I am interested in perceptions and conceptions of heaven or paradise. The following is from translations from "The Gospel of Buddha" by Paul Carus (1894):
"Master, is the promise of the happy region vain talk and a myth?" enquired one monk.
"what is this promise?" asked the Buddha; and the disciple replied:
"There is in the west a region called the pure land, exquisitely adorned with gold and silver and precious gems. There are pure waters with golden sands, surrounded by pleasant walks and covered with large lotus flowers. joyous music is heard, and flowers rain down three times a day. There are singing birds whose harmonious notes proclaim the praises of religion, and in the minds of those who listen to their sweet sounds, remembrance arises of the Buddha, the law, and the brotherhood. No evil birth is possible there, and even the name of hell is unknown"...
"In truth", said the Buddha, "there is such a happy paradise. But the country is spiritual and it is accessible only to those that are spiritual. Thou sayest it lies in the west. This means: look for it where he who enlightens the world resides. The sun sinks down and leaves us in utter darkness. the shades of night steal over us, and Mara, the evil one, buries our bodies in the grave. Sunset is nevertheless no extinction, and where we imagine we see extinction, there is boundless light and inexhaustible life..... Thy description of paradise is beautiful, yet it is insufficient and does little justice to the glory of the pure land. The worldly can speak of it in a worldly way - they use worldly similes and worldly words. But the pure land in which the pure live is more beautiful than thou canst say or imagine.
He only, whose soul is filled with the infinite light of truth, can reach the happy land. He only, who has attained enlightenment, can live and breath the spiritual atmosphere of the western paradise. "
.....
One brother asked:
"The Buddha teaches that all confirmations are transient - all confirmations are subject to sorrow - all confirmations are lacking a self. How then can there be a nirvana, a state of eternal bliss?"
"There is a state where there is neither earth, nor water, nor heat, nor air; neither infinity of space nor infinity of consciousness, nor nothingness, nor perception nor non-perception; neither this world nor that world, neither sun nor moon. It is the uncreate.
That, O monks, I term neither coming nor going, nor standing; neither death nor birth. It is without stability, without change; it is the eternal which never originates and never passes away. There is the end of sorrow.
It is hard to realize the essential, the truth is not easily perceived. Desire is mastered by him who knows, and to him who sees aright all things are naught.
There is an unborn, and unoriginated, uncreated, unformed. Were there not, there would be no escape from the world of the born, originated, created, formed.
Since there is an unborn, unoriginated, uncreated, and unformed, therefore there is an escape from the born, originated, created, formed."
Perhaps others can contribute visions of paradise which have inspired them?
Is there really a new world
by normal on 20 Nov 07 at 13:33
Will it really be as people predict or is there a more real, down to earth aspect to all this paradise stuff? I want to go with it, I really do, but there is also an underlying fear or even expectation of let down with all this "new world" stuff, no doubt as a result of continual failure and let down in the world we know. Indeed, it is difficult sometimes to consider any other type of world other than failure and obstacles and negative intensity, it just seems to go on and on, are you sure about this "new world" or is it just another hoax? Another, 'don't do anything, things will change on their own'.
Has anyone seen or even felt this new "promised land"? Sorry, but I need more convincing.
re: Is there really a new world
by howiemac on 21 Nov 07 at 14:04
I believe that we create our own reality - we human beings create the world we live in. If we create a paradise then we shall live in a paradise. At present we have been creating a hell, and what good is that doing us? You talk about an underlying fear or even expectation of let down
: with such an attitude you will create misery and failure. What is there to be scared of? Death? If you are living in hell, then what is there to fear in death? Death is just a change in state from one incarnation to the next - the soul is released from the body and takes another one. Are you afraid of failure? Your very fear is making you fail. If you expect your world to consist of failure and obstacles and negative intensity
then it will. The failure, the obstacles, and the negative intensity, come from you. Only you can change this. If you don't make the effort to open up your mind to positive thoughts, to love, to spiritual power, and start creating a better world through your own spiritual vibrations, then no amount of words are going to convince you of anything. The spiritual journey is about experience - experience will convince you - but you have to reach out for that experience. Negativity and skepticism will close you off from it, and trap you in a cage of your own making.
The cage is an illusion - you can walk through it to freedom and joy. But you have to choose to do so yourself. It is your choice: generate light, or stay shivering in the darkness.
truth was there all the time
by Al on 21 Nov 07 at 15:44
The more we know, or at least think we know, perhaps the more we realise that nothing is new, it is just that we have forgotten, lost or whatever, the truth.
I will take the chance and say that there are stories in most or every culture about a more paradise like world. Ancient folklore which has been handed down for a reason, folklore such as religious texts stories, pros poetry and song etc.
To believe every detail suggests a flaw in ourselves and our religious attitudes of devotion. It does not mean that there is nothing what so ever in these old stories, it may be that we have lost the true meaning of their essence or, dis beleive that such an existence is possible.
The meek shall inherit the earth, not to rule and be greedy, but to share and nurture everyone, every soul who takes birth in the world will be served to the degree that they have total self respect and love for the self and therefore compassion towards others.
So, everything is in reverse at the moment. The changes which are coming may happen quickly rather than the gradual nature of the decline or, entropy there after.
