Saturday, September 5, 2015

Is there life after death?

Do you understand the difference between the following two?

Watch the video below from 5:51 to 8:02.
Thay said, "So, the fact is that, scientifically speaking, you can already see birth and death happening in the present moment. And because of the dying of cells, the birth of cells is possible. Because the birth of cells is possible, the dying of cells is possible. --- So, when we know that birth and death are always together, we are no longer afraid of dying."

Watch the above video from 8:02 to 13:36.
Thay said, "And scientists have already pronounced, there is no birth and no death. Nothing is created, nothing is lost. There is only transformation. So, transformation is possible, is real. And birth and death are not real. What you call birth and death are only transformation. --- So, birth and death are seen only on the surface. If you go down, deep down, there is no birth and no death. There is only continuation. And when you touch the continuation, the nature of no birth and no death, you are no longer afraid of dying. --- We know that it is impossible for us to die."

There is a big difference between the two because the former says that birth and death are possible but the latter says that birth and death are not possible. Even though both of them are scientific findings, their conclusions are totally opposite. Why is there a contradiction? 

That's because the science fields are different. The former is the scientific finding in biology but the latter is the scientific finding in physics, especially quantum physics. Their realms are different. The former is in the realm of the conventional truth and the latter is in the realm of the ultimate truth. (Four Noble Truths is based on the conventional truth and Heart Sutra is based on the ultimate truth.)

In other words, the former is based on the notions of birth and death but the latter is not based on the notions of birth and death. The latter doesn't depend on notions and it just touches the reality as it is, without touching notions. We can't touch the true nature of reality by using notions, because we get caught in notions.

Notions are created by humans, or human brain for distinctions, discrimination, or separations. So, we can't have freedom through notions. And notions are not always reflecting the true nature of reality as it is. Most of notions cause illusions through mental projection. That's because notions are created by ideas, perceptions, views, thoughts, words...etc. 

So, birth and death are just notions and are not the reality as it is. However, the conventional truth is based on notions and people believe that the conventional truth created by humans is the only truth. But most of them are illusions and are not the reality. We have to be very careful about this.

Therefore, we should not be deceived by the conventional truth created by humans. We need to touch the true nature of reality as it is in order to understand the ultimate truth. For that, we must stop thinking and throw away all notions like other animals, plants and minerals. The best method I know is mindfulness, concentration and insight. The following book will guide you the concrete practice methods.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014NYEP04

(Cf.) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/thich-nhat-hanh-life-after-death_55e5ff24e4b0c818f61971c7
http://www.slideshare.net/compassion5151/spiritual-ancestors
(from 1:03:00 to 1:23:25) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6EylTW-2o