My concern is to address certain issues that have been bothering me lately. I woke up one morning realising that I merely think I know. But it is only a belief for if I truly knew, what is the point of thinking? One only needs to think when one is unsure and does not know. When one fully knows, thinking about anything becomes redundant. Thinking and thoughts will not arise. All mental activities cease.
Maybe this is enlightenment, a state of complete bliss that Buddha speaks of vehemently in the Dharma. However, many dangers arise from wanting to reach enlightenment. It is not something that we can reach and become. To become something else means dropping our current habits, ideas, concepts, lifestyles, ideologies and philosophies to change into a new being. Just like taking off a pair of sports shoes and putting on a pair of formal leather shoes to attend a conference. I am no longer casually dressed but become professional in appearance. Alternatively, I can switch camps from being a Buddhist to a Christian or a socialist to a capitalist. In the end, it could still be a play of ideas and words.
As I can be easily attached to my self-interests, it is simply a matter of time that I am attached to being enlightened, to knowing. The catch is this, one that I named a holy trap in disguise, why in the world would anyone seek enlightenment? I am inquiring into this question. In the Diamond Sutta, it was said that enlightenment is only possible because of our human conditions, i.e. our many flaws. Human beings are inherently full of anger, desires and delusions that lead to endless pains and sufferings. And no one wants to suffer and everyone wants to be happy. Following neatly is the calling for one to be compassionate and caring. So, one ought to be kind and polite.
Like I said earlier, it is a holy trap. It is not the fault of any religion or humans' natural frailties, I dare say it is only because we think we know and stop there. Kindness is a tool and so is compassion. It is a description of a burning passion in the hearts of man. Descrptions are purely descriptions. They are not the burning passion itself. Descriptions and tools can be manipulated to control another person; likewise so can kindness and compassion when conditions are tied to any acts of charity. How many times have we extended a dollar or two to a beggar out of pity? But pity and sympathy somewhat comes from the same root, fear. We sympathise probably because we feel that we are luckier and better than the beggar or a man of dignity should be fed a warm meal or I can afford it.
But the question is this, why is anyone better than another just because one has more money and owns a house while the other owns pratically nothing? Isn't it a judgement that we exercise out of our feeling higher in rank and ego than one who we want to see as poorer and unfortunate?
Maybe this is enlightenment, a state of complete bliss that Buddha speaks of vehemently in the Dharma. However, many dangers arise from wanting to reach enlightenment. It is not something that we can reach and become. To become something else means dropping our current habits, ideas, concepts, lifestyles, ideologies and philosophies to change into a new being. Just like taking off a pair of sports shoes and putting on a pair of formal leather shoes to attend a conference. I am no longer casually dressed but become professional in appearance. Alternatively, I can switch camps from being a Buddhist to a Christian or a socialist to a capitalist. In the end, it could still be a play of ideas and words.
As I can be easily attached to my self-interests, it is simply a matter of time that I am attached to being enlightened, to knowing. The catch is this, one that I named a holy trap in disguise, why in the world would anyone seek enlightenment? I am inquiring into this question. In the Diamond Sutta, it was said that enlightenment is only possible because of our human conditions, i.e. our many flaws. Human beings are inherently full of anger, desires and delusions that lead to endless pains and sufferings. And no one wants to suffer and everyone wants to be happy. Following neatly is the calling for one to be compassionate and caring. So, one ought to be kind and polite.
Like I said earlier, it is a holy trap. It is not the fault of any religion or humans' natural frailties, I dare say it is only because we think we know and stop there. Kindness is a tool and so is compassion. It is a description of a burning passion in the hearts of man. Descrptions are purely descriptions. They are not the burning passion itself. Descriptions and tools can be manipulated to control another person; likewise so can kindness and compassion when conditions are tied to any acts of charity. How many times have we extended a dollar or two to a beggar out of pity? But pity and sympathy somewhat comes from the same root, fear. We sympathise probably because we feel that we are luckier and better than the beggar or a man of dignity should be fed a warm meal or I can afford it.
But the question is this, why is anyone better than another just because one has more money and owns a house while the other owns pratically nothing? Isn't it a judgement that we exercise out of our feeling higher in rank and ego than one who we want to see as poorer and unfortunate?
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