good day, Mr turtle!',
said the fish: 'I have not seen you
for a long time. Where have you been?'
'O', said the turtle, 'I have just been on dry land'.
'On dry land !',
exclaimed the fish, 'What do you mean by 'on
dry land?' There is no dry land. I had never seen such a
thing. Dry land is nothing'.
'Well', said the turtle good-naturedly. "If you want to think
so, of course you may; there's no one who can hinder you.
But that's where I've been, all the time."
'O', said the fish,
'try to talk sense. Just tell me now,
what is this land of yours like? Is it all wet?'
'No, it is not wet', said the turtle.
'Is it nice and fresh
and cool?' asked the fish.
'No, it is not nice and fresh and cool', the turtle replied.
'Is it clear, so
that light can come through it?'
'No, it is not clear, light cannot come through it'.
'Is it soft and yielding;
so that I could move my fins about
in it and push my nose through it?'
'No, it is not soft and yielding; you could not swim in it'.
'Does it move or
flow in streams?'
'No, it neither moves nor flows in streams'.
'Does it ever rise
up into waves, then with white foam in
them?' asked the fish, becoming just a little impatient at
this string of Nos.
'No', replied the turtle truthfully, 'it never rises up into
waves that I have seen'.
'There Now!' exclaimed
the fish triumphantly. 'Didn't I tell
that this land of yours was just nothing? I have just asked,
and you have answered me that it is neither wet nor cool,
not clear nor soft and that it does not flow in streams, nor
rise up into waves. And if it isn't a single one of these
things, what case is it, but nothing. Don't tell me!'
'Well well', said
the turtle, 'if you are determined to think
that dry land is nothing, I suppose you must just go on
thinking so. But anyone who knows what is water and what is
land, would say you were just a very silly fish, for you
think that everything you have ever known is nothing, just
because you have never known it'
'And with that the
turtle turned away and leaving the fish
behind in its little pond of water, set out on another
excursion over the land that was nothing'.1
It is evident from this fable that neither the turtle which is acquainted both with land and sea could explain to the fish the real nature of the land nor could the fish understand what land is as it is acquainted only with the sea.
In the same way, the Arahats who are acquainted with both the mundane and the supra-mundane cannot explain to a worldling what the supra-mundane exactly is by mundane terms, nor can a wordling understand the supra-mundane merely by mundane knowledge.
Thus rather than give his hearers a wrong impression, in his Wisdom, the Buddha observed Silence on such metaphysical questions as they did not concern the main issue. This Silence has unfortunately been misinterpreted, sometimes by biased writers, sometimes by uninformed writers thereby conveying a false impression of the Buddha's teachings to those who might otherwise profit by His Message.
It might be added that the Buddha did not teach all that he knew. For, on one occasion whilst passing through a forest, he took a handful of leaves and said, 'O Bhikkhus, are there more leaves in my hand or more leaves in the forest yonder?' and they replied, 'There are in the forest, Lord'. 'Yes, what I have taught you is like the leaves in my hand, but what I know is like the leaves in the forest', He then Said.
The Buddha taught mankind only what was absolutely essential for emancipation. Even so He has forestalled many a scientist and philosopher of today.
Chapter 4 : Kamma and the Life-flux
- Santati
Thus, in brief we have seen that the Buddah does not attempt to explain the origin of life to mere worldlings who are more concerned with First Causes than with the leading of spiritual lives.
At the same time there is the assurance that if a worldling bides his time, living well the holy life he can realize for himself, when he too reaches the goal, the intricate workings of the cosmos and find the answers to those questions that once baffled him so much. 'For', Says the Buddha, 'Moral and virtuous Wanderers (Ascetics) and Brahmans (i.e. priests) do not force maturity on that which is unripe; they, being wise, wait for that maturity'.5
It is wrong, therefore, to assert that the Buddha was 'Agnostic' on certain issues as is sometimes sought to be made out by some uninformed writers. The Buddha is known as the Fully Enlightened One. And, He always knew. He observed silence only when it was to the spiritual advantage of his questioner, and not because He seemed to say within Himself-Agnosco-'I do not know!'
He denied the postulated Supreme Godhead or Creator, the unchanging soul and eternal heaven of the theist. Brushing aside irrelevant questions, the Buddha takes for its starting point the 'being', as it is, here and now, and traces back the cause of its conditioned existence. And says that it is the experiences of the past that have produced the present being. These experiences constituted no more nor less than all the good and evil acts of the individual. This is called Kamma.
Life or existence, whether in celestial or in the lower forms of consciousness, is conditioned by our Kamma which may be likened to a force like electricity. It is this force that finds manifestation in various states of consciousness, whether on a gross or subtle and refined level, on the principle, that 'where-so-ever your treasure is, there will your heart be also'.
In other words, our forms such as god, godling (deva), man, animal, ghost and so on are merely the outward manifestations of this invisible Kammic force. This all-pervading force carries with it all our innate characteristics, which usually lie latent but may rise to the surface at unexpected moments, thus making it difficult for any one to judge another. From the Buddhist point of view, therefore it is also meaningless to talk of 'hating the sin and loving the sinner'. For, apart from the act of sinning there is really no 'sinner'.
If this point is understood, one will be able to understand readily that the outward forms are merely the vessels which hold the Kammic energy. A man does not really become a dog in one birth nor does a dog, for instance, become a man in a subsequent birth. But the force which manifested itself in the form of a man can manifest its energies at other times as a god, godling (deva), animal, ghost or man (again), etc., in much the same away as electricity manifests its energy in bulbs of different colors and different voltages. In other words, the external phenomena such as gods, godlings (devas), beasts, ghosts, men etc., are merely the receptacles which hold the Kammic energy of the individual life-flux.
Kamma
At this stage a brief explanation of Kamma would be useful. Leaving aside all its technical aspects, which must be gone into more thoroughly when one is sufficiently interested in the subject to break away the veil of ignorance (Avijja) that enshrouds the minds of many, Kamma may be described as the result of CRAVING in its diverse forms. This Craving, it is that generates the driving force of Kamma.
For, the energy generated by the act of craving is directive and tremendous in its effect. That is to say, whenever we crave we crave for 'something' and the energy so generated will tend to bring that 'something' about. This principle, by the way, is the one underlying New Thought, Christian Science, and similar movements. They all tell us that whatever we desire strongly enough and definitely enough, we shall obtain, be it health wealth or power. Then there is also the natural law namely that whatever we acquire we must again lose as soon as the force behind the acquisition, the force of the original craving, has spent itself. It is then that we suffer doubly, for it is harder to miss what we have become accustomed to, than not to get what we do not expect.
Another important aspect in regard to Kamma requires a brief explanation here; that is this: the cravings of our previous existences also pre-disposes us to our present cravings. If they have been specific along certain lines-say the desire to become a builder of houses-the results will also be specific as far as new circumstances will allow. In the next birth, then we shall become builders of dwellings through an innate tendency that will drive us in that direction. In our childhood we shall show aptitude to building with nursery blocks: in youth we shall desire to erect tents and shelters or study architecture: in manhood we shall become building contractors or architects. Since there is always an intermingling accumulation of energies from previous cravings, some stronger some weaker, some definite some less so, they will all of them tend to come to the surface sooner or later as opportunities present themselves and as they are evoked by circumstances. That is why human life is so varied and in many respects so contradictory. Whatever energy has been generated, that must also be released. Craving generates energy; Action releases it.
