If god didn't make the universe then where the hell did everything come from?

[@Quaterzau]

Who is the one who changes his destiny? Is it an individual self? In the final truth there is nothing seperate that could change anything. Relatively it looks like one can achieve Nibbana, but in final truth there is noone to decide or change. Or what is it that decides?

[@ultimatemeaning]

The question relates to relative appearances and not the ultimate truth. If the liberation was spontaneously arising then there would be no need to apply one self to virtue and the remedies to suffering. As clearly we don't go to bed at night and wake up spontaneously Buddha, the question should be "why isn't liberation self arisen for us when the ultimate truth or natural state is primordially present?" In the Buddha Dharma there is no individual to call a self, and the variety of experiences of the mundane world arise out of fundamental ignorance that is the notion that this self does indeed exist. And so to get rid of our delusion we need to get rid of self clinging and clinging to appearances. And that is why all spiritual practice is about eradicating our clinging. Now there are infinite methods for coming to realise the truth of no self, but one needs to find the method that will be effective in getting rid of one's own clinging. And those who merely upon hearing the words "everything s empty" achieve liberation are rare rare as daytime stars. Further I have to add that in the context of the Buddha Dharma at least, whereas the notion that everything is the responsibility of God or infinite consciousness can go a long way to reduce self clinging, ultimately this notion itself is a form of clinging to reality and so can never lead to ultimate awakening. Still most of us never get anywhere close to eradicating our self clinging let alone our clinging to phenomena so it is still a valid remedy to a lot of worldly woes. Thanks for sharing your ideas and doubts 🙏🙏🙏

[@DavidKolbSantosh]

@@ultimatemeaning any antidote will necessarily fail, it is already perfect, this is Atiyoga Remedies are preliminary they can set the stage, and they arise as ones karma, some call it grace, but a medicine can cure or act as a poison. Any effort re-enforces sense of self. Practice without a goal, practice as duty. See the inaction in action and action in the inaction, they are the same. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. God, in his intrinsic state is non-contingent Being, which is like non-being and inconceivable, He shows Himself as Providence, Synchronicity and as the Guru. You are he, there is no abiding phenomena, there is the Self-organizing system/process that is a teleological process of eternal self-realization. "The way the self arrays itself is the form of the entire world See each thing in this entire world as a moment of time. Things do not hinder one another, just as moments do not hinder one another The way-seeking mind arises in this moment. A way seeking moment arises in this mind." ~ Dogen Uji (being-time) villagezendo.org/wp-content/pdfs/uji_text.pdf

[@jhhjyjkkkjgfjjk]

@@Quaterzau There has been an ongoing misunderstanding (wrong view) about the Buddha's teaching on "anatta". Everbody thinks there is no self at all. Anatta does not mean there is no self. Anatta means "not-self" or "non-self" referring in contrast to the then widespread Old Indian concept that there is a fixed, unchanging, permanent soul that reincarnates from life to life. To such, that is "not-self". Nothing is permanent and unchanging. The Buddha acknowledges that there "is" a self (in relative sense) and that is our body. But he also taught that this body exists by the joining and working together of its 5 aggregates, where if these 5 aggregates wear out, there is no more self (absolute truth). If there is no self or individual at all (like most Zen students misunderstood), then why did the Buddha exhorted people to realize the 4 noble truths and follow the 8fold path? Who then is exhorted to follow the path if there is no self at all? That self is the "relative-sense" of self, where in reality is "not-self" (this is realized upon awakening).

[@danielhopkins296]

@@Quaterzau As ships are blown by wind on sails, As arrows fly from twanging bow, So, when the force of thought directs, The body, following, must go. Just as machines are worked by ropes, So are the body's gear and groove; Obedient to the pull of mind, Our muscles and our members move. "No independent 'I' is here, But many gathered mobile forces; Our chariot is manned by mind, And our karma is our horses. Assailed by death in life last throes On quitting all thy joys and woes What is thine own, thy recompense? What stays with thee when passing hence? What like a shadow follows thee And will Beyond thine heirloom be? "'Tis deeds, thy deeds, both good and bad; Naught else can after death be had. Thy deeds are thine, thy recompense; They are thine own when going hence; They like a shadow follow thee And will Beyond thine heirloom be. "Let all then here perform good deeds, For future weal a treasure store; There to reap crops from noble seeds, A bliss increasing evermore. "-Paul Carus : GOSPEL OF THE BUDDHA

[@danielhopkins296]

@@Quaterzau thnxs for the feedback brodhisattva 🙏

[@TheSandurz20]

The big bang theory is NOT a theory of where the universe came from, its a theory of the earliest moments of the universe we can extrapolate backwards. Its effectively the start of what we currently think we can know about the state of the universe.

[@ultimatemeaning]

absolutely so is the initial radiation the beginning or the big bang?

[@drezhb]

​@@ultimatemeaning The scientific answer to both "what was the beginning?" and "what happened before the big bang?" is "we don't know". The big bang was the furthest point we could trace back with evidence, beyond that we can't say anything for sure.

[@TheSandurz20]

@@ultimatemeaning we don't know if there even is a beginning! For now, the big bang is the earliest thing in the universe we know of. There is plenty of evidence that the big bang happened and very little evidence of anything before that, but that doesn't mean we haven't missed something. It could even be the case that there was something before the big bang but it is impossible for us to know about it.

[@AnomalousCanid]

​@@ultimatemeaning The radiation you're referring to is known as the Cosmic Microwave Background and the peaks and troughs (the variability you refer to when mentioning chaos theory) depict the earliest map of the universe we can chart (at least currently) via electromagnetism. Past this point the universe was opaque, so the map isn't of the Big Bang itself but of the distribution of freed protons at some point ~a half million years after the event. There are a lot of differing opinions explaining why the distribution of the CMBR is (or isn't) distributed evenly. On your part about causality and free will, there is also the understanding in physics that any given matter (energy) doesn't change course, per se, unless acted on by an outside force... hypothetically it would be possible to trace the spacetime path of any atom all the way back to the big bang, and forwards indefinitely as well, provided you knew the location of all other matter it would interact with at any given point in time. This is how we plot future orbits for stars, etc. It becomes computationally impossible to do at smaller scales, and quantum mechanics draws a question on the entire concept, but as far as relativity goes... it should work, even if it will never be possible. Anyway I mention this because even within physics it begs the question (even if it's never the outright focus) if free will is truly real, or if we and all other interactions are simply the causal continuations of countless atoms and electric signals reacting to the environment around them which was mathematically determined to be this way billions of years ago. Right now everyone just kind of accepts free will as being obvious though, so even if science points in the other direction, I don't think there will be any public shift on that notion any time in the next few hundreds years (if we make it there lol).

