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Thursday, August 24
View Article  How do the concepts of Buddhism reinforce the concept of panentheism? Part II of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Thu 24 Aug 2006 12:00 AM EDT

How do the concepts of Buddhism reinforce the concept of panentheism?

 

Part II of II

This can be alleviated by an understanding, a deep seated sense of faith, that better things lie ahead.

 

Some states of suffering are caused by the actions we impose upon others.

 

These states of suffering go to a much deeper level than the suffering caused by natural events, for they occur through the intentional acts of subjugation, abuse, domination, control, intimidation, and by the simple desire to hurt each other.

 

Once we expand upon the size of the Causative Force and realize that we are within Her, are a part of Her, actually hurt Her as we hurt others, we will have no choice but to alter our actions towards others.

 

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The Buddhist concept of dedicating one’s life to the elimination of suffering is not just noble, it is crucial to us as individuals, to our species, to our environment, to other life forms in the heavens, and to the Causative Force Herself.

 

But how do we know that what we do affects the Causative Force? If you are located within the Causative Force, what other logical possibility could there be?

 

Even if the pain were not directly felt, would not a Causative Force feel some form of pain should Her creations intentionally murder, rape, steal, subjugate, abuse or torment others She created?

 

End

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Wednesday, August 23
View Article  How do the concepts of Buddhism reinforce the concept of panentheism? Part I of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Wed 23 Aug 2006 12:00 AM EDT

How do the concepts of Buddhism reinforce the concept of panentheism?

 

 

Part I of II

 

Buddhism establishes the idea that the intolerance of suffering is so important an issue it must become a major focus in one’s journey through life.

 

Reinforcing panentheism?

 

Absolutely, for what better way to understand the significance of the need to eliminate suffering than to make the Causative Force so big, so omnipresent, there is nowhere to put the effects of suffering we generate other than within Her?

 

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Panentheism assigns true omnipresence to the Causative Force.

 

If a Causative Force is all present, then everything that happens, happens within the Causative Force.

 

As such, the Causative Force may become aware and even empathize with what occurs within Her.

 

This is truly a dramatic perception.

 

No wonder Buddhists sense the significance of the need to eliminate suffering.

 

With the acceptance of a truly omnipresent Causative Force, suffering is something the Causative Force Herself experiences.

 

She feels the pain, loneliness, heartache, loss, frustration, humiliation, and depression suffering generates.

 

No wonder Buddhists sense the importance of this issue.

 

Some states of suffering are caused naturally.

 

To be continued: Part II of II: This can be alleviated by...
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Tuesday, August 22
View Article  What does the conceptual framework of Buddhism have to offer us? Part II of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Tue 22 Aug 2006 12:00 AM EDT

What does the conceptual framework of Buddhism have to offer us?

 

Part II of II

 

Now we are to find that suffering, the toleration or even the idea of just enduring injury, pain or death is something we as individuals, that we as a species, are to commit ourselves to eliminating.

 

But why would such a commitment be so important to us as individuals and as a species that we would need to center ourselves around such an action?

 

As we progress in this journey, the answer will become obvious.

 

For now, however, let us just say that the generality being stressed with this type of commitment is that “you” are as important as the rest of your fellow humans, fellow souls, presidents or kings, located here on earth or in the heavens.

 

Three major ideas are being stressed here: one – suffering is not to be ignored, suffering is not a necessity; two – your suffering is no more important than that of another; and three – we all have equal importance in the scheme of things.

 

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The Buddhist concept does not stipulate that you are to address just the elimination of “your” suffering. Buddhism states that one is to address the elimination of “suffering,” period.

 

This statement does not imply the suffering of others is more significant than yours, nor does it imply the reverse, that your suffering is more significant than others.

 

The concept being addressed is: all suffering being endured by others as well as by yourself must be attended to.

 

End

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Monday, August 21
View Article  What does the conceptual framework of Buddhism have to offer us? Part I of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Mon 21 Aug 2006 12:00 AM EDT

What does the conceptual framework of Buddhism have to offer us?

 

 

Part I of II

 

Buddhism:

 

The key to the problem of salvation and enlightenment is the presence of suffering.

 

Misery, pain, or suffering is not merely one among many other equally prominent features of experience.

 

It is its chief and overriding feature.

 

And all other aspects of experience also contain suffering.

 

If one is to experience enlightenment, then one must address oneself to the elimination of suffering. Dictionary of Philosophy and Religion, William L. Reese, p. 134

 

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To be continued: Part II of II: Now we are to find that...
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Sunday, August 20
View Article  Symbiotic Panentheism: A Perceptual Shift for Humankind - Part II of II
by Daniel J. Shepard on Sun 20 Aug 2006 12:00 AM EDT

Then why do it?

 

In science, we try to understand what is taking place in the world around us.

 

We do so by building models that we think explain what is taking place.

 

This helps develop what is called a reference point.

 

This is a point from which we do further investigation. As we continue to investigate a phenomenon, we either find the new information we gather: supports the model, creates a need to slightly modify the model, creates a need to greatly modify the model or creates a need to scrap the model and start over.

 

Whatever the case, the original model we created acts as a means of understanding what we had at the moment.

 

The original model is not what is to be protected.

 

What is to be protected is the idea that the original model is only a starting point.

 

Its purpose is to allow growth in understanding as new knowledge is gained.

 

The whole point of the model is to explain what we know presently.

 

We must allow the model to become obsolete as we move into the future and gain a better understanding of what is taking place around us.

 

What if the model does not grow, does not change?

 

If the model does not change, then we are not growing; we are stagnating.

 

Couldn’t the model be the correct model and wouldn’t that explain why it may not change?

 

Symbiotic Panentheism: A Perceptual Shift for Humankind -

 

 

Part II of II

 

That would only be true if we knew everything.

 

It would be true only if we were omniscient.

 

If we were omniscient, we would be the Causative Force Herself, and few of us would be so bold as to make that declaration.

 

So now what?

 

Now, we – you and I together - begin.

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