This is an attempt to explain my religious views. I have never succumbed to peer pressure, so my views are not quite like those of anyone else. I am a Buddhist, and also now a New Thought Christian. I think religion is a necessary part of our lives, as it has been for over 30,000 years. We invented religion to deal with the questions that science cannot as yet answer:

• Where does the universe come from? Are the other universes? What is left when all the radiant energy runs down, when all that remains is black holes, quark stars, neutron stars, and cold stellar and planetary remnants?
• Is there a God? Are order and intelligence synonymous? Does order imply a supreme being?
• Is the universe multi-dimensional, filled with states of existence?
• Is any created state real? Is it distinguishable from imagination, or is it more like smoke and mirrors? Does anyone actually exist in an absolute sense?
• Why do life forms develop and then seek to replicate and evolve? Why do cells form multi-cellular organisms, which develop identity, controlled movement, and sometimes even intelligence and cognitive self-awareness?
• Are complex life forms common in the universe? Are there many intelligent species, and will we ever learn about them? How advanced can life become?
• Why do we seek to live and why do we feel immortal, knowing full well that we must die? Why are the qualitative aspects of life, such as emotion, interaction, pairing, passion, sexuality, and creative endeavors more important than quantitative facts and basic survival?
• Why do we have to sleep, and why do we dream?
• Are there any ultimate answers, or is there only relational, experiential existence?
• Do we have a future? Do we really do anything that is actually useful? Are we doomed to perish, when, eventually, the sun will destroy the Earth, or will we expand outwards into the universe?

I have long desired to reconcile Buddhist and Christian Teachings. I have even been told (by a meditation instructor) that it is my destiny to do so. Since my wife is Mormon, I live immersed in the Mormon version of Christian culture. I have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, and I am transgendered, living as a transwoman, which means that I do not and cannot see the same reality as 99% of the people in the world. Like many transgendered persons, I have a natural spiritual bent; however, unlike in past cultures as in my Native American heritage, this attribute is not valued in our current American culture.

Based on my personality, nothing I do can be described as typical, especially when I express my inner-nature. I customize all things in my life, and I always mix and match. I am shy and introverted, yet I am relatively fearless, with a high risk-taking inex, which allows me to go out in public as a transwoman. I have tendency to retreat inward and hide, yet I am involved with all sorts of social activism. I once might have been voted the person least likely to marry, but I have now been married for over twenty-five years. And I once seemed way too skeptical to involve myself in any religion, but I have even conducted (Buddhist) services, and I have joined the Unity Church.

Buddhist logic now infuses my whole psyche. Buddhism and Christianity are related religions, tracing their roots to the old Brahmic religion before the time of Abraham. Scholars have long noted that Jesus' teachings are similar to those of Buddhism. Unlike Christianity (either-or logic), Buddhism is characterized by neither-nor logic, which is used to confront preconceived notions. I also use my Buddhist logic to filter Christian teachings. I accept those that in some way conform to Buddhist teachings, and I reject those that do not.

I became interested in Buddhism in the 1970's and progressed to Tibetan Buddhism in the 1980's, becoming well-versed in Buddhist history and principles.

See Tara, my guardian angel.

Tibetan Buddhism is very popular in America, especially with the arrival of authentic masters from Tibet. Theism is not required, but is very prevalent in Tibetan Buddhism. There are paradises and hells and countless classes of beings. When the first Jesuit missionary reached Lhasa, in Tibet, he sent a letter to Rome saying he had discovered a hitherto-unknown branch of Christianity. An apt description is:

Tibetan Buddhism is axiomatic, as described by the Four Foundations:

All Buddhist teachings can be derived from these basic axioms. Buddhism promises rebirth after death, but no convenient after-life. There is also no sin or punishment, only the consequences of action.. Buddhist masters and philosophers have long argued about the nature of reality, especially about the number of absolute states. Though seemingly separate, however, phenomenal existence (Samsara) and Nirvana are an essential unity.

