Paradise Now

I came across a blog the other day and have found myself very much relating to the words of Dharma Brother Pete.  He has many posts that I find illustrate some of the emotions and mental situations I currently find myself in.

His post titled Paradise Now falls right in line with my previous one Treading Water.  In fact, I came across his right after I posted it.  With his permission, I would like to share with you what he wrote.  I don’t know that you will get anything out of it like I have, but although I still struggle his post gives me a sense of hope that it will all works itself out.

Paradise Now
By Pete Hoge

In my youth I was taught to think that the possibilities of peace and joy were only possible in the “afterlife”, as it is understood in the Christian faith.

This life was a rehearsal for an eternity of relief in the hands of the God of Abraham, and that I was being watched all the time and my actions noted so that I could be judged upon reaching the “pearly gates”.

Thankfully I had a questioning Mind and gradually worked my way out of this destructive hogwash, and at this point in time I have gained freedom from these stories.

I am not sure when the moment happened, probably not too many years ago, when I finally let go of the concept of God, as defined in the Bible, and absorbed and new paradigm into my being.

“I don’t know”

This is how the Buddha answered this question of “god”, or eternalism in public discourse , reserving his opinion for it was really his own business., as the point of Buddhist practice is constant questioning of phenomenological experience… he said..”Find out for yourself”.

I have encountered every argument for and against “God” and eventually I stopped asking, because I was interested in how to alleviate and reduce suffering as it presented itself right in front of my face. I stopped the obsessive churning of ideas and concepts about divinity quite suddenly and was mercifully OK with the option of ,” I don’t know”.

And perhaps even, “I don’t care”.

Which amounts to cursing said diety which earns you the sweet spot in the deepest Hell.

Hell and Heaven are stories, as is much of the Bible, and it’s theologies. A lot of unverifiable conjecture and theory which cannot be proven.

Of course I realize that I have accepted a new body of information, new stories, that speak of how the Buddha gained enlightenment, and how we as disciples can verify every step he took through our own practice.

Most importantly we can question and debate at every level, and understand that the cultures of Asia put their own filter over the Dharma as it passed through the centuries.

I am relieved of the burden of anticipating some kind of judgment in the afterlife from a God who I was never sure existed, and I can open my eyes wider and wider to the paradise in front of me.

I am experiencing what freedom is really like.

Please share you thoughts if you have any about this. I know we won’t all have the same view, but I’m curious to know what you think.