[@AnnDrogyne]

When people say to me "Who created the Universe?". I respond, "Who created God?". And you'll get the answer that God has been around forever. To which I say, "Which is as illogical as saying the Universe came from nothing. So, it's a draw!"

[@gary36104]

Well get your head around this where does space start and end and if it ends just over there then what’s on the other side

[@simovihinen875]

It's a draw, except we experience the universe (call it that or call it mind), but god? It seems evidence of god boils down, at best, to some feeling. Especially a Christian-style god, which is actively opposed by the evidence in the natural world! Unless you ascribe traits to god that make it impossible to test whether it exists or not, it doesn't seem likely. At any rate, doesn't seem necessary, and definitely seems psychological, with needy people more likely to believe in it. I've never seen this combination of god beliefs and Buddhism before. Can't say I'm a fan.

[@gary36104]

@@simovihinen875 I’m with you always doubt but paranormal and pyramids just don’t happen by chance

[@amalksuresh2538]

​@@gary36104pyramids mystery been resolved

[@ultimatemeaning]

There are definitely issues with an eternalist view. 🙏

[@louisj2256]

I think your voice radiates stern compassion, like a good teacher or a strict yet loving father.

[@ultimatemeaning]

😊

[@miguelangelous]

“As a spiritual practitioner it’s your responsibility… you have to do your best not to add to the negativity; not to put more fuel on fire. It is our own negativity that shapes the world and we all contribute to this.” ~ Lama Choga

[@ultimatemeaning]

You are quoting me again Miguel. It kind of makes me feel like a dead person! ⚰☠ jj 😆🤣😆

[@miguelangelous]

@@ultimatemeaning you’ll always be truly alive for me beloved Lama Choga. Now I can’t deny your existence and I’m grateful 🙏🏼

[@michaelrainbow4203]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I love what you are communicating. Your words come from a place of humility, simplicity, compassion. My heart responds. I think what we really crave, what we want more than anything (and are mostly oblivious to it), is responsibility. Accountability. Many people spend so much time watching movies or reading stories about protagonists who (taking a common story arc) transform from irresponsible deadbeats into heroes who take full responsibility for their actions and the path they follow. I think we want that in our own lives, more than anything.

[@ultimatemeaning]

And I am glad you are part of the conversation and have the courage to share your inner most feelings. Thank you Michael ♥♥♥

[@Garage_Tolkien]

I agree michael I've thought this myself before about the protagonist story archs being so popular in stories yet so absent in the world. And as much as people often become influenced by media, the heroes journey seems absent. But I look at how much change I've gone through from my 20s into my 40s where I am now, and It leads me to believe 2 things. One is that the individual journey towards humility, accountability, valuing truth, having respect for others, etc,etc is played out in slow motion over decades of a persons life, obviously, But We see someone and judge them as they are now. The second thing plays off of the first, and that is that because of this slow growth curve, it's the older people that are more likely to have a better grasp on things because they've had longer to work through their human experience. To the youth that often means 'old fart' or 'boomer' and any useful life advice is so often discarded and rebelled against in search of what they beleive as the better way. So society ends up going on a ride in a sort of negative feedback loop like a snake eating its own tail. you'll remember though, there was once a time when people respected their elders and said things like 'gee willikers dad, thats swell!' The thing is This journey society goes on also plays out in slow motion, and its story arch plays out and repeats like an ebb & flow or a pendulum swing. I geuss what I'm saying is that things will probably get alot worse before they get better, they certainly did in prevous stories past, but sooner or later The Tide will change. I'm also glad I found this channel because the current chapter of my life's story is crossing paths with the current chapter of society's story. For better or worse, lol

[@usarmyveteran177]

Take all your suffering- sorrows, pains, losses, fears, misery and the miseries of the world, and use them. They’re all vehicles for awakening. Each birth is precious and useful, a gift and a blessing. ~Ram Dass

[@mr.robertsmain]

Really cool videos, I'm Christian but I can still agree with you on a lot of points. Different religions but I still respect your position in a lot of stuff, it is a breath of fresh air hearing someone talk about something without coming off as completely ignorant.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Hello Christian brother! Jesus is awesome ♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏

[@mr.robertsmain]

@@ultimatemeaning Thanks man, I'm happy you still appreciate Jesus thank you ❤

[@friedrichfreigeist3292]

To be fair: The Universe does not owe anyone to be understandable. Respectufully, I want to comment the following. "Where the hell did everything come from" begs the question, that everything needs to come frome something. I, personally, never understood why an infinite regress should be a problem. Math teaches us, that even infinite things can converge to a finite value, for example the geometric series. Or maybe the universe just exists, but it changes its shape. The conservation laws of thermodynamics come to mind. Another problem I do not understand is, why the "laws of the universe" have to come from somewhere. First of all, these "laws" are just human descriptions of certain regularities we see and we notice. Second, maybe the fundamental laws and constants, as we observe them, just could not have been otherwise. So asking why they are the way they are might be asking the wrong question. These are just a few possible solutions out of many, that might or might not not be true. I just honestly dont know what model of cosmology is true. And I'd like to use Okhams Razor: If the model has unaccounted parameters (like god) we might want to use another model, with less parameters. Regarding determinis: Why should determinism lead to us not acting in self preservation? I mean, if the universe is deterministic, why should that lead to me not wanting to have a good life? A deterministic universe would have me programmed by nature to strive for a good and prosporous life, dispite me thinking that everything is predetermined. Even tho I personally think that procreation just leads to more suffering. I truly think, that if we accept determinism, we can be more passionate human beings. Just think about people with a dissability in reading and writing. Back in the days we thought such people are stupid, and needed more discipline. Today we know: They arent responsible for their illness and maybe they just need a bit of help. I would love to live in a world, where people arent punished just for the sake of punishment. I think this is true compassion for other human beings. I mean what would it mean for our actions to be free? Either, I have a reason for my acting. Then this would imply a chain of causality. Which is deterministic, according to my understanding of nature. Or I dont have a reason, but then my acting would be random. I wouldnt say that random behaviour is free. One thing I want to add: You spoke of Chaos. Chaos means deterministic. If you swing a double pendulum, the initial conditions 100% determine how the movment will evolve over time. This is one of Newtons great insights. Chaos just means: Small pertubations in initial conditions make it incredibly difficult to unlikely or impossible for us to get the right trajectory. But the system still is deterministic, even if we cant calculate it in a right way. I respect your kind view and you definetly speek truth, that suffering can be impacted by once view of the world. Especially when it comes to ones desires. I just wanted to share my views with you, as a scientist in training.