I think a lot about Nirvana and have reached many of my own paradoxical conclusions. Nirvana is a stateless state; it is uncreated and therefore does not exist. Existence is a created state and seems different from Nirvana, but this is not true. I think Nirvana can only be characterized by the attributes of intelligence, love, and compassion. Nirvana is incorrectly characterized as extinction, but it is actually creation. I think Nirvana is much like the God-head principle of Meister Eckhart, which in turn gives rise to the god-creator, not a being, but an intelligent, indefinable, active co-resident force. All creation arises from Nirvana, yet the created states cannot defile Nirvana, nor are they actually separate from Nirvana.

I like Buddhism because it can teach spirituality and answer many questions without resorting to dogma; yet, there are always more questions than answers. There are also interesting conclusions. Life is not a curious accident in the universe, but is interwoven into the fabric. True compassion is unconditional, and any deeds done for the sake of acquiring personal merit are useless. Created states and beings are cyclical, all arising, existing, and then dissolving back to the pre-creation state. The universe is neither what we think it is, nor what we want it to be. Conditions are reflexive: if the primordial Buddha (Adi-Buddha) is self-created, then all beings are self-created. Everyone has a unique Path through life, and a proper Path avoids the extremes and follows the middle-way.

Exactly what do I believe?

• I believe that, since I am transgendered, I have a natural spiritual sense. From early childhood I have exhibited a tendancy to quicky separate true doctrine from false doctrine, but this has never endeared me to those who know everything.
• I do no believe there is any such thing as a non-believer. I think this a ploy of some to seek unrighteous dominion over others. Also, I do not believe there is any such thing as a atheist or and agnostic, and that such labels unnecessarily separate and damn us.
• I do not believe religious beliefs can be proven; therefore, despite the results of any indoctrination, no two people can have exactly the same beliefs.
• I do not believe that we can find an absolute measure. The third foundation implies anatman, nothing to be found. We live by faith, and faith implies a lack of proof. Our true nature is intangible, a spark of the uncreated. Our true nature cannot be measured, and there is no absolute justification for our existence. We have no particular right to anything, so everything we receive is by grace.
• I do not believe we have a soul, rather, we are part of an unbounded psycho-kinetic stream that might be described as spirit and is somewhat analogous to the wave/particle dualistic reasoning of quantum mechanics. We are also not better than animals, just more advanced.
• I do not believe our inner nature can be changed, except through the effects of aging, disease, injury, or drugs. Our behavior can always be changed; we have a choice about what we do. Our knowledge and outlook can be changed, through education and experience.
• I do not believe human beings are the center of the universe, nor do we represent the only blueprint for intelligent life. Therefore, any anthropomorphization of deity is invalid.
• I believe in the Four Foundations and Buddhist principles as described above. I believe in most Buddhist teachings; however, I reject those teachings that are sexist, that teach celibacy as a way of life, are obviously cultural, or are implausible.
• I do not see any conflict between science and religion: scientific laws govern the structure of the universe and the chemical nature of life and cannot be overridden by ignorant religious dogma, while the science (of our universe) really cannot deal with the origin of existence, emotional qualities such as love and compassion, and concepts of life after death. In higher realms of existence, science and religion must merge into one.
• I believe that there are endless realms of existence, including heavens, hells, and others beyond our comprehension. However, I believe that all realms of existence follow the same rules (laid out in the Four Foundations) and therefore there is no cosmic sanctuary.
• I do not believe there is a supreme being, just a supreme intelligence driving creation. I do not believe omniscience is possible or even necessary; enlightenment is about how things work. I do not believe that intelligence is the same as being, but I do believe there are endless classes of beings, some of whom are very advanced.
• I believe that God is a manifestation of the underlying principle of the Universe, intelligent and vast, but not a being as we know it, and certainly not living in a mythical, materialistic realm of riches and splendor.
• I believe there are guardian angels who watch over us, but they can only guide us, not save us.
• I belief that the devil is allegorical, a lie, and the father of all lies. The devil himself is a lie! The devil does not exist, except in the darkness of our hearts. God has no opposition and needs no particular opposition, since he has us.
• Though we are required to live our lives as if this existence is real, it is not inherently real because of time. True reality lies beyond time.
• I believe in the Middle Way, between the extremes: heaven and hell, good and evil, poverty and riches, and nihilism and eternity.
• I believe that passions are our way of life. Avoidance of passion (including materialism) does not work, so passion must be consumed to burn up attachment. I do not believe celibacy is natural for adults. Pairing along with intimate relations is natural and even necessary for nearly all human beings. Couples are not preoccupied with sex.
• I believe that, as a species, we are pretty unique on our planet, but not in the universe. We have an endless list of attributes, including artistic, creative, violent, benevolent, bigoted, compassionate, selfish, arrogant, spiritual, erotic, and so forth, and we excel at games, especially sex and gender games. However, regarding peoples sexual and gender identities, we tend to assign cosmic importance to differences that are just stereotypical labels.
• I believe that having children is a natural and necessary part of life. Children are irrational but also extremely enlightening.
• I do not believe that men are destined to rule. Domination by a male power structure has led to a serious cultural instability and simply too much violence to solve world problems. Feminism is natural, just the simple notion that women are people too.
• I believe in the developing principles of Process Theology, as developed by Whitehead, Hartshorne, Cobb, and many others.

Now I will deal with the focus of this paper. Why would I want to join the Unity Church, and what do I expect to get from this union? I do think membership is part of my destiny. There are features (such some devotional rituals) of the Unity Church can make me uncomfortable; however, I think most of my problems have to do with vernacular and definition rather than substance. I really like the freedom to be myself, and I really like the sincerity and lack of elitism. I also have many needed skills, that they need, and I am quite willing to share.

I am have been busy learning all about New Thought theology and Process Theology. I now embrace these concepts:

I have always felt a strong connection to Jesus the Christ (the correct wording), but I am strictly opposed to conventional Christian doctrine, which ignores the spirit of the teachings in favor of the letter of the teachings. Like (retired Episcopal) Bishop Spong, I have always believed that the old and new testaments are inaccurate and cannot be taken literally. Unlike Bishop Spong, I also embrace esoteric testimonies of the life of Jesus the Christ. There are enormous gaps that are unexplained by traditional scripture. Here are my conclusions:

• There is no written document attributed to Jesus himself, just as there is none for the Buddha. However, after the death of the Buddha, committees were formed to carefully document his teachings. Jesus’ teachings are part of Gospel Sermons written and embellished by others, which makes it difficult to extract what Jesus actually said.
• I do not believe that Mary was a virgin, nor that Jesus was celibate, without a wife and children.
• I do not believe that Jesus lived in the Palestine area most of his life; rather I think he was truly an explorer..
• I do not believe that Jesus walked in a vacuum, but that he expounded on teachings that came before him, and he had a vast, unrecorded support system.
• I do not believe that Jesus was deity; Jesus was Buddha. One should believe Jesus, rather than believe in Jesus. Jesus was the way-shower who arrived at an axial moment in time, who grasped and consolidated the teachings that had come before him.
• I do not believe in original sin. I believe we are punished by our sins, not for sin.
• I do not believe that Jesus died on the cross, but that he was revived. He was reborn to do what he did best, to change the world by instructing and empowering others, who often misinterpreted his teachings.
• I believe that Jesus was probably the singly most influential person in our history. Evidence even suggests that it was Jesus who changed the course of Buddhism at the important conference that took place in the latter part of the first century A.D.

I am a spiritual person, not a religious person. Many standard devotional concepts make me uncomfortable. I know that I cannot be right, but I always try to do the right thing. So long as I avoid arguments over dogma I manage quite well. Our existence is wondrous enough and needs no added dogma.

Like everyone else, I wonder why bad things happen, why family members and friends have to die, and why we all eventually must die. There is no one to blame. There is no hope, so long as we are bound to time. Death is not quite real; in fact, it may be no more than a catastrophic realization that existence is not inherently real. I am sure that death leads to rebirth, but conceptual logic cannot define the process. I sense that death means going home…first to the place of birth, and ultimately to Nirvana.

Return

Monday, September 05, 2005