The Metaphor of Burning in Hell (satire)

If you are Christian and a Islamophobe then you may be a bigot and, according to certain Christian sectarian dogma, you might burn in hell.

If you are a Christian and believe non-Christians will burn in hell then let me assure you that your literal interpretation of the Bible has blinded you to its metaphorical content.

For hatred of Muslims implies unbelief in the ever-loving Christ, regardless of your so-called belief in Him. Hatred of non-Christians is implied by Christian doctrine but not by the Bible.

Furthermore, no one Christian or otherwise knows what awaits them in the afterlife but hatred cuts everyone off from a true and sincere love of humanity, regardless of creed or faith.

Please note that I don't believe in hell as eternal torment but as a temporary destiny after death. Nor do I believe in bigotry and hatred towards Muslims.

For it was not Muslims who committed the tragedy on September 11, 2001. Rather, it was political Islamists who too are just as much unbelievers as anyone who has a large board of hatred blocking the last shred of love left in them. Though such militants claim belief in God, it might be Satan working through them.

Most Muslims were just as shocked as you were, and consider al Qaeda and like-minded Islamists politically radical militants but not Muslims.

Indeed, Islamist implies the political ideology of Sharia that runs counter to Islam.

If a Christian were to radicalize and hold an ideology of the Ten Commandments and consider anyone resisted him to be an unbeliever and worthy of death then he would be considered a potential domestic terrorist by the US government.

This includes anti-abortionist shooters, anti-government militias and even certain groups motivated by ideology i.e. radical right who use violence.

Indeed, anyone who wishes death on anyone else and affiliates with any God-fearing religion that stresses love and submission before a higher power than himself has occulted himself from belief in God and substituted it with a belief in death.

And who knows death more than Satan does? Even those lost sheep who have chosen him may know of death.

Hatred inflames the heart and places the hater in a metaphorical hell. Thoughts of death to other people complement that hatred.

Thus hatred causes the hell of your own making, regardless of your faith.

On the other hand, the love of which a wise man speaks is not humanity's love of God but rather the merciful compassion that calms all hearts because our love for all things good in life.

Peace of mind is the ideal of all things good in life. Such a mind at peace calmly abides in the clarity of mind that is free of anger and hatred and soon becomes full of the truest love of all, our love for each other, regardless of religion.

He who fears another is ignorant of that love. She who loves knows the power of love. Before that power of love, even he who loves power confesses his ignorance of love.

What if that tragedy in 2001 was the last chance for Americans to show humility before the world? What if the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq was the hope that that humility be shared by the conquerors with the conquered?

These two questions are but rhetorical, and may result many more questions than can be addressed in this article.

However, the metaphor of burning in hell refers to the anger at being caught unaware in 2001 which resulted in the so-called War on Terror. It also refers to the hatred that consumed a few people who — out of ignorance — chose to unjustly blame others for causing two passenger jets to destroy the Twin Towers, including the tragic deaths in America of Sikhs killed by two men consumed by anger and hatred.

When anger consumes a person, it causes mental instability. When hatred consumes such a person, that unstable mind will find a target upon which to vent his rage. In the case of 911, that target became the Muslims. Yet I do not consider the madmen who piloted those jets to be Muslims but criminal terrorists.

It is illogical and irrational to scapegoat Muslims around the world for 911. A better use of our time would be in studying the perversion of Salafi ideology in Islam that results in the violent militancy of al Qaeda, home-grown domestic terrorism and related criminal terrorism such as the recent bombings by militant Chechens in Russia.

As well, the Boston Massacre may have been inspired by Chechen militancy but it was also fueled by the fear perpetrated by conspiracy theorists who deny the official version of 911.

In any case, such acts of terrorism are often perpetrated by men and sometimes women who burn with hatred for a targeted enemy who is nothing more than a scapegoat for their rage.

Thus, the metaphor of burning in hell is apt.

