of USAWKF
What is God
What is God?
What is Allah?
What is Elahim?
What is Ein Sof?
What is Buddha?
Your first objection to any of these questions might well be, "Not
'What' but 'Who'". In "the path" I quickly generate the
answer to all these questions perhaps too quickly to permit digestion
and full comprehension. In reading all the worlds sacred texts and reading
also the many excellent treatises of learned scholars regard these texts,
repetitive themes become so intertwined and apparent, that it has become
plainly evident that all share curiosity, and observational skills purveying
the exact same questions and resolving the precise identity of the answers,
but hesitant to accept the final step.
The most lucid of the texts and teachers I have yet to discover in the world of sacred texts are Kabbalists and Buddhist scholars. In both, the duality of the Divine and everything else continues even into the teachings, which demonstrate our inseparability "with" the Divine. It is only in the teachings of Nichiren that the rhetoric finally suggests that human "beings" (a verb) are able to unite and maintain a divine state.
The problem seems to be the acceptance that the Life Force, Energy, Almighty, (insert favorite label for the Divine here) that put in motion all of creation as we know it, cannot possibly be as simple and limited as each and every one of "us". So, each text has its method of connectivity to that which it cannot be itself. Among these are the favorites "Soul", and "Karma". The Soul is given attributes that always lead to a direct connection with the divine. In Jewish mysticism, the five levels of awareness of the soul allow for two levels of mortal existence susceptible to defilement while the remaining three maintain "purity" and levels of relationship wit the Divine. Catholic, and all variety of Christians approach the soul in much the same way, and to the point that the soul is God. Transmigrating souls are also defined in Qur'an and other texts. All souls of any denomination maintain some living, contemporaneous link with the Divine.
Karma is much the same although defined strictly as causal. In other
words, the Buddhist does not see the Soul as a mystical organ or energy
field or container of merits or attributes, but as the relationship itself.
So, karma is any action taken, spoken, or thought.
Karma is also divided into two, and as I will demonstrate, three levels.
The first is simply thought, word, or deed; the second is a cumulative
spiritual repository of thought, word, or deed. The third, as I will also
include my definition for the soul, is the primary or primordial cause,
VOLITION.
In point of fact, nothing in the universe "happens" without it. All phenomena in the universe are the "outcome" of some primary action, which can only be put into motion with volition. You could call this volition by other names like, will. But words like, will, presuppose volition. I propose that volition is primary and primordial. Volition Is the initiating force to all phenomena and therefore Thee Creator. Will is the shape that volition takes once a thought or idea is formed or forming. Volition is the spark, the innate instability of the universe, the Taji (Chinese). In Nichiren Buddhism, this force is combined with all potential phenomena and named Myoho-Renge-Kyo. This philosophy postulates a vibration of the innate instability of the universe given through the action of this volition. This volition is primordial and extant in all phenomena. Therefore, by chanting the sound of the vibration, one can immediately unite with their innate creator as well as the primordial creation. This is what Rabbi David A. Cooper calls God-ing, in his book on the Kabbalah, "God is a Verb".
Volition, whether you understand it as primary or as Creator, cannot be taken as a separate entity or force outside or simply "related" to our own volition. This is the critical point. Volition does not know time or space. Once the universe begins its path of differentiation and the beginnings of "duality" (Yin/Yang), it is paramount that we understand that the Divine, Volition, does not divide. Volition maintains its singular existence and expands into and within the duality of all phenomena. As individual phenomena, we are like the drops of water that make up the worlds oceans. A cup of water from the Caribbean may differ in minute chemical components from a cup of water from the Pacific. In time, however, with the vehicles of evaporation, condensation, plant, and agricultural absorption, winds, in short, the movements of life, the components that differentiate will come to exist in equal balance. In the world of volition, this too is true. Although people seem to differ across the expanse of the earth, all share much more in common than their few differences. In fact most differences are a matter of interpretation or language. More important still, is to realize that the physical attributes we observe are a very small percentage of our "being". Remember Quantum; that the structures of particles that comprise our physical existence are surrounded by a huge amount of space. This space is the residence of volition.
Every thought, word, or action we take thereby affects our volition, and all volition at once. This is not a duality. This is not regional. This is a very powerful reality. It means that we are ultimately responsible for the entire universe, our world, our neighborhood, our relationships, and ourselves. It also suggests that by observing inhumane or hurtful, destructive actions without response, we are allowing creation to become destruction. Therefore, it is incumbent on each of us to uphold nurturing, humane, loving, kind, and compassionate behavior, if we are to foster a joyful life for ourselves. In other words, the illusion of separateness from one another is false. What is good for all results in good for the individual. And whatever the individual thinks, says, or does, holds universal repercussions.
Quantum is the smallest measure of energy. It is the fundamental unit of energy. As we know from our own studies of physics and chemistry, energy has variable mass from the imperceptible to the heavy mass of radioactive particles. Energy runs the gamut from nothing to incalculable density. More interesting to our discussion is the behavior of matter/energy in the form of particles, which are defined as being either "solid" or "waves". Like the light generated from a bulb. Measured in lumens, the light "particles" called photons, are actually waves. Waves have frequency. Frequency is a vibration. From vibration, particles are, influenced, created, destroyed. No wonder so many sacred texts refer to the knowledge of the ultimate as a Light.
So, by whatever label you chose, the Divine, Creator, God, Buddha, etc.., there are certain facts you must accept. The Divine is not outside your body, mind, or spirit. The Divine IS your body, mind, and spirit. The Divine does not judge you or others, YOU do that, and collectively, WE pronounce judgments, punishments, and our very collective actions cause earthquakes, pestilence, disasters, and war, through ignorance and misuse of our most formidable universal almighty power of, Volition!
How do we stop senseless wars? Stop having them, and educate the people!
How do we stop destroying the planet? Stop destroying it, and work within
the system!
How do we stop global hunger? Feed everyone!
I could go on and on, but the point is, all the power to do anything of value exists with, within, and all around US. We must do it, and it starts with the basic understanding that no one other will or can do it.
Congratulations, you are God. What do I call God, Allah, Ein Sof, et al.? I call it you, John, James, Helen, Bob, Charles, Suzie, Spot, Cypress, Water, Tree, Eagle, Mountain, Moon, Sun, Air, and..........
March 11, 2006
With Love and Respect,
Reverend Sylvain Chamberland
BACKGROUND
The Reverend drafted this spontaneous letter as a response to nagging concerns about the misuse and misunderstandings of charged rhetorical words like God, Allah and many others. These "labels" are rife with meanings that vary depending upon the group, the politic, and the agenda of the user.
For these Reasons, the Reverend often took to teaching with specific
regard to such propaganda and misleading practices.
