[Report is compiled from multiple public addresses, multiple sources made over multiple publication dates]
Civic, Religious and Community Leaders and Guests assembled to address from their scriptural viewpoint: The Beginning and the Origin of All Things.
On this occasion, a square-table discussion on the trustworthiness of Scripture was moderated by Steven Gouw and other contributors were from 2 forms of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. With opportunities for questions and input from a growing audience.
The Buddhist programmed appearance was on behalf of Buddhist Council Victoria Religious Instruction (bENGAGED) and Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN). There are many views, here is a reflected Buddhist account offered on the day and expanded post-event for a wider audience.
1. Is there a record in your scripture/teaching about who created all things (the source and its power that formed all things)?
Before this question can be answered correctly by a Buddhist, it needs to be contextualised to the time, place and situation in Ancient India 2,600 years ago. The question is not a ‘who’ but rather a ‘What. Why. How. When. Or Not. As the Case May be’.
The Buddha taught that understanding is beginningless and limitless, only limited by our Ignorance. If you look just 1 second before any beginning, you will find another beginning in an unbroken circular loop. The starting point is subjective or relative to the perceiver. Creation exists because conditions to support it are present. After starting, there is Existence, dependent on conditions to remain, subject to time passing (use by). And if there is a Creation (start date), there must also be an End Date (past use by date).
Often to understand complicated ideas, it is useful to try and find an everyday example to see if it fits. Think of a packaged meal. It has a “best before” or “use by” date. But where did this begin? Who was the beginner? Was it the ink maker that stamped the date? The package printer that designed an enticing image that rarely looks like the reality? The kitchen maker? The cook? The recipe keeper? The shopper? The market gardener? The irrigator? Etc etc etc.
Or Not. Did it all begin because of an action? Or the second before it which had the thought? Or the second before that which felt hunger?
If evidence proves there is no 1 definable creation date, then there is no 1 creator. At the very least there should be 2. And if 2, why not more? If every present moment has creation as part of its nature, then logically we are all creators, determining our now and influencing our future, pregnant with possibilities.
2. Is there a record in your scripture/teaching about the order in which all things were created (formed)?
Over 2,600 years of Buddhism has yielded many translations of beginningless and limitless potential, evolving with language and developing understanding from passed on knowledge, lived experience and conditions of sharing.
Simply put: From the Buddha view, only things with Minds perceive Suffering. Free the mind from its attachment to Suffering. Discover for one’s self that Positive things create positive results. Negative things create negative results. Neutral things create mixed results.
Creating the 3 Perfecting Realisations: Fearlessness from deep understanding of truth. Joyfulness that arises from a deep experience of kindness. Generosity that arises from a deep experience of non-selfishness.
Creating Perfect conditions for these 3 primary Wisdom Aspects to coexist in the same place, body and endurance over time, sometimes called Bohdi Citta (Sanskrit) or Awakened Mind (English).
These are more commonly known names:
- Karma (Causality, Cause and Effects, Choice and Consequences)
- Tripitaka (3 Baskets)
- Emptiness
- Dependent Origination
- Dependent Arising
- Interconnectedness
3. Is there a record in your scripture/teaching about what all things and human beings are made of?
From the Buddhist view, as in 2 above, there are many models by which understanding of the material, subjective and objective realms are composed. Here is one of them:
5 Elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth
This can be divided into at least 2 different compositional types:
Sanskrit:
3 Doshas:
Vata (Space + Air), Pitta (Air + Fire or Fire + Water), Kapha (Water + Earth)
Or
Tibetan:
2 Base + 3 Determinants
Space + Earth, changeable by 3 forces (internal or external) of change: Air, Fire and Water
All matter consists of 1-4 elements. Only living beings have the 5th element Space (potential for Consciousness, Creativity, Cognisance). The result of all 5 elements coexisting without disturbance produces the 6th element: Pure Insight, Enlightenment or Awakened Mind.
Not be Confused with Delusion, Illusion or Ignorance. Which might look the same, but completely different in reality.
It is nothing to be taken personally. It is just the way things are. From a Buddhist view, the short name for this is called Triple Gems or Buddha/Dharma/Sangha (Sanskrit: Way of Buddha/Teachings/Relativity).
See attached
Religious Comparator Guidelines as supplied by Host as briefing notes to Speakers.
On behalf of BCV’s Buddhist Religious Instruction (bENGAGED) and Glen Eira Interfaith Network (GEIFN), thankyou to Hosts, Organisers, Volunteers and Participants working to share, build collaborations, celebrate diversity and foster team approach to addressing today's society. Received with gratitude.
MORE:
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light Melbourne (HCWPRL)
Tel: +61 434 281 446
Email:
au@hwpl.kr
Website:
www.hwpl.kr;
www.peacelaw.org
