No mandal, no mandal, no mandal, no mandal, no mandal, no mandal.
Aum.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
Aum.
Sahana.
For untold thousands of years, multitudes of voices all over the face of the earth
have spoken words like these as an affirmation of their faith
in the existence of a great unseen reality,
an ever-present intelligence beyond the perception of the five senses.
This reality, which has many names and many definitions,
has been variously described by countless interpreters
speaking in the name of religion.
Some of these interpretations call the reality God and say he is one.
Others say he is many.
He is called male, female, or androgynous,
described as transcendent, imminent, monistic, dualistic, a trinity,
as including all things or nothing, and on and on.
In fact, the interpretations seem to range from one extreme to another
in almost every conceivable pair of opposites,
with each defending the legitimacy of his view.
Throughout the ages, these contrasting opinions have caused friction,
but in the smaller world of today, they collide so bewilderingly
that many persons have fled from the whole notion of religion in despair.
So what does this prove? Does it suggest that all religious doctrine
is an illusion, a humbug, the opiate of the masses?
Or are the religions dealing with basic truths
and really saying many of the same things in different ways?
And if so, what are those truths?
And finally, do some religions contain greater truths?
Before answering, let us withhold judgment and consider some of the great
religions and their teachings, those which have endured over the
centuries while mighty nations have flourished and declined.
Perhaps to an open mind, these teachings may speak for themselves.
The wheel of life moves on. In the midst of misfortune and the noise of toil,
it moves toward pleasure but ends in the mire of penance and wrath.
He who understands the stoppage of the wheel of life
is never more deceived.
Ages ago, while the societies and cultures of people in other parts of the
world were still in the crudest, most primitive stage,
India was a great thriving civilization with an art, a philosophy, and an advanced
religious system already highly developed. In fact, India has been called the cradle
of religion and Hinduism, the faith which developed there
and numbers the largest following, has an origin that is prehistoric.
Sacred literature called the Vedas may have been conceived three to four
thousand years ago.
Coexistent with the ancient and long since abandoned religion of Egypt,
Hinduism has not only maintained its strength but has grown steadily
until today its influence is felt on the lives of over 350 million persons.
With the exception of a few minor sects, the religion of Hinduism has no central
organization nor church authority to determine its doctrines.
This of course gives room for very broad interpretations which more or less
permit a belief in accord with each person's ability to comprehend
and is one of the reasons why Hinduism has lived so long
and why it has solidly resisted the evangelism of faiths like Buddhism,
Christianity, and Islam.
And also why one sees so many forms of worship in India
from what would seem to be almost sheer idolatry
to the very highest type of spiritual understanding.
Examples of which are found in the words and deeds of men like
Ramakrishna, Rabindranath Tagore, and many others.
You see most Hindus believe the limitless manifestations of God
allows each man to worship differently as long as he is sincere.
Like other religions, the ethical teachings of this ancient faith provide
the Hindu of today with rules that are easy to read,
difficult to follow. True happiness consists in making happy.
Blessings give for curses.
But who is the god of the Hindus? Or should we say
gods, for there are very many. It must be understood, however, that Hindus are
taught to believe in only one supreme being or force called Brahman
and to consider the host of lesser gods as various
aspects of this one reality.
Yet there are many persons unable to cope with this abstraction.
They need something more tangible upon which to lavish their affections and
emotions, like the saints in Christianity, and for
them the gods are very appropriate and very real,
not as idols but as symbols of their highest ideals.
These worshippers have the respect of all levels of Hindu religious society due
to the underlying unity between them. Common scriptures, common beliefs, common
practices, common gods.
In the pantheon of Hindu gods there are two, named Shiva and Vishnu, which are by
far the more important, and which in a sense divide the
primary loyalty of most Hindus between them.
Vishnu is a god of righteousness and love, called the protector and sustainer of the
world, and vertical red stripes indicate a temple
in his honor. He is the inspiration for the devotional
cult known as bhakti, and he is the creator of the
devotional cult known as bhakti, and he is incarnated upon earth many
times in behalf of mankind.
Vishnu, incarnate as Lord Krishna, is the hero of a story and scripture which is
world renowned, a literary masterpiece, the Bhagavad Gita.
Sometimes Vishnu is depicted as Narayana with his wife Lakshmi, the goddess of
prosperity. Elsewhere he is god Rama with a wife named Sita,
well-known figures in the great symbolic legend,
the Ramayana.
It is said that wives of the gods provide feminine attributes for those
unable to reconcile the idea of both characteristics
in one person, even a god.
The other important deity is Shiva, the god of destruction,
symbolic of perpetual change. Shiva not only destroys but creates
and offers grace to the suffering world.
Worship of Shiva attracts those seeking mystic paths to union with God,
for when seated in yogi posture, Shiva is known as the great
meditator. For devotions there is an abstract image
of Shiva called a lingam.
Nandi, the deified bull, is called Shiva's vehicle.
Various animals attached to the gods often represent
physical aspects of man's nature which must be controlled.
As with other religions, there are often small merchants at the
entrances of Hindu temples selling materials for devotional
observances. Powdered paint is for marking the
foreheads of the devout, a custom well known in India.
As for instance, the vertical symbol of Vishnu
may be reproduced on young men who are students.
Hindu religious life is roughly divided into two parts,
Hindu religious life is roughly divided into four stages.
A sacred string over the shoulder shows that someone has been formally initiated
into the first or student stage and is devoted to study and discipline
under the guidance of a teacher or guru. After initiation one is considered
twice-born.
