When I was coming home from the grocery store a few days ago I couldn't escape hearing another idiotic ramp by a truly pathetic woman who went on and on about how we are all in Earth's last days between God and Satan and we are all helpless pieces of worthless dust, and final judgements where we will all be measured for heaven and hell for ever and ever etc. Because the Mayans said so. What's the latest date, December 21, 2012? I had absolutely no idea that this Meso-american civilization had any access to the Bible between the sixth and ninth centuries!
I am an American Buddhist. There are about 4,499,999,999 other people in the world who are not Christians (estimate). While I am still new at this (not quite three decades) my slow awareness at noticing more of the obvious has opened up enormous new channels concerning the universe, my developing place in it, and my reponsibility to it. I believe people who pray for the end of humankind do their best to bring it about actively.
To wish for total destruction is the state of Hell. Heaven is a world too. So are the other Eight. I would like to describe in brief a teaching called The Ten Worlds . I will not describe my personal practice. This is not a temple. No one has to wear orange. Do not send any money anywhere. The dalai Llama doesn't need it. the leader of my practice does not need it. As for me... I'm studying to be a vet tech. Every word will be English. I am only putting this out because to reveal all ten worlds will give names to present day behaviors that baffle too may people now. By naming different forms of evil and genuine good we all can face our Earth challenges much more clearly.
I start from the obvious lowest.
10. Hell- A state of mindless rage whereby a person wants to destroy not just himself/herself but as many living beings as possible. Does that describe suicide bombers? How about Mr. Laughtnor? (Not sure I spelled him properly.) I say to all those preachers and pundits and ANYONE who belives your God is going to destroy this beautiful Earth next December will you please examine this belief a little more closely? This means that any baby born today, by the eternal plan of your God are all due to be slaughtered right around the time these barely walking toddlers are speaking their first little sentences, also part of your God's plan. I leave this to your thought as month after month goes by with the birth of those fetuses in utero now. If gloating over the prospect of slaughtering tiny children isn't a state of Hell, I don't know what is!
9. Hunger- Greed belongs here. A lot of greed is not good. We all living things have Hunger: for nutritious food, for a nice shelter, for intellectual stimulus. But when oil companies are raking in tens of billions in profit and STILL want tax breaks then they are truly living in a state of Hunger so extreme they threaten your own very modest and necessary Hunger and deny your right to survive. A good historical article is Mark twain's "Open Letter to Cornelius Vanderbilt".
8. Animality- This correponds to ignorance. This is a bare survivalist mentality that cringes to those more powerful while beating on those weaker than you. The severe beating of trans-gender Chrissy Polis by those two women comes to mind. See #2 for further comment on this. Need I say all domestic abuse fits here?
7. Anger- Here is the first state where you yourself are aware of yourself as an individual. But everyone else around you become only a means for manipulation in order to serve your own vainglory. Like some major CEO's who only see their employees as mindless labor meat for their own lavish lifestyles? How about bought-for politicians who send the majority of their constituents down the rapids to extreme poverty under the goal of "Balancing the Budget"? These are people who drive other people to a slow death by long distance.
6. Humanity- At last I come to a state which offers some considerations for others. This is how most people live their daily lives exist, with forethought, with reason, with basic common sense. Thought replaces instinct. Good manners prevail. There is a surface peace so people can work and play without unnecessary pain.
5. Heaven- It may come a a surprise that this utopia I've been fed comes in only fifth. In my practice, Heaven means rapture. Rapture is not just okay, but encouraged , but only in short doses. This is not a state to wish to live in permanently. Great sex, great meals, an unexpected check, a picnic on the rocks by a historic river...all these and more can give you that zinging glow. The problem, at least with me, is that staying in rapture too long turns me into a giggling, half-conscious, illogical idiot. I make about as much sense as Spongebob Squarepants. I become a public nuisance and a source of suffering to anyone round me. People in too much rapture can be self-absorbed beyond patience. To believe that by living a meek, self-effacing human life of relentless want and get rewarded by spending eternity like Spongebob Squarepants insults my intelligence. Now, the four worlds better than Heaven.
4. Learning- In this world you actively seek to understand the universe through the teaching of others. Who were your role models in Learning? This is the place for all mentor-disciple relationships, secular or not.
3. Realization- This is where all of a sudden a "Eureka" moment hits you. Archimedes and his bath, Einstein and the trains, an artist and "inspiration". All these could be called having an epiphany. However, realizations don't come from outside. All your lives your senses have been taking input from all around you every second of every day. In realization, you finally notice the obvious. To have the universe suddenly become so clear is your own reward for a lifetime of work.
2. Practising Boundless Compassion- Here you start actively trying to relieve actual suffering without thought of a "payback". Think of Vicki Thom. Despite being a not completely healthy middle-aged woman she went in and fought for Chrissy Polis despite the attackers being younger and out of their minds. Kudos also to the manager who also intervened.
1. Enlightenment- This is the state of Pure Happiness. This is not being silly. this is not "positive thinking". It means that you are no longer afraid of suffering. This pure happiness is that indefinable endless inner strength that not only buttresses you in times of loss and disaster, but propels you to eradicate all sufferings source for all living beings and lead them to pure happiness too. If you can develop the ability to get living beings what they need, BEFORE they even know they need it, you are Enlightened.
So here are the Ten Worlds, to do with what you want with them. Don't worry about an apocalypse. I have survived at least three of them in my lifetime, possibly four. I now hear this one is supposed to happen Saturday. Wait 'till I tell my Ethical Society friends Sunday. But not until I have my post-apocalyptic celebratory coffee. I think creme brulle will do nicely.