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The Space and Astronomy Agora
Oneness Of Person And The Law (Absolute Principle)

Posted by Glenn on May 22, 2004 03:53:12 UTC

Conceptual time is interpreted as being continuous and infinite, having one
irreversible dimension. One interpretation of the beginning of the universe
is by looking at a theory where nothingness, billions and more years ago was
a vacuum and space at the beginning was empty of solid matter. An explosion from a
compression of atoms, caused a super explosion. This, in theory, was the
beginning of the universe. Some atomic particles possess vast amounts of
energy and energy or life and is a fundamental attribute and function of the
universe; it infers that an equivalent quantity of physical energy was
expended in creating the atom. In the beginning atoms were created from
energy and came into existence from nothingness, which can be vacuum or
space that is empty of matter.
Quantum Physics has discovered that matter is nothing but a form of energy. Sub-atomic particles are merely concentrations of a field of energy that constantly appear and disappear, losing their identity as they blend into the underlying field. What scientists have discovered is that there is no actual, easily identifiable "thing" at the basis of matter. Subatomic particles, the building blocks of the physical world that we inhabit, appear to oscillate between states of being and nonbeing. Instead of a fixed "thing" in a particular place, we find only shifting waves of probability. At this level, the world is actually a highly fluid and unpredictable place, essentially without substance. It is this non-substantial nature of reality that the Buddhist concept of shunyata (Sanskrit), or ku (Japanese) describes, has been variously translated as latency, non-substantiality, emptiness and void.

Emptiness is a term used by Buddhists to describe the source of life, and is what Buddha called the "Unborn, Unoriginated, Unformed." It gives birth to an infinite variety of forms in the universe, which it sustains and then reabsorbs. Everything -- our bodies, our minds, consciousness, nature -- is constantly being born and dying; everything is vibrations coming from the source. We are a temporary manifestation of the Void, or – in more traditiobal terms – we are the manifestation of the Absolute Principle. Our real nature is that of the Principle, but we identify ourselves with the appearance, with manifestation. Buddhism has recognized this powerful all-sustaing force which itself the source of all physical and spiritual phenomena. And this is what we call the " MYSTIC LAW "(Mystic here means "unfathomable" reality not "occult")- which is the force and wisdom inherent in the entire cosmos.It is what they call GOD in other religions, but it is different from God in that it is perfectly immanent in the cosmos and in our lives.It is not a force outside the COSMOS. It is the COSMOS itself.

Buddhism also teaches that all things arise and cease depending on causes and conditions. When we say that everything is "empty," we do not mean that things do not exist. What we mean is that things are always elements in a process of change and interdependence. When we learn to see things as processes and not as isolated finite objects then we will see that to talk of something being "created" or "destroyed" is only true conventionally. The network of causes and conditions that bring any "thing" into existence is actually a never-ending process with no boundaries. So in this sense, Buddhism never speaks of "creation" or "destruction," "birth" or "death," "appearance" or "disappearance," because that way of talking about things misses the infinite open-endedness and inclusivity of the process which is the reality behind the "things" that we perceive and try to grasp. This holds true for chairs, people, planets, or universes. The idea that there are definitive beginnings and endings or absolute boundaries between things or beings is viewed by Buddhism as part of the delusion that reinforces our selfishness and sense of alienation from all that exists. So we can not talk of a supreme creator in Buddhism because there is no creation -- there is only reality just as it is, beyond words or concepts. This reality we must see for ourselves and deal with directly and not through a fog of creation myths or metaphysical speculations.

There is also the inherent contradiction in insisting that there must be a God who caused the universe because everything must have a cause, but then insisting that God is an exception to the rule that everything must have a cause. Either one must insist that everything has a cause, including God, or one must admit that things do not always need causes and therefore you can not insist that the world or the universe must have a cause. This logical dilemma is another reason why Buddhism does not speak of a creation or a Creator.

The true nature of the cosmos and of LIFE is the fusion into entity of the Physical Law of life and the Spiritual Law of life. Nichiren, 13th century japanese Buddhist teacher, says: " Earth is comparable to the physical law of life; cosmic space is compareble to the spiritual law of life. The two are inseparable. "

Cosmic space, the Buddhist concept called in Sanskrit "sunyata" or "Ku" has been translated as emptiness or Void, but is actually the Spiritual Law of Cosmic life as a whole. Perhaps the best way to understand this interpretation is to consider that nothing exist except in relation to everything else, which is to say the totality of the cosmos.The Spiritual Law of life,then, is one and the same as the Spiritual law of the cosmos.
Nichiren's meaning was that the universe is performing rhymical movements in which physical world and the cosmic spirit are ONE.

There is a greek term called "pneuma": something whose presence within the body gives life, and whose absence means death. So, this idea is just like postulating that the soul ,which created by a deity, outside of man's own existence.If man were made to live by some outside force or power, his body would indeed be no more than a machine,and he himself a mere puppet. I beleive that the principle or LAW that unites the cells and organs into living beings exist "within" life and "within" the body(matter), and there's no need to set up a deity or pneuma outside of man's own exitence. We must look into the body as the manifestation of LIFE, for the life-force is inherent in the body. It is this force which among other things, harmonizes the body's parts and enables man to absorb from without that which necessary to maintain LIFE. This active positive LIFE-FORCE within the body is the fundamental essence of LIFE, and it is one with the life-force of the universe.

The universe may appear to be a purely material existence, but there is within it the world of the Life-Force(i.e energy) inherent in all physical wonder of the cosmos.If we see MYSTIC LAW, as the fundamental source of all universal phenomena, i think we understand the fusion of the Physical and Spiritual Laws of life.

As Nicheren Daishonin said the two laws " are inseparable aspect of every single life " if we consider this in from practical viewpoint, it becomes evident that as Human beings we are special manifestations of that Principle of the fundamenatal life-force of the cosmos.

What most clearly distiguish Buddhism from other god-oreinted religions is that Buddhism sees the cosmos itself as being the "LAW". A "Buddha"(Enlightened One) is someone who has recognized his identity with the cosmic Law. This is much different from postulating an absolute deity who creates and dominates the Law. And the difference Between Buddhism and other religions are evident in their cosmological theories.

Buddhist concept of "Sunyata" or "Ku", which is one aspect of "the character and essence of all things", help us understand how the universe could remain "Lifeless' for some billion years after its formation, yet still be called Alive: it's life-force was in the condition of Ku, not manifest, but profoundly shaping the design of the space and time universe as it evolved, down to the very Laws that govern it. As soon as condition allowed it to- and it's a sure thing that conditions would- Life emerged from a Latent state to manifest state, and proceeded to evolve into sentient, intelligent beings who could appreciate their roots in universal life and worship it's ESSENCE.And that ESSSENCE- that subsumes all other laws, that has been driving and shaping reality since time without beginning and will never cease to do so- is " MYSTIC LAW ", the Life-essence of the cosmos which is the ultimate principle or the totality of universal existence.

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