[@ultimatemeaning]

"that everything needs to come from something"This is a key point in the MAdhyamaka (higher levels of Buddhism" where the question "where the hell did everything come from?" is seen to be non se·qui·tur

[@omfgacceptmyname]

the idea that one is predetermined to ask for the proverbial dollar one was shortchanged back is valid. ive chosen to conceptualize free will as a kind of placebo, akin to aligning one's intention, and irrespective of a belief in determinism. i feel an answer to the idea of infinite rebirths is that liberation from samsara is unattainable or moot, but that 'positively' aligning one's intention in the present creates indeterminably knowable 'good' causality in the future.

[@discordlexia2429]

@@omfgacceptmyname I've never understood seeing Samsara as a bad thing. Not when the alternative is oblivion. My problem is that I don't believe in it at all.

[@irianscott1062]

Straight talking. No sophistry designed to appeal to egos and agendas. Thank you.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Oh thank you Scott, not sure I am deserving, but I appreciate your support none the less! 😊

[@jhhjyjkkkjgfjjk]

Very clear dharma lecture. Much like how the Buddha taught - direct to the point, supported by real-life examples as expedient means. Thank you for this. Namo Buddhaya 🙏

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you for participating my friend! 🙏🙏🙏

[@I_scribbles]

I love the example, I dont recalled in what year, but in NY 6,000 people meditated on peace and in that day, crime rates and terrorism fell by 72% Let that sink in folks. Imagine what we can do together if we were allowed to unite instead of being played against each other in this War of the Mind. In the age of technology and information the Mind is a battle field. It is easy to manipulate someone, first one has to enter the emotions, and once the emotional gate is open, the mind can easily be influenced. Being centered will help, it offers some protection, but real gnosis of truth leaves no doubt no waiver.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Yeah, great and there was the transcendental conference in Washington D.C. the local police chief wrote them a thank you note! Thank you for sharing that friend♥♥♥

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

Correlation does not imply causation.

[@I_scribbles]

@@ominous-omnipresent-they it wasn't a correlation. Or a coink-I-dink

[@LifeIsThePrayer]

Turns out that was manipulated data. Just like the cherry picked photos used in Massaro Emoto’s Secret Life of Water research.

[@I_scribbles]

@@LifeIsThePrayer yet his work has been replicated several times.

[@BrianG3515]

These words ring true. Test them for yourself and discover it for yourself. Thank you, brother for your insights and wisdom. ☮️❤️

[@ultimatemeaning]

♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏

[@ShrikeofCrows]

Your description of karma is very well put. People assume to be spiritual you must believe in the supernatural, but that's not quite the case. Karma is real, whether you ascribe supernatural cause or not is irrelevant. I'm so glad I found this channel! I've always had an intrest in Buddhist teachings, and you make them very digestible, bless you 🙏 Edit: chaos theory in mathematics is foundational to my own spiritual beliefs, there's an old video called "the relationship between chaos, fractals and physics" that I adore.

[@ultimatemeaning]

I appreciate you insight friend, so many don't get this point, and believe in random luck ♥♥♥

[@MalkuthEmperor]

2:55 this part is so funny because the last few times i got short changed, i thought Well, i dont really feel bad about it, its not that much money anyway, so why make the cashier feel uncomfortable for doing something they didnt even mean to do in the first place, and then why make myself uncomfortable knowing that ive made this person feel awkward for no good reason, so i leave it becoming okay with losing money has been one of the most liberating experiences in my life. im not saying i go out of my way to do it, and im not rich by any means, i live bellow the minimum wage in my country, which is already a bit too low for most people, but rather then feeling bad for this lack, rather then what i used to feel, which was worthlessness and guilt at the "loss of my own potential" as i called it then- now i have for the most part accepted this and this has allowed me to be able to focus on the things i love doing, and i really think for me, that's the point in life. I used to think that if i had money that i would be able only then to do the things i love, but really now i realise this was only an excuse, a way to distract myself from the things i loved, in some part out of fear of failing at those things, but really- ever since this mindset has become engrained in my way of perceiving life, i realized that the mere act of allowing myself to try doing what i love, will in of itself create the necessary preconditions for me to become reasonably educated in what i love doing, like philosophy, art, sociology. By doing them, i mean learning them and just using creativity to try to make new ideas or connections between them

[@ultimatemeaning]

Here's a question "If they undercharge you do you make a fuss about it?"

[@LonelyParadiseKiss]

Really enjoyed this one, I like how you use examples us lay people can understand and how they link to Buddhist teachings. It makes it really engaging. I just decided to start my journey with Buddhism and trying to find the right books and media to look at has been hard so I'm really glad KZbin recommended your channel! :)

[@ultimatemeaning]

So glad my efforts could be of some use to you, THB it makes it easier to stay motivated 🙏🙏🙏

[@donellacurley4941]

Was so happy to see you put up another video, snippets of wisdom! Thank you Llama Choga!

[@ultimatemeaning]

You are too kind donella. Nice to hear from you again! ❤💛💙

[@donellacurley4941]

@@ultimatemeaning 🌻

[@S3RAVA3LM]

You're the man! I have been devoted to many teachings and books, particularly Shakyamuni Buddha and the nikayas, but i didn't go out looking for a Buddha teacher because it's a mess as much as christianity today is - however I do know of a few most excellent and erudite teachers regarding the bible....I'm elated to have found this man and teacher. Thx you for committing yourself to youtube videos so many can reach for your teachings.