Horizontal markings indicate devotion to Lord Shiva.
The second stage of Hindu religious life is as a citizen
and householder. During this period, worship follows a line of strict ritual
although attendance at temple is never absolutely necessary
nor is it carried out with group uniformity.
In fact, Hindus often frown on such a practice. Worship is primarily a
personal communication between the individual
and his god.
A coconut and some fresh garlands provide a suitable offering.
Shoes are always removed before entering a Hindu temple.
The bells are rung to attract the attention of the deity and the offering
is given to a priest who sets it before the tiny images in the place of
consecration.
First the priest washes the images
and then he makes the offering to them.
The conch shell is the signal for the start of the ritual of worship called
arati. It is a daily ceremonial with deep emotional
effect on participants and spectators bringing on a sort of religious
exaltation.
According to Hinduism, there are five elements of creation
water, fire, earth, air, and ether and this ceremony symbolizes the offering
and return of these elements to the creator.
Ah
It might be pointed out that Hinduism is less a system of ethics
or even theology than it is a school of metaphysics and psychology
meaning its basic aim is not to make its followers more perfect earth dwellers
nor even blissful inhabitants after death in the realms of heaven.
Instead it strives to inspire man to become one
with the eternal universal spirit Brahman
the ultimate reality a goal it is claimed which is unattainable by
perfection of character or conduct but can only be the result of a
completely transformed consciousness an all-consuming objective.
And Hinduism even says it is not possible to accomplish this
in one lifetime and therefore the ancient doctrine of rebirth
or reincarnation is accepted.
Rebirth functions in accord with the law of karma
the workings of a divine justice which is believed to place each person in the
exact station earned by his actions in previous lives.
Thus he may move up or down the social scale and even back into animals and
plants. This is the wheel of karma a wheel which
can be stopped only by liberation from the finite consciousness of individuality
called the opening of the third eye.
This results in a new transcendent consciousness
the true destiny of all men.
To attain liberation or moksha silent prayer and meditation are important
and this is often supplemented by the countless repetition of mystic syllables
considered the veritable embodiment in sound of the deity itself as for
instance the sound Aum, a name of the impersonal absolute Brahman.
Aum.
Pranayama or breath control calms and controls the body
keeps it from distracting the mind during meditation.
Prayer beads are used when a devotional mantra is to be repeated hundreds or
thousands of times. This kind of repetition called japa
is highly regarded as an aid to further realization
of god.
Up where the Ganges emerges from the
Himalaya mountains is the holy city of Hardwar.
It is a place filled with men who have become full-time devotees of a religious
path. They are now called sadhus or sannyasins
meaning holy men.
Some shave their heads while others belonging to the order of udassis
do not. Most of them are members of some recognized order.
Their meager wants are supplied by begging while living a life of complete
asceticism void of worldly ambitions and
sensuous pleasures seeking only spiritual freedom. Their
day consists of study or preaching to each other.
And of course exercises in yoga breath control and many many kinds of ritual
and mystic disciplines.
Sprinkling the water is a right of purification often connected with the
worship of Vishnu.
Sadhus with the trident show devotion to lord Shiva.
Sitting cross-legged is a meditative pose well known as the lotus posture.
It's to prevent falling asleep. There are several stages of development
in the life of a monk. Many of those here are considerably
advanced having been given permission by their avat to make pilgrimage to this
holy place. But some seem to show the costly
effects of the severe strain they may have imposed upon themselves
by what is considered the greatest pilgrimage.
Self-purification and discipline. Their goal stoppage of the wheel of
material life. Unity with god.
Hindu yoga like the word yoke means union with the divine. This union may be
accomplished by different types of yoga as love and devotion bhakti yoga or by
service to fellow man karma yoga by knowledge janana yoga
or by contemplation raja yoga a path which culminates in a state of
rapture called samadhi.
This difficult objective should be paralleled by a strict course of
physical discipline in order that body functions will not
disturb one's concentration. When habits are controlled when the
body is obedient to the will consciousness may then be open to the
reality of god.
Only highly developed masters have true skill
in the art of hatha yoga where every posture
symbolizes a means of overcoming obstacles on the path.
The master stated that while hatha yoga was useful in controlling the body and
hence the mind spiritual progress would not be
furthered without integrity moral stature and consecration to the
universal will. Thus the underlying basis is religion.
There is also the need for inner verification of the all-essential
philosophical term maya or illusion in regard to the
ultimate unreality of the phenomenal world.
According to Vedanta there is but one reality
brahman atman god in the highest sense unknown and indescribable except as
neti neti not this not that.
Freedom from illusion depends upon the complete conviction of one's true
identity with this indescribable universal spirit
in accord with the venerable phrase tat tvam asi that art thou.
Unsuited to the rigors of hatha yoga some seek for union with god by
consecration and worship such as the sadhus who express their
devotion through the goddess lakshmi the gracious consort of vishnu.
Now these are members of an ashram or school of spiritual discipline
conducted by a leader or teacher having the title swami
or guru gurus somehow communicate the impression of profound spiritual
insight and are a great inspiration to their
followers.
There are many such ashrams in india most of them insisting that
disciples live in obedience to a very severe moral code
without worldly goods or any of the so-called worldly pleasures included
a hard role for vigorous men and not without certain psychic dangers
such a life calls for emotional maturity.
