They say that every molecule has a will of its own. They also say that we are defined by the choices we make, and that each choice leads to a different and predetermined outcome. Similar to the Chaos Theory, one choice by an individual molecule will lead to something far more grand, that in our limited scope we cannot fathom. To bring this stretch onto a farther level, they say that there is an alternate dimension for each possible choice that a molecule could make, and then the varying ripples of its outcome. From the moment before an action is committed towards the aftereffect, it is gleaned that we are not the same... the world is altered, through its billions of people pushing and pulling.
The idea of rebirth in terms of Theravadic Buddhism is that we are constantly becoming reborn. In the very similar stance that the paragraph beforehand mentioned, there is no single and universal similarity to the actions we take and our conditions in the before and after. With the idea that each molecule has its own consciousness and will, our outcomes are always vast in possibility. Through the lens of this viewpoint, consciousness and will can be viewed as sequences.
Against our premonitions, Theravadic Buddhism does not view consciousness as a continuum, and as the paragraph stated before - things are better described in series of interlaced events. Rebirth is not merely the incarnation of the soul into another body nor the beginning of a new cycle as the mythological phoenix has shown us. Instead, it is the death and birth of the mind. As humans, our thoughts and desires are temporal and are constantly shifting. When shifting, they are being birthed or falling into death. One example is that we do not consistently feel lust; we feel it and when it is sated, such a state of consciousness dies while a new one is born. Perhaps the consciousness and desire to eat?
Through each state of our minds, we garner different perceptions and feelings. The mindset we have is merely for the moment (however long it may be), and dies when the moment is over. Thus, rising from those proverbial ashes, is a new mindset based on a new instance.
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1st rofl!!!
ReplyDeletesorry, impulse
ReplyDeletei was browsing and saw your blog, and do you mind if i add my two cents (you have change?)
"The mindset we have is merely for the moment (however long it may be), and dies when the moment is over." -you
but you said that every single particle is affecting each other in way we cannot fathom, in a platypus-porn-changes-planetary-paths relationship. How can individual thoughts and singular actions by such massive bodies as ourselves be independent of each other?
Wouldn't it make sense by your argument that each mental action affects each subsequent one? if everything is interrelated how can we be "wiped clean" with each rebirth.
btw Name's Huxley Powell, i am a failed potential writer and i did not intend to sound pompous. Im a rather flimsy wordsmith
Divine blog by the way, and love the art
<3 <3
Ooh I have a new reader? I'm extremely flattered.
ReplyDeleteThink of it this way... have you heard of the Harmonic Convergence? It's when the Planets Align. Now hold that thought.
Every molecule is constantly moving, albeit how cold certain things can be. From gradient extremes such as temperatures well below 0 Celsius to temperatures that are well above it, molecules are constantly moving and vibrating (the only way they stop is through reaching Absolute Zero but even then it's deemed impossible).
With that in mind, each vibration has its own sound or signature. An octave in the music world is when two notes come together to create a third note. People are saying that the Harmonic Convergence is going to produce a similar effect, and there are tons of people who are gathering in the world to WILL something during this time of the universe. During such a momentous occasion, some believe that a group of strong and like-willed individual are able to change the state of matter or perhaps reality in this time.
Now think of it on a more micro scale. Are we not merely the product of several molecules that are like-willed and are geared/work towards the same thing? Several molecules that have similar will that converge in order to complete it.
On the thought of rebirth, the Buddhist view is rather strange... I admit that. Thin of it more as the birth and death of each mindstate, not necessarily the birth and death of the world or universe. Things are constantly shifting, no? No two moments, two seconds, two milliseconds are the same. Even if your eye cannot discern it, in a millisecond bacteria is moving and dying, dust is lifting and falling... somewhere in the world this minute a plane is taking off or landing.
In regards to how actions by massive bodies be independent... think of it this way as well; you constantly have conflicting desires sometimes... hungry but you'd rather do something else like maybe homework (yeah right)? But you get what I mean.
I'm glad for your two cents... and that someone is reading and thinking about this. I appreciate that.
While these are just merely IDEAS that I broach when I'm absentminded in highschool or something... I just love considering a lot of things and this blog just lets me get it out there, even if no one reads the walls of text. :P I'm glad there's at least one or two though.
You don't sound pompous at all, you have eloquence and a natural flow. It's sad that you call yourself a "failed potential writer"... I'm sure you just gotta pick up which PART of writing you want to illustrate in. :]
Thank you again.~
your consideration of my use of diction as elegant is merely a byproduct of far too much yes minister. But in regards to your text
ReplyDelete"Are we not merely the product of several molecules that are like-willed and are geared/work towards the same thing? Several molecules that have similar will that converge in order to complete it."
from this excerpt,am I to infer that molecules and atomic particles are intelligent? if it is, then i think i understand your case now:
you are saying that each molecule is acting independently to fulfill its own life (no matter how simplistic), and eventually these millions of independent events create thousands of coincidences, which in turn create hundreds of patterns. These patterns in turn collide with the other events to push them into these patterns, and thus create what we see to be the "order" of the universe.
Correct me if I am mistaken, but this sounds as if you are arguing intelligent design backwards?
I have one further question before I fill up your website with unicode. You mentioned quantum physics, but as a former hawking/randall reader, I remember that all of quantum physics hinges on two basic theories:
1. everything is random
2. nothing is
would your argument on the absence of free will assume that the latter is true, that molecules are dumb (we failed the same IQ test, for that matter), and being trudged across the universe in sets of orderly motion?
i once again apologize for the dostoyveskian size of this text. i could actually finish a few books at this rate, instead of blogging, no?
On the thought of rebirth, the Buddhist view is rather strange... I admit that.
ReplyDeleteI am going to assume that you are Buddhist, I am not quite sure how I was able to make such a tremendous assumption, but I have transformed the habit of stating the obvious into a true art form.
In any case, It would seem that nearly every (with the word 'every,' I expose myself to future rebuttal) faith has some sort of hidden, secret, or mystery that requires faith and devotion.
Buddhist rebirth is just there spiritual mystery, just as the trinity is for christians, and the avatars of gnosticism
death is not the end of everything
ReplyDeleteits the beginning of nothing