[@bodhicitta3jewels]

Agreed, friend! We have the good karma to have a wonderful teacher! No praise intended to Lama Choga, just saying it like it is!!❤

[@TheKing-qu8cm]

​@@bodhicitta3jewels higher powers make parts of universe , each parts of universe has specific creator he and his subordinates use creativity , and he has certain age, for humans it's certain aeons , the creator after his time he gets emancipation. And another creator get into his place and so on so on , it's continuous process ,

[@janwag6856]

@@S3RAVA3LM Lama Choga is well versed in the teachings of the Buddha Dharma. He experiences our present mundane world like we do. His remedy for the absurdity of life is to frame these experiences from a dharma perspective. He is worth listening to with an open mind. 🙏💫

[@TsnDvn]

How is Christianity a mess? Do you know the difference between truth and a heresy?

[@ultimatemeaning]

Well it is risky but I thought I'd give it a try as the potential to contact sincere practitioners is promising! please to meet you friend

[@C_Owl]

Thank you for relating your teachings with modern examples, I enjoy your channel and this video in particular.

[@ultimatemeaning]

♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏

[@MiserableAmerica]

You are so well spoken. This video has helped me greatly.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks friend that make it feel worthwhile 🙏🙏🙏

[@bodhicitta3jewels]

Lama la, I've often thought that the original "weapons of mass destruction" are our negative emotions and a mind that chooses to cause harm to serve its own interests. That's why the altruistic mind is such an amazing gift to sentient beings. Thank you for this precious Dharma teaching!❤

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you for your wonderful thoughts 🙏🙏🙏

[@BeALiteU2urself]

@@bodhicitta3jewels don't be afraid of destruction. There can be no construction without it. Anyways nothing is being destroyed.

[@janwag6856]

“We are responsible for our own delusions.” Lama Choga. Center, breathe, generate boddhicitta, rest there. Contemplate. Stop. Think. Act. Review … 2nd grade wisdom. 🙏🦋❤

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you Jan! ♥♥♥

[@TikuVsTaku]

Free will is an illusion. ✌️

[@raykeller6693]

@@TikuVsTakufree will is the background base, of the Soular System. Individually, It is a spiritual “stem cell”. Consider the birds and how they love to be free. A caged bird, has lost its free will. Free-will is our spiritual essence, with which one decides to discipline the weak-willed self and get on the path of ego mastery!

[@uncleurda8101]

@@TikuVsTaku People think "illusion" as meaning the subject at hand is actually opposite. What people don't consider is that an illusion doesn't make something ultimately false, it just means we are not perceiving it in its ultimate truth.

[@colt4505]

I disagree. I think it's more nuanced than that. If someone is self-aware of ones own delusions, then they are responsible for them. If someone is unaware of their delusions, and they are being deceived, manipulated, or otherwise influenced into a delusional state, then they are not responsible for their own delusions.

[@JohnLovell-q9p]

Where did the god come from? Who made the god?

[@acidicalportal4418]

The Beginning of the Universe is honestly one of the most fascinating things I have studied, and I like how you insight echoes these certain theories of cosmology. When the Universe was in it's pre-phase in the singularity, everything was infinitely dense, with infinite potential, no structure, and infinite mass, hence, time essentially had an undefined value that we could think of as infinite. This creates a paradox that the Universe was both eternal and finite and had come into existence once a certain quantum state was reached. This idea suggests that time it's self is a natural law and property of existence on an extremely fundamental level brought into broader existence with the formation of our reality, as once the Universe begun to expand everything arranged itself from the smallest levels to the largest gradually. The name "the singularity" is super misleading coined by scientists because it suggests a certain point at which everything is, ,but the singularity was rather everything was expanding away from each other everywhere in the Universe at which at one point all things were "infinitely close", in essence it's like reality has a more fundamental tier of existence that almost was arranged in a way to create perfect conditions for existence. I really like that you acknowledge and address the greatest human impulse of our spirit, that when we can't understand things we must convince ourselves of things that nobody could ever know. The cause and condition of Karma as you mentioned is a manifestation of these conditions for existence itself.

[@howarddewing6617]

My current understanding is that the law of the universe did not exist "before" the big bang. "Before" the big bang, there was no space, and therefore, no time. The universe was a spaceless, timeless nothing without form or direction. With the big bang cane space and time, as well as light. The light was so dense that it formed tiny particles, but it was too hot for the particles to fuse. Once the universe had cooled enough, the particles formed matter, the matter formed stars, and the stars died and formed planets.

[@ultimatemeaning]

so were the laws of the Universe created during the big bang? and if so why these particular laws? Without any perturbation is the current variation then random?♥♥♥

[@lordsiergiej9685]

​@@ultimatemeaningwe most likely have no way of finding out how, why and where those laws "come from" It's like asking what was our opinion on burrito before being born or even conceived. The question is loaded and thus nonsense.

[@tyamada21]