Upon the external walls of many ancient monasteries one finds carved figures of
the heavenly apsaras along with other designs such sculpture
represents the outer physical world as opposed to the purity of the spiritual
life within the temple of the mind. The earthly counterpart of the apsara
was found in the temple dancer who though rare today in india left a
lasting impression on hindu dancing and on the memories of men living in
worldly renunciation.
For those seeking union with the divine through mystic meditation
visions such as temple dances must not be entertained
no sensual imagery can be allowed to interrupt the concentrated effort
to break the veil separating man from the spiritual source of his being.
Seated in the lotus posture to refrain from sleep
yet relaxed and breathing without effort the mind
concentrates on some aspect of divinity and awaits until the doors of spiritual
insight called samadhi finally open for a
glimpse of divine reality.
What it is like when the doors of spiritual insight are opened
few have even tried to say for the experience of samadhi is more like
poetry than science indescribable as the fourth dimension.
Beyond this the devout hindu may also hope he will find release
from his repetitious lives in the material world
and be freed from illusion and pain on the wheel of karma.
Once upon a time many years ago there lived a handsome and brilliant young
prince a prince so carefully protected and
sheltered that he knew not the sight of any evil
until he was grown to full manhood.
Then one day he chanced beyond the wall of the palace garden
and there seeing the misery of his fellow man
so filled his heart with compassion that he renounced his kingdom
fled forever from his royal mansion and became a homeless wanderer
seeking truth in order to help all mankind overcome its problems.
After much tribulation he finally chose to sit in prolonged meditation under a
tree and in this manner he gained understanding
of so many of life's puzzling mysteries and grew to be so wise that word of his
wisdom spread far and wide and he became known as the buddha
or enlightened one.
Now all this took place in India 2,500 years ago
and it was in Sarnath on the spot marked by an ancient tower
that he first began to preach the doctrine known to this day
as buddhism.
In the early years this teaching called the wheel of the law
and sometimes described as a reform on the religion of hinduism
swept throughout India. It outlawed the caste system
the priesthood and all rituals and devotions in behalf of the traditional
hindu gods.
From India it moved on into other countries
ultimately dominating the whole of Asia.
Today however the followers have been reduced to an uncertain figure
perhaps 150 million. Reasons for this aside from the present attitude of
mainland China lie in the fact that centuries ago
buddhism died out in the land of its birth remaining practically dormant
for over a thousand years up to the present day.
Buddhism is primarily a monastic faith and in Bangkok there are many
monasteries called wats. This is the wat of dawn demons from
Hindu legends guard the entrance. As with most religions there are
numerous interpretations of the founder's message
but roughly buddhism is divided into two great sects
the northern group the Mahayana in Japan and China
while the southern often called Theravada or doctrine of the elders
is the national religion of Ceylon Burma and Siam.
High up on the tower is the figure of Indra
the ancient Hindu god of warriors and storm.
Although buddhism claims to be simply a method of training and discipline for
those seeking relief from the pains and suffering of the human condition
it has retained certain fundamentals of human metaphysics
namely the doctrines of karma and rebirth wherein man receives reward or
retribution for any and all acts not only in this present life but as
carryovers from lives in the past.
In buddhism however this belief is not based on the idea of an immortal soul
but on the notion difficult for western understanding
that the individual is merely a compound of dynamic
elements called skandhas such as feelings perceptions consciousness and so
forth which somehow cling together as long as personal desires of any kind
remain unfulfilled.
A doctrine called the Four Noble Truths states that life is hopelessly miserable
for mankind due to the all-pervasive craving for
material pleasures and goals and some therefore have termed buddhism
pessimistic for it turns men away from the concerns and so-called progress
of civilization.
Yet it points to an escape from the pangs of desire
by a formula called the Noble Eightfold Path
a sequence of precepts which are the basis for a lifetime of study and
discipline. To become a monk or bhikshu as they are
called in Burma head shaving is the preliminary.
A full-fledged bhikshu must be at least 20 years of age
he must not be in debt diseased or a criminal
as regards crime once convicted on any charge
a man's life in the monkhood is finished.
It is a most solemn occasion with attendance by his wife and mother.
Of course Buddha never considered the lay believer
inferior in any way but because the highest goal is so
difficult to achieve amid the distractions of worldly life
he advised that those strong enough should enter the monkhood
and thus progress more rapidly along the pathway to nirvana.
