Universal Truth: A Cosmic Family

K.S. Chow

Introduction

Gotama Buddha preached the conventional truth (saṃvṛti satya) of the multiplicity as well as the ultimate Truth (paramārtha satya) of the Unity. Dependently co-arisen Unity is Emptiness. Like Lao-tzu, Śākyamuni Buddha never designated the ultimate Truth as it is ineffable and can not be designated linguistically. It cannot be conceptualized and depicted with words or linguistic expressions. The Exalted One also rejected the designations of all phenomena or the diverge differentiations of the empirical world for a dissimilar reason. It is critical to realize that non-designation or non-appellation only denotes that external forms do not exist but the phenomena do exist interdependently but not independently or autonomously. If this relative or conventional truth is not comprehended correctly, it leads to the incorrigible view of nothingness or nihilism. No religion expounds nothingness or nihilism.

Religion is about viewing the world rightly, thinking rightly and doing things rightly, properly, and appropriately. Religious wisdom pertains to the discovery of the Truth of dependently co-arisen Unity or Non-duality. The discoverer of Truth consummates one’s deontological ethics as well as the virtue ethics. For instance, lax and negligent attitude to work is negation of deontological ethics. The recent financial meltdown and milk contamination crisis are rooted in laxity, irresponsibility and lack of oversight. Corporate businesses involve the interests of countless number of investors, clients and staff upon which their spouses and children are also contigent. The totality of the vested individuals or parties constitute the national interest and even global interest. Therefore, they must be overseen strictly by the excecutives and CEOs and the transparent state bureaucracy so that remedial measures can be taken before the mould of the Absolute cracks and collapses.

 The wholesome unity of all the contigent conditions of the clients, staff and the bureaucracy is the mould of God which is dependently co-arisen Unity or Non-duality known as Śūnyatā in Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition. The harmony of contigent conditions must be regulated and overseen strictly and transparently by the authorities concerned (private CEOs and government’s bureaucracy). It is wiser to deal with contigent conditions (causes) rather than to fix the toxic resultant outcome subsequently. Treatment is usually more costly than prevention. Spiritually put, it is spilled milk that can not be recovered.

The application of TQM (Total Quality Management) or QCC (Quality Control Circle) is the awareness of the qualities of the contigent conditions before they are conglomerated into the final products or services. Thus, it is evident that businesses or commercial activities are not divorced from the phenomena-principle relationship. Religious wisdom pertains to interdependent existence or unity of existence. Products and services are unities of existences. The raw materials, labour force and overheads are the contigent conditions.

Ontologically Erroneous View

All phenomena or diverge differentiation are not designated because they are actually erroneous concepts fabricated on the basis of the Ontology of substantialists’ view. The whole-life mission of Śākyamuni Buddha was to awaken the sentient beings that substantial view of Ontology is false. The right view is Insubstantiality (Anattā) or Emptiness (Śūnyatā) of inherent existence. Emptiness should be perceived as an ontological concept of dynamic becoming. Emptiness is the Unity of dynamic, impermanent and mutable contigent conditions. It is soteriologically significant that one perceives Unity not multiplicity so that the notion of ‘I’ or ‘Mine; is effaced. The ordinary worldllings perceive multiplicity. As a result, the notion of ‘I’ or ‘Mine’ is arisen. This results in the manifest of self-centric ego which directs and empowers the six sense activities.

Since the contigent conditions constituting the conditioned phenomenon are dynamic, impermanent and mutable, the conditioned phenomenon is signless, formless or characteristicless. Anything that is signless, markless, or characteristicless is formless (animitta). Being formless, it is non-perceiveable empirically because it is empty of permanent self-nature. What is non-perceiveable empirically can not be designated. Owing to the ignorance of the sentient beings including the ordinary worldlings, what cannot be designated have been designated. Worst of all, all these fabricated designations lead to the ceaseless formation of one concept after another.

Perpectuation of Concepts

The first false substantial concept C1 is formed from wrong ontological view of substantiality. Substantial concept C1 produces substantial concept C2. Substantial concept C2 produces substantial concept C3; substantial concept C3 produce substantial concept C4 and so on endlessly. In short, the subject predicated substantially with the objects incessantly. Every concept is the seed of mental obsession which is either attachment or aversion. Attachment or aversion is the origin of accumulation of mental cankers or taints (āsava). Cankers or taints condition the formation of karmas. Karmic formation is the cause of human suffering (dukkha) and transmigration (saṃsāra).

Self-centric ego

Every illusive concept produces an illusive self-centric ego. The self- centric ego is responsible for directing and empowering all the six sense activities. The self-centric ego creates the notion of ‘I’ or ‘Mine’. The notion of ‘I’ or ‘Mine’ alienates or separates one from the intrinsic dependently co-arisen Unity of the world or cosmos. The notion of ‘I’ or ‘Mine’ is self (attā) or ego (ahaṃkāra). The notion of ‘self’ or ‘ego’, which is substantial, is not compatible with the eternal Truth of Selflessness or Egolessness (Anattā).

