2008 Woodie Awards
Expanding Religious Horizons
Forrest Stout
Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: Opinion
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Religion in our culture is inevitably linked to faith, scriptures, God, etc. When most of us think about the scope of various religions, we generally think of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Native American religions, and similar religions which are all based on faith, one or more gods, prophecy, etc. So, if a person in this culture does not accept prophecy, religious authority, faith, etc., then that person is generally agnostic by default. This is an unfortunate consequence of our limited scope of religion. Our culture would greatly benefit from a better understanding of religions such as Buddhism and Jainism.
At their core, Buddhism and Jainism do not contain faith, saviors, prophecy, or a judge to determine a soul's fate. When I describe these religions, I am often told that they are not really religions. If there is no god to worship, hand down prophecy or save my soul, then what are the origins of Buddhism and Jainism? The answer is simply asking questions and thinking about reality.
Where do emotions and voluntary action come from? Most of us have a solid understanding of the physical world. Look at a pool table. You hit a ball with the right angle, force, etc. and you know exactly what it will do. The cue ball has no choice to deviate. This is the nature of physical substance.
Now, if this is the only component in reality, then we must assume that we also have no choice but simply moving about like cue balls without will of our own. Alternatively, we may suggest that there is another component in reality, often called "mind" that is responsible for choice and emotion. If our physical body is not the source of our emotions and choices because it is physical, then how can its death (physical breakdown) cause ourselves to no longer exist? We were never physical in the first place.
We cannot die when the physical body dies. Rather, the soul simply cannot interact with the body in the ways that it did before, so it moves on. This is the thought behind reincarnation. OK, then why can't I remember a past life? Well, all of my memories of the physical world, such as my physical appearance, my name, etc. are registered by my eyes, ears, etc. and stored in my brain, which is a physical entity that can be broken down. So, this information leaves a person with the death of the body. However, the true essence of yourself, the part of you that feels emotions, makes choices, etc., does not breakdown with the brain and body because it is not physical. Memories are retained from previous lives, just not memories of the physical world. (Of course, this notion is not entirely accepted in Tibetan Buddhism, in which leaders such as the lamas are often said to retain certain physical memories. I would more closely align my beliefs with Zen and Theravada Buddhism.)
At their core, Buddhism and Jainism do not contain faith, saviors, prophecy, or a judge to determine a soul's fate. When I describe these religions, I am often told that they are not really religions. If there is no god to worship, hand down prophecy or save my soul, then what are the origins of Buddhism and Jainism? The answer is simply asking questions and thinking about reality.
Where do emotions and voluntary action come from? Most of us have a solid understanding of the physical world. Look at a pool table. You hit a ball with the right angle, force, etc. and you know exactly what it will do. The cue ball has no choice to deviate. This is the nature of physical substance.
Now, if this is the only component in reality, then we must assume that we also have no choice but simply moving about like cue balls without will of our own. Alternatively, we may suggest that there is another component in reality, often called "mind" that is responsible for choice and emotion. If our physical body is not the source of our emotions and choices because it is physical, then how can its death (physical breakdown) cause ourselves to no longer exist? We were never physical in the first place.
We cannot die when the physical body dies. Rather, the soul simply cannot interact with the body in the ways that it did before, so it moves on. This is the thought behind reincarnation. OK, then why can't I remember a past life? Well, all of my memories of the physical world, such as my physical appearance, my name, etc. are registered by my eyes, ears, etc. and stored in my brain, which is a physical entity that can be broken down. So, this information leaves a person with the death of the body. However, the true essence of yourself, the part of you that feels emotions, makes choices, etc., does not breakdown with the brain and body because it is not physical. Memories are retained from previous lives, just not memories of the physical world. (Of course, this notion is not entirely accepted in Tibetan Buddhism, in which leaders such as the lamas are often said to retain certain physical memories. I would more closely align my beliefs with Zen and Theravada Buddhism.)