God is a romantic notion
that the unconscious creative processes
of the mind are projected
as the sole divine creator
while conveniently ignoring
the reality of human existence.
Showing posts with label human condition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label human condition. Show all posts
20130421
The Absolute is Almost Infinite
Buddhas and bodhisattvas are not the same as God, as even these Buddhas are finite in lifespan.
Only the Absolute is infinite in Western terms. In Eastern terms, the Absolute is both infinite and finite.
Compared to humans, the Absolute is close to infinite in age yet is finite in the sense that it too has a very long age i.e. is older than the present universe as the universe as science knows it has been reborn an almost infinite number of times.
Thus it is true to say the Absolute is older than the current universe as it has been reborn countless times and there has been no primordial creation.
Only the Absolute is infinite in Western terms. In Eastern terms, the Absolute is both infinite and finite.
Compared to humans, the Absolute is close to infinite in age yet is finite in the sense that it too has a very long age i.e. is older than the present universe as the universe as science knows it has been reborn an almost infinite number of times.
Thus it is true to say the Absolute is older than the current universe as it has been reborn countless times and there has been no primordial creation.
20130413
Only Human / Ningendesu / 人間です
私は西洋の理想に同化さしていたが、
私は日本人の祖先のように人間です。
西と東は、この中心部に集中している。
Romaji transliteration:
Watashi wa seiyō no risō ni dōka sa shite itaga,
watashi wa nihonjin no sosen no yō ni ningendesu.
Nishi to azuma wa, kono chūshin-bu ni shūchū shite iru.
English translation:
(Though) I am assimilated to ideals of the West,
I am only human like my Japanese ancestors.
East and West are one in my heart.
私は日本人の祖先のように人間です。
西と東は、この中心部に集中している。
Romaji transliteration:
Watashi wa seiyō no risō ni dōka sa shite itaga,
watashi wa nihonjin no sosen no yō ni ningendesu.
Nishi to azuma wa, kono chūshin-bu ni shūchū shite iru.
English translation:
(Though) I am assimilated to ideals of the West,
I am only human like my Japanese ancestors.
East and West are one in my heart.
20110610
Self-Disclosure as Therapy
Writing about my life is therapeutic.
In my family of origin, I was deemed the problem child.
At the root of it was the shame my mother experienced when it was learned I was born with two birth defects. Much of this shame was due to her mother-in-law and my father, despite the fact that his brother was born with epilepsy and died of it.
In reaction to being shamed, my mother developed anxiety about it and passed that onto me. I recall being shamed by her, too. Also, my father used to shame me, too.
I remember one incident of being told by my father to straighten out my arms, and being made to feel as though it was abnormal not to have my right arm be straight.
In reporting this, by exposing this hurt to light, it will be impossible to feel ashamed for being born less than perfect.
For I know it to be true that no one thinks of himself as being perfect, for we are all human and prone to error.
Yet there is still room for spiritual healing to help me recover from the childhood years of neglect and abuse, and especially to remain forgiving towards my parents.
In my family of origin, I was deemed the problem child.
At the root of it was the shame my mother experienced when it was learned I was born with two birth defects. Much of this shame was due to her mother-in-law and my father, despite the fact that his brother was born with epilepsy and died of it.
In reaction to being shamed, my mother developed anxiety about it and passed that onto me. I recall being shamed by her, too. Also, my father used to shame me, too.
I remember one incident of being told by my father to straighten out my arms, and being made to feel as though it was abnormal not to have my right arm be straight.
In reporting this, by exposing this hurt to light, it will be impossible to feel ashamed for being born less than perfect.
For I know it to be true that no one thinks of himself as being perfect, for we are all human and prone to error.
Yet there is still room for spiritual healing to help me recover from the childhood years of neglect and abuse, and especially to remain forgiving towards my parents.
20100517
Reflection on Beyond the Human Condition
"The human condition is our predicament of having to live with a sense of guilt. Understanding dissolves the guilt: the origin of all human upset was our instinctive self's unjust criticism of our conscious mind's necessary efforts to find understanding." -- http://www.worldtransformation.com/Beyond/StoryOfHomo.html
Although I am Buddhist, this book Beyond the Human Condition, echoes both in Buddhism and in most religions.
The purpose of Buddhist practice is to moderate instinct so that intellect may better integrate itself with that which is moderated. Indeed, what is ego but the cause and condition of human existence. Though the mind itself is the means by which one controls the ego, that which is blown out is the consciousness of ego as permanent.
How does one control the ego? First, through breath meditation, to develop calm insight; and second, through meditation on loving-kindness, to develop compassion for others. Through meditation, ego is appeased, and made tame by mindful practice.
Eventually, as a result of meditation, one lets go of being conscious of a mind which exists after death. In its place arises the spiritual mind, which consists ego and mind as one. As well, the mind develops a compassionate aspect to complement its rational aspect that appeases the ego.
None of this accomplished by meditation alone; it has to be done by practising what one learns, in addition to meditation i.e. through work and play.
Thus, I use Buddhism to understand myself. In understanding myself comes acceptance of the human condition. It is acceptance that represents the mind's ability to live peaceably with a sense of guilt.
IMHO sharing this understanding with others is done to relieve that sense of guilt.
Although I am Buddhist, this book Beyond the Human Condition, echoes both in Buddhism and in most religions.
The purpose of Buddhist practice is to moderate instinct so that intellect may better integrate itself with that which is moderated. Indeed, what is ego but the cause and condition of human existence. Though the mind itself is the means by which one controls the ego, that which is blown out is the consciousness of ego as permanent.
How does one control the ego? First, through breath meditation, to develop calm insight; and second, through meditation on loving-kindness, to develop compassion for others. Through meditation, ego is appeased, and made tame by mindful practice.
Eventually, as a result of meditation, one lets go of being conscious of a mind which exists after death. In its place arises the spiritual mind, which consists ego and mind as one. As well, the mind develops a compassionate aspect to complement its rational aspect that appeases the ego.
None of this accomplished by meditation alone; it has to be done by practising what one learns, in addition to meditation i.e. through work and play.
Thus, I use Buddhism to understand myself. In understanding myself comes acceptance of the human condition. It is acceptance that represents the mind's ability to live peaceably with a sense of guilt.
IMHO sharing this understanding with others is done to relieve that sense of guilt.
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