the young monk asks:be kind o ancient zen master,
tell us what is space?
what about time?
lifting the corners of the mouth
towards heaven,
reply comes with a smile
so serene:
witness the infinitely present presence,
time has no meaning hence.
all moments are concealed inside Now.
this enlightenment is the Way, the Tao.
space is nothing
but illusionary forms.
lo, it's only emptiness
lo, it's only emptiness
that revolves.
(c) MysticSaint
+ trivia on emptiness from quantum physics:
- fact inspired from Marcus Chown's book, The Quantum Zoo: A Tourist's Guide to the Neverending Universe
+ trivia on emptiness from quantum physics:
Did you know that there's so much empty space (emptiness) inside matter (atoms, molecules) that the entire human race could be squeezed into the volume of a sugar cube?
.......... yes the entire human race! its unbelievable, but true!
- fact inspired from Marcus Chown's book, The Quantum Zoo: A Tourist's Guide to the Neverending Universe
One of the towering achievement of modern physics is quantum theory which has enabled us to understand the physical reality in a remarkable and unprecedented manner. "If the empty space in atoms were removed, the entire human race would fit in the volume of a sugar cube" - this humorously presented fact points to the overwhelmingly integrated emptiness in our physical world from scientific point of view.
Emptiness embedded in this creation is something about which ancient mystics and sages talked about hundreds and thousands of years earlier in the language of metaphysics. Buddha talked about so much that Emptiness of Reality (empty of inherent existence) has become one of the central doctrine of Buddhism. Off course the mystics, sages and Buddha - all were addressing the emptiness of not only matter, but beyond as well.
Emptiness embedded in this creation is something about which ancient mystics and sages talked about hundreds and thousands of years earlier in the language of metaphysics. Buddha talked about so much that Emptiness of Reality (empty of inherent existence) has become one of the central doctrine of Buddhism. Off course the mystics, sages and Buddha - all were addressing the emptiness of not only matter, but beyond as well.
6 comments:
The Dalai Lama writes about the parallels between quantum physics and the concept of emptiness in "The Universe in a Single Atom," in which he works to reconcile the hard sciences with religious doctrines--in his case, of course, Tibetan Buddhism. I found that book refresing, both because the Dalai Lama has a first-rate mind and because so many people in this country are in deep denial about any scientific theories or discoveries that appear to undermine literal interpretations of the Old Testament.
I like it!
Thank you very much for your comment. I guess there's alot of things in these texts that are there just for the context and style. For example at the ending of the heart sutra there's a chant. (gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.) I was really wondering what that could mean. (literally something like: "gone, gone, gone over, gone fully over, enlightened! so be it.")
I read a book recently where the author, now an ordained zen priest, asked his master (Gudo Nishijima), one of the most respected authorities on zen, what it meant. The response was something like "I don't know, it's some indian thing" :D
It's important not to get tangled in detail but rather grasp the message within. There's real space for misunderstanding in these cultural things.
Ian
Great poetry mystic! The wonder in modern science seems to contain the nature of a koan, piercing through the intellect and revealing the divine in an ever present "Being." And so, peace and being to you.
Randy,
Yes his holiness dalai lama has taken done wonderful intiatives in bringing modern science and buddhism. he is a wonderful example for our world and how open our current time spiritual masters should be.
Ian,
thanks a lot for your kind words. you are very right, often there are a lot of cultural component in esoteric texts which needs to be understood carefully, else we run into the danger of dry literal interpretaion. and its one of the major problem in todays religious spectrum in the world.
Shaman Sun,
thank and peace, blessings be with you dear.
A beautiful poem and true also, which makes it even more beautiful than mere language :) There is only one time...NOW, all else is the mind creating a frame of reference. Space, now that is a secret yet to be discovered, but when it is, it will cease to exist.
Ya Haqq!
Emptiness - the great dark sea of Original Harmony.
Great insight from the physicists.
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