Yet those of us who know of love know that the power of love triumphs over love of power. Non-violent confrontation of life that is both its fruit and its seed is planted when we fall in humility before that power.

It is possible for love to transform a would-be killer into a humble man who chooses life over death. Indeed, when we let unconditional love guide us, compassion and mercy promotes loving kindness towards other people. All anger and hatred is forgotten, and replaced by meekness.

Thus, the antidote to hatred is love, for it quenches the thirst for revenge without blood being shed. For the power of love is so great that it calms the mind and snuffs out the anger.

All that is left is a calm mind abiding in peace.

Now, that is better than letting hatred cause the hater to feel like he is burning in hell.

Four Popular Bodhisattvas of Compassion

In Buddhism, the devoted practitioner develops the Bodhi Mind on hearing the Dharma.

The Bodhi Mind consist of the determination to achieve Buddhahood and the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings.

Arising from the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings is the concept of the bodhisattva.

According to certain schools of Buddhism, the four most popular bodhisattvas are Avalokiteshvara, the Taras, Manjusri, and Ksitigarbha.

Avalokiteshvara is the most popular bodhisattva, being the symbol of compassion. In his female form, popular in China, she is called Kuan-yin; and in Japan, as Kwannon or Kannon. She is known as the spiritual mother of all sentient beings.

In Tibetan Buddha, Avalokiteshvara is the essence of the speech of all the buddhas and the incarnation of their compassion.


The Taras are most popular in Tibet. They range from two (the white Tara, which is represented by the white lotus symbolizing day, and the green Tara, which is represented by the blue lotus symbolizing night) to as many as 21 Taras.

In all of her many forms, Tara represents compassion and enlightened activity.

One form of White Tara in Tibetan Buddha is White Tara Wishfulfilling Wheel. She is associated with longevity and one of the three deities of long life.

Green Tara is the popular form of Tara in Tibetan Buddhism. She represents protection of the disciple by the Buddhas.

Overall, Tara presents prosperity.

Today, Tara practice has been introduced to the New Age religions in the West.

It is said that in ancient Tibet that every virtuous and pious woman is the incarnation of Tara.


Manjusri is another popular bodhisattva in Buddhism. He represents wisdom, intelligence and willpower. In Buddhism, Manjusri is the spiritual father and mother of bodhisattvas.

Known as the King of all tantras in Tibetan Buddhism, Chanting the Names of Manjushri is a famous praise of the bodhisattva.

Adoration of Manjusri empowers his devotee with divine wisdom, mastery of the Dharma, an infallible memory, mental perfection, and eloquence.


Ksitigarbha is known as the bodhisattva of hell. He consoles the beings in hell.

Motivated by compassion, he delayed becoming a buddha so that he could help the beings destined through their karma to rebirth in hell.

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References:

Bodhisattvas of Compassion: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_fbodi.htm
Avalokiteshvara: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Avalokiteshvara
White Tara Wishfulfilling Wheel: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=White_Tara_Wishfulfilling_Wheel
Tara: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Tara
Chanting the Names of Manjusri: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Chanting_the_Names_of_Manjushri

The Tibetan Buddhist Afterlife As Metaphor

In the Tibetan Buddhist afterlife, a pious devotee — rich or poor, laity or priest, men, women or children — will be escorted by a deity who protects him and carefully explains what is happening.

Together, they travel until they come before Yama — the Lord of Death. His actions in this life are then measured by Yama, who counts out black and white seeds representing negative and positive karmic actions.

If there are more black seeds of negative actions, then he will be led to the hell realm by Yama.

If there are more white seeds of positive actions, then he will be escorted to the many paradises and Buddha worlds,

From the figurative and symbolic aspect, the Tibetan afterlife is the metaphor for the disciple's initiation by his guru. Death refers to the figurative death of the disciple's worldly life.

The hell realm refers to anger and its destructiveness to a person's psyche.

The deity who protects symbolizes the yidam of the disciple, which is the root of spiritual accomplishment.