Hundreds of cravings have given us an accumulation of energy; we are therefore capable of hundreds of different kinds of actions. But the most dominant cravings find vent in the most distinct activities. Thus there also arise child prodigies such as musicians, mathematicians and so on manifesting a particular dominant craving in keeping with opportunities afforded by environment.
From this we may readily gather that whatever happens to us, is coming to us, is deserved. Good bad or indifferent, it has been our own making our own Kamma. No one else is to blame, no God and no Devil. We should accept therefore, whatever comes of evil with resignation, and whatever good without elation.
This tendency to action, this generated and stored-up energy is what constitutes our self. We are nothing more nor less than tendency to action resulting from craving. This is our self, our I, our individuality, our character. It is our capacity to respond. Even as a gong, when struck will respond with its own particular tone and volume depending upon the kind of metal of which it is composed, the shape it holds, the way it is suspended and the strength of the blow, so too each of us, when being acted upon by our environment, will respond in a particular fashion. And the tendency to respond thus and not otherwise is our Kamma.
Kamma Differentiates Beings into Low and High States
On one occasion, a certain young man named Subha approached the Buddha and questioned why and wherefore it was that among human beings there are low and high states. 'For', said He 'we find amongst mankind the short-lived and the long-lived, the sickly and the healthy, the ill-looking and the good-looking the un-influential and the influential, the poor and the rich, the low-born and the high-born, the ignorant and the intelligent.
The Buddha briefly replied, 'Every living being has Kamma as its own, its inheritance, its cause, its kinsman, its refuge. Kamma is that which differentiates all living beings into low and high states'.
He then enumerated the causes of such differences.
If, for instance, a person destroys life, is a hunter, besmears his hands with blood, is engaged in killing and wounding, and is not merciful towards living beings, he as a result of his killing when born amongst mankind, will have a brief life.
If a person avoids killing, leaves aside cudgel and weapon, and is merciful and compassionate towards all living beings, he as a result of his non-killing, when born amongst mankind will enjoy long life.
If a person is in the habit of harming others with fist or clod, with cudgel or sword, he as a result of his harmfulness, when born amongst mankind will suffer various diseases.
If a person is not in the habit of harming others, he as a result of his harmlessness, when born amongst mankind will enjoy good health.
If a person is wrathful and turbulent, is irritated by a trivial word, gives vent to anger, ill-will and resentment, he as a result of his irritability, when born amongst mankind will be ill-looking.
If a person is not
wrathful and turbulent, is not irritated even by torrent of abuse, does not
gives vent to anger, ill-will and resentment, he as a result of his amiability,
when born amongst mankind will be good-looking.
If a person is jealous, envies the gains of others, marks of respect and honor
shown to others, stores jealousy in his heart, he as a result of his jealousy,
when born amongst mankind will be un-influential.
If a person is not jealous, does not envy the gains of others, marks of respect and honor shown to others, stores not jealousy in his heart, he as a result of his non-jealousy, when born amongst mankind will be influential.
If a person does not give anything for charity, he as a result of his greediness, when born amongst mankind will be poor.
If a person is bent on charitable giving, he as a result of his generosity, when born amongst mankind will be rich.
If a person is stubborn, haughty, honors not those who are worthy of honor, he as a result of his arrogance and irreverence, when born amongst mankind will have a birth in a low family.
If a person is not stubborn, not haughty, honors those who are worthy of honor, he as a result of his humility and deference, when born amongst mankind will have a birth in a high family.
If a person does not approach the learned and the virtuous and inquire what is good and what is evil, what is right and what is wrong, what should be practiced and what should not be practiced, what should be done and what should not be done, what conduces to one's welfare and what to the reverse, he as a result of his non-inquiring spirit, when born amongst mankind, will be ignorant.
If a person does approach the learned and the virtuous and makes the above inquiring spirit, when born amongst mankind will be intelligent.
Depending on this difference in Kamma, appears the differences in the birth of beings high and low, base and exalted, happy and miserable. Depending on the difference in Kamma, appears the difference in the individual features of beings as beautiful and ugly, high-born or low-born, well-built or deformed. Depending on the difference of Kamma, appears the difference in the worldly conditions of beings as gain and loss, fame and disgrace, blame and praise, happiness and misery.
Buddhism also teaches that there are three types of Kamma: Kamma that ripens in the same life time, Kamma that ripens in the next life and Kamma that ripens in successive births. Generally speaking, these forms of Kamma are bound to produce results (Vipaka), but to produce any effect, several auxiliary causes are required, and it sometimes happens that such auxiliary causes do not arise and there are no effects. It may also come about that some weak Kamma is counteracted by stronger Kamma of an opposite type and so does not produce Vipaka or resultant. But usually, the results of good and bad Kamma may be seen manifesting side by side, as for instance, when a child is born into a rich and powerful family, but is physically weak or being born of poor parents may be healthy and highly intelligent. In fact all possible combinations of fortune and misfortune are accountable to the admixture of past good and bad Kamma.
Briefly, the generating of these three types of Kamma depends on Causes that are to be found in the workings of our minds. For, man's mind may be likened to a piano keyboard playing tunes all the time. The keyboard has seventeen keys or thought-moments and these comprise one whole thought-process. Of these there are seven important keys which play a dominant role and which determine all our moment-to-moment actions. In Buddhist psychology they are referred to as the Javana process. And in the manner one presses these seven keys, so to speak, provided the auxiliary causes also arise, the tunes will be delayed. Or, in the manner one reacts to the impact of sensations that pour through the five sense organs on to the Javana keys, one begins to create his future heavens and hells. For instance if the reaction to the impact is on the first of these seven thought-moments, the resultant (Vipaka) if any will be in this life time itself; if the reaction is on the seventh of the seven thought-moments, the resultant if any, will be in the next or subsequent birth; and if the reaction is on any of the intervening thought-moments -from second to the sixth-the resultant if any, depending on gravity, will be at some time in this, the next, or any future birth before Nibbana is finally attained.
Now this should not surprise us very much. For, do we not think before we act? And in the process of thinking do we not sometimes do a thing readily, spontaneously, or again with a degree of caution-seeming to hesitate as it were. Hence even though we realize it, we are all doing a bit of gear-changing in our minds before performing any act, and this regulates all actions into three different streams of resultants-three types of Kamma. And, the situations confronting us at any time, have been projected, to a large extent, by the way our mental gears changed from time to time in response to sense-impressions.
Nature has thus ordered herself well, and the process of Becoming, if kept going from moment to moment, and from birth to birth. As Shakespeare once so aptly said, 'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women are merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts'.