Anattā denotes absence of self-identity or individualism. The absence of self-identity or individualism is the essence of the Buddha (or God). Therefore, Anattā is synonymous with God concept ultimately. Anattā should not be taken lightly. It is spiritually a profound message like a fathomless Ocean. It implies universal Unity of Dependent Co-arising (Paṭiccasamuppāda) in the sense of cosmic unity. Owing to the perversion of worldview of ontology contradicting the eternal Truth of Anattā and Paṭ̣iccasamuppāda, the human consciousness is defiled and finite. The defiled consciousness prevents the manifestation of the pure and infinite consciousness. Being defiled mentally, one suffers incessantly in the saṃsaric world; being purified mentally, one lives blissfully in liberation or freedom. The pure and infinite consciousness is eternal, blissful, immutable and pure. It is designated as the universal or cosmic Self known as Dharmadhātu from the Mahāyāna perspective. Monotheistically put, the universal or cosmic Self is God. The Vedānta Hindus designate it as ‘Brahman’. Sufi Masters designate it as it as ‘Haqq’ philosophically and as ‘Baqā’ spiritually.

Hopeful World

The discovery of the communal Truth of spiritual Wisdom will form the basis of any interfaith understanding and more harmonious inter-faith dialogue. The epic clashes of human civilizations necessitate a pragmatic knowledge of inter-faith understanding which bridges the apparent dissimilar religions. Before I know of this communal Truth of Wisdom, I advocated a very pessimistic view of the imperilled world of Man: Being anthropocentric, all human beings battle hard to defend their self-interest and are therefore potentially conflicting and quarrelsome.

 Having recognized this communal Truth of Wisdom, a mental revolution has occurred: Human beings and all non-human beings are inherently peaceful in one cosmic family. We can commence with one human family first before proceeding to the universal unity of a cosmic family or earth community! Pratītyasamutpāda (Dependent Co-arising) is inherently peaceful. Interestingly, morality and ethics correlate with Unity or Non-duality. They are mutually inclusive. Therefore, immorality and vices shatter the unity of the mould or the cosmic order. Hence, human beings violate the Principle at their peril. In ultimate analysis, disasters or catastrophes are linked to anthropocentricism giving rise to greed, hatred and delusion. Śākyamuni Buddha‘s Word is absolutely zero-defect. Otherwise, the Exalted One can not emerge as the supremely unsurpassed Enlightened One – the BUDDHA.

 One Truth

If we examine the esoteric messages of all major religions, such as Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Neo-confucianism, Christianity and Islam, all religions recognize a communal Truth. That Truth is an eternal Law or Principle. It may be designated as the Ultimate Truth, Wisdom, Order, Dharma, Tao, or Dharmadhātu. It is the through the experience of the pure, infinite consciousness that the Gnostic or Knower of Truth comes to know Brahman, Tao, Buddha, God and Allah. The Perfect Man of pure, infinite consciousness is the perfect image of Brahman, Buddha or God. The uniqueness of Man is that the Absolute can only be perceived through the pure mind of Man.

The discerning ones will ascertain that dependently co-arisen Unity, Non-duality or Non-discrimination is the heart of the cosmic law. Unity or Non-duality is the energy which sustains phenomenal world in the cosmos. God is actually this Truth of Unity or Non-duality. The phenomena and the Principle interpenetrate.

Particle physics

 Amazingly, I ascertain that the particle Physics unveils the communal Truth of religious Wisdom thus: Matter is Energy and Energy is Matter. The Quantum Mechanics of particle Physics has so far discovered that atom is empty of inherent existence. It is the unity of contigent sub-atomic particles of neutron, proton and electron. The Particle Physicists have also discovered that these sub-atomic particles are also empty. Its contigent sub-subatomic particles are quarks. A large number of world scientists have collaborated in Geneva currently to unravel further whether not the quark particle is also empty. The experimental quest for the God-particle is currently being pursued in the world’s largest and most expensive Physics laboratory in Geneva.

The Principle pervades in all phenomena and all phenomena are sustained by the Principle. This Truth is not distinct from the divine Truth that the One is in the many and the many is in the One. This is resonated in the Perfection of Wisdom in the Heart Sūtra thus: Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form.

May I suggest that the Particle Physicists collaborate with the Gnostics or Mystics to uncover the unfathomable mystery of the universe. The distinction between a Particle Physicist and a Gnostic or Mystic is that the former is adept at analysis work using the left-brain function and the latter is adept at synthesis work utilizing the right-brain function. The Neuro-Scientists are adept at both left-brain and right-brain function. They too furnish useful source of references pertaining to Neuro-spirituality. In fact, modern psychologists have unveiled and vindicated the truths unveiled in religious philosophy. The right view is: Theosophically put, an esoteric religion is a universal set and all other natural sciences are only subsets to the universal set. There is only one universal set. They cannot be two.

Conclusion