12 Metaphysical Questions and Answers
Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
Q. Does God exist?
A. If there is a god, he, she, or it, or neither he, she, nor it, would not exist. A god could never be caught within the fabric of existence as we are. A god is Reality, unborn, uncreated, undying, and therefore could not exist, and therefore since we exist, we cannot be real.
Q. Is it possible to know the truth about God?
Q. Will science and religion ever become one?
A. Everything that we can know of is within existence. Therefore, science could eventually unlock all knowledge and all the mysteries of a corporeal universe that follows physical laws. The part of religion that delves into Ultimate Reality, however, can never be known from this side of existence. We can touch Ultimate Reality or God, but since it is beyond experience, as we know it, we can never speak about God because God would never register in our minds other than vague, ephemeral images.
Q. Is the Bible divinely inspired, or merely myths?
A. The Bible is a record, written by scores of people about many diverse events over long periods of time. One can only imagine how a story might change over thousands of years when it is passed along, generation by generation by word of mouth, and with each person telling the story at a different level of understanding and perhaps with a different agenda. Then, when the stories are further distorted by many different editors over hundreds of years, adding, subtracting, and organizing things that they think are important, we can be certain that any stories from antiquity have been altered enormously.
Q. Would morality exist without religions?
A. Morality is virtue, and virtue is order. Therefore, religion attempts to create order, which should be virtue. But since religion usually creates order by intimidation and fear, the result is repressed anger, and repressed anger can turn into violence. Ergo; religious wars! This is the opposite of order. Order without religion, therefore, is possible, and perhaps the only eventual way to an authentic morality that does not involve fear, guilt and anger, and does not establish competing groups that become divisive, which results in the opposite of order.
Q. Why are we here?
A. Nobody is here. The ego is an illusion. Our bodies are but elements of mother earth, and mother earth is here because of cause and effect; the flux between matter and energy.
Q. Are there really miracles, or can they all be explained scientifically?
A. All obvious miracles are grounded in existence. The only true miracle is that human beings can transcend existence and touch reality. When we transcend existence, however, we cannot talk about it, because when we transcend existence, we touch a Reality that cannot be understood by existence. Existence and Reality are separate levels. All that we know is that we have changed in some way.
Q. What part of us continues after death?
A. No part of us. We do not own any of our parts; they are all simply pieces of the earth and will return to the earth when we die. Everything that we know about ourselves will disappear upon death. But something does continue, and that something is called karma.
Q. Is the universe eternal or not eternal?
A. Both. The forms that alternate back and forth between energy and matter are not eternal, but energy can never be destroyed. Therefore, the universe itself is both eternal and not eternal. "In emptiness there is form, in form there is emptiness."
Q. Is the universe finite or infinite?
A. The universe is existence, and as such is finite. The Reality, which holds the universe in its hands and is the source of all consciousness in the universe, is infinite.
Q. Are the body and the "self" the same?
A. The self is a construction of the mind, which is part of the body. Self and mind die with the body.
Q. After death, do we continue to exist or not exist?
A. Both. We no longer exist as a body or mind. Karma continues however, and is reborn into an appropriate existence that fits the karmic tendencies. At that time, the new existence will appear to be real, as had the last, and that existence will reap the results of the old body's karma, good and bad. The string of these existences is held together by karma, and each new entity will feel the results of the old entity's karma. It will all seem real again, and we will feel the pain and pleasure of our past actions, which are our karma.
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E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center, http://www.SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers. Visit http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Raymond A fascinating article with much thought provocation and things to mull. My philosophy group enjoys discussing such issues. Some of the members are practising christians and some are atheists with a variety of diverse and questioning and uncertain individuals in between. Although I agree, in principle, with much of what you say, I'm not sure sure about karma. I think there is a possibility of energy left but it could go into anything, or it might be used up. To me, karma is a utopian and optimistic view based on the same views and human needs as eternal life. I understand it, I would like it, but I find it hard to reconcile. Excellent points, however. Thanks for a good read.Yes, I agree. Karma is only a theory, as are all metaphysics and religions. Karma lies somewhere between an everlasting ego and complete Annihilation. Thanks so much for the great rating and thoughtfuil comments. If my articles can promote new ways of thinking, I am happy.