If we remember these points we may understand why a powerful swindler, criminal or even murderer of today, sometimes seems to get away with his crime while the god-fearing and pious folk of today appear to be dogged with misfortune, with every stride that take! From the Buddhist point of view, there is nothing to be alarmed at this. It may in the case of the former (where a very strong past good Kamma is operating), be an instance, where folk are misusing what they had worked hard for themselves in an earlier time, while in the latter case too, it may just be that though these people are now quiet and chastened, they had not always been like that in earlier incarnations, and are now in a way paying for what they too have had. Understanding this, the Buddhists naturally pities the wrong doer, while at the same time not envying his good fortune. Yes, pity him because he is harming himself, like the man who foolishly withdraws all his money putting none back into the bank again. A day soon draws when he is penniless. That in effect, also explains why many a king of a former time is perhaps a beggar on the streets today.
The inequalities and seeming injustices of life thus become intelligible in the light of the law of cause and effect. And that is also how we can 'get reason out of the mass of incongruity, we call human life'.
Buddhists are patient
by nature and always merciful and long-suffering towards the wrong-doer. They
are tolerant because they are convinced that they are not dealing with one life
time only; they are dealing with infinity. Old scores are settled automatically
in due time. And nothing is final, until Nibbana is attained.
Thus we see that our mental, intellectual and moral differences are mainly due
to our own actions and tendencies which are the pre-dispositions to our present
conditions, while the manner in which we react to situations confronting us
now from time to time also contribute to the situations in which we shall find
ourselves in the future.
'By Kamma one attains
glory and praise,
by Kamma bondage, ruin, tyranny.
Knowing that Kamma bears fruit manifold,
why say ye, "In the world no Kamma is?"'1
A note by Dr. George Grimm in The Doctrine of the Buddha, p 246, would be of considerable interest to us in our attempts to understand the law of Kamma. For, says Dr. Grimm:
'It is not difficult in all these cases also to show the law of affinity as the regulator of the grasping of a new germ that occurs at death.
Who is so devoid of compassion as to be able to kill men or even animals, carries deep within himself the inclination to shorten life. He finds satisfaction or even pleasure in the short-lived-ness of other creatures. Short lived germs, have therefore some affinity which makes itself known after his death in the grasping of another germ which then takes place to his own detriment. Even so, germs bearing within themselves the power of developing into a deformed body have an affinity for one who finds pleasure in ill-treating and disfiguring others.
An angry person begets within himself an affinity for ugly bodies and their respective germs Since it is the characteristic mark of anger to disfigure the face.
Whoever is jealous, niggardly, haughty, carries within himself, the tendency to grudge everything to others and to despise them. Accordingly germs that are destined to develop in poor, outward circumstances, possess affinity for him.
It is of course only a consequence of the above that a change of sex may also ensue.
Thus it is related in the Digha Nikaya No. XXI that Gopika, a daughter of the Sakya house, was reborn after her death as Gopika Devaputta (the son of Deva), because the female mind had become repulsive to her, and she had formed a male mind within herself'.1
Whatever pain or happiness we experience is, therefore, an inevitable consequence of a past act. The Buddha Dhamma makes no provision for rewards and punishments. The followers of the Buddha speak in terms of cause and effect.
In the words of Silacara Thero, 'If a person does something in his sleep, gets out of bed and walks over the edge of a verandah, he will fall into the road below and in all likelihood break an arm or leg or suffer something worse. But this will happen not at all as a punishment for his sleep-walking, but merely as its result. And the fact that he didn't remember going out on the verandah would not make the slightest difference to the result of his fall from it, in the shape of broken bones. So the follower of the Buddha takes measures to see that he does not walk over verandahs or other dangerous places, asleep or awake, so as to avoid hurting himself or anybody who might be below and on whom he might fall'.
Though the Buddha attributes this variation in character and outward disposition in different beings to Kamma, yet He does not assert that everything is due to Kamma. There are five Orders or Niyamas according to the Buddha. Kamma is one of the five orders that prevail in the universe.
Santati, i.e. Flux or Continuity - but no 'Soul'
But Kamma or the 'force' of energy which is generated through our good and evil actions not stored within the psyche (mind) or in a 'soul' of a theistic concept. The Bugddha teaches that there is no such 'storehouse' in this ever-changing complex machinery of man, for man himself is merely a group of five aggregates (Pancakkandha). But the Buddha teaches that instead of such an unchanging 'soul' or permanent 'entity', there is a flux or Santati (continuity) which is the result of every experience the individual has passed through, every influence felt, every impression received, and dependent on this Santati (continuity), a group of appropriate aggregates (suitable to that individual flux or Santati) comes together, and a new being arises at the death of the old being. Apart from this group of aggregates and apart from this changing flux (or Santati) which itself is changing every moment as 'it' takes in and lets out, so to speak, impressions from time to time, there is no 'storehouse' nor a being.
Strange though it may seem, yet it is true, that this glorious and noble outlook on life and its problems receives wonderful corroboration from the researches of modern Western Psychologists. For, the recent tendency in philosophical thought has been so marked that modern psychology has nicknamed 'Psychology without a psyche (soul)'. Says W. S. Lily, the great Roman Catholic author, 'The existence of the immortal in man is becoming increasingly discredited under the influence of the dominant schools of modern thought. The scientists whom the nineteenth century heard most gladly have been much more affirmative in negation. The so-called 'soul' they insist is a 'bundle of sensations, emotions, sentiments, all relating to the physical experiences of the race and the individual'. Wundt, the eminent psychologist in his well-known work tells us, 'Psychology proves that not only our sense-perception but the memorial images depend for their origins upon the functions of the organs of sense and movement', and holds that a continuance of this sensuous consciousness must appear irreconcilable with the facts of experience'. Professor James, who is even more modern than Wundt, accounts the term 'soul' a mere figure of speech to which no reality corresponds. 'The word', he insists, 'explains nothing, guarantees nothing, its successive thoughts are the only intelligible things about it, and definitely to ascertain the correlation of these with brain processes is as much as psychology can empirically do'
Western science forsooth can do nothing more, but Eastern sages by physical exercises can so develop the clairvoyant faculty that they can look into past lives. For instance, we hear the Buddha, the greatest Eastern Sage ever known to man, saying:
'I recalled my varied lot in former existences as follows, first one life, then two lives, then three, four, five, ten, twenty, up to fifty lives, then a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand, then the dissolution of many world cycles, then the evolution of many world cycles. In that place I was of such name, such a family, such a caste, such a dietary, such the pleasure and pain I experienced, such my life's end. Vanishing from there, I came into existence else-where,. Then such was my name, such my family... etc. Thus, I recalled the many births in my former existences.
'Ignorance was dispelled,
and knowledge arose, darkness vanished, and light arose...' (from 'Reminisecences
of Previous Births - Pubbe Nivasanussati Nana)
Chapter 5 : Can we Believe in Re-birth ?
Now a question arises. Can we be sure of 'Re-birth', or survival after death? In other words does this accumulated energy or force continue to re-manifest itself on other and various plains of consciousness or does it cease to exist with our death.
According to the Law of Conservation of Energy and Indestructibility of Matter, it is certain that in the process called 'death' nothing is lost. The animal heat goes off somewhere in the atmosphere or in some other matter; the animal magnetism and vitality are momentarily lost sight of, but soon they will be attached to other organic beings such as plants or animals to begin a new cycle of embodiment. The physical constituents of the body will go to their appropriate places, into the air as gases, into the water as fluids, into the earth as salts and minerals, and in a short time may form the parts of a flower, or fruit, or animal.
