With Silent Awe: A Short Critique of Creationism and their Detractors

Sometimes I find both sides of this argument of creationism versus evolution tend to abuse logical fallacies to prove their point. I do not buy the logic of "either you believe in God or you don't" because it is a fallacy.

Why should I take sides regarding belief and faith with regard to religion?

Like the existence of God, evolution is a matter of belief, for belief that evolution did occur is based on the archaeological evidence, but is actually based on faith in the scientific method. However, the scientific method fails to prove the existence of God because it requires belief in something outside the realm of science, which excludes use of the scientific method.

A Christian would have to base his faith on a fallible source called the Bible, much of which is exaggerated to the point of miraculous — the feeding of thousands as Jesus makes his Sermon on the Mount. As well, logical fallacies are often used to make a point, but on close examination they do not stand to reason — the Cretan tells lies.

This may be why the prudent Christian when faced with such challenges by non-believers claims Christianity is outside the realm of scientific argument and only has to do with the spiritual realm.

Within that realm, ANYTHING is possible. Within the realm of science, the scientific method requires evidence based on collection of data. Merely having faith in the face of lack of evidence is not proof of anything significant.

If we take the Bible as a collection of mytho-poetic prose designed to appeal to some of humanity's spiritual needs, then it becomes useful to the few people who believe. Yet the detractors who side with Christians would then object to calling the prose "myths".

In the case of the Bible, myth is defined as hidden truths revealed by consulting the compendium. This is why a good Bible cross references each chapter and verse against other chapters and verses.

Yet a rational mind that has faith in the scientific method makes the false conclusion that myths have only one definition as a fairy tale that does not hold any truth at all.

Obviously then, if it deals with the spiritual realm, then for atheists, the Bible is devoid of truth. This too is false.

Truth is not based on evidence; it is based on what the mind knows to be true i.e. if an atheist deems the spiritual realm to be unknowable because he really has no experience in dealing with it then, rather than saying so, he concludes that a Christian's experience with the spiritual realm is subjective and thus tainted. Because of his lack of experience, the atheist assumes that the spiritual realm is unknowable.

What the atheist sometimes does instead of stating this, is to mock the Christian's experiences.

However, a Christian's subjective experience of the spiritual realm is his story and is real to him. For the only way to view it is not with derision but with the same respect you pay to your grandparents when they tell you about a time before you were born, WITH SILENT AWE.

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Originally posted: December 22, 2012 12:19 AM

Eye of Wisdom

Having obtained the eye of wisdom,
I will remove the darkness of ignorance;
I will block all the evil paths
And open the gate to the good realms. — Bodhisattva Dharmakara

"Having obtained" refers to years of study (of the three sutras of Amida Buddha) and meditation (particularly Nembutsu or Buddha Recitation) which uncovers the "Eye of Wisdom".

"Eye of wisdom" refers to the eye that sees the Dharma and the inner spiritual world. Also known as the Dharma Eye, the Eye of Wisdom is the complement of the physical eye that sees the external material world, which is called the Worldly Eye.

"Darkness of ignorance" refers to the state of the unenlightened mind that delights in sensuous desire and the evil passions which distract the Buddhist from the spiritual journey. Evil in context with the passions refers to any confusion and distraction from that journey due to wrong action resulting in wrong-mindedness.

"Evil paths" refers to the many paths which distract the Buddhist from achieving calm abiding and peace of mind. Calm abiding refers to the mind that is content with itself and is free of evil passions.

Through regular meditation, it is possible to "remove the darkness of ignorance" and "block all the evil paths" through calm abiding and continued reflection on Enlightenment. By removing the darkness of ignorance and blocking all evil paths, confusion and distraction from the spiritual journey is dispelled. As a result, the clear mind is achieved in which calmness abides.

With calm abiding, it is possible to "open the gate to the good realms" of spiritual contentment, which prepares the way to the Pure Land of Bliss.

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Juseige - Verses confirming the 48 Vows:
http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/larger.html#Juseige%20-%20Verses%20confirming%20the%2048%20Vows

Eye of wisdom: http://www.buddhapadipa.org/dhamma-corner/the-eye-of-wisdom/

Meditation on Solitude: an Evolution from Living Alone to Oneness in Pure Mind (poem)

I live alone
dwelling in mindfulness,
remembering Buddha,
my heart rubbed raw
by great compassion,
untroubled by human suffering,
swimming in the ocean
of humanity, swept away by desire, lust, passion...
(written December 27, 2003)

Alone but devoid
of all loneliness, my love
is made pure again
by romantic notions unknown
to the common masses.
(written January 20, 2004)

it is Pure Spirit
that inspires such love,
laying the groundwork
for the Divine Realm.
Thus is it aiki of Ōmoto.
(written January 24, 2004)

Pure Mind only exists.
All other things exist
because Pure Mind cannot stand
to be the only One,
even this humble author
who now may never
realize such a mind,
due to the vanity
existing between the lines.
For humility deepens
awareness of Pure Mind.
(written February 3, 2004)

Aware of Pure Mind,
abandoning pure lust for the world,
the sage can overcome
what the sentient beings
enjoy while frolicking
in this world of Samsara.
(written January 14, 2014)

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Last posted: March 12, 2004 1232h PDT

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.

True Dharma, Buddha Nature, True Mind, Self Nature

For a person of unsteady mind,
Not knowing true Dhamma,
Serenity
Set adrift:
Discernment doesn't grow full.

For a person of unsoddened mind,
Unassaulted awareness,
Abandoning merit & evil,
Wakeful,
There is no danger
No fear.

-Dhammapada, 3, translation by Thanissaro Bhikku.

Commentary: this quote is from verses 38 and 39 in Chapter 3 of the Dhammapada.

Chapter 3 is entitled The Mind, and gives the disciple instructions about the mind.

The footnote for verse 39 reveals that a soddened mind is soaked by the rain of passion.

For, just as our clothes are soaked in the rain, so too is the mind by passion.

Of course, a light rainfall will barely soak me; but a rainstorm would drench me.

Likewise, a storm of passion would harm me greatly, disturbing my mind, leaving me distracted, lost, confused, motivated by fear and prone to anger.

Thus, passion itself is harmless in moderation. Too much of it or too little of it will lead to
psychic illness.

As well, "true Dharma" is subtly realized as Buddha Nature where the realm of truth, being that of phenomenon and noumenon, is also known as Dharmakaya.

When the disciple always views Self Nature as Buddha Nature, the True Mind is bathed in the realization of the true Dharma path, the Middle Way.

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Reference:

Footnote to Dhammapada Verse 39: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n39