The Impact of Objective Idealism
Let's now discuss the impact of objective idealism on our lives. Given the widespread belief in religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, it's important to examine the benefits these religions offer.
What That Is Finite Can Never Prove What That is Infinite
As human beings, we have always been curious about the existence of a divine being. This entity is known by different names in different religions, such as Allah in Islam and Shiva in Hinduism. However, the existence of God cannot be proven either theoretically or practically.
According to philosophy, comprehending a god who is omniscient and infinite is unattainable for finite beings like us unless we first become omniscient and infinite ourselves, which is impossible. Therefore, our only way of knowing a god is through imagination. While followers of God don't claim to be identical to God, Buddhists confidently state "I am Buddha. The only difference between us is that we, as humans, are hindered by ignorance and cannot recognize our true nature. Essentially, we are Buddha." This assertion is unique to Buddhism, as other religions don't make it. This claim is unique to Buddhism, as other religions do not make such assertions. Due to the philosophical nature of the hypothesis, it is impossible to prove the existence of God in theory and remains unrealizable.
While practicing their respective religions, followers of other faiths may undergo a transcendental experience through certain religious rituals, either physically or mentally. However, as they acknowledge in theory that humans are not identical to God, this supposed transcendental experience is essentially an illusion. They are unable to demonstrate through practice that an objective, absolute higher being exists.
Since it's impossible for human beings to prove the existence of God in theory or practice, they rely on their imagination to create an image of the deity they worship fervently. Over time, this image becomes their faith. Faith is a personal decision to believe in something regardless of whether it can be proven or not. It is important to take our faith seriously as it has a significant impact on our lives. However, if we follow a belief without being able to fully support it with evidence, it may be considered mere superstition.
The Merit and Defect of Monotheism
As we all know, monotheism is the belief in one god. Based on teachings given by Monotheism is the belief in one god, and it has led to the establishment of moral standards by monotheists based on their god's teachings. This laid the foundation for humanism, which promotes the virtues of doing good deeds, benefiting both society and individuals. When people say "that's the bottom line," they mean that they consider the impact of their actions on others. However, materialism may sometimes lead people to violate moral standards for personal gain. Although there are kind-hearted materialists, their worldview is fundamentally flawed, and they may not prioritize unconditional love and sacrifice for moral values. While people may be inspired by spiritual enthusiasm to perform honorable deeds, the materialistic view of maximizing pleasure and happiness in this life may still influence their actions in the end.
Monotheists or those who believe in a higher, objective spirit often have a stronger moral code than materialists. They are motivated to avoid bad deeds that may lead to punishment in the afterlife. For instance, in Christianity, abortion is prohibited, and most Christians adhere to this teaching. As a result, the rate of abortions is lower among Christians. Materialists, on the other hand, may not have the same moral concern for fetuses and may view abortion as acceptable. This highlights the potential benefits of monotheism in promoting ethical behavior.
Although monotheism has its benefits, it also has its shortcomings. One major issue is that its teachings can be easily manipulated, leading to its misuse for nefarious purposes. We have seen this happen frequently throughout history, such as during the Christian Crusades or in some instances in the Islamic world. The worldview of monotheism is incomplete, nontransparent, and unclear, which makes its teachings vulnerable to being distorted by those with ulterior motives, ultimately turning it into a cult.
Additionally, the introspective examination in monotheism is not as profound as that in Buddhism, thus it is unable to guide individuals towards discovering ultimate happiness within the nature of their own minds. This is regrettable.
Although monotheism has its limitations, it still surpasses materialism in certain aspects. In practical terms, we often find that religious communities such as Christianity tend to be more tolerant than materialists who lack any spiritual beliefs. Monotheistic believers generally exhibit more concern for their fellow believers.
While conflicts do exist within Buddhist communities, it remains true that Buddhists are less likely to engage in acts of killing or theft, owing to their belief in the law of causality. According to this principle, every action has a corresponding consequence. Unlike monotheistic belief systems, the Buddhist concept of the law of causality is a more comprehensive one.
Religions often impose restrictions on behavior by saying, "You can't do whatever you want because God is watching over you." While this does create some guidelines for moral behavior, it cannot compare to the profound pleasure that arises from searching for the nature of mind in Buddhism. Through the practice of "watching mind," Buddhist practitioners can reach a state of calm abiding and experience incredible pleasure that is indescribable in human language. This is not just a theoretical concept, as some of my fellow Dharma practitioners at our meditation center in China have personally experienced it. Their pleasure was so intense that they didn't want to stop meditating. They even felt pleasure in their hairs and fingernails, where there are no nerves. They described it as feeling of everything smiling at them, and a pure pleasure pervading everywhere. It's truly a delightful feeling.
When the mind is at rest, one realizes that all phenomena are not inherently real. This is not merely an illusion but rather a profound truth that transcends language. The resulting sense of happiness is indescribable and cannot be compared to the pleasure one may experience from simply adhering to a set of moral principles based on the belief in a single deity.
Through observing the mind, one can achieve a great feat if they attain the first level of Bodhisattva, which is known as the most joyful ground. The land of pure happiness is not a physical place in the universe, but rather a state of mind that is achieved when the mind is at its purest and able to rest in that state. This state of pure happiness is the very essence of the term, and it is not a dualistic concept. We can understand this state of pure happiness as an enduring sense of great happiness that cannot be destroyed.
The happiness that we typically experience in life is often fragile and conditional. For example, falling in love can make us happy, but the end of the relationship can just as easily shatter that happiness. Similarly, the pleasure we derive from food disappears when our stomach stops functioning properly, and the happiness that comes with good health is impermanent due to the aging process. However, the happiness that one experiences upon reaching the first ground of Bodhisattva is indestructible and attainable. This is not a mere imagination, but a reality that anyone who is committed to the practice can experience. Even as our physical bodies decay and eventually disappear, the mind will remain in that state because it is not composed of matter. While different lineages of Buddhism may have varying teachings, they all focus on understanding the nature of the mind and how to realize it.
While it is true that objective materialism can have positive effects on our lives and society, it cannot provide the same kind of happiness that is experienced through the pursuit of the nature of the mind and ultimate liberation.
