Metaphysics, Politics, and Religion

Metaphysical arguments go nowhere, no differentChapter One, "Dichotomies" Verses 1 and 2:
from political or religious ones! What does make a"All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind, made
difference, however, is how we treat each other. Iby mind. Speak or act with a corrupted mind and
may be a Buddhist and you may be a Christian, yet ifsuffering follows as the wagon wheel follows the hoof
we both treat each other with respect, how crazy canof the ox."
that be?"All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind, made
When a monk asked the Buddha some metaphysicalby mind. Speak or act with a peaceful mind, and
questions one day - "Is the universe eternal or nothappiness follows like a never departing shadow."
eternal, is my soul eternal or not eternal, where was IThe Bible points to God the creator and humankind's
before I was born, etc.," the Buddha maintained thedependence on that power, whereas the
"Noble Silence." He always contended that those kindsDhammapada emphasizes the power of the mind and
of questions would not help the monk progress. Onlyhow the mind forges our destiny based on our own
when the monk set metaphysical questions aside andactions and options.
quieted his mind, and then observed his own greed,In other words, Buddhists believe that we are the ones
hatred and delusion (not someone else's!) would thewho publish and hold our little black book of deeds that
monk begin making progress.foretell our destiny, and although Buddhists believe in
When the monk insisted that his metaphysicalGod realms and heavenly realms that can be
questions be answered to his satisfaction before hepopulated temporarily after death as we cycle through
agreed to follow the Buddha, the Buddha likened thelifetime after lifetime, they do not believe in one single
monk to a man who was shot with a poison arrowcreator God. Buddhists are closer to science in this
and insisted that he get some answers about thearea, believing in cause and effect, which we
arrow before it's pulled out! He wanted to know whatperpetuate ourselves. This is why scientific discoveries
kind of feathers were used, the kind of tree that theare always welcomed by Buddhists, and not
shaft came from, who shot the arrow, what the pointintimidated by them.
was made of etc., etc., and of course before theAnother area of disagreement is that where
questions could be answered the man would die!Christianity believes in a soul, Buddhists believe in an
Similarly, before a monk could get all of hisimpersonal stream of consciousness created by our
metaphysical questions answered, his lifetime would bekarma. The Christian retains their personality and name
over and he would be destined for rebirth, becausein heaven, whereas the Buddhist takes on a new body.
there is no end to metaphysical questions exceptThe new Buddhist body will have a different
enlightenment. After enlightenment there is no longerpersonality, even though the stream of karma will
anyone there to ask questions!remain intact.
When it comes to theoretical subjects involved withBut many of these differences are no more than
Metaphysics, Politics, and Religion, it is important thatwords, concepts, and expressions of the same
we can agree to disagree on these kinds of thingsexperiences.
that can't be proven. That is the secret to peace -Therefore, Buddhism studies the mind in order to
knowing that we have differences, but acceptingtranscend the mind and come face-to-face with that
those differences and even perhaps finding someReality which Christians relate to as God. The results
common ground.are the same in all religions when mind is transcended.
The Buddhist "Bible" consists of volumes of texts thatWhether through a surrender to something greater or
take up about six feet of a bookshelf! A tiny part ofthrough meditation, the personality and the life
these writings is the Dhammapada, arguably the mostexperience changes for the better.
read of the Buddhist texts. This little book, in theThis is no different from what the prophets historically
simplest, clearest of terms, sums up many of theexperienced, and what many religious people are
Buddha's teachings.looking into these days; direct communication with God
The first sentences in the Bible and the first sentences- direct experience. But Buddhists don't dwell on that
in the Dhammapada go a long way in explaining theunknown called God, and instead work with something
differences between Buddhism and Christianity,practical that they can know - their own minds.
differences that seem irreconcilable regardingThis is a view shared by the Catholic contemplative
metaphysical and religious aspects, but really aren'tsaints, as well as the more serious practitioners in
when one considers the overall aim of both religions;many mainstream religions as they look into the
love and compassion between human beings.deeper aspects of their faith. They know that the
The Bible says that God is all-powerful, and we shouldroots of their beliefs began with a direct experience of
worship God, while the Dhammapada says that oneGod by a prophet, and are asking why they can't have
should rely on one's mind and be proactive in alteringa direct experience as well.
his or her consciousness. Both ways have theirI think as more people get to know practicing
positive and negative points, but the important thing isBuddhists, they will find them to be very sensitive and
that they both have the same goal - the spiritualcompassionate people, interested in peace and
development of humankind. They just use differentgoodwill no different from Christians.
techniques.We count on the compassionate actions and kind
Here are the first lines of the Dhammapada underwords that result from our practice to tell our story.