But where or what is willing, the thinking, the remembering, the directing force which once controlled all these and held them together in unity?
This, as we have seen, is the life-flux (Santati) that continues to seek manifestation from one sphere of existence to another, as nothing can be destroyed, in keeping with the law of the conservation of energy. And this energy is sustained and maintained by the force of Craving.
But this force is invisible. Yes. But much that has in the past been invisible, is now made known through other processes. For instance, ultra violet rays are invisible but show their existence through their chemical reaction. Is it not reasonable then to assume that consciousness and memory are also be able to exist invisibly in nature and volitionally show their existence through the vital and physical unity manifested by a living being? In fact, this is the revolutionary conclusion to which western men of science have now come to having weighed all the latest scientific discoveries in the realms of physiology and biology and physical research.
There is indeed no forcing, aside Professor Fechner's conviction that the problem is a psycho-physical problem.
Thus is established scientifically the existence in man of sub-consciousness
which in the great mass of people is almost totally dormant. Hence, the shallowness
and unscientific nature of the question of objectors to the Re-birth Doctrine
who ask why, if we have lived before here on this planet in human body we do
not remember it, must now be obvious.
However, even this objection has now been overcome by the new science of Hypnotism. For, Albert Moll in Hypnotism, Dr. Pitre (Dean of the faculty of Medicine, Bordeaux, France), Sigmond freud, the illustrious German Psychologist and a host of others in more recent times have proved conclusively that many long forgotten incidents in life dating back not merely to childhood but to the moment of conception in the mother's womb can be recalled through Hypnotism, and it has also been found reasonable to assume in the same manner that the many experiences irrupted into the normal consciousness through this process and found unaccountable are those experiences preserved in memory from a life ante-dating birth.
Three Typical Cases of Re-birth
Notwithstanding the scientific basis for this, there have been many cases reported of people in India particularly, recalling incidents of their previous lives. The following instances from the French Treatise by Leon Denis entitled Life and Destiny would be of interest:-
'(1) A case is related of a child at Simla (India), who remembered that he was assassinated in the year 1814. His name (in his previous life) was Mr. Tucker, and he was Superintendent of the Council. The child recalled even small incidents of that life; and taken to the place where the assassination occurred, was terror-stricken.
(2) In 1880 at Vera Cruz (Mexico), a seven year old child possessed the power to heal. Several people were healed by vegetable remedies prescribed by the child. When asked how he knew these things, he said that he was formerly a great doctor and his name then was Jules Alpherese. This surprising faculty developed in him at the age of four years.
(3) The famous Roman Catholic French writer Lamartine described in his Voyage in the Orient, his distinct reminiscences of a far past. He says, 'I had in Judia no Bible or Chart in Hand. There was no person to give me the antique name of the valleys and mountains. Nevertheless I at once recognized the Valley and the Battlefield of Saul. When we reached the Convent, the Fathers confirmed with exactitude my previous... With the exception of the Valley of Lebanon, I saw scarcely any spot which was not for me like a memory. Finally, careless of what even his Roman Catholic brethren or the Fathers might say, he put himself down on record in these words: 'Have we lived two lives, or a thousand? Is not our memory but a tarnished image that the breath of God revives?'6
To those who are willing to accept Truth wherever Truth is found, these words of a Great Roman Catholic author would be of profound interest.
These are some of the salient features in the Buddha's teachings, many of which are now being confirmed from time to time by the researches of independent thinkers in the West. The Buddha makes no appeal to emotion. His appeal is to man's reason and intelligence.
The seeker after Truth would note, however, that in dealing with the great problems of birth, life and death, the Buddha's methods and approach have been different to those prevailing in our own time.
For, while today mathematics and the controlled experiments are used, the Buddha resorted to the expedient of similes and metaphors to bring home the truths He propounded to His hearers. That is the only difference between conditions obtaining 2,500 years ago and now.
Chapter 6 : Buddhism and Science
The truth is the same in any age, even if the methods leading to its understanding vary. And, when we consider the evidence in the light of modern science, we shall find that the results achieved have been the same.
For instance, the Buddhist view of mind and matter-phenomena -is that they are all ill illusions, not real. Numerous are the instances wherein the Buddha draws attention to this. Maya is what He called the illusory nature of material phenomena. Whether man or beast, angel or devil, from the atom to the stars in the heavens, everything is governed by the law of 'Dependent Origination'-Patticca Samuppada. When the conditions or causes cease, the object too ceases. But the sphere of Maya-illusion-is one of 'relative reality'; that is to say, a thing is real on its own level, but not real in any absolute sense. For example, to the consciousness functioning on the same level a solid is a solid exactly as it appears to us, but to the consciousness functioning on a different level or on a different vibrational frequency, the solid would appear in a different way. It would be as physics tells us, it is a collection of atomic particles in continual movement held together by the electronic laws of attraction and repulsion and so forth. Another easily understandable would be that of light. For, while we say there is light, there are beings who see darkness where we humans see light. Such beings are the owls. Hence, in a word from the Buddhist point of view the material world is one of illusion. And, it is this fundamental fact that the Buddha strives so hard to drive into the minds of His followers. Unless this basic fact of all phenomena is recognized and realized by the Seeker, he remains tied to the wheel of life, and can make no progress on the path to Liberation.
For, his ignorance
leads him to believe that there is form and substance when in reality there
is not. And, his ignorance binds him to the processes of cause and effect and
his mind continues to move like a prisoner confined within his own false constructions.
He cannot get outside the orbit of his own limitations and so cannot see the
process in its entirety or understand his own nature. There is therefore no
end to suffering for one who is victim to such Delusion (Moha). To win one's
liberation there must be realization that relative concepts are unreal because
they are relative.
In fact, 'experiments have revealed that the whole mass of the electron was
due to its electrical charge. This also proved conclusively that matter was
devoid of a material substratum and paved the way for the making of the atom
bomb which became a possibility once it was proved that matter was energy pure
and simple. On the authority of science, therefore, we have to look upon the
whole material world as an illusion in which energy masquerades in the form
of matter'.
Indeed, the Buddha's views on phenomena are thus confirmed today by western science. For, whatever our senses may say the picture presented to us through physics of the phenomenal world is that there is no solidity form or substance to be seen anywhere in the universe but merely a collection of forces in a perpetual state of flux, 'a momentary arising and passing away'. The turning point in the scientific world came when the atom was analyzed and it was found to resolve into energy-a process of transmutation from one form of radiation to another, a continual cycle of 'arising and passing away' of electronic particles. According to physics, then solids are nothing more than events in the continuum of space and time and material objects are mainly space. Solid itself is merely a convention of speech based on the deceptive data provided by the senses and has no basis in reality. From the electrons therefore to the stars in their heavenly courses there is nothing that is not in motion. Immobility is only in appearance.
Thus we see that in its own way science has helped the Buddhist cause, because the process of universal flux and its inherent substance-less-ness of matter are fundamentals of Buddhism. But this process of universal flux and inherent substance-less-ness of matter have greater implications than we at first suspected. For, now we find that man and his mind are themselves part of the causal process. Man cannot get outside it as it were and view phenomena objectively because he too is a part of this whole illusory fabrication. In other words the whole subject-object relationship is now brought into question.
