This semester I'm taking a philosophy of ethics class- kind of interesting, but as a 100 level class, it doesn't really scratch the surface of most ethics systems. We did talk about Christianity and Buddhism, and while I do think my years at Christian schools taught me plenty about Christianity, I don't pretend to know all of the details of Buddhism, let alone the intricacies of the different schools. I did go to a Buddhist monastery a few years ago which was a very good experience, but again- I don't want to pretend to know everything about it. It reminds me, though, of everything I have learned and thought about it over the years. For the most part, there is continuity between different religions and philosophies- except for under extraordinary circumstances, do not murder, do not steal, etc. This becomes important when asking the question- where do your ethics come from if not from a divine master? My reply would always be that inherently I do not want to cause harm, and I do not think that my capacity to empathize with others is a trait that could only be granted to me from a higher being. Stripping away the strange doctrines of different buddhas in different realms, one cannot deny that the actual teachings of Siddhartha mimics the teachings of Jesus. There is something appealing about the idea of emptying your mind of all the material things in life and going forth in a peaceful and compassionate manner. The hoarding of wealth is looked down upon, as individuals are asked to leave behind those negative human tendencies to travel and proclaim a better life to others. While the Christian portrait of eternal suffering is now the image of fire and brimstone, it is much simpler to say it is separation from the perfection of God. Buddhism also tells not of eternal damnation, but of samsara- a long cycle of rebirth. Both offer an alternative- the realization of one's self in the bigger picture. I'm not sure that in Christianity that means to literally utter the words proclaiming Jesus as one's savior, but I am sure that it means to come to the realization that you as an individual are not very important, and to make the commitment to mimic this idea of perfection, to take up the teachings of Jesus, to show obedience to this for a better life. In Buddhism, as much as Westerners like to make fun of it, the goal is to end the cycle of rebirth by reaching enlightenment- of seeing the past, present, and future- and knowing your place within that larger picture. With both of these, it is a point of no turning back, as the world is no longer the same place- with the humbling knowledge you possess, you have no choice but to live out the rest of your life as a beacon of compassion and humility. I am smart enough to say that I simply don't know about the supernatural aspects of both religions. I don't know whether or not there is anything supernatural about the state of enlightenment, or if there is anything to reincarnation. While it looks as though science is going in a different direction, it is fascinating to me to think of the big bang and big crunch theory, that our universe could be expanding and contracting infinitely. Who is to say that if that is the case, that reincarnation does not exist? I am not talking about literally our souls being passed on through different beings, but that an infinite number of cycles of our universe would bring about infinite possibilities for each of us. It would be safe to say that you have lived your life an infinite number of times, making an infinite number of decisions with an infinite number of consequences. I think it may also be adequate to say that reincarnation could be something as simple as the cliched idea that we are all one. Maybe there is something to the Jungian collective unconscious, maybe there is something to the development of similar ideas in different parts of the world at the same time. I am not saying that we each leave this planet with the same story to tell, but the essential human experience is something we each must say that we share. We all experience love, loss, happiness, sadness, pain and pleasure. We all have the will to live and feel the richness of caring for others, honoring that will of other beings. What I am getting at is the need to see the world without ego, the need to understand that we are all in this together. It isn't good enough to live your life in ignorance of things going on in the world. It isn't good enough to say that it's not your fault that there are starving people in the world. It isn't good enough to say that you can't make a difference so you won't even try. Anyone who can read this right now is more privileged than many other people in the world who have the same desires in life that you do. Lately I have been racked with guilt and embarrassment for living the life that I do. I just want to take a magic wand and make every one of the six billion of us have a life equal in prosperity. I will leave the political rants for another blog entry, but there is something wrong with the people in our country who choose to be ignorant and go about their lives. It is our responsibility to care for our fellow humans no matter what circumstances (or country) they just happen to be born into. Once you have that knowledge, there is no going back. I don't see any choice but to do something about it. And no, I have no idea what I am going to do yet, but at the very LEAST I am going to invest my resources and time into becoming more aware of the world we share. Allison