The Seven Laws of Nature
1. As above, so below
2. Every outside has an inside
3. The infinite is finite and the finite, infinite
4. Everything is and is not a paradox
5. Love = Light = beauty = truth = oneness = perfection = God
6. Every thing/being is/has consciousness, which
precedes existence
7. Energy cannot be lost, but it is disorganized in order to change by the force called entropy
The Laws of Nature Explained
1. As above so below. The microcosm is like the macrocosm; on earth as it is in heaven; we are created in His image. It means that there is a parallelism involved in the basic structure of reality. To take it to another level, if there is an individual mind, there is a universal one; if there is an individual idea, there is a universal one; as with consciousness, love, forgiveness, etc. And on another level - the sky is individual (as in the Tucson sky which is different from the San Francisco sky), even though it is all one sky which is not above the earth but actually surrounds it.
Another significance is that there is a consistency, a uniformity to reality. It makes everything we see both tangible and real as well as symbolic and figurative.
2. Every outside has an inside. Is another way of saying the first principle. It means that everything - be it animal, vegetable, or mineral, has an inside - a soul. This inside or soul possesses a consciousness which produces and is produced by the outside. Or, the form has an idea inside it, or the form is the expression of the void.
3. The infinite is in finite and the finite is infinite. This is yet another way of saying the same thing. The infinite would not be infinite if it included everything except the finite. The finite is in finite. A human life is finite, only a limited number of years, but is it? The San Francisco sky is finite, or is it? The mind is the product of the body, or is it? Or is the body the product of the mind? A body has definite dimensions and must be finite but it contains the mind, which is infinite. And, yet, the mind is part of the infinite mind, even though each is infinite. And is the body finite? How many cells does it have and how many sub atomic cells per cell and so on ad infinitum?
There are many examples of the infinite/finite paradox. Jesus was one. He was a man, finite, and he was God, infinite. There’s nothing more finite than numbers and yet they are infinite. Time is finite while it is eternal. The body appears to be finite, but the mind is infinite. The earth appears to be finite but the sky is infinite. Imagine a wall in the universe where it ends. There is none.
The infinite is consciousness motivated by love - the source of intrinsic motivation - doing out of love of doing it. The finite is centered in the ego and is motivated by fear caused by a sense of separation and limitation, leading to extrinsic motivation - doing for fear of not doing or doing as a means to an end.
This sets the stage for constant paradox.
4. Everything is and isn’t a paradox. Everything is what it appears to be and it isn’t and it is both even though it can’t be.
There is an old Mullah Nasrudin tale about a court proceeding. This story is also in Yiddish lore. The prosecution presents their case in opening argument. It is brilliant and very convincing. The judge is so moved that he declares the prosecution has proved its case and is right. The defendant was guilty.
The defense objects saying that they must have a chance to present their side. They go on to make an equally stunning argument. At its end, the judge was so moved that he declared that the defense was right.
The court bailiff told the judge that it made no sense that they can’t both be right. The judge agreed.
In the same way, everything is and isn’t. The mountains are mountains, they also are not, and though they can’t be both, they are. Everything is what it is and it is also a symbol of something, and while mutually exclusive, everything is both. It is all G-d and yet we exist and are each unique. There is and isn’t free will. It is all mind and yet the physical world is real. Everything is perfect just the way it is, and everything must be improved.
5. Love = light= infinite =eternal= beauty = truth = oneness =consciousness=perfection=buddha nature = G-d. Again everything is and isn’t. These are all very separate things and yet, they are all the same. Another way to think of it is the same thing in different forms. Consciousness feels like love, is light, dispelling darkness, has no size or quantity and is therefore infinite, it has no time and therefore it is eternal. It is also naturally perfect. It is the Buddha nature that is in all things and comes in different shapes and sizes
6. Every thing/being is/has consciousness, which precedes existence. Everything - animal, vegetable or mineral, has consciousness as does every cell and subatomic cell within every cell, and even macrocosmic entities have a kind of consciousness.
This state of being is different for every kind of entity. A human’s consciousness seems very different from a seed’s or a mountain’s. But each has a kind of awareness that is both individual and universal. It is entirely possible that each entity, no matter how big or small, has a sense of individually doing something. It could very well be that each and every white corpuscle that is discharged to fight an intruder to the body feels that he or she is going to fight the good fight against evil.
We know from experiments at Hawthorne, that there is a definite observation effect. That means that by observing human or even cell behavior, we are actually affecting it. So the activity we see in cells as well as test animals, is not natural, but rather an adaptation. Just as humans adapt when observed because they are conscious of being watched and in a sense cared for, by the observers, so too with cells, plants and animals and even cities and countries. Remember, as above, so below; the macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm; on earth as it is in heaven.
7. Energy cannot be lost but it is disorganized in order to change by the force called entropy. Because life is and isn’t dualistic, everything has its opposite. At least in appearance. Perhaps the first dualism after the infinite and finite, is subject and object, light and darkness or life and death (beginning and ending). So if someone or something is begun or born then it will end or die. In the process the matter or energy is changed but not lost.
Just as the world’s top priorities are preservation and perpetuation, it must also eliminate and destroy. We must eat and drink for nourishment, but we must discharge the resultant waste products, and use the rest of the food to distribute needed materials to the various cells of the body. The material we eat and drink is torn apart and destroyed as it is changed into these other materials.
Everything is subject to entropy, which comes in many forms. A room is subject to entropy if not maintained. The bed becomes a mess, the drawers are helter skelter, the floor is littered with discarded clothing items that were not consciously placed in their appropriate locations. The room is changing.
A body is subject to entropy as well. The body ages, cells die, new ones are born. Disease takes root in a part of the body and wants to grow at the expense of the donor body. The body dispatches its best trained troops to fight off the invasion. Many die valiantly trying to protect their host. The dead cells are in turn used for something in the body.
