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Since the Brahman or Buddha nature is obviously not
Earth-centric, its doctrine should encompass all sentient beings who might
be anywhere in the cosmos. So let’s assume the existence of at least one
other planet where such beings dwell, and take for granted that they have
reached a level of technology similar to ours at present. But let’s also
assume these people have somehow come to realize that the active principle
behind the phenomena of the universe resides in their deep heart’s core and,
therefore, they have all gained enlightenment. But since rivers and
mountains look like rivers and mountains before or after enlightenment,
outwardly they behave no differently than if they hadn’t been enlightened.
That is, they have not en
masse given up their everyday lifestyle, culture, routine, social
interactions, work ethos or habits. They wear the same clothes as before,
marry or live together and often part company, send their kinds to schools
and halls of higher learning, work hard for promotions or to please the
management, invest in stocks and shares to prepare for retirement, own the
alien equivalent of houses and cars, use intoxicants, party into the dawn.
Some of them must be writing great poetry or painting masterpieces, just
like others amongst them have become scientists and invent technologies to
benefit their kind.
What happens then if one day we were to come in
contact with such a civilization and actively interact with them? In the
beginning, of course, we would notice no difference, except that of our
having arisen from separate backgrounds. Everything else would appear
relatively similar otherwise – except for one extremely unusual detail:
surely we should find a complete lack of religiosity in their kind?
Beginning with an unbelief in any Creator, to organized articles of faith or
the teaching of spiritual values – we should notice none of these from and
already enlightened people, should we?
But wait, why not? A monk asked Joshu, “A hair’s
breadth of difference and what happens?” Joshu answered, “Heaven and Earth
are far away.” The monk said, “And when there is not a hair’s breadth of
difference?” Joshu said, “Heaven and Earth are far away”. What Joshu was
asserting is that with enlightenment or without it, the world is unchanged.
So what changed for our extraterrestrials which we couldn’t see? The answer
lies in reversing the situation. In other words, how would they see us?
Without doubt, significantly unenlightened. |