Soon he will take the ten buddhist commandments with monastic vows
promising above all to refrain from injury to any living thing
then to refrain from falsehood or taking that which is not given
to abstain from all intoxicants and sexual contact
further he agrees not to eat at forbidden times
nor to attend public entertainments he will not use perfume
nor sleep in a luxurious bed one blanket on the bare floor is the rule
another promise is that we will never handle or touch
money ordination does not necessitate the taking of everlasting vows
and a good percentage of all southern buddhists spend several months as monks
and then return to civil life until ready for full-time service
while in the monastery however poverty is a fact
the only articles owned are three pieces of cheap yellow cloth
as robes a razor a needle a water strainer
and the food bowl for begging sometimes there will be a shading device for
shielding the eyes from sensuous distractions
after reciting the vows the dharmapada the ordination is complete and the
novitiate abruptly turns his back on relatives and family life
as he enters the monastic world
there is one basic declaration called the three jewels
which will be repeated many times henceforth
i take refuge in the buddha i take refuge in the teachings of buddha
the dharma i take refuge in the sangha the monastic brotherhood
the supreme council of the sangha sets policy and makes decisions which in
siam affects the functioning of some 20 000
temples and monasteries accommodating perhaps 200 000
monks they said that while buddha didn't preach
about god he was not atheistic for he never denied
the existence of god
outside of caring for his personal belongings
there are no general maintenance chores or other duties for monks in the
theravada sect neither rigid self-torture nor strenuous
fasting is recommended the constant aim being an avoidance of
any extreme following what buddha prescribed as the
middle way
monastic life centers around the path of purification
based on what is known as threefold training
study instruction and discipline this comprises
higher morality higher thought or samadhi and higher insight the preparation
for enlightenment
each day we'll have a period of sutra chanting
buddhist scriptures in the ancient language of pali
this is devotional as well as an aid to breath control
very important in meditating the small screens signify various of
the nine stages of advancement to which the monk has progressed
and also assist concentration by shielding the gaze from distractions
women do not have a monastic order in southern buddhism
though some live nearby and study in the wats
they are practicing a type of walking yoga as a body discipline
to free the mind for higher stages of meditation
a mental effort is made to consciously realize the physical processes of even
the simplest actions such as walking and the slower the
better this same deliberate procedure will be
carried to all other ordinary daily habits
no matter what rank a monk holds he must get out on the streets at dawn to
acquire his day's supply of food it's a perpetual reminder of the
importance of humility boys under 20 years of age are novices
although food must be given to him the monk doesn't actually beg for it
he simply keeps walking with his bowl until summoned by a good-hearted
householder
of course he takes whatever is offered and never gives acknowledgement beyond a
nod of the head it is considered that the spiritual
merit which accrues to those who give is sufficient reward in itself
any buddhist may store up merits by acts of kindliness and self-denial
which will improve his karma
at homes of the wealthy generous donations of rice and vegetables are a
daily routine
it is apparent that none of these men ever looks directly into the eyes of a
woman and how respectfully the woman bows to
each buddhist people's love and honor their monks and will patiently care for
each one as long as he conducts himself in strict
accord with the rules of the order but they will tolerate no nonsense
chastity is demanded and woe betide the bhikshu who slips or is caught in a
willful transgression he will be driven from the local
community the people themselves tearing his
robes away his name will become a byword and a scorn
and he will of course be forever barred from monkhood
even on special occasions no monk may eat food that is not offered to him
either by laymen or monks of lower rank
respecting his vow not to take life means that the diet will be strictly
vegetarian many buddhists have never tasted any kind of meat
eating is followed by devotions of course not teaching about god
means that buddhists have no one to pray to
so many observers have described buddhism as a cold philosophy and a
special course in mind training the very first phrase in the three jewels
however i take refuge in the buddha inculcates the spirit of religious
veneration visible in every attitude and every
gesture of buddhist devotees from first to last
of course meditation is of utmost importance
for each monk looks toward the day when he himself will become a buddha
meaning enlightened and it is taught that countless numbers already have done so
thus attaining the goal of their final desire
since the lord buddha claimed to have received his enlightenment through a
prolonged period of profound meditation so each follower is trained to develop
his powers of concentration of introspection and intuition leading
to what is called transcendent comprehension and understanding
there are a number of stages in the processes of meditation
the highest where one is called an arhat is said to be on the very threshold of
nirvana there one sees reality as it is
abolishing superstitions about existence or non-existence
and philosophical systems of realism or idealism
the arhat is led beyond monism or pluralism
to a state of perfection known as discriminating awareness born of
wisdom
although the word nirvana means extinction
and buddhism denies the existence of an immortal soul
it depends upon the interpreter whether or not this is total annihilation
for certain it does mean extinction of karma pain
sorrow delusion desire and rebirth more than that not even buddha who lived
and taught until the age of 80 would say
he felt such speculations were pointless nirvana
indescribable
visiting the shrines it seems obvious that for laymen
buddhism is a religion of worship in every sense of the word
there is abundant evidence of inner tranquility surrounding those who have
truly made contact with this doctrine of mercy and peace
a doctrine meant for any race or color a teaching pleading the equality of all
men before the laws of the universe practice the truth that thy brother is
the same as thou
no one can deny this area of the world is undergoing some startling changes
but in 2500 years there has never been what could be called
a buddhist war
in an interview with the supreme patriarch of thailand
after being asked the question for buddhism's unique
historical record of peace he quoted a staunch follower
king ashoka who said never think or say your own religion is the best
never denounce the religion of others
the patriarch was then asked if monastic life had given him spiritual comfort