e, you have entered questions with answers. however when I talk to someone I never use such positive words. You or nobody else has all the answers. I always use the words "I believe" meaning I may be wrong what do you believe. Do you see my point?Of course, David, we can't know. Metaphysics is speculation. That's why the Buddha refused to discuss it. The article is only intended for contemplation. Thanks again for the great rating! BTW; when an ordained Buddhist monk begins a dhamma talk, he begins, in Pali, with the words; "Thus have I heard." Best as always,...........e
how did you get your job. You must be related to someone there ? what a set of lame answers.Hi D. How's the weather? Janet and I spent some time at Amaravati in Hemel Hempstead some years ago. Really liked England. Sorry the answers don't agree with your beliefs. This article was designed to encourage questioning, so thanks for the comment. Metaphysical questions and answers sometimes open up contemplation. You may fill in your own answers. Be well.................eI do want ot say to you that there is othing wrong with these answers its completely opinionated and is completely his belief maybe you should just stop and think what if you were him
Oh my goodness.The Bible was written from truths, and has NOT changed over time. Remember the Dead Sea Scrolls? Ya, those are the same stories that are in the Bible. and those are OLD.The POINT of God is to be all-knowing and everything as well as nothing. He CANNOT be caught or tamed or named or described. that's the whole idea!!!and as for this relationship thing, people have relationships with imaginary friends, right?? is that not real????big fat waste of my time waiting for the page to load. this is a bunch of myth and crap based on opinion, not fact knowledge. if there was other information involved, it might have been worth the read.thanks for nothing.Hi, thanks for commenting. I appreciate that very much. To get an independent perspective on the whole bible, Christ thing, key in such things as "Christ's birth date, and Who Wrote the Bible, etc. Sometimes we read only what we want to believe and turn our backs on other information without even considering it. It's a power and loss of power thing. We hang on to our beliefs because it is exactly that - a controlling, power thing. That's why religions proselytize. Proselytizing never comes from a loving place, but from a place of controlling and power thirst. Nothing more than a salesperson who has to fight all the objections to make the sale = and he or she must win. It's very aggressive and hateful, actually. Have you ever noticed that Buddhism, arguably the most peaceful religion historically, never proselytizes? We put info out, but never twist arms because we have found that until people reach a certain level of spiritual and intellectual capacity, which is beyond simple, blind beliefs that can be anything from Christianity to Islam, and based wholly on what we read or what a preacher tells us or what we dream of, they won't understand Buddhism. I can see this clearly every day. Don't forget, it took the church 300 (That's three hundred - poor Galileo!) years to get over the fact that the earth wasn't the center of the universe! "A classic example of why religious entities should not have power to enforce their beliefs." (Key in: Galileo VS the church.) That was quite a blow to the Church's dogma and entrenched beliefs that people were willing to die for, dogma and beliefs that proved to be false. Keep an open mind if you can. Otherwise you might be irreparably psychologically harmed when the truth comes out, and it slowly but surely is. Meditation is safer - no beliefs, no indoctrinations, just a simple observance of mind until mind disappears and you get out of the way, then you may really catch a glimpse of God (in Christian terms) for yourself instead of just reading and talking about it.
Best.............eI have a quetion to pose. If its like you said, then we should never be able to contact or talk to God. What if it is like that though? What if it is more than religion? What if being a christian was more than just going to church, singing hyms/praises? Because on a religion level, christianity is no different than any other religion, its a set of rules to follow. If its more than religion though.... then the Bible wouldnt be just a record. It would be a the most powerful book on the planet, because then it would be true. Thats what it teaches, if its true, then there was no misinterpertation.-MetaLots of ifs :) Why don't you find out for yourself? Go within. All the wisdom of eternity is to be found there. (It takes work, though.) Or, if you prefer, just read about someone else's ideas, but you will never know for sure if it's true. If, if, if!
You also begin with a fallacious, circling argument; "then we should never be able to contact or talk to God." The fallacy is that you, nor anyone else, have ever proven that such a thing as a god exists, therefore your question about talking with this theoretical god is presumptuous.