Our conclusion then
is that the phenomenal world is unreal, though on our present levels of consciousness,
receiving deceptive data through the five bases or sense organs, we are led
to believe that it is real. In fact it is this unreal mind which is itself part
of the illusory phenomenal world that makes us believe in a non-existent soul-or
'atma'.
How this happens is explained by the Buddha by reference to a ball of fire which,
when whirled rapidly can, for a time, create the illusion of a circle. From
which we see that motion can create the illusion of rest under certain circumstances
and for a certain time. Therefore everything in the Universe is Maya-illusions-a
set of relations nothing more!
The modern scientific view of the material world is thus in harmony with that of the Buddha.
Kant had actually suspected the subjectivity of space and time; but 50 years ago scientists were agreeing that space and time were independent realities. But Einstein has now finally revolutionized the minds of scientific men by propounding his famous Theory of Relativity. And as if to add to the discomfiture of the theist, late in 1949 Einstein put forward his most recent theory-the Unified Field Theory which 'encompasses not only the boundless gravitational and electro-magnetic fields of interstellar space but also the tiny terrible field inside the atom'.
In the light of this enlightening theory regarding the two primordial forces, as a commentator puts it, the whole complex of the universe-the macro-cosmos and the micro-cosmos will resolve into a homogeneous fabric in which matter and energy are indistinguishable and all forms of motion from the slow-wheeling of the galaxies to the wild flight of electrons become simply changes in the structure and concentration of the primordial fields.
Here then, is beautiful explanation of the puzzling harmony of the Cosmos without recourse to a mysterious unknown-God. The Buddha encompassed both gravitational and electro-magnetism in his Doctrine of Anicca-Transiency.
There is also ample proof that the corollaries which spring up as a result of Einstein's revolutionary outlook have all been anticipated by the Buddha. For, the whole universe as we have seen is Maya. After all, we identify an object by its color, smell, taste and so on; but these exist only in our minds and 'can no more be ascribed to the external object than can the tickling or pain caused sometimes by touching such an object'. 'Thus scientists and philosophers are agreed that the whole universe is a construction of the mind and exists only in the mind as an edifice of conventional symbols shaped by the senses of man'. Hence if we could see 'things as they really are', the world may appear in an entirely different hue or even as one vast void.
'By mind the world
is led, by mind is drawn:
And all men own the sovereignty of mind.'
From time to time in His discourses, the Buddha has compared the world to foam, a bubble, or to a mirage. The un-substantiality of matter is specifically referred to in the Sutta Nipata:-
'As void one should
look upon the world
O Mogharaja, being ever mindful:
When he has destroyed the theory of self
Then will he overcome death'.
Now Einstein has also said that matter and mind must arise together or not at all; that, in other words, there is simultaneous genesis of matter and mind. The question then arises, 'Who created these two illusions?' The answer obviously is that they created each other for no other reason than that no sane person would attempt to create an illusion and confer his imprimatur on it as perfect truth having the basis of Self.
And Einstein says, 'I cannot conceive of an Almighty Creator who punishes and rewards the objects of his own creation. It is a challenge to his omnipotent fairness'.
The Buddha explained the strange phenomenon of 'self-creation' by referring to two sticks neither of which can be made to stand upright by itself, but both of which can be made to do so if they are made to support each other.
The fact, however, that they must arise together or not at all also makes them inseparable twins which in turn point to a common source. Henri Bergson has shown what that source is. For, he has explained at some length that mind is a condensation from Consciousness. He has also said that once Consciousness is present, matter can be deducted from it. In other words, Consciousness gives rise to mind and matter. And that precisely is what the Buddha has said, 'Consciousness (Vinnana) gives rise to mind (Nama) and matter (Rupa)'. Now how would we explain this?
According to the Buddhist law of Dependent Origination (Patticca-Samuppada), Mind (or nama) stands only for the three mental groups, viz: feeling, perception, mental-formations. Consciousness is singled out in order to show that all mental and physical life of beings is dependent on it. In other words, this means that without Consciousness (or awareness) there cannot be mental or physical phenomena while at the same time for there to be Consciousness there must be mental and physical phenomena. Hence, any state of Consciousness (or awareness) can arise only along with its concomitant Mental phenomena such as feeling etc., by way of 'Co-nascence' or simultaneous arising (Sahajata-paccaya). Because Consciousness (or awareness) cannot arise and exist without feeling; and feeling cannot arise and exist without consciousness (or awareness) of it.
It is therefore true to say that through Consciousness (or awareness) mental and physical phenomena are conditioned, while on the other hand it is equally true to say that there can be no consciousness without mental and physical phenomena. For, there must be mental and physical phenomena present if one is to be conscious (or aware) of them. Hence with the arising or presence of Consciousness (or awareness), there is mental and physical phenomena by way of 'Co-nascence' or simultaneous arising (Sahajata Paccaya). This as Bergson has explained at some length means that, 'mind is a condensation from Consciousness'. For, Mind (nama)as we have seen, means the three mental groups, viz: feeling, perception, mental-formations. And, for these to arise there must be Consciousness. Hence if Consciousness is reduced to a smaller circuit or circle, we get mind.
We now come to the next proposition made by Bergson namely; that once Consciousness is present, Matter (or Rupa) can be deduced from it. To get a clearer understanding of this, let us study one of the states of Consciousness: eye-consciousness for example. We then find that when, for the first time at birth, the visual organ , the eye, begins to function at that very first moment of the arising of eye-consciousness, there is co-arising or simultaneous arising (Sahajata-paccaya) of sensitive visual organ. For, as long as the sensitive organ of the eye does not yet exist, so long eye-consciousness does not does not arise. Hence if eye-consciousness is present the sensitive organ of the eye has also arisen.
A further explanation here, however, would not be out of place. During life there is a difference. For, during life, Consciousness is a later-arising condition dependent on the already arisen (Rupa) physical phenomena, as the sensitive organ of the eye may be present without eye consciousness while, for example another sense organ like the ear is functioning. Hence during life Consciousness forms merely a prop and support for the upkeep of the body. In as much as the feeling of hunger is a condition for the feeling and upkeep of this already arisen body, so too by its later-arising, Consciousness is a condition and support to this already arisen body. For, if Consciousness would arise no more, the physical organs would gradually cease their functioning, lose their faculties and the body would die.
From which we see that for Consciousness to arise there must be the 'Co-nascence' or simultaneous arising of feeling, perception etc., because Consciousness and all its mental concomitants are inseparably up together and mutually dependent upon one another. And as long as these mutually support and depend on each other, the body being fed through the sense-organs continues to live.
We have however not discussed another important question that arises, namely; that mental phenomena such as feeling, perception and so on cannot arise without physical bases or sense-organs. How then do the sense-organs arise?
