[Buddha-l] Moment of individuation

[Bob Smith]

"Stanley J. Ziobro II" <ziobro at wfu.edu> wrote:
 
> in the case of mechanics the original transfer of energy comes
> from the outside whereas in the biochemical and higher spheres of activity
> there is an interior dynamism with more complex transfers of energy.

 
These activities are initiated and largely maintained at the discretion of we humans. From a subjective perspective, just stop eating or having sex for a month and see how many of these "interior dynamisms" still function in any manner that we humans would consider positive. From a more objective position, just start polluting the oceans or over-harvesting the oceans assets, or start over-harvesting the world's forests, etc., etc. (You get my point.) and see how long these "interior dynamisms" continue to function in any way that one would consider helpful. It is we humans who work to orchestrate and dictate this flow of energy - for whatever reason.

> The question is whether these appearances can be reduced simply to the
> subjects' mental activity, and failing that, whether the authentication of
> every facet of reality rests upon measureability by some instrument.
 
Of relevance here is the observation that all religions and philosophies are artifacts; they are all created by humankind. Like all human creations, they are designed to meet a need (or needs!). One of the utilities of the creation of religion is that it gives us something else to blame when our human activities run afoul of their intended outcomes (It was my karma; my past life! The devil made me do it! The stars were not aligned right!). Blaming someone or something else for our own failings has long been a favorite pastime of we humans. What the Buddhist position does, in my mind at least, is to throw the responsibility for our unsatisfactoriness back on us. This is done largely without the need for souls, spirits, saints, devils or other spooks.
 
There is no reason to make life any more complicated than it already is.



		
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