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LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS? Discover the Real World Religions

Buddhism
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Buddhist Temples and Spires in Bangkok Thailand


Please enjoy another excerpt from Love Your Neighbors? Discover the real world religions. Within my book I rely on personal experiences (even some journal entries) and academic research. Overall, my insight and perceptions are spiritually based. The following chart and writings are from pages 66-67.

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This Wheel of Life represents all of existence. The center axis represents Buddha consciousness,
the transcendent fullness of wisdom and compassion. As the wheel turns within the jaws of death,
life becomes experiences within each of the dimensions, churned by greed, hatred and ignorance.


As Buddha’s visionary experience provided a foundation for his awakening, I will interpret and expand upon details of this journey. Since the experience encompasses dimensions related to all existence, mystics throughout the world have somehow connected to these realms. (Aspects of spiritual experiences are often interpreted from personal perceptions within a cultural and religious context.) ...

Within the completeness of perfection, Gotama saw the beauty of everything within life. The simplest rocks appeared like the most valuable metals or jewels. Water seemed to flow through everything, connecting a source of light within all forms. Plants, animals, and humans interacted with joyous harmony. How could he possibly describe this fullness of bliss? Waves of love washed within each breath. The essence of God was everywhere. Completely liberated by the splendor of existence, this had to be the awakening he sought. Then, as soon as he thought of God and stared directly into the eyes of who he knew as Brahma the creator, Gotama was in essence whizzed beyond time. As if swallowing and being stuck between a burden and its release, Gotama examined his surroundings.

Transcending time itself left an eternity of greater glory beyond, yet prominent detractions pulled within the expansion of glory. The detractions felt like shooting stars falling from heaven. Gotama followed these hordes of power. For a flash, complete darkness overwhelmed, capturing, then smothering all hope for release. Then he found himself within a realm full of separate spheres of varying size and power. Together, the mass of these spheres represented a continual struggle to overtake heaven. Weapons of all imaginative forms were created for a continuous war. Although underlying prosperity could theoretically persist, ingrained revenge made efforts desperate. Seeking clearer perspective, Gotama pierced one of the lost spheres and discovered a fabricated world. The god or wielder of power within this particular world appeared to access unlimited fantasies and control a splendid kingdom. Yet upon closer inspection were signs of growing dissatisfaction. Greed represented the cure. Sucking power from one another alleviated the discontent. All forms of rape occurred, whether against people or the land. Conspiracies to overthrow leaders proliferated. Every leader and established law was temporary. Being caught in these webs transported Gotama into an entirely new realm.

No being ever found fulfillment within hallmarks of hunger and desperation. Instead, ghosts overtook this realm. Each one was burdened with red-hot embers of desire that drove the mind completely mad. A dire paleness surrounded shells of human beings that were devoid of love and compassion. Solely seeking personal satisfaction promoted acts of extreme cruelty in a constant effort to try and quench burning lust. Yet these flames were never extinguished, even when the motives and subsequent actions were murderous. In witnessing one violent rage Gotama entered into one of these empty shells during the act of murder. The intensity of hatred dropped him into a connected realm where darkness and anguish became profoundly real. ...

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[This exciting story continues with graphic descriptions of the Hell, Animal and Human Realms, which are tied to traditions of the Buddha. In Neighbors you will discover the various types of Buddhism practiced throughout the world. I share experiences of when I stayed at a Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Thailand, photos and stories from where the Dalai Lama resides in India, along with selections from various Buddhist scripture. Learn about spiritual weapons, the 1000 Buddhas, and Buddhist scripture about what life will be like when the future Buddha Maitreya arrives.]


This Tibetan Buddhist prayer flag is said to represent Maitreya as the lightened scrolls atop the galloping horse.

 

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