According to Buddhism, the four characteristics of matter viz: cohesion, extension, heat and motion are to any one of the five bases or sense-organs at the very moment of their first coming into existence, a condition by way of simultaneous arising (Sahajata-paccaya); during life these four physical characteristics are to the five bases, or sense organs, a condition by way of Foundation (Nissaya) on which the sense-organs are entirely dependent. Furthermore the physical phenomenon 'Vitality' or rupa-jivitindriya is a necessary condition by way of its presence for the arising of the five bases or sense-organs. In other words for the five bases or sense organs to exist there must be Physical life which depends on vitality without which the five bases or sense organs could not arise and exist. The five sense-organs can also exist only as long as they get their necessary nutriment (ahara) through the presence of physical phenomena7.
Buddhism thus proves
conclusively what Bergson perhaps merely surmised, namely; that once Consciousness
is present matter can be deduced from it.
Thus we see that both modern science and philosophy have arrived at the stage where 'Consciousness gives rise to mind (Nama) and matter (Rupa)'. But the Buddha goes further to the root of the matter and in explaining the law of Dependent Origination (Paticca-Samuppada) shows how Consciousness (Vinnana) is derived from Sankharas (Kamma-formations) and how Sankharas (Kamma-formations) arise from ignorance (Avijja).
What applies to mind and matter must also apply to object and observer. But matter and mind we know are unreal. Hence object and the observer are both unreal because they have no separate existence. The correct view of the world then is that the world itself is real enough but it is only a set of relations. These relations are the building blocks of the universe and are explained in detail in Patthana (the last of the great works on the Abei-Dhamma - Buddhist Psychology).
The Law of Dependent Origination (Paticca-Samuppada) arose from the Orient and was the fruit of long struggle, experience and research carried out by the Bodhisattva (i.e. Aspirant to Bodhi or Enlightenment), as he struggled from existence to existence seeking perfection. In His final birth He attained Full Enlightnment and became a Samma-Sambuddha. That was 2500 years ago. The Doctrine was first preached to only five persons who were at one time His erstwhile companions and later on after their conversion by Him, became His first disciples. Today there are over 500,000,000 disciples comprising the Buddhist world.
This great Doctrine now appears to find an almost parallel in the West in the Theory of Relativity and the Unified Field Theory propounded by Einstein in 1949. Thus Einstein becomes one of the greatest scientists of our time even though he has not completely solved the whole problem of manifest existence.
Chapter 7 : Buddhism Solves the Riddle of Life
In the foregoing chapter we have seen probably the limits to which Western science can go in its examination of phenomena; it appears to have come rock bottom in its analysis of physical phenomena. For, while theories are propounded and even held to be true, Western men of science are unable to tell us how we are to find out whether what they propounded is true. For, man and his mind, as we have seen, are also part of the phenomenal process. And, any attempt he makes with his present mind to examine phenomena, would be as if he were trying to look at that with which he is himself identified. For instance, when the mind registers an impression which seems to say that we are seeing an object, can we be sure that what we see is indeed an object? Or, that we are seeing something that has even a close resemblance to what we think we see.
Science can give no assurance herein. But Buddhism can meet the atomic challenge, because the supra-mundane knowledge of Buddhism begins where science leaves off. And this is clear enough to anyone who has made a study of Buddhism. For, through Buddhist Meditation the atomic constituents making up matter have been seen and felt and the sorrow or un-satisfactoriness (or Dukkha) of their 'arising and passing away' (dependent on causes) has made itself known to the mind which has stopped identifying itself with what we call a 'soul' or 'atma'-the illusion of Sakkayaditthi, it is called in the Buddha's teaching.
If through Buddhist meditation the process of 'arising and passing away' of the atomic constituents of matter have been seen even so long as 2500 years ago, it must now be clear that Buddha Dhamma is based upon the direct perception of ultimate Truth; and it is only natural that the discoveries of science can merely confirm it as they are doing today.
Now, what is the
solution to the problem of manifest existence and how are we to discover the
Truth ourselves and see things as they truly are, face to face, as it were?
The Buddha, in his great compassion, asks us to develop a transcendental mind:
that is to say, a mind which is outside the causal process. And then, He says
we too would be able to view the whole universe objectively from outside as
it were!
When we ourselves develop such a mind, recognizing the fleeting nature of phenomenal
existence in the realms of Being and Becoming, there will arise in our minds
a feeling of repulsion-Nibbida-for such continued manifestation. And, the Buddha
says the development of such a mind is possible in every way.
For, there are already three types of beings known to Buddhists who have developed such a Mind: these are a Samma Sambuddha (i.e. a Fully-Enlightened Being like our Buddha Himself), a Pacceka Buddha (i.e. a Silent Buddha), an Arahat (i.e. one who has realized the Doctrine himself through the aid of a Buddha's teaching).
That such a state of mind can be attained is the teaching of the Supreme Buddha. In His dispensation, that state of Supra-mundane Consciousness which is outside the realms of causal processes is called Nibbana. In the Itivuttaka, the Buddha referring to Nibbana as the Goal of ultimate human understanding and striving, outside all causal states free and unfettered, says:-
'There is, O Bhikkus, an Unborn(Ajata), Un-originated (Abhuuta), Unmade(Akata) and Non-conditioned(Asankhata). If O Bhikkhus, there were not this Unborn, Un-originated, Unmade and Non-conditioned, an escape from the born, originated, made and conditioned, would not be possible here. As there is, O Bhikkhus, an Unborn, Un-originated, Unmade and Non-conditioned, an escape from the born, originated, made, conditioned is possible'1.
The being who has attained to such a state of Mind can live on viewing phenomena objectively. And, usually he does so for the good and welfare of the other beings. In time, when the force of energy that propelled him onto that final state of human existence is ultimately exhausted, he dies to that state. But unlike his earlier incarnations, he is now not reborn onto any of the several planes of cognition, as Craving which gives rise to further manifestation has been firmly rooted out. For, when all Craving ceases, the laws of 'attraction and repulsion' that gives rise to a new being through the grasping of a new germ, are no longer set in motion. Nothing however is annihilated in the process. But what we have all the time been conventionally calling a 'being' does not arise again. Sir Edwin Arnold describing that final cessation from the recurring cycles of birth and death, says in his Light of Asia:
If any teach Nibbana is to cease,
Say unto such they lie;
If any teach Nibbana is to live;
Say unto such they err.
The continuity alone is broken. For, the four characteristics of matter -cohesion, extension, heat and motion do not come together to provide a foundation (Nissaya) for future manifestation: These must always coexist (even if one predominates over the others) to provide a foundation for phenomenal manifestation. They cannot exist separately according to Buddhism. That ultimate state where there is no phenomenal manifestation also called Pari-Nibbana is attained at death only by one who has previously reached the state of Nibbana (Non-Craving).
Now, it will be interesting to ask ourselves whether such a state (where there is neither annihilation on the one hand nor existence on the other, yet a 'state' in contradistinction to any known physical(mundane)form), is in anyway possible of attainment? Skeptics may perhaps say that it is merely a theory -an empty dream- and, to such the story we have narrated earlier concerning the silly fish and the turtle might well apply.