A segment from 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within'... My new understandings of what many call 'God -The Holy Spirit' - resulting from some of the extraordinary ongoing after-effects relating to my NDE... Myoho-Renge-Kyo (Lotus Sutra) represents the identity of what some scientists are now referring to as the unified field of consciousnesses. In other words, it’s the essence of all existence and non-existence - the ultimate creative force behind planets, stars, nebulae, people, animals, trees, fish, birds, and all phenomena, manifest or latent. All matter and intelligence are simply waves or ripples manifesting to and from this core source. Consciousness (enlightenment) is itself the actual creator of everything that exists now, ever existed in the past, or will exist in the future - right down to the minutest particles of dust - each being an individual ripple or wave. The big difference between chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo and most other conventional prayers is that instead of depending on a ‘middleman’ to connect us to our state of inner enlightenment, we’re able to do it ourselves. That’s because chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo allows us to tap directly into our enlightened state by way of this self-produced sound vibration. ‘Who or What Is God?’ If we compare the concept of God being a separate entity that is forever watching down on us, to the teachings of Nichiren, it makes more sense to me that the true omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of what most people perceive to be God, is the fantastic state of enlightenment that exists within each of us. Some say that God is an entity that’s beyond physical matter - I think that the vast amount of information continuously being conveyed via electromagnetic waves in today’s world gives us proof of how an invisible state of God could indeed exist. For example, it’s now widely known that specific data relayed by way of electromagnetic waves has the potential to help bring about extraordinary and powerful effects - including an instant global awareness of something or a mass emotional reaction. It’s also common knowledge that these invisible waves can easily be used to detonate a bomb or to enable NASA to control the movements of a robot as far away as the Moon or Mars - none of which is possible without a receiver to decode the information that’s being transmitted. Without the receiver, the data would remain impotent. In a very similar way, we need to have our own ‘receiver’ switched on so that we can activate a clear and precise understanding of our own life, all other life and what everything else in existence is. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day helps us to achieve this because it allows us to reach the core of our enlightenment and keep it switched on. That’s because Myoho-Renge-Kyo represents the identity of what scientists now refer to as the unified field of consciousnesses. To break it down - Myoho represents the Law of manifestation and latency (Nature) and consists of two alternating states. For example, the state of Myo is where everything in life that’s not obvious to us exists - including our stored memories when we’re not thinking about them - our hidden potential and inner emotions whenever they’re dormant - our desires, our fears, our wisdom, happiness, karma - and more importantly, our enlightenment. The other state, ho, is where everything in Life exists whenever it becomes evident to us, such as when a thought pops up from within our memory - whenever we experience or express our emotions - or whenever a good or bad cause manifests as an effect from our karma. When anything becomes apparent, it merely means that it’s come out of the state of Myo (dormancy/latency) and into a state of ho (manifestation). It’s the difference between consciousness and unconsciousness, being awake or asleep, or knowing and not knowing. The second law - Renge - Ren meaning cause and ge meaning effect, governs and controls the functions of Myoho - these two laws of Myoho and Renge, not only function together simultaneously but also underlies all spiritual and physical existence. The final and third part of the tri-combination - Kyo, is the Law that allows Myoho to integrate with Renge - or vice versa. It’s the great, invisible thread of energy that fuses and connects all Life and matter - as well as the past, present and future. It’s also sometimes termed the Universal Law of Communication - perhaps it could even be compared with the string theory that many scientists now suspect exists. Just as the cells in our body, our thoughts, feelings and everything else is continually fluctuating within us - all that exists in the world around us and beyond is also in a constant state of flux - constantly controlled by these three fundamental laws. In fact, more things are going back and forth between the two states of Myo and ho in a single moment than it would ever be possible to calculate or describe. And it doesn’t matter how big or small, famous or trivial anything or anyone may appear to be, everything that’s ever existed in the past, exists now or will exist in the future, exists only because of the workings of the Laws ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ - the basis of the four fundamental forces, and if they didn’t function, neither we nor anything else could go on existing. That’s because all forms of existence, including the seasons, day, night, birth, death and so on, are moving forward in an ongoing flow of continuation - rhythmically reverting back and forth between the two fundamental states of Myo and ho in absolute accordance with Renge - and by way of Kyo. Even stars are dying and being reborn under the workings of what the combination ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ represents. Nam, or Namu - which mean the same thing, are vibrational passwords or keys that allow us to reach deep into our life and fuse with or become one with ‘Myoho-Renge-Kyo’. On a more personal level, nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence, it’s the causes that we’ve made in our past, or are presently making, that determine how these laws function uniquely in each of our lives - as well as the environment from moment to moment. By facing east, in harmony with the direction that the Earth is spinning, and chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for a minimum of, let’s say, ten minutes daily to start with, any of us can experience actual proof of its positive effects in our lives - even if it only makes us feel good on the inside, there will be a definite positive effect. That’s because we’re able to pierce through the thickest layers of our karma and activate our inherent Buddha Nature (our enlightened state). By so doing, we’re then able to bring forth the wisdom and good fortune that we need to challenge, overcome and change our adverse circumstances - turn them into positive ones - or manifest and gain even greater fulfilment in our daily lives from our accumulated good karma. This also allows us to bring forth the wisdom that can free us from the ignorance and stupidity that’s preventing us from accepting and being proud of the person that we indeed are - regardless of our race, colour, gender or sexuality. We’re also able to see and understand our circumstances and the environment far more clearly, as well as attract and connect with any needed external beneficial forces and situations. As I’ve already mentioned, everything is subject to the law of Cause and Effect - the ‘actual-proof-strength’ resulting from chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo always depends on our determination, sincerity and dedication. For example, the levels of difference could be compared to making a sound on a piano, creating a melody, producing a great song, and so on. Something else that’s very important to always respect and acknowledge is that the Law (or if you prefer God) is in everyone and everything. NB: There are frightening and disturbing sounds, and there are tranquil and relaxing sounds. It’s the emotional result of any noise or sound that can trigger off a mood or even instantly change one. When chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo each day, we are producing a sound vibration that’s the password to our true inner-self - this soon becomes apparent when you start reassessing your views on various things - such as your fears and desires etc. The best way to get the desired result when chanting is not to view things conventionally - rather than reaching out to an external source, we need to reach into our own lives and bring our needs and desires to fruition from within - including the good fortune and strength to achieve any help that we may need. Chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo also reaches out externally and draws us towards, or draws towards us, what we need to make us happy from our environment. For example, it helps us to be in the right place at the right time - to make better choices and decisions and so forth. We need to think of it as a seed within us that we’re watering and bringing sunshine to for it to grow, blossom and bring forth fruit or flowers. It’s also important to understand that everything we need in life, including the answer to every question and the potential to achieve every dream, already exists within us.

[@ultimatemeaning]

♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏 Thanks for sharing your story friend ♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏

[@SkavenClan2Toes]

Nobody knows, that is the is the most accurate answer.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks Wizzie, that is a very honest answer that many are afraid to admit🙏🙏🙏

[@bodhicitta3jewels]

BINGO! "Wink, we have a winner!"

[@Stringbandmama]

Beautifully said. :)

[@ultimatemeaning]

You are kind ♥♥♥

[@wolverwolf108]

16th Karmapa Dream Flag hanging in the background… My kind of teacher 🙏

[@ultimatemeaning]

🙏🙏🙏

[@krobbins8395]

I follow many teachings including Buddha and Tara. I begin to think of it as the mental, emotional and physical body as the cause of suffering expressed through karma, trauma and ama. Karma is a action that create trauma and ama. Someone hits or hurts someone it causes trauma so they hit them back most often or you eat certain foods that create disease that causes suffering and ama. Keeping people in a fight or flight mode response creates trauma to mind, emotions and body. It's tough in the world at this point to stay in a peaceful mind and always take the right actions.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks for sharing that. Also there are four classes of karma, positive, negative, neutral, and immovable karma. Not all karma causes conflict 🙏🙏🙏

[@ՆաթանիելՄաշ]

We can choose not to suffer so hard. Like fire up a joint if you feeling bad. It's hard but I believe we can transcend suffering somewhat.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Well we know there are good times, bad times and "uh whatever "times. Please to meet you friend

[@ՆաթանիելՄաշ]

@@ultimatemeaning blessings

[@Da_Xman]

Fantastic presentation. Wish I could put all thst together! ✨🌈♥️✨

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks for the kind words friend♥♥♥

[@morris-00]

Lord Garmadon is the Master of Destruction, as well as the ninja's archenemy-turned-ally and former mentor. He is the First Spinjitzu Master's firstborn son, Wu's older brother, Misako's husband, and Lloyd's father. Garmadon grew up learning the art of the ninja alongside his brother. As a child, Garmadon was bitten by the Great Devourer and infected with evil, which led him down a darker path through which he would be continually tempted during his time as one of Ninjago's heroes. Around the time of the Serpentine War, Chen had Garmadon sign Wu's love letter for Misako, leading her to choose Garmadon. Misako had a son named Lloyd, whom he cared for deeply despite his corrupted soul. Ultimately, he lost himself to the venom's influence and became an evil warlord, banished to the Underworld after a climactic battle with Wu.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Sounds like a great RPG! Where can I play? ♥♥♥

[@morris-00]

@@ultimatemeaning It's the great story of Ninjago ❤❤❤

[@Waxican]

"The Tao is like a well: used but never used up. It is like the eternal void: filled with infinite possibilities. It is hidden but always present. I don't know who gave birth to it. It is older than God." - Translated by Stephen Mitchell, 1988, Chapter 4 of the Tao Te Ching Reality is the cosmic dance of god and creation, heaven and earth. Is simply is, governed by the pillar of change. God is not one with creation, but connected, unity-in-distinction.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Interesting, thank you for sharing that. It seems that Buddhism really does have a different take on reality when compared to all other paths 🙏🙏🙏

[@DhammaTroll]

Ginnungagap, the ethernal chaos of Norse mythology.

[@nordfreiheit]

I struggle with this contemplation often. On the one hand, I believe in the "Pure Act as First Cause" idea. "The Ineffable One" (a logical abstraction that neither exists nor does not exist) gives generation to duality, then to devas and forms, then to soul, then to the material world. Conversely, it seems the Buddhist doctrine is that there is no "Ineffable One" at all, that everything is conditioned, and nothing is unconditioned. So what, then, causes Karma? If everything is conditioned, what is the first condition? What exactly is experiencing ignorance and awakening?

[@metwig2369]

you are a very wise teacher, i have only seen three videos of your so far but intend to watch more. I say this as a Christian as well. I think that i will learn much from this channel.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Jesus is awesome friend, pleased to have you along for the ride🙏🙏🙏

[@EricHanefi]

"It is not enough to know. Teach. Only once others have come to see the truth of this knowledge for themselves does it becomes their own personal mental karma."

[@ultimatemeaning]

Strictly the truth cannot be taught only the path 🙏🙏🙏

[@codydagg2259]

I just had a conversation with my grandmother about this. The idea of karma or 'retribution' as she calls it. She commented that the way she behaved and thought in the past has caused her suffering in the present. I don't agree with the term she used but I do see the correlation in what you spoke about in this video. Karma being what occurs after an action has taken place and to become made manifest down the line, however short or long that may take.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks for sharing that Cody! ♥♥♥

[@STRIDER185]

Nice, i don't know how to explain it but it seems right to me. Im Catholic raised but im looking forward to learning more about this stuff. Thank you 👍

[@ultimatemeaning]

🙏🙏🙏

[@DennisMC1974]

I Really Enjoy Your Channel And Videos Thanks My New Teacher 🌟🙏🖤

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you so much Dennis! ♥♥♥

[@AscendingGuru]

Some of us have a bone to pick with Buddhism, because we kinda really need that nirvana power as soon as possible. Sidartha used 6 years in asceticism that he considered a waste, then did 1 year doing a middle way, attaining nirvana. These days people in monastery can waste 40 years without even getting it.

[@ultimatemeaning]

It was attained in one sitting in one evening. But preceded by 3 incalculable eons 🙏🙏🙏

[@jan-olofmallander9622]

Through some kind of coincidence I found this at the close of Saka Dawa duchen day, On my part, I thought it unusually invigorating. ,very much appreciating the urgency and authenticity - rare combination in these circumstances . As i did not quite get it, all of it,or the essence of it, I will return to this talk ,with keen interest. Thank You . Karma chöchung tashi lamas talking

[@ultimatemeaning]

Hi Jan, as they say there is no such as coincidence. Tashi Delek ChoChung Tashi la

[@vadimuha]

There couldn't be anything before creation of our universe simply because time didn't exist then

[@SARASTANLEY-dg2wu]

🔥 I am in the mind and the mind is in me 🙏🏻 thank you Lama Choga 🙏🏻

[@ChuShinTani]

If a character in a story gets short changed, and the character argues with the cashier, then gets the refund, did the character change their destiny? If you're only looking at the character and don't realize that a story is being told you would say "yes, the character changed their destiny". However if you understand stories, you know that it's the author of the story that changed the characters destiny. Does the character know that the author is the person who controls their destiny- no, not unless the author wants them to do so. We all play out the roles we were born to play out, doing the things that we do- but we are not the ones that actually change anything- it's the author who constructed all of this. In our case the author is the universe. This is not to say we are without responsibility- we have the responsibility to be the characters we are- or course we can't be anything but the characters we are- whether that is energetic or apathetic.

[@埊]

so it 就 means that the current writter is 13Billions years old, but before that, there was nothingness: the book has just been set and no one wrote anything here for the aeons of years, then someone stumbled upon the book, with ink and brush, and wrote his words here, like a diary

[@ChuShinTani]

@@埊 it just means that there is something here, happening, that could happen no other way. The 13 billion years and nothingness part are just guesses.

[@MichaelWMay]

This is a well thought argument. I must contemplate it. Thank you.

[@Stephpuro]

I believe more the question of where the universe came from or what came before that is irrelevant to us on our mortal path, it is what is and the real question is "what are you going to do/feel/experience in this moment that we call "now" "

[@ultimatemeaning]

Strictly speaking we don't need to know where the universe came from but it is good food for thought 🙏🙏🙏

[@georgeadams5835]

Kia ora, I really enjoyed your video! I've been exploring Christianity recently and the thing I've found most challenging is people trying to invalidate my Buddhist beliefs in favour of their own. I noticed in myself a tendency to do the same, and I notice quite frequently in most religious circles, and I noticed (to a small amount) in your video. I find this hard to reconcile. I believe my beliefs to be true! Otherwise I wouldn't believe them. But I also can see that it is not helpful at all to push them onto people. What are your opinions on this?

[@ultimatemeaning]

Ultimately we do not need validation rather cetainty ♥♥♥

[@robertkneisel1360]

Thanks. I do see the truth in your words. Testing truth is what I feel I have been doing with what I have been calling my spiritual practice. But, it feels so tangled up in other things. Like I have been trying to do too many things at once. I do a lot of contemplating. Compulsively even, which does not feel like a good thing. I really don't worry too much that I will get stuck on a particular teacher, or belief offered to me from another source, or seemingly other, as the case may be. I am diagnosed as being Bi-Polar, and, I do believe that what is being described by that word is something that I suffer from, but, I also struggle to accept the way it is looked at through the lens of modern psychiatric medicine. It is obviously part of my path, it has caused me great suffering and loss. But, it has also given me the experience of feeling terribly low; and not giving in to the desire to escape this life, and very very high, when in a manic space, feeling so certain of some truly bizarre beliefs, which in the episode I take much too literally, but when I am once again in a more balanced state, I see that it was my own understanding and comprehension that was flawed, that what truth lies in these "insane" or unfounded ideas is not very literal at all. And, it is true that the cycle of suffering and bliss that is my experience from my perspective of this disorder has in many ways shown me what beliefs and ideas from any source, my own mind, a book, a teacher, divine inspiration even have wisdom and truth to them. All that being said, I do feel like my disorder has in many ways made my life ridiculously difficult. And, I don't feel able to continue to try to manage it in the world as it is alone, which is where I find myself after my most recent episode. And so, I am trying to find assistance in how to deal with it, and the only game in town it often seems is to go back to the psychiatric medicine, which I am struggling to accept, but feel I must. It does occur to me, that both things can be true, that for me and what I exist for, I needed the experience, and that now that I no longer feel like I have more to gain from it in the way I have interacted with it over the last 10 or so years (in college when I first had any sort of manic episode) and how it has torn down most of not all of my attachments to other people. I am setting my intention on going through with whatever it takes to get it under control. Anyway, that was a little off topic, and this is very poorly written. My point I suppose, is that I do believe we have the same goal of desiring to bring about awakening, enlightenment, whatever word fits for you to everyone I can, and, I appreciate that it is not your desire to convert me, as, I also feel no desire to convince you of anything, and, I seek to be tolerant of all beliefs, held honestly from a good practice. This is so easy, when that sense of honest intention is felt, but so hard when I feel uncertain of the intentions of another, or I feel they are in bad faith. How to deal with someone like this... I must continue to work on not rising to conflict when another does not want to share the space of belief to also seek greater truth and understanding. I myself am guilty of this, often, in my younger days without even seeing it, mostly only during the 7-10 days I am manic on average per year, but I often still manage to mishandle things so spectacularly during those times that I often find myself without friends, family, work, a home, or some combination of these things. And, it is not as though I become violent physically or anything like that, I do not think I could have continued to try to manage it without medical intervention after the first couple years of trying it the way the doctor suggested, with pills and therapy if I physically hurt another during those times. But, I realize that I both feel like I have attained that what I seek, and that my egoic "false" identity feels completely in control during those times, without being able to realize it in those terms. I am usually a very empathetic person, I do care about the feelings of others, but in that state, I seemingly am disconnected from this, and I say whatever I think or feel like I believe in the moment, and, I do act erratically, moving from one thing to the next, seeking solace while believing I have contentment when I am not at all peaceful in my thoughts... Anyway, thanks, if anyone reads this. I would love to have anyone to talk more to about any of it. I am in the process of trying to get back into therapy and medication, wish me luck. Maybe after some time with it, this time, I might feel right with my own experience enough to come to something like your retreat. I hope so. Thanks again.

[@ultimatemeaning]

"I have been trying to do too many things at once." This is a major issue on the path. There is a saying in Tibet "The Tibetans practice 100 deities and never come to understand one, whereas the Indians practice one and come to understand them all" This encompasses is the meaning of the mahamudra

[@robertkneisel1360]

@@ultimatemeaning yes, it is not uncommon for me to try to do too many things and yet not get even the basic things done adequately. Probably a sign to simplify my own thinking about my life, in turn giving myself fewer things to concern myself with. Easier said than done unfortunately. I have often thought of how addiction is something more than chemical dependence. I believe that all clinging, all attachment all coping mechanism are to some extent addictions. In my personal life, I have a lot of actions I take purely to feel able to continue forward in life. Arguably, even writing comments on KZbin videos would be this. Lol. I feel more comfortable during the time I am crafting sentences discussing the larger issues of philosophy and spirituality. It is more comfortable than simply being in my life. It does, sometimes bleed over into my life however, these communications help inform me of the ways in which I am missing the point of existence. I believe this to be the origin of the concept of sin, actually. It is why examining our sins, our missing the point of the existence we are living, of using our time in ways that do not lead to where we want to be, seems so useful to me I suppose.

[@hawkkim1974]

Events happen. Deeds are done. There is no individual thereof. - Buddha -

[@ultimatemeaning]

The individual it that which carries the aggregates -Buddha-

[@evolutiondenier]

I'm only a few minutes in but am enjoying this discussion so far! I am an atheist and I hold the idea of causal/hard determinism as an empirically corroborated principle. However, I just think hard determinists are pretty miserable people, and so whilst I deem it true I do not believe in it because otherwise it leads to a pit of existential horrors. I haven't seen what the rest of the video discusses, but I do think there is some defensibility for this kind of differentiation between what one accepts as true and what one selects to believe.