this time he quoted buddha saying not by a shaven crown is one made religious
but by putting off great sins and small faults
such is true religion
one need not be long in any part of china to realize it's a very different
world from that of its buddhist neighbors to the south
perhaps because the chinese are naturally so industrious and practical
it's hard to associate them with metaphysics and mysticism
yet buddhism came to china and made its mark almost 2000 years ago
but not without a struggle and a number of changes in its appearance
for one it is called mahayana buddhism meaning the great vehicle of
emancipation the southern theravada school claims to follow buddha's teachings
but mahayana generally places greater emphasis upon the example of buddha's
life of selfless service to mankind it especially favors an intermediate step
on the path to nirvana called the bodhisattva
this title is conferred upon any saint who may have earned buddhahood
but who holds back from entering nirvana even in spirit form after death
to comfort and help his fellow men
in china one seldom sees images of the original buddha
shakyamuni more frequently it is milo fu
the laughing buddha of the happy world yet to come
some mahayana teachings state that there are innumerable buddhas and
bodhisattvas immortal and superhuman living on many
levels and planes of existence they may incarnate on earth from time
to time as need arises for their guidance
but instead of being a mere compound of elements clinging together
as taught by theravada these buddhas are believed to have cosmic spiritual
bodies which are the embodiments of dharma
meaning universal law and truth another difference between the two
branches is that in the north they have a monastic order for women
monasteries and convents in china are run by a very different policy from the
wats in burma and siam first there is no begging either for food
or support a day of no work is a day of no eating
is the first rule of monastic life being vegetarian
the nuns raise all their own vegetables and grains
although both theravada and mahayana were introduced into china
it was the latter more liberal and adaptable creed which won out
the key word is expediency based on buddha's teaching of the middle way as a
guide for personal conduct mahayana extends this advice to everything
including matters of metaphysics and doctrine
the mother superior of the order works right along with the others
quote i have accumulated no merit to be served by others she said
if i do not work i have no right to take a meal
uh
transferring one's own merit to others is another gesture of generosity
sometimes used by mahayana buddhists following the footsteps of the great
bodhisattvas
of course much of the time is spent in study meditation and prayer
and although milo fu the happy buddha is honored here
the most venerated buddha is amitohu one of the five buddhas of contemplation
memorial tablets on the altar for spirits of the dead
is another feature of northern buddhism arising from traditional chinese
ancestor worship
uh this is the period of midday devotions
like all buddhists regardless of sect these nuns are consecrated to the ideals
laid down by the original buddha 2500 years ago primarily this consists
of efforts to live the philosophy of the famous four noble truths
which assert that life is miserably unhappy
due to our instincts of craving and desire
renunciation of ambition and all other worldly values
are considered part of the eightfold path to enlightenment
devotion to amitohu the buddha of infinite light
a mythical personage amitohu became a buddha only unconditioned
that when death came to those who called upon her
they would be conducted to our own special paradise
called the pure land somewhere in a mysterious region
of the universe perhaps like nirvana it may be noted that this idea very
different from teravada teaching which insists that man can only evolve
by his own efforts here begins to sound similar to some of
the concepts with which non-asiatics are familiar
in my father's house are many mansions i go to prepare a place for you
because religion in china was influenced by many elements
including the polytheistic beliefs of simple folk
and the rich learning of its scholars let us pause for a fleeting glimpse of
two sages whose teachings have touched every part of the chinese way of life
the first of these named confucius lived about 2,500 years ago
and his analytics are so dear to the hearts of the chinese
that their reverence at times has almost amounted to worship
confucius developed a system of ethics in support of a highly moral society
in his teaching and by example he stressed four
principal themes proper conduct in all affairs
the importance of culture honesty and loyalty to those above us
the latter was reciprocal authorities were to be honored and obeyed
but they in turn were under stern obligation to be
magnanimous and just quote if the ruler is virtuous
the people will be virtuous unquote
although he said little about religion confucius accepted the existence of human
spirits after death and he approved commemorative rituals
on their behalf
in an interview with kung tei chen the 77th lineal descendant of confucius now
exiled on formosa he was asked what would you say is the main
teaching of confucius dr kung
be loyal and don't do to others what you don't like to be done to yourself
go on there it is again seems to come from all over the world
and even confucius was not the originator
the other great chinese sage named loutzu
an elder contemporary of confucius placed more emphasis upon the individual
than the state his doctrine called daoism is usually
symbolized by a familiar figure known as the yin and yang
tai chi du a union of opposites which differs from other dualities such as
good and evil spiritual and material and so forth
by the notion that yin and yang as male and female
elements representing all opposites are complementary always working together
for universal harmony and good
yin and yang is also associated with one of the world's
oldest books dating back some three thousand years
known as the yijing or book of changes used as an instrument of philosophy and
divination this venerable volume reflects the idea
that change is the one unchanging factor in the
universe
according to the daoist pope who lives in taiwan
the problem of how opposites can work together
is mysteriously answered by a riddle the riddle of tao
dao meaning generally the right road to travel
dao is the way the universe functions the path taken by natural events
its activity is spontaneous yet functions with regularity
as day follows night man treading the path of dao
must not strive for goals he must allow them to happen
his ideal condition attainable by contemplation alone
is when he is freed from desire and sensory experience
which is an illusion
chinese literature painting and calligraphy were deeply influenced by
this philosophy and although it recognizes social
responsibility daoism is religious and mystical offering
the emotional satisfaction not found in the cruel
ethics of confucius but together they formed a base for society and a path for
the individual for thousands of years
regard your neighbor's loss as your own loss
the teachings of confucius and lulzow both valid and overlapping
are typical of the double standard of conduct in practice everywhere
the code of confucius is for the good citizen the man of the world
the other more exacting code is for the pilgrim on the spiritual path
one who can turn the other cheek
it was the combination of buddhist and daoist ideas which in china
resulted in the concept called chan a most unique teaching
known in japan as zen
living as a penniless monk is not so easy in a land of ice and snow
and climate is another reason why buddhism changed as it spread northward
from tropical india and finally got way up to japan
a place where plain folk have seldom had extra rice to share with non-working
monks however pious
in japan buddhism appears to have evolved from being simply a metaphysical
doctrine and a monastic way of life into what is more of a religion as people
in the west usually understand the term
of course there are monks who beg for a living in japan
but it's a hard road and some of the early buddhists were inspired to develop
a teaching more in line with the capacity and moral fiber of the average
person the devout follower can pause for a moment of prayer to amida buddha
or perhaps the goddess of mercy kanan and then proceed with his normal life
like most of us still hoping he's somewhere on the right path
concept of the bodhisattva canon called kuan yin in china came into buddhism
centuries ago she is one of the perfected saints who
could have entered nirvana but instead has lingered upon a spiritual
plane where she is accessible to the prayers of man
these images should not be confused with idolatry
to most buddhists such figures are always symbols
in more recent times it has become popular to show kanan
molded as a beautiful madonna-like figure the oriental mother of the universe
here standing above a marketplace in tokyo
like other evangelists buddhist preachers strive at times
to bring about a few sidewalk conversions
certain fundamental teachings are accepted by all buddhists
for one they are taught brotherly love and tolerance toward all men
and unswerving kindness to animals also they believe without exception that
the universe was not created nor is sustained by god
instead it has simply evolved and functions in accord with strict
natural laws
the patron saint for children is a bodhisattva named
jizo
some spirits have always been buddhas others were men who became buddhas
but the great bronze daibutsuden at kamakura
once housed within a temple which was washed away by a huge tidal wave
is the buddha who refuses to enter paradise until all the rest of mankind
has found its way there its helpful spirit awaits the prayers
of all
buddhas
i put my faith in amida buddha i put my faith
in the buddha buddhists in the shin sect feel that salvation depends upon the one
factor of faith alone faith in the mercy of amida buddha
to help them along the path to nirvana that's why this repeated statement
becomes the sum and substance of their continuing prayers
of all the various sects in mahayana zen has the closest similarity to buddhism
in southern asia for it holds that enlightenment cannot
be attained by prayer and grace but by total dedication and personal effort
under the guidance of a master placing no reliance on scripture ritual
or vow this sect has one of the most rigorous
disciplines in the world
it considers itself a special tradition outside normal buddhist doctrine
and teaches that the buddha nature slumbering within each of us
can only be aroused by most unusual techniques
the effort of zen is to pass beyond the intellect
and many methods are used for enabling the disciple to achieve
satori a sudden dynamic experience that breaks through the barriers of the
reasoning mind for contact with the intuitions
on a psychic level where knowledge of all things are said to be readily and
completely understood
but satori does not come easily and not in a routine fashion seated stiffly to
avoid drowsiness much of the session is spent concentrating
upon symbols repetitious phonetics and other devices to
halt the normal pattern of mental images students may be summoned from sleep for
this exercise at any hour of the night
concentration alone however is not considered effective enough to bridge
the gap and the master or roshi may invent
unusual or startling innovations to shock the pupil into a state of
no mind which emancipates him such things as
shouting a question or sudden laughter
and frequently formal chastisement
because the fierce disciplines of zen strive to develop complete indifference
toward physical discomforts and absolute fearlessness in any
predicament this sect became a prime favorite with
the ancient japanese warrior class
much of the spirit of zen has been responsible for the matchless bravery of
the samurai of old and the training of the fanatic kamikaze
just a few years back while such objectives certainly are not
the purpose of zen it shows the opposite uses for which a
powerful truth may be used
for a few this method of enlightenment may be a
shortcut but for many transcendent consciousness
will take many years perhaps a lifetime
the culture of japan stems from buddhism and the efforts of early chinese monks
much of what seems so essentially japanese is actually buddhist inspired
for instance japan is famous for the art of flower arrangement
placement of the blossoms is a religious symbol of man
standing halfway between earth and paradise
or the well-known tea ceremony which was originated centuries ago by zen monks
as a ritual of good manners self-control and as a restraint from
pointless conversation
yes buddhist monks were responsible for the civilizing of what was once a
primitive area from them japan took its art philosophy
landscaping architecture and most of the beauty of its
national existence
very few rituals in japanese buddhism are observed with weekly regularity
this special ceremony by priests of the shin sect
is being held in the cause of world peace they are chanting portions of
buddhist scriptures called sutras
this sect embracing more than half the buddhist in japan
was founded in the 12th century by saint shinran
and represents the greatest divergence of doctrinal interpretation
from the schools of south asia there is no barrier between priesthood and
the laity saint shinran was married any clergyman
may marry
emphasis is placed upon the sinfulness of man's nature
and the impossibility of him finding salvation by his own efforts
which are always misguided this seems to have been inspired by a belief
that the final era of the buddhist teaching was at hand
there is but one course open toward redemption
total reliance upon the saving grace of amida buddha
expressed by unceasing repetition of the invocation heard earlier
namu amida butsu i put my faith in amida buddha
the inference of these insights has led some to the conclusion that the founder
somehow saw man as a fallen spirit immersed in depravity and now dwelling
in hell there he is surrounded by those who are
similarly blinded to the truth of their condition
by a secret love of evil and overwhelming pride
complete honesty and utter humility is then the only path of enlightenment
divine grace the only hope for salvation
uh
tablets for spirits of the dead are always near the altar