A community has entropy: crime, poverty, injustice, and corruption are all forms of entropy. They tear at the social fiber promoting change. In a community, it may be elections to get better leaders or new laws to control certain kinds of destructive behavior, or a new attitude by the people or war or revolution. What we call evil is a form of social entropy.
But in this world of opposites, we have neg-entropy to counter entropy. In a room it is called daily maintenance, making one’s bed and putting clothes where they belong. In a body there is medicine, that can be both neg-entropic and entropic, there is surgery, diet, exercise, relaxation exercises, education, lifestyle changes (like stop drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, getting stressed out) and psychotherapy available to counter the effects of entropy. In a community there is a political system that responds to the people, there are just laws and fair enforcement and prosecution of violations.
On the personal we see entropy as evil. The murderer is an agent of entropy, as are all criminals. All human vices are entropic: killing, lying, stealing, rape, gluttony, greed etc. Virtues are the antidotes.
ENTROPY REMEDY
Disorganized Energy Organized Energy
dust collecting in a room housecleaning
loss of muscle tone exercise
mental disorder psychotherapy
physical disorder medicine, diet, surgery
loss of concentration meditation
loss of faith prayer
poor performance practice
building decay building contractor work
The Seven Laws of Man
1. Do not have any gods before the One.
2. Do not bear false witness
3. Treat each person and act as an end in itself as well as a means to an end.
4. Do not steal
5. Do not kill
6. Do not waste
7. Always remember
1. Do not have any other gods. This means not only false idols or believing in many gods, but also any other primary concerns be they business, family, or otherwise self-gratifying and illusory. It means we do not consider money or friendship or self-image ahead of the One. It also means subordinating the animal soul or the jiva atman (individual soul) or the ego to the creator and his force and grace or your higher self. If everything you do is by his grace, then you should have no pride in yourself from your many achievements, but rather gratitude to G-d for providing all the ingredients. It also means that this also would apply to others. They, too, have been given a role to play and their own special set of talents, experiences, qualities, and behavior. They are not to blame, but are worthy of our compassion as we are from ourselves and others.
2. Do not bear false witness. This means that we are not to say something that is not true as a witness either to an external or internal experience. Since G-d’s nature is truth, any statement that does not reflect truth is also a violation of the first commitment: not telling the truth is denying G-d. It includes even the most mundane lies such as false compliments. If the motive is to make the other person feel better, we can find a way to say it or do it in an honest way. It may take a little more effort.
3. Treat each person and act as an end in itself. While everyone we know and everything we do can be seen as a means to an end, they are also ends in themselves and should be treated accordingly. This may have been what Jesus meant when he said “love each person as yourself.” We cannot make ourselves love everyone, but we can act as though we do by treating them as the infinite beings and image of G-d that they are. With our tasks, if they must be done, then they can be done carefully, attentively, lovingly with appreciation for their special qualities. If we are mowing the yard, washing the floor, painting the living room, picking up broken glass, eating a sandwich, we can enjoy each moment of our activity realizing not only the apparent good we are doing, but also seeing the act in its neg-entropic context. Most of our beneficial activities are efforts to stop or reverse life’s entropic nature. We pull weeds to save the grass, and we see in the act a way of keeping the good and eliminating that which interferes with it. Even in the elimination of the weeds in life, they too must be revered and used to do good as in a kind of mulch.
Following this practice also allows us to be in the here and now, which is actually where everything takes place. By treating everyone and thing also as an end in itself, we are in the here and now.
4. Do not steal. In a way this goes without saying because of the first three commitments. Stealing does not only refer to taking property that belongs to others. It also refers to stealing one’s good name as occurs in cases of slander, liable, backbiting and rumor-mongering. Stealing also reflects a kind of jealousy, covetousness and ingratitude that separates us from each other and an appreciation of all that has been provided us. Stealing stems from fear, while all these recommended acts are motivated by and exist to promote love.
5. Do not kill. Not only does this mean prematurely ending someone’s life, but it also extends to destroying anything that is good and helpful. While with all commitments, there are situations which are exceptional. Killing in self-defense is an exception here, however it should be noted that no matter what the situation, killing will be done with severe consequence to both the victim and the survivor. Killing violates all the previous commitments to the ultimate degree.
6. Do not waste. This ties in the previous four. Letting water run, or squandering energy, taking more food than you need, and throwing away what is left over, are examples of it. But also not using your education or talent or situation to make things better, discounting the kindness and advice of well-meaning others are examples of waste. All acts of gluttony and greed can be categorized as waste.
7. Remember. In a “perfect” world, we would all know and follow the first six commitments. And if we did not all know them instinctively with them hard-wired into our system, at least you would think we would once we realized it. Apparently it doesn’t work that way. We have to understand these vows and must remember to keep them. Remembering includes remembering that while we are trying our very best, we are realizing that it is through the grace of the One that we are even alive. That we did not create our own minds, pick our own parents and genes, we did not choose where we were born or whether our parents were poor or where we went to school, who our teachers were, and many times, what our experiences would be. And yet all of these things shape the way we are, do, feel and appear.
So remembering also includes the other vows. We want to remember to treat every person and task also as an end in themselves and therefore behave accordingly. This means not rushing to finish something, but taking the time needed to enjoy it and do it to the best of our ability as is appropriate in that specific situation. We also must remind ourselves to reflect reality as faithfully, while compassionately, as we can. But before we remember not to misrepresent, we must remember not to fall for all the traps that precede that point. So even before remembering not to lie about what you did last night, last night you should have remembered not to do that about which you are now tempted to bear false witness. And so on.
We must be ever vigilant, paying close attention to what is being presented to us at each moment. And we must remember to remember also as an end in itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment