Clash of Religions - 1



When I was working for H&H Ship Services in San Francisco. 1990 -91/

Made my second trip to KL in the last two weeks to visit my auntie who is in the hospital, she is 83 and the last of my mother's siblings who had raised me as a chikl. As I held her her shrivelled up hand I felt the connection we had while i was growing up in her care. I was also moved to feel the impermanence of existence, how all will come to an end sooner or later and I envisioned myself in her state wondering if i would be cared for by my loved ones the same as she is being cared for by her children and grandchildren. To live to a ripe old age of 83 in these days and age is an added bonus and to be constantly cared for by your loved ones in your sick bed is an even greater boon anyone could ask for; I feel sad whenever I think of my wife who passed away in a nursing home in Waterloo, Illinois without her loved ones at her side.
We al have to go through our karmic consequences and blessings in one form or another and most of us are not even conscious of the fact that what we are going through as we live our lives day to day , moment to moment, that it is all  a continuity of a long thread that began from beginning -less times till this very moment and are tied up to, interwoven with and a part of the net of life in this universe. We live day to day in utter ignorance of our connectivity to the whole and that 3ach and everyone of us are responsible for the creating of our planet's evolution. We live day to day oblivious to the fact that every bit of our words, thoughts and deeds affects the outcome of what our collective existence in some small way no matter how insignificant it may be. For so long as we are here, breathing the air and occupying the space yelling and screaming and enjoying ourselves we are making a difference in the cosmos.
Due to our lack of understanding of our dependant co-origination, our connectivity with the rest of humanity and the whole of creation, we have become estranged from our sense of belonging, we have become self centered, self serving and self dominated beings incapable of true Love and Compassion. It will always be the world out there and the 'me' in here and it is always a matter of 'my' survival and I will take care 'El Numero Uno'. It will always be 'my life, my country, my religion, mine! And all the rest is just extras, grist for the mill, food and fodder for my consumption,;my survival. It is said that, because of our ignorance of who we truly are we will constantly have vexations or problems in our lives until the day we die and even then most religious belief will tell you that being dead does not mean the end of your trials and tribulations, but as  a matter of fact it could only be the beginning. Islam is one of those religions that insist upon one measure of life and death is interdependent, if you are God fearing and a virtuous being in this life, in your after life your chances of ending up in heaven is much better than the man who rob and kill; no escape. Buddhist however believe Karma and karmic consequences and the retribution or rewards are being reaped in this lifetime and many lifetimes before or after until one's Karmic evolution has attained to 'Liberation' or Enlightenment, free from anymore karmic influences, one has stepped out of this cycle of life and earth and rebirth oncwe and for all like the Buddhas of the past did. One of the merits or marks of a Buddha is the ability to recount one's past and future lives, to be able to see the long connecting thread of one's existence from the day one came into existence till the day one is absorbed back into the 'whole' of existence itself once more. Only one's consciousness prevails through all these transmigration from one existence into another and for so long as this consciousness has a slight sense of attachment to what is erroneously thought of as life, it is still in the realm of birth, death and rebirth.
Physical death does not constitute a stepping out of this 'cosmic cycle' or entering liberation, it is merely a transition of form from one that has ran its course into one that will re-enter into a whole new cycle albeit in the higher or lower realm of forms of existence and as you sowed, so shall you reap is the guiding rule. In the Judeo, Christian and Muslim faith, the afterlife is where you are judged and executed according to one's merits and virtues or one's transgressions while being alive on this earth. Heaven and hell is our final destination and the All Mighty God is our final Judge who will either accept us into His bosom or throw us into His hell fire to be recycled or purified. Hence Muslims, Christians and even Jews have a great sense of fear of the afterlife and God's retribution so much so that they are willing to go all out to make sure that God's Words are not taken in vain while we are alive. Ironically, it is this fear and ignorance that has created so much suffering and conflicts among man leading to our self destruction in the forms of wars and brutalities. Mankind is trapped in his ignorance of his truee nature; he is blinded by what lies in the future and haunted by his past rarely does he live his life frees from these by being in the moment, here and now.
Selfless Love and Compassion is becoming a rare commodity even among the God fearing and man has become attached to his thought generated existence so much so that he is capable of becoming more insidious than his fellow creatures in his effort to ensure the survival of himself and his religious groups. Man has become intolerant and inconsiderate when judging others not of their denominations, creed or faith so much so that death is the only answer. Todayy sectarian wars and conflicts is a common occurrence even among man of same religious faith where wanton killing and brutality has ravaged religious houses and all in the name of the One God. Man himself has become intolerant and unforgiving than God accusing and executing his fellow man for the least of offences against God and religion. Compared to the Spanish inquisition era, modern man has become more vindictive and callous when it comes religious offences and misunderstandings. Man's God given so called 'free will' is of no consequence when it comes to religious issues especially in Islam and harsh justice is the norm in most Muslim countries. Religious leaders has claim their rights to judge beyond mercy of those who transgress the religion leaving behind a trail of doubts and lack of skillful means in dealing with religious issues in a more tolerant and compassionate manner. Religious vanguards and self proclaimed groups has risen to take upon themselves in propagating 'right faith and beliefs systems', right ways and non negotiable unforgiving resolutions where faith is concern each with its own agendas to promote.
Where is all these leading us towards only time can tell, time and the potential awakening of man from his dark and unconscious sleep of ignorance can resolve. If mankind fail to climb out of this pit of ignorance that we are being sucked into the chances are we will not survive as an enlightened specie but rot in a cesspool of decadence and despair and God (or Gods) will moan their loss for the winner is Satan as in the Judeo, Christian and Muskm faith and for the Buddhist and Hindus, Mara will reign supreme over the sons of Adam as we will create hell on earth. Science and materialism will be the order ofr the day and man will become no better the robots in the service of the dark forces. The divine flame that is inherent in all man will be extinguished and the soul will be forfeited to the dark side that has made the covenant between God and Satan; there will be no more prophets nor will there be God's grand miracles to save the day except through the hearts of man of true wisdom and compassion can we be led out of this darkness.
Death is just a lapse in time and life a span is ephemeral  but that which lies beyond is eternity. So it is believed by the religions of the book and Buddhism in its own way too emphasizes the eternal karmic evolution of the consciousness until it is resolved to become liberated. In essence man now matter where or what his origin has to somehow sometime sooner than later awaken to his potential to become free from this mind driven bondage of his so called existence, It is his solemn duty to awaken to his true nature and enlighten those whose life has been totally engulfed by the bleakness of ignorance, greed and hate. It is only in this human form can man find his way out of the quagmire that he is in; man is the only specie that can save humanity or perish along with the rest of sentient beings if not the planet itself. It is up to the religious leaders to lead in a more universal manner with impeccable collective understanding in dealing with man's faith in this modern day and age and not resort to archaic and rigid understanding of his religion so as not to be able to be 'Oft Forgiving and Most Compassionate' just as God would want him to be. Love and Compassion are the two keys to paradise guided by Wisdom and Intuition. In the hands of a true believer these virtues can unlock the doors that will liberate man from his own self generated bondage of pain and suffering.