Clarke, whose young son went missing without a trace of hope to be found chats with a pastor. ‘I’ve always been a “silver linings” person. Uh… you know, no matter how bad things got, I could always find a way to see the cup half full. But uh… this is different. I can’t find a shred of light, but I have to, huh? I’m really trying to. For my family. For my (other) kids.’
[If there are any ‘silver linings’ in such tragedies, it is that a misfortune experienced is an episode of negative karma exhausted… although its complete fruition might take longer than expected. May we always cherish loved ones fully, so much so, that even if they are suddenly away, upon reminiscing, as we have already cared for them best we can, we will be without much sorrow or regret.]
The pastor replies, ‘Do you pray, Clarke? Outside of any religious instituition, I mean.’ Clarke says, ‘No. But I don’t really believe in G_d or J_sus, anything like that. Certainly not now. I mean, there is no meaning. There can’t be with what we’re going through.’
[This is the classic ‘problem of evil’. If there is an all-loving (omnibenevolent), all-knowing (omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent) ‘creator’ of everything, why is there the slightest suffering at all? Unless such a being with all these attributes does not exist? How else can we make sense of suffering, if not with belief in the workings of personal karma interwined with collective karma of family and more? (Suffering is meaningless only if we learn nothing from it.)
In the Buddhist teachings, the Buddhas (who have realised the workings of karma completely) are regarded as omnibenevolent with perfect compassion for all beings, and omniscient with perfect wisdom about all things. Although they are not omnipotent, (or they would have removed all suffering instantly), they are ‘maxipotent’, with as many helpful supernormal spiritual powers as possible.
The suffering of everyone cannot be eliminated immediately exactly because there is still personal and collective karma to deal with. However, with mindfulness of Buddha(s), there can be mitigation of suffering, by connecting to them for blessed virtues, which help to dilute our negative karma.
Although the Buddhas are not responsible for creating everything, which is what all of us are karmically responsible for, they have created Pure Lands with their immeasurable compassion, wisdom and skilful means, and invite us to enter them, where there is only peace and bliss. These are tangible but refined worlds for refuge and spiritual perfection.]
The pastor counter proposes, ‘Whenever I feel like I can’t find G_d, like I can’t quite grasp him, I tell myself that if G_d is everywhere, (holds a stone), then G_d is in this rock. And when I hold it, it makes him feel just a little more tangible. Now, you can give this rock whatever meaning you want. Or don’t. In which case it’s just a silly rock. Either way, (places stone on table), now it’s yours.’
[Clarke remains silent, perhaps unsure of what to say. What proposed still requires faith in such a being, despite the issues above. Again, if such a being exists everywhere, why is there suffering in so many places, including our minds? Why is s/he so hard to find and grasp in the midst of suffering? What mysterious ‘plan’ can such an intangible ‘creator’ have for those suffering? If we can simply attribute arbitrary meaning and take random refuge, why was there need for the chat?]
Related Article:
Can Faith In Any Deity Help (The Dying)?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2018/08/can-faith-in-any-deity-help-the-dying