The deeper aspects of Christianity did go inwardly, i.e. St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. But it wasn't much fun for people. They would rather just read, believe, and then argue about something they haven't a clue about!I don't feel as if your comment was very appropriate. You're just mindlessly attacking what this monk has said. Now remember he talks based on beliefs as you do, you look at his answers from a very clouded perspective, please try to keep an open mind, he isn't attacking Christianity in anyway, he's merely stating what he believes to be true, as how you are. Do notice this was from way before dead sea scrolls came out.sorry, just looked it up, this was before the dead sea scrolls existed to my knowledge. LOL ignore the last part lol but still i think this person was being to closed minded, i at least put in the effort to look up information on the dead sea scrollsHow do you know that the bible is all real i mean im a christia n and im a kid for that matter and i have better manners than you there really was no point in insulting this manHow do you know that the bible is all real i mean im a christia n and im a kid for that matter and i have better manners than you there really was no point in insulting this manHi xxxxXXXX etc, I am often involved in translation work as an Englishman living in Spain and do you know how often a translator will look at a passage of text and rather than translate word for word, , will often assume, ok he/she is trying to convey this message and translate accordingly.
Do you really think that the words of Jesus Christ have been religiously passed down through 2000 years of translation and retranslation?
"I am the way". Could he have been refering to the "I am" that is the core of each of us and not himself? The I am is the way?
I am, Islam? Could it be that religeous wars are based upon misunderstanding?
Well im in high school kid and im extremely interested in both metaphysics and philosophy now i am a christian but i thouroghly believe that there is more to this reality than we know. it is un canny the things we dont know but on to what was said in these questions i really respect this man for having courage to put this on here because of the obvious problems (close minded people) but i respect the fact he doesnt believe in the christian god or the fact of heaven or hell i think that this man is a true philosepher (excuse my spelling) and i can truly say that these are good metaphysical questions and i really do think that some of these questions can contain knowledge that no man could possibly know and thank you sir for putting this online i really did enjoy itYou're welcome my Buckeye friend!
Dear Rock, I enjoy immensely your articles, your observations, awareness and intellect and have only now read this article, written a long time ago I see, when the world thought it had a great and well funtioning economy.
Only one thing Rock, your intellect, its sharp, its well developed and actually its huge......but......we are talking God-Creator-infinity here and we are all, as must every item of creation be, a part of that creation, yes extremely finite.
Clearly the infinite cannot be comprehended by the finite, even with a mini big bang laboratory, but can we know it, can we experience it?
If that essence lies within us then surely yes, we can through desire and discipline experience, merge and live it and that is what the masters and saints have been trying to tell us throughout the ages.
Why have so many masters spoken in parables? They tried to explain the intellectually incomprehensible in such a way as to be understandable. We can experience the magnificence of the creator, but being able to share that experience with another soul is yet another gift from God.
Do not take this as a critism Rock, only I sometimes get a headache understanding the gist of your message.
What do you mean by we exist, but we can not be real? This seems like a contradiction. This was taken from your conclusion in your existence of God argument.
Thank you Raymond. There are different terms used for the soul, atman, anatta or brahman which continues to exist as consciousness even after the body disintegrates. Science and God according to many savants are one. Miracles also have scientific explanation. Don't you think even the process of God realization or realization of the self is a science too? With due respect to your knowledge. Thank you.
DM
Um about your answer to which part of you exist after death? and you answered no. Why ? If you had children are they not a part of you? They come out of what your body has created. And thus wouldnt physical a part of you exist after you are dead? And mentally wouldnt you still exist in the minds of your children of loved ones? We do not know whats happening when we are dead but others have the answer for us. If we were a society meant to figure everything by ourselves, then no one would of invented language to begin with.Your speaking from the material level. I have no argument regarding your views from that level. Enjoy!
e---thank you for your thought provoking questions and comments! I once almost died and actually felt my soul begin to leave from the top of my head. That wasn't karma leaving to go to another place, that was my soul and my experience. Thanks again for asking the important questions...
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