where they may find peace from the prayers
for peace is the aim of buddhism buddhist teachings of all
sects seek to lead their people away from worldly ambitions and hostility
toward the harder task of universal harmony
and spiritual perfection
stately archways called torii always summon us to gravity and respect in the
presence of a shinto shrine shinto means way of the gods and under
this heading are all the forms of religion which have uniquely
originated on the isles of japan some of these differ greatly in practice
and belief but roughly speaking shinto can be divided into two broad
sects state shinto concerns a body of
folklore which gives a mythical account of the world's origin by certain gods
and goddesses and supports a claim that japanese
emperors are actually blood descendants of the sun
goddess amaterasu omikami
toward the end of the last century when the imperialists came into power
this legend was revived and emperor worship became the foremost obligation
of the japanese people of course this lineage has now been
renounced by the imperial bloodline emperor worship is completely abandoned
but the state shrines are still visited by japanese tourists
most of them curious some yet faithful
although the architecture and atmosphere are impressive
the interior is sparse and aside from formal affairs such as weddings
there is slight nourishment for the soul of the individual
compensation for this resides in the other branch of shinto
called sectarian shinto this covers all the local forms of worship which have a
message for those needing a personal belief of faith
to help them meet the problems of life like most of us do
wherever we are
some of these beliefs stem from simple folklore concerning legends about gods
demons and weird animal powers like badgers or the popular cult of
the fox foxes are sometimes supposed to be able to
assume human shape and perform witchcraft
higher up in sectarian shinto is the cult of daikoku
a cheerful but powerful god who brings good fortune on his back and a defense
against evil in his hand the priests are dignified and respected
although the teachings are not complex
an offering is made then praise and a prayer
several comparatively recent movements in sectarian shinto have become
extremely popular with teachings that appear to be a synthesis of ideas and
doctrines found in various other world faiths
a faith called tenrikyo founded about a century ago by an unschooled farm woman
who was so extraordinarily kind and charitable that people believed her when
she told of a revelation from god
her basic teaching the fatherhood of god and the brotherhood of man
but by insisting that god takes keen delight in seeing his children live a
bright blissful life tenrikyo has gathered
followers who literally eat sleep work and play
at their happy religion
when a new assembly hall was needed members of all ages donated full
vacation time to the effort and loved it
uh
many religions have been expressed by sacred dancing
this graceful pavan accompanies a song which sings of hino kashin
meaning the offering of one's service to god in thankfulness for being given the
chance to serve
as to melodies or misfortunes tenrikyo teaches that they are the
result of a divine chastisement seeking to turn man toward the truth
that he must find joy under any circumstances
it is also said that once the mind is truly reformed to a bright outlook
sickness and misfortune disappear
the followers of another movement called oomoto kyo
think of the prime source of the universe as vitality
and this is their term for god all embracing vitality
they seek to spread the message of god's dynamic love
as a path to world peace and one method is the international language
esperanto for better understanding between races and nations
so simple is this language it can be mastered by the average person in a few
months
perhaps esperanto could be a practical language for the whole world
to understand
ahimsa paramo dharma the highest religion is non-injury to any living
thing
about 2500 years ago in the northeastern part of india
a contemporary of buddha named mahavira became the founder of a faith which like
buddhism is often considered a reform upon
hinduism rejecting hindu scripture and the caste
system it still retains belief in the law of karma
and the rebirth of souls still it is not a hindu sect
for the jains have their own sainted leaders and sacred literature
which differs considerably from the vedas and upanishads
mahavira claimed to be the last of 24 great teachers
perfected souls called tertankaras who appeared on earth at intervals bringing
enlightenment to mankind since life first began
although the jains are essentially monastic there are strict rules for
laymen they must read scripture every day and
engage only in work which does not involve the destruction of life
in any form animal or vegetable this is because jains feel the greatest gift
one being can make to another is the gift of absolute safety
another reason which is the same as for all other moral imperatives
such as no lying stealing adultery and so forth
is not because they are laws or commands but because it is not the true nature of
the soul to do such things they are unnatural acts making us hate
ourselves inflict upon others no injury
undesirable to ourselves
the answer to why we do so many ugly things lies with the passions to which
we are attached pride anger greed worry fear and
sensuality these now overpower the soul and can
only be conquered by withdrawal from gross material living
which belongs to the body man is not the body
the body is his present vehicle its demands
must be transcended
jane monastics have no permanent home they wander continuously stopping only
where shelter is offered some wear masks to prevent destroying
airborne life by breath or voice their food consists of grains dried fruits
and water that has first been boiled by a layman
no monk may even light a fire days are spent copying scripture
but they will not use steel or other metals of worldliness
no bed chair conveyance or razor may be used
hairs must be plucked out in the doctrine of non-injury
accident is no excuse one should carefully avoid the destruction of life
no matter what life or whose
when walking one must prevent the crushing of insects
and dusters are carried solely to sweep an area before seeking oneself
an added duty for all janes is to care for overaged or enfeebled animals
wherever they may be found
this intense concern for all life forms stems partly from a basic view of life
quite different from most eastern philosophy to james
both time and the visible world are thought to be real
in every sense the attraction of physical matter a very real power
not an illusion resistance and rejection of this power is the soul's salvation
laymen perform unusual devotions using grains of rice to form symbolic imagery
reminiscent of sand paintings
first a spiral signifies the growth of the soul as it passes from the germ stage
upward through animals and man this evolves into the swastika
symbolic of each individual cycle of rebirths
being born into a life with right environment is to be greatly treasured
it is only on earth that the soul can be purified
but once accomplished it is never lost
the half moon and star at the top represents the realm of gods and
