What is this nirvanic Mind possessing the auspicious ability to instantly illuminate anything whatsoever flawlessly, as a source of utter satisfaction, and yet, what is this mind that stands in its way, praying upon the reflections of its divine presence, like a capricious ghost, with nothing to offer but dead, dry bones, filled with empty promises of a better tomorrow?
Well, about the One Mind of the deathless I can only say this:
The divine principle of this Mind is the maker of Kings.
And once a King, always a King. Anything else is mere
delusion based on interdependent origination.
If you ever manage to reveal the simple truth behind these words
you will undoubtedly face this divine, or more correctly, dark principle
that all-knowingly guides your own corporeal presence in this realm in
ways you once couldn’t perceive much less imagine. Not surprisingly
it used to be called the dark principle of the unseen, the permanent truth [dharma]
of the unconditioned, the uncreated or unborn nature of your true self. The truth
which the born and conditionally composed cannot possibly perceive; the very
blind spot in your spirit, which presently is obsessed by the external and internal
ghostly formations of samsara.
Today very few know about its permanent and incorruptible reality and even lesser
are able to tap into its remarkable and most auspicious light, which Gotama deemed
as That, which grants Nirvana by the final extinction of the body consciousness (the great
thief and evil wall prohibiting nirvana, Mara).
The ones who are able to penetrate their body consciousness through the forgotten art of proper
Pi-kuan and enter into the absolute reality of this principle, are indeed sages, instilled with
the light of noble wisdom too obscure to be conceived by the samsarically obsessed, who
are chained to the logical and dialectical traps of the body consciousness (e.g. the complete
matrix of the five skandhas).
To such a great sage, [bodhisattva], no destiny is written, for it is impervious to the corrupting
winds of space and time and thus it is completely free to write whatever “destiny” it wishes, in
perfect conjunction with this dark principle of the One Buddha Mind.
Such an artificial destiny is merely a way of skillful and expedient means to aid the lesser able
to find the raft, that can carry them over to the other shore [Nirvana] which is free from error and
the distress of error, e.g., suffering [Dukkha].
Even if you were able to destroy the corporeal form of such a Great Mind in this life you would most certainly not be able to touch it in the next.
You may excel in the arts, in sciences or even in religion or social graces, but if you do not face this hidden principle of your own true self, if you do not allow it to awaken [Buddhi] your mind, then you have accomplished nothing and you are accordingly nothing more but the sum of your desires and actions which are like that Capricious Ghost, bound to be blown around by the winds of destiny [karma]…until it spins into another diurnal round of immeasurable self-ignorant desire and despair…
Enchained in the icy grip…
Of fear…
It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of heaven than believe in the existence of hell. According to the Bible, though, hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly and explicitly teaches that hell is a real place to which the wicked/unbelieving are sent after death. We have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23). The just punishment for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since all of our sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4), and since God is an infinite and eternal Being, the punishment for sin, death, must also be infinite and eternal. Hell is this infinite and eternal death which we have earned because of our sin.
The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16:23-24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).
The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalm 76:10). Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).
Methexis, though I am thoroughly impressed by your latest spiritual passion, which appears to be all about hellfire and fear of divine retribution for daring to exist, I am very curious to know what prompted this sudden conversion?