All those many paradises and Buddha worlds represent the perfect purity of all phenomena.

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References:

Description of afterlife:

• Delok: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=D%C3%A9lok
  
• Buddhist afterlife beliefs: http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism04.html
  
• Lingza Chokyi's Near-Death Experience: http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism02.html
  

Four Great Kings:

• Four Great Kings: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Four_Great_Kings
  
• Four Heavenly Kings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings
  
  • Guardian King of the South: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Virudhaka
    
• Lokapala: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokapala
  
  • The Four Heavenly Kings "are invoked ... and exhorted to behave ... and protect the Dharma and its practitioners in the Shurangama Mantra".
    

The Eighteen Hells: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Eighteen_hells
Yidam : http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Yidam

Notes on Om Mani Padme Hum

This note is a study aid. See reference for details.

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Six syllables give praise to the bodhisattva of compassion,
Avalokiteshvara who is also known in Tibetan Buddhism as Chenrezig, and as Guanyin in Chinese Buddhism. According to Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche's Chenrezig Sudhana, these syllables are:

Om represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Generosity
• Purifies:
∘ Pride / Ego
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Devas
• Color:
∘ White
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Wisdom
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Ma represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Ethics
• Purifies:
∘ Jealousy / Lust for entertainment
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Asuras
• Color:
∘ Green
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Compassion
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Ni represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Patience
• Purifies:
∘ Passion / desire
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Humans
• Color:
∘ Yellow
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Body, speech, mind quality and activity
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Dewachen

Pad represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Diligence
• Purifies:
∘ Ignorance / prejudice
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Animals
• Color:
∘ Blue
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Equanimity
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ the presence of Protector (Chenrezig)

Me represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Renunciation
• Purifies:
∘ Poverty / possessiveness
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Pretas (hungry ghosts)
• Color:
∘ Red
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Bliss
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Hum represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Wisdom
• Purifies:
∘ Aggression / hatred
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Naraka
• Color:
∘ Black
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Quality of Compassion
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ the presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)

According to HH the 14th Dalai Lama,

Om symbolizes:
• the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind
• the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha

Mani (jewel) symbolizes:
• the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love

Padme (lotus) symbolizes:
• wisdom

Hum symbolizes:
• indivisibility
• purity achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom

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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum

Birth-Death-Life (poem)

World of life, floating gently
amidst the mire,
awash with falling raindrops,
bathed in warm sunshine --
How brief is life as it is!

Yet life comes and goes,
with death a welcome respite.
Indeed, birth-life-death
is one endless cycle of
change, the enduring constant.

After death, we all return
to the Other Side,
before we are called again
to this world of life
to help others learn of Life.

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Notes:
"Other Side" implies rebirth in the Pure Land or in the Six Realms of the hells, hungry ghost, animal, human, demigods and gods, as well as the numerous Buddhist heavens.

Shin Buddhists venerated and protected by the gods

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Brahma and Indra venerate us;
All the benevolent gods of the heavens
Protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
The four great deva-kings together
Protect us constantly, day and night,
And let no evil spirits come near.

...

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Nanda, Upananda, and the other great nagas,
Along with the countless naga-gods, revere
And protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
Yama, the king of the dead, reveres us,
And the officers who judge the beings of the five courses of existence
All protect us constantly, day and night.

When we say "Namu-amida-butsu,"
We are protected by the great king of maras
Residing in the sixth heaven;
This he vowed to do in the presence of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The gods of the heavens and earth
Are all to be called good,
For together they protect
The person of the nembutsu.

-- Hymns of the Pure Land, stanzas 100-101, 102-106

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Originally posted: February 5, 2006 2232H
Update posted: March 7, 2013 0237H

Reference:
Within the context of the hell realm, the five courses of existence refers to the god realm, the demi-god realm, the human realm, the animal realm, and the hungry ghosts realm.

Brahmāloka may be the sixth heaven.