The act of free will is represented beautifully by the metaphor of breathing. Where is free will when you are breathing? When you are not paying attention, it is happening to you. When you are paying attention, you're doing it.
So which is it? Are we free to control, and act upon, our world in any manner we see fit? Or are we bound, hopelessly, to our situation and circumstances, forever dominated by the many laws and forces of the infinite universe?
The answer lies in the breath.
If the conscious 'do-er' is held accountable to meticulously execute each breath, there is anxiety and exhaustion. On the other hand, if the breathing only occurs spontaneously (that is to say to never paid attention to), we would not be able to do such things as speak, swim (underwater), whistle, play an instrument, and even drink out of straws.
But, for the breath to function, for life to exist, both must be present. Free will and determinism, two sides of one reality, forever playing off of each other, dancing the universe into existence.
And, when exposed for what free will really is, we see that what we call OUR free will is really just what the Universe is doing.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The proof is in the path
I have come to the opinion that there is a subtle, but profound, difference between the practice of Buddhism and the practice of Christianity.
When you follow the life of Christ you are becoming a good Christian.
When you are following the instruction of Buddha you are becoming Buddha.
The difference is in the end goal. In Christianity, you can never come close to being Christ (unless you, yourself, are the son of God). But in Buddhism your only goal is to be come Buddha; to wake up.
With Christianity, one must try their best to imitate and follow the life of Christ. And to the degree that you follow the mandates of your own church, you can be called either a good or bad Christian.
There are no good Buddhists, just varying degrees of awareness. 'Waking up' does not require submission to law. But, instead, the cultivation and practice of mindfulness, compassion, and equanimity.
The difference is expressed beautifully in their titles. Christ literally means "the anointed one." A title given by divine grace to one who encapsulates the Godhead. Where 'the Buddha' means "the one who woke up." A title given to someone who has fully integrated insight and action.
The question is which path to follow. To make oneself a facsimile of divinity and wait for God's blessing or go out and cultivate the Godhead for yourself?
When you follow the life of Christ you are becoming a good Christian.
When you are following the instruction of Buddha you are becoming Buddha.
The difference is in the end goal. In Christianity, you can never come close to being Christ (unless you, yourself, are the son of God). But in Buddhism your only goal is to be come Buddha; to wake up.
With Christianity, one must try their best to imitate and follow the life of Christ. And to the degree that you follow the mandates of your own church, you can be called either a good or bad Christian.
There are no good Buddhists, just varying degrees of awareness. 'Waking up' does not require submission to law. But, instead, the cultivation and practice of mindfulness, compassion, and equanimity.
The difference is expressed beautifully in their titles. Christ literally means "the anointed one." A title given by divine grace to one who encapsulates the Godhead. Where 'the Buddha' means "the one who woke up." A title given to someone who has fully integrated insight and action.
The question is which path to follow. To make oneself a facsimile of divinity and wait for God's blessing or go out and cultivate the Godhead for yourself?
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