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Oh yah. If everyone observes the first precept. Whatever one becomes, zombie or not. A zombie that observes the first precept is still a safe zombie.
On that note, the first precept of not killing is so important that we should not slight it. Think about it on at a macro level like alien invasion. If aliens observe the first precept of not killing instead of the ideology that “if u are not one of us, therefore u are against us and not like us. Unless you become one of us, if not you are an dishonour and therefore an anomaly of the system and is an enemy.†How much lives can be saved by just believing and practicing strongly the right belief and precept regardless whether you are zombie or not, alien or whatever.
Sad to say, even at the human level, as much as we have humaneness. Humans continue to fight and kill over religion, beliefs and material greed. The Buddha never really wanted a religion in his name. He was only interested in finding the TRUTH. He has been a theist before when he learn from other teachers and upon finding a higher truth. He threw out of the window what he used to believe which can no longer sustain the higher truth that he discovered. One that leds all to Eternal liberation protected by the impenetrable fabric of emptiness in a space that has no beginning and end. No one not even gods can destroy emptiness. An atomic explosion can produce heat similar to hell fire. But the very empty space where the explosion occurred continues to be intact and unbreached, unharmed by the fire that burns from it.
The Buddha was never a theist. There is no record of him believing in the existence of any almighty god.
Emptiness is not about empty space. Empty space is nothingness, while Buddhist emptiness refers to the lack of substantiality of all phenomena mental and physical due to their constant change. The things are not nothing; they are there – in terms of change.
😉
Amituofo
Emptiness is not space but based on the meditation in this link. It sure does imply space is a metaphysical expression of emptiness itself. http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebmed040.htm
Consider this. The human realm is filled with materialistic forms. How do these forms exis? Almost every form we see around us is made by means of filling the empty space of a mold to make forms either by injection molding. In all the structures or mega structure in this world. All these structures are binded together by means of nuts and bolts, screws or spaces of grooves or holes which interlock the forms together. Isn’t form emptiness and emptiness form? These are just my personal opinions. Even in the biological process of our body. For blood to be able to flow from one point to another. Your artery must have empty space for blood to rush through. If the artery is blocked. It results in death or illness. In our daily consumption of food. The stomach fills and empties itself before the bowels fill and empty itself without which the body accumulates toxins and one becomes constipated. The ideal human body is one that retains and expend itself for the best health. Look at the absorption of carbohydrates for energy. The moment a body retain energy or excess calories which are not expended. It becomes fat. Our body absorbs and empty itself as well for a balanced health. In one of the sutra. The Buddha hid himself where one of the heavenly god cannot locate him when they were challenging each other.
Obviously the heavenly being has not reach the stage or metaphysical expression of emptiness in order to be able to harness it. An empty canvas can take hundred of forms based of the state of mind the artists wishes to express itself on the canvas. It can be a picture of hell or heaven and even an animal or an abstract art…….etc. The unlimited possibilities can be derived from an empty canvas.
Another pt of view on emptiness can be illustrated by examining the parts of an object and the interdependence of it’s parts. It can be illustrated with this personal analogy. Let’s take this example. Lightning McQueen, the animated racing car won a racing race. A reporter approaches him to interview him. The parts of the car all wanted to have a share in the interview so they separated themselves from him and each trying to get featured and a moment of glory. When the reporter asked the wheel if he is lightning McQueen. The wheel replied I am part of lightning McQueen but I am not lightning McQueen himself. The reporter went on to interview each and every part of lightning McQueen but still lightning McQueen cannot be found. Just then a pair of wings and turbo jet engine came by and asked to join the parts of the car which they received with open arms. A frustrated reporter shouted at them where is lightning McQueen. The parts assemble themselves together. When the reporter asked the assembled car if he is lightning McQueen. He said he is known as the flying McQueen now that the wings and turbo jet engine became part of him.
Becos of emptiness. There is no unchanging permanent and independent self and ego. All things are the result of conditions put together pushing the limitless frontiers of infinite possibilities.
So if we just dissembles everything into their parts including food like a dish or recipe. The reason why humans can continue to come up with so many different recipes and push the frontiers of possibilities is simply becos all things are empty. Fill them up in whichever manner you may like. Still the taste of all things no matter what forms they take is the same taste of emptiness.
The Buddha is already the body of emptiness so it can transcend anywhere and take any forms or sometimes take the form of a rock which may explain why in some accidents, the victim was saved by a rock lodged in the system at that coincidental moment which we define as a miracle. Buddhas and bodhisattvas at work. Maybe.
Of course. Do consider what I hv shared as empty words. LOL. EmptIness is really very CHEEM!
If you consider the 0s and 1s in the binary of computers. The switching of signals and no signals in electronics and even how Hollywood movies and special effects are made with an empty blue or green screen as the backdrop. Less is indeed MORE.
The article in the link is more about spaciousness than emptiness. Emptinesss in Buddhism simply refers to all physical and mental phenomena being ’empty’ of any substantial unchanging self – nothing enduring in space and time – not that there is nothingness, for there is changing-ness of mind and matter still, from moment to moment.