Looking at the prospects before us, however, in the light of modern atomic discoveries, we find that Nibbana is indeed the only real state. For, Nibbana involves the absence of cohesion, extension, heat and motion. And, interpreting temperatures as the intensity of thermal motion, scientists too have been led to conclude that there should be such a 'state' at a lowest possible -'the absolute zero'- temperature where molecular motion is said to stop entirely. Using thermo dynamics for our arguments too, we can come to a similar conclusion at least in theory and postulate that under certain circumstances, motion stops entirely. That is the Buddhist point too. Hence, scientifically speaking, a state equivalent to Nibbana is in every way possible of attainment. For, if one characteristic of matter, say motion is absent, the others too cannot exist. But the western approach to the problem does not go beyond the realm of theory and is only hypothetical -does not 'deliver the goods'. And, at best, for all practical purposes merely leads to the appearance of the constituents of matter in different forms. A clear illustration of this being found in respect of certain substances, which at high boiling points turn into gases and tend towards unlimited expansion, which might reach-even infinity. Matter does not disappear altogether. In fact, if it did, we would all disappear from the scene and the measuring instruments too, and there would be none to watch the proceedings and live to tell the tale. Indeed violence will have been done to the laws of Science whereby matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Without pursuing such fantastical ideas to their logical conclusions let us revert to the subject under discussion. For, one cannot work against physical laws and Western approach is doomed to failure from the start.
However we know that the constituents of matter provide a base or foundation (Nissaya) for phenomenal manifestation. Many religious systems have evolved high sounding theories, beginning with 'faith in God' and ending there too. But none have told us how to remove the foundation -how to stop the process of Becoming. For, they have not realized that 'faith in God', beautiful though it is, no permanent remedy for the evil existence, for the roots of the evil lie deeper. The child may find security in its mother's arms and be perfectly happy there. Even so, the child-mind may take refuge in the bosom of deities and find comfort therein. But does the child know aught of its mother's sorrows and difficulties? Hardly, for she moves in a world that the child cannot understand. Does the child-mind know aught of the sorrows and difficulties deities have to contend with in managing, so to speak, their little 'worlds'? Hardly, for they move in worlds that the undeveloped mind cannot comprehend. Hence, if we are to find the 'peace that passeth all understanding' as adults among religionists, we must find a Way to stop birth which is the prelude to old-age, disease and death: the foundation upon which phenomenal manifestation is built must be removed. Only then, would we be able to say.
O house-builder!
(i.e. Craving) you are seen,
You shall build no house again.
All your rafters (i.e. passions) are broken,
Your ridge-pole (i.e. Ignorance) is shattered,
The Unconditioned has been attained.
(Dhammapada)
To this day scientists are, as we have seen, groping in the dark-unable to help us attain to the unconditioned state.
Buddhism alone says the feat can be performed. The riddle of Existence can be solved. Birth can be stopped -not by destroying matter coming together to provide a foundation for what we call phenomenal manifestation. This is accomplished by stopping motion not as scientists are trying to do, from outside the atom or molecule but from inside -from within so to speak! It is 'a splitting' of the atom in the Metaphysical sense. For, when motion stops entirely, matter ceases to exist. That is the Buddhist view. And, no phenomenal manifestation is possible (as this depends on the constituents of matter in some form or other).
However as we have seen in keeping with the development of knowledge in His time, the Buddha did not use the scientific jargon of today. He explained His doctrines in different ways -mainly in relation to the law of Kamma (i.e. Action) which operates through the force of Craving. He proved how true they were on the anvil of realization. For, said the Buddha, where there is Craving there will always be burning (heat) and a tendency to expand and to grasp and so as we understand the problem, the laws of 'attraction and repulsion' (which beget motion) will begin to function bringing together the molecules in varying combinations which as of yore are referred to even today as phenomenal manifestation -the release of such force being directed onto the several planes of cognition like a spinning top that is wafted hither and thither not through the propulsion of an External Agency, or God, as some imagine but by its own kinetic energy generated through Craving for pleasures now here, now there on the vast ocean of Sansara.
Here then is a scientific explanation to the perpetual cycle of birth and death -this unceasing revolution. For, where there is motion there will always be the other characteristics of matter to provide a foundation for Consciousness which in its ultimate expansion through 'heat' generated at one-pointed-ness of mind, may through its intensity reach -even infinity- in much the same manner that some types of nuclear energy produced through say a pound of helium is able to run a 100 watt electric bulb for so long a time as 13000000 years. For, as we have said earlier, human or other physical forms are merely the vessels or receptacles (like bulbs) that hold the energy generated through various forms of Craving. Accordingly, we find the life-span in certain celestial worlds extending from 9000000 years to aeons of time -which on the same analogy do not seem to be impossible of attainment. These are the 'divine' states that mislead some of us into believing in 'Eternal' heavens- Eternity.
This 'going' higher and higher into 'divine' or celestial regions on the analogy of atoms may be likened to the behavior of certain electrons that do big 'jumps under certain circumstances and find a way deeper and deeper into the interior of the atom emitting as they speed along bright rays of light in various forms of radiation from the surplus energy that has been let loose. For, we are told that certain highly placed 'divine' beings (i.e. Brahmas) who are reborn or 'jump', so to speak, into such exalted states through development of Meditation, radiate strong rays of light which are too powerful for ordinary beings to behold. Similarly in the lower 'divine' states of godlings (i.e. Devas) wherein meditation has not been developed to a high degree of potency, the rays of light emitted are not so bright and the beings themselves can be seen under certain conditions. This difference too can be understood on the same analogy, for we are told that when the 'jump' of electrons is small into what may be likened to the atomic 'suburb', the energy let loose not being so powerful, the radiation appears in the form of 'visible light'-thus establishing a relationship, as it were, between the microcosm and the macrocosm! Here then is perhaps a scientific explanation to the dazzling spectacle which we are told accompanies the appearance among human beings of certain highly placed celestial beings as recorded in the Scriptures of almost every Creed.
Yet, though some of us who are in the vanguard of humanity may reach such points -states of 'Cosmic Consciousness', they are called- it does not lead to the 'Boundless Security' associated with Nibbana. For, the process of creation, of reproduction goes on indefinitely. Relatively speaking, we will not be a whit further than we were at the outset of our endeavors: we will still be where we were before. For, to the Buddhist, desire in all its aspects whether human or divine cannot but be productive of Suffering. The process of Becoming is still kept going ever and anon, owing to Wrong Effort.
Here, then on the
analogy of the controlled experiment where different substances, as conditions
change, sometimes appear as solids, liquids and gases we also see how sentient
'beings' have the inherent capacity to appear in varying forms of manifestation
for varying periods of time. That also explains the fundamental difference between
the Buddha's teachings and all other religious systems which for their Goal
seek expansion and 'absorption' in a universal 'Paramatma'.
The ultimate aim of the Buddha's doctrines is not to lead humanity to such 'divine'
states. Buddhism seeks to prevent the constituents of matter coming together
to provide a foundation for phenomenal manifestation. This is accomplished not
merely in theory by seeking to destroy or 'squeeze-out' matter in any way as
Western scientist are striving so hard to achieve at high and low temperatures
in their laboratories and with their test tubes, but in practical way. The Unconditioned
is attained through Right-Effort. For, through Right-Effort which depends on
Right Views (which are Steps along the Noble Eightfold Path), when the force
of Craving -that leads to grasping, and continued manifestation, and (formerly)
set the laws of 'attraction and repulsion' in motion- towards states of expanding
Consciousness is neutralized, no new 'being' arises; the two forces interlock'
as it were! No offence is done to the laws of Science. Nothing is destroyed.
Nibbana remains.
The failure of scientists to provide such a Way to Freedom is mainly due to their being immersed in materialistic theories: this equally applies to other religionists. Thus the Buddha alone among gods and Men in bestowing upon mankind the knowledge of how to withdraw from between the pincers of Good and Evil, of God and Devil, of Criss and Cross and attain to the Unconditioned without offending physical laws becomes the Physician-cum-Scientists par excellence of all time. Indeed on reason alone we should imagine there is a Way.
Pregnant with meaning therefore are His words as recorded in the Samyutta nikaya:-
'When in deep, silent
hours of thought,
To the Truth the holy sage attains;
Then is he free from joy and pain,
From the form and the formless.
Where water, earth, heat, air no footing found,
There burns no lighting stars, nor shines the sun,
The moon sheds not her radiant beams,
But the home of darkness is not there.'
(Kindred Sayings)
Unless we too develop
a transcendental mind, therefore (i.e. the mind of Samma Sambuddha, Pacceka
Buddha or Arahat) we shall owing to Delusion (Avijja), continue our evolutionary
pursuits filled with craving for sensual and sensuous pleasures; and a natural
result, we shall live but to suffer, entangling ourselves more and more in the
process of Becoming.
The Buddha Dhamma provides us with a way of attaining that state of Nibbana
freed from sorrow, whence we like the Buddha and His Arahats, need never emerge
again. For, through Buddhist Meditation, recognizing first the Four Noble Truths,
namely (1) The Noble truth of Suffering, (2) The Noble Truth of Cause of Suffering
(3) The Noble truth of the Cessation of Suffering, and (4) The Noble Truth of
the Path leading to the Cessation of suffering, we gradually enter upon the
Noble Eightfold Path, and are progressively brought from illusoriness to Reality.
Thus the wise man renounces evolutionary progress centering all his efforts upon withdrawing from the evolutionary currents in which all beings are swept onward. And, when Delusion (Avijja) has disappeared and Wisdom has arisen, he heaps up neither meritorious nor de-meritorious nor imperturbable Kamma-formations. 'Thus, through training and discipline, there is the entire fading away and extinction of this Delusion (Avijja) and through the entire fading away and extinction of this Delusion are extinguished the Kamma-formations. Through the extinction of the Kamma-formations, "Consciousness" (rebirth) is extinguished. Through the extinction of Consciousness, the "Mental and Physical Existence" is extinguished. Through the extinction of the Mental and Physical Existence, the Six "Sense Organs" are extinguished. Through the extinction of the Six Sense Organs, "Sensorial Impressions" are extinguished. Through the extinction of the Sensorial Impressions, "Feeling" is extinguished. Through the extinction of Feeling, "Craving" is extinguished. Through the extinction of Craving, "Clinging" is extinguished. Through the extinction of Clinging, the "Process of Becoming" is extinguished. Through the extinction of the Process of Becoming, "Rebirth" is extinguished. Through the extinction of Rebirth, "Death, Sorrow, Lamentation, Pain, Grief and Despair" are extinguished. Thus takes place the extinction of this whole mass of Suffering.'8
'Truly', says the Buddha, 'because beings obstructed by delusion (Avijja) and ensnared by craving (Tanha), now here, now there seek ever fresh delight, therefore does there continually come to be fresh rebirth.'
'I proclaim', says the Buddha, 'that everything experienced by the senses is sorrow. But why? Because one in sorrow craves to be happy, and the so called happy one craves to be happier still. So insatiate is worldly happiness'.
From this brief analysis it will be seen that any attempt to interpret nature in terms of anthropomorphic concepts of our own creation and imagination is futile. For matter and mind and in fact everything in the universe is illusion -Maya-dependent on a set of relations. And if matter and mind are themselves illusions, would not the belief in a Master-Mind as the Unknown Hand behind all phenomena be a Greater illusion?
Not uncaused and casually, therefore, nor by the fiat of some Omnipotent Deity did events happen, painful or otherwise, not as Job and the Psalmist taught 'God distributeth sorrows in his anger. For, God is a righteous judge, and God is angry every day'. Events came impelled by preceding conditions, causes that man could by intelligence and good will, study and govern, suspend or intensify.
Viewed thus, those great teachers of humanity who have propounded eternal heavens, omnipotent deities, and unchanging souls in an ever-changing process of flux (which is not the same even for two consecutive moments) however well-intentioned and sincere they might have been, are now seen not to have been endowed with any deeper insight into the real laws of nature than the most ignorant of their contemporaries, and their claim to be divinely inspired by God, not being supported by any evidence whatever, appears to be no more than a hallucination. And the whole concept of divine revelation is seriously undermined.
Thus while theistic creeds are unable to withstand the onslaughts of Science and are one by one disintegrating like badly shuffled packs of cards; with their un-enlightened adherents precariously hanging on to the debris, the teachings of the Supreme Buddha remain untouched and are seen to be the only hope in a despairing world that is torn with strife and welfare and threatened even at this very moment by the forces of irreligion on the one hand and annihilation through atomic destruction on the other.
It may however be
impossible for most of us to visualize a world of relations and we insist on
looking for a Creator. In that case, instead of scanning the heavens for a heavenly
Creator, should we not accept the Supreme Buddha's advice and look nearer home
for an answer to the riddle of life? If we do this, we would soon see that the
material world is, as the Buddha has said, nothing more than a construction
of the consciousness. And, it is this that led Eddington to say, 'We have found
a strange footprint on the shores of the unknown. We have devised profound theories
to account for its origin. At last we have reconstructed the creature that made
the footprint. And lo! It is our own'.
Men are free to exercise their reason with regard to all teachings. Hence, it
is to the glory of the Buddha, that He allows His followers freedom, boundless
as the free sky above, which practically makes every man's own reason, the ultimate
standard of his belief. In testimony of this are His own words in the Kalama
Sutta: 'For this I taught you, not to believe merely because you have heard;
but when you believed of your own consciousness then to act accordingly and
abundantly'.
Buddhism compromises not with False Views. At the same time, no one is compelled to believe blindly; no one is coerced. There are no burnings at the stake; no threats of eternal damnation!
'Long is the night
to him who is awake,
Long is the road to him who is weary;
Long is the Samsara to the foolish,
who know not the Sublime Truth'.
(Dhammapada)
THE END
References
1. Ven Narada,The
Buddha Dhamma
2. Condensed from Buddhism Answers the Marxist Challenge,by Francis story
3. Patika Sutta, Dig. Nik. By Rhys Davids
4. Condensed from Dig. Nik. By Rhys Davids and Sangiti by Francis Story
5. Payasi Sutta. Dig. Nik. By Rhys David
6. From Ceylon Lectures (1921) by Dr. Evans-Wentz
7. Condensed from Word of the Buddha by Nayanatiloka
8. Ven-Nayanatiloka, Word of the Buddha
For Free Distribution
Computerized by Gamini De Silva, 'Highlands', Kandawala, Katana, Srilanka.
Wesak Full Moon Poya Day the 26th May, 2002
