Anicca, the Pali language word for 'impermenance' or 'change', everything changes, nothing is permanent. Suffering occurs when we fail to live this way, clinging to what must change or running away from that which must change. The universe is a process of birth and renewal, or samsara. Seasons come and go, mountains become plains, humans are born and die just as stars are born and die. To resist these natural cycles is to create suffering in ones mind.
How then are an eternal God and our immortal souls changing?
Today we read of St. Thomas the apostle doubting the resurrection of the Christ. 'Seeing is believing', we hear often enough, yet Christ says Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed (Jn 20-29). I can see that the seasons come and go, that babies become adults, that my hair is getting grey, that the world is ever changing. That the universe is changing, I'll have to believe the astronomers; i can see the sun moving and the moon and on clear nights some of the neighbouring planets, but an expanding universe? I believe it, but i have not personally seen it. That a virus causes HIV, i believe the scientists and the symptoms, yet i have not seen the virus itself. Jesus was born and grew to be a man and was was killed. I am no different than Thomas, who might want to believe, but is tripped up by his own mind.
Of course everything on Earth is in a state of change, but God is not of this Earth. I have not seen my soul, nor the soul of any other man for that matter, yet i have seen the human body filled with life and then empty at death. Life came and went: the Buddhists describe this state of having 'life' as 'consciousness', thus at death there is no longer consciousness. The Buddhist will also tell you that this 'consciousness' also travels after death, very much like a 'soul'. Words and concepts struggle to describe that which we cannot see, me thinks. We cannot see God, just as we cannot speak about His nature ... yet we can. We can see Creation. We can know life and growth and death, know change, know love, know what we reap from our the loving-kindness we sow. Do we need know about the growth of black holes or new viruses to be closer to God and live in His Truth? These are potential distractions, creating arguments that feed doubt and discord in the mind, hardening the heart with fear. 'Seeing is believing' is the safest course of action, it might seem.
The Buddha did not waste much time on trying to explain that which cannot be explained with human reason and a human tongue. His emphasis was on getting ones own house in order, for only then can one have room for the profound understanding of Truth, or enlightenment. Personal experience was the best teacher. Go and find out yourself! Know with ones own certainty. Reach out and touch mankind first, rather than getting lost in thoughs and doubt. The danger of being like Thomas is waiting for a sign. The pragmatic Buddha might just say there are no signs, only the signs that you yourself experience in practising compassion in your daily life. Practise, not just sitting around thinking, doubting, fearing, but initiating concrete action fit for this material world. Know change. Know the cycle of life. Walk as the masters of compassion walked. Do as they did. Personal experience will open our eyes. We shall know. Jesus seems to say too, 'Believe! And then you shall be blessed by sight!'
How has the eternal God changed?
I hope to ask Him myself.
Deo gratias.
How then are an eternal God and our immortal souls changing?
Today we read of St. Thomas the apostle doubting the resurrection of the Christ. 'Seeing is believing', we hear often enough, yet Christ says Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed (Jn 20-29). I can see that the seasons come and go, that babies become adults, that my hair is getting grey, that the world is ever changing. That the universe is changing, I'll have to believe the astronomers; i can see the sun moving and the moon and on clear nights some of the neighbouring planets, but an expanding universe? I believe it, but i have not personally seen it. That a virus causes HIV, i believe the scientists and the symptoms, yet i have not seen the virus itself. Jesus was born and grew to be a man and was was killed. I am no different than Thomas, who might want to believe, but is tripped up by his own mind.
Of course everything on Earth is in a state of change, but God is not of this Earth. I have not seen my soul, nor the soul of any other man for that matter, yet i have seen the human body filled with life and then empty at death. Life came and went: the Buddhists describe this state of having 'life' as 'consciousness', thus at death there is no longer consciousness. The Buddhist will also tell you that this 'consciousness' also travels after death, very much like a 'soul'. Words and concepts struggle to describe that which we cannot see, me thinks. We cannot see God, just as we cannot speak about His nature ... yet we can. We can see Creation. We can know life and growth and death, know change, know love, know what we reap from our the loving-kindness we sow. Do we need know about the growth of black holes or new viruses to be closer to God and live in His Truth? These are potential distractions, creating arguments that feed doubt and discord in the mind, hardening the heart with fear. 'Seeing is believing' is the safest course of action, it might seem.
The Buddha did not waste much time on trying to explain that which cannot be explained with human reason and a human tongue. His emphasis was on getting ones own house in order, for only then can one have room for the profound understanding of Truth, or enlightenment. Personal experience was the best teacher. Go and find out yourself! Know with ones own certainty. Reach out and touch mankind first, rather than getting lost in thoughs and doubt. The danger of being like Thomas is waiting for a sign. The pragmatic Buddha might just say there are no signs, only the signs that you yourself experience in practising compassion in your daily life. Practise, not just sitting around thinking, doubting, fearing, but initiating concrete action fit for this material world. Know change. Know the cycle of life. Walk as the masters of compassion walked. Do as they did. Personal experience will open our eyes. We shall know. Jesus seems to say too, 'Believe! And then you shall be blessed by sight!'
How has the eternal God changed?
I hope to ask Him myself.
Deo gratias.
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