perfected souls in nirvana just below the half moon three dots
signify the methods of attaining enlightenment
these are the jewels right belief right knowledge right conduct
a right belief is conviction in oneself right knowledge is knowledge of oneself
right conduct is absorption in oneself
this does not mean that james have no concern for fellow men
but it is hard for the blind to lead the blind
chanting a mantra the devotee ponders four traditional difficulties
one the difficulty of attaining human life
two the difficulty of finding true spiritual teaching
then having found it the difficulty in believing it
and number four the difficulty in practicing it
even though it may be believed
sounding of the conch shell signals the commencement of a highly emotional
ceremony similar to one observed by the hindus
arati
with the james its purpose is to reconsecrate themselves to the principles
of the 24 sainted leaders of their faith
although this ritual expresses an attitude of worship
there is no reference to god as a creator of the universe in jane teaching
life and the number of souls are considered to be infinite
without beginning or end matter and souls are neither created nor destroyed
although their form and mode may change
human entities will continue to combine with gross earthly material
as long as they are drawn toward the temptations and passions of the flesh
but when men finally overcome physical and emotional addictions
they free the soul from the magnetizing influence of earthly matter
forever the most effective means to this end
is by abstaining from injury to life in any form
and this is why janes like mahatma gandhi for one
have been called the kindliest and gentlest people
on the whole earth
we have seen many forms of worship and heard many words about the religions of
the world perhaps for some there will have been too
much more than can be absorbed without confusion
let us then recapitulate a part of the basic teachings in search of the essence
hinduism an ancient religion with levels of understanding appropriate to the
intellect and spiritual development of the
individual god as the all-embracing brahman may be more
intimately approached within a pantheon of many gods
and goddesses but he is not so much the master as the
guardian of the law of karma not so much above nature as within it
salvation is attained by self-activity wherein god is the inspiration
men must overcome the passions and personal ego
seeking to escape the wheel of karma by union with the divine
buddhism accepting the hindu doctrines of karma and rebirth
the basic view of teravada or southern buddhism
is stated in the four noble truths life is suffering due to man's endless
craving for material pleasures and goals
believe this and buddhism promises salvation by a system of moral training
and mental discipline there is no appeal to god though his
existence is not denied
most of mahayana buddhism puts more emphasis upon the example of buddha's
life of selfless service than upon his strict rules of
self-discipline
an intermediate step for man's spirit on the path to nirvana
is the stage of a loving bodhisattva dedicated to the guidance and uplift of
those who seek for it and place their faith in the buddha
judaism the religion which has heroically withstood centuries of
pressure defending the concept of one god as ruler of the universe man and
history a god of righteousness and justice who
set forth laws of morality and ethics which have proved to be the foundation
of all civilized society and other religions
christianity is the faith which brought the ethical deity of judaism to the
world at large emphasizing not only the fatherhood aspect
of god but that he suffers deeply for the predicament and ordeal of
mankind as symbolized by the crucifixion
salvation is offered by most churches to those who accept
jesus of nazareth as god's only begotten son
the christ
the essence of islam is found in morality devotion and world brotherhood
under the fatherhood of allah as proclaimed in the quran by the seal of
his prophets mohammed
the foregoing have been features which generally distinguish the various spades
but not necessarily unify them let's check the common denominators
first all the teachings show concern for mankind as a whole
for they have similar moral and ethical standards which if truly accepted and
followed would have ushered in an era of world peace
ages ago that they have failed to do so certainly cannot be blamed upon the
religious teachings but upon man himself with his
inability or unwillingness to follow and observe these rules
another unifying feature between the great religions is the idea and
belief that there is continuity for each person after death
in unseen spiritual realms these realms called heaven hell paradise
purgatory samadhi or nirvana may be subjective or they may be
objective planes of existence beyond or intersecting our present three
dimensional universe perhaps like electromagnetic fields
but whatever the different dogmas claim regarding the soul's origin and ultimate
destiny all religions agree that something of
each man lives on
we have also seen that the religions teach of a great spiritual reality
an omnipresent all-knowing entity either personal or impersonal
representing the sum total of man's highest ideals and superlatives
and with whom he may relate or unite himself
by love prayer and obedience
this unseen reality called god brahman the absolute and so on
may be conceived of as singular and all embracing
or composed of innumerable personalities such as buddhas
bodhisattvas gods and goddesses angels or sainted men and women
but howsoever the various teachings describe this great reality
in one respect their unity of spirit and purposeful man
is the same namely perfection of moral character
religious man must seek moral perfection in society or in seclusion
either to please god and receive salvation
or to detach himself from material entanglement and attain liberation
or simply to express gratitude to the holy spirit
for divine grace
the religious path is psychological social and devotional
an inspiration and a command for each believer to emphasize that aspect of his
nature which is the highest and best and to recognize that which is best in
his fellow man
yet it is obvious that all religions do not equally cherish values in the same
degree
historically the judaeo-christian islamic faiths
have placed emphasis upon group worship and social values
with programs for the welfare of their fellow men
in the far eastern religions there has generally been more emphasis upon the
intimate confrontation of the worshiper and his god
or his ideal and upon techniques for the inner realization of spiritual truth
by the individual
today these two approaches seem to be trying to blend
what lies ahead can only be surmised of course
many will continue to find inspiration and comfort in long established
patterns of worship yet others feel we should have a new
vision of truth that a whole new religious age is
approaching
well it could be enlightening or it could be disturbing to have heard so many
points of view that's the reward and the burden of
maturity
and may divine wisdom guide our footsteps along the steep
rugged path unto the end