[@01FNG]

The world is in need of more Buddhism speech

[@mateoruales9120]

Aren’t the ideas of self, choice, good and bad ideas that arise from believing oneself to be separate from the whole? What is chaos and battle at one level is harmony and cohesion at another.

[@ultimatemeaning]

And do you personally have a choice to believe in non separation? ♥♥♥

[@sykopath4785]

from our toughts, we are that god

[@ultimatemeaning]

Sounds about right friend!!

[@mootytootyfrooty]

to give love and gratitude its more ultimate meaning is to become an image of a bodhisattva

[@edgychico9311]

Some people say that we were created by a humanoid aliens that is known as our old gods.

[@ultimatemeaning]

My friend believes the world is controlled by space alien lizards ♥♥♥

[@daveycrockett64]

I am interested in Buddhism and try to practice, but I no longer believe that free will exists. I make decisions and act as though it does exist, but intellectually cannot understand how it can, taking the line of Sam Harris. This doesn't change most of the lines of reasoning on Karma presented here, but I can't see how everything is not pre-determined.

[@daveycrockett64]

You do these things for many reasons, which are too complicated to fully analyse. Although everything is predetetermined, it is too complicated to predict, unless you take a large number of people or things and use statistics. You choose because you cannot help choosing or your choices. There is no puppetmaster just causality. On a practical level, I think one should forget about all this, because it cannot usefully inform any decision you make. Just carry on and don't worry. This is the best I have come up with so far.

[@daveycrockett64]

Of course at the quantum level things are not pre-determined, there is a degree of randomness, but freewill still can't affect outcomes because then they wouldn't be random.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Sorry I am not familiar with Sam Harris, but there are certainly major issues with predetermination.

[@acex222]

Pretend to choose to be pre-determined to reach liberation.

[@raykeller6693]

This is what I’ve realized! The vices are what politicians employ, 24/7, while virtues are cultivated by those who realize that cultivating virtue is what the yoga path is!

[@ultimatemeaning]

Yes and it is so dangerous, I hope others realise that all our problems arise out of negative emotions

[@Isakaadland]

I think if you believe in that everything is determined, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't act or change things. I just means that whatever you do, that is determined by previous causes as well.

[@ultimatemeaning]

So there is another factor in the Buddha Dharma and that is related to interdependence. So in order for a cause to ripen there needs to be conducive conditions (there are also un-harmonious conditions) This interdependent web appears more like a mandelbrot set with infinite bifurcations and a fractal nature. If that is deterministic then my understanding of determinism is flawed. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Isakaadland]

​@@ultimatemeaning Thanks for the response! I am not that familiar with some terminology that you used, but to clearify; I was just commenting on that you said that if you believe you have the power to change things (as the election for example), it means it is not determined. I meant that you can believe it is determined at the same time that you act in what way you think is best. Because whatever you do, it stems from previous causes. Even if the web of cause and effect is more multi-faceted like you explained, I don't see how it changes the fact that everything is determined. And even if reality may contain some un-deterministic factors, how is that connected to choice? Let's say you make a choice, wouldn't you also have to choose to make that choice and so on for infinity?

[@jon-michaellybrand192]

The way you teach is inspiring to me, what lineage did you receive teachings from?

[@ultimatemeaning]

Karma Kamsang (Marpa Kagyu)

[@jon-michaellybrand192]

​@@ultimatemeaning🙏🙏🙏

[@damnablethief]

I am happy that I came across this😊

[@aleixortizcanto3265]

Thank you very much for your insides, dear Lama. This time, I’ll share a differing perspective regarding the account of the idea of predestination. I think it’s not accurate to affirm that from the notion of predestination it derives the practical consequence of passivity; at least, it doesn’t derive from an adequate understanding of it. The very fact of the existence of such a notion as “tapas”, in the hindu tradition, or the existence of the spiritual path, in general, suggests it clearly. Neither necessity nor liberty can be negated, and I think there’s an image that permits to grasp the whole picture. Most of beings, conscientious or not, are moving along a circumference; that’s what we call “world” and it is, so to speak, the theater of action. Everything done in this circumference isn’t free, given the fact that any action is submitted to the law of karma. What might be called freedom consists not of the movements one does forward or backwards along the circumference, but on the vertical movement along the radii that point to the center, which are traversed by an infinite number of concentric circumferences with their own causality. Considering this, does or does not make sense to act on the world? If one concludes that he shouldn’t act, it is obvious that he is not scaping predestination by that choice. Predestination can’t be a reason for acting or restraining to act by the simple fact that any choice would be implied in it. So, if one is rigorous and recognizes properly his level of knowledge, he will act or avoid acting based on other considerations; it’s only by the concentration risen by acting and not acting in the proper time, not by considering a limited notion of predestination in his choices, that one being will achieve freedom and, eventually, arrive to the inexpressible center of the circle, where freedom and predestination coincide and disappear.

[@vincecallagher7636]

I have debilitating anxiety till I started meditating, now I suffer less.. simple.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you for sharing your story Vince that is really inspiring! 🙏🙏🙏

[@raykeller6693]

Excellent points of clarification. You are clearly ready to address the world. We must keep the memories of the Great Ones, alive! They have have had high and subtle truths, revealed to them! It’s up to us to pay attention. Thanx so much.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Who are the great ones BTW?

[@raykeller6693]

@@ultimatemeaning sorry. my reference is to all the self-realized and/or God-realized, dualists, who channelled the Ways to culture the beast, and gave deeper spiritual meaning to life and death. The One’s whose conceptions upset but up-levelled, civilization’s conscious level.

[@Not_PretendingTV]

Thankyou for the lesson🪷♥️

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thank you for watching Dad!

[@BeALiteU2urself]

Wearing ochre clothes, shaving ones head,adopting a different name and hankering after various concepts and philosophies following people will never bestow spiritualality.only karma can lead us somewhere

[@ultimatemeaning]

It is true that the outer aspects of monastic discipline can not by themselves lead to liberation but there is also a definite reason for these aspects that is discussed in detail in the Vinaya basket. Ultimately it is only infallible karma that will lead to liberation whereas worldly virtue and non virtue alone only lead to rebirth in the mundane world.

[@BeALiteU2urself]

@@ultimatemeaning Good 👍. Peace to you. My Saturn is in the ninth house. Such people never submit to a particular religion but often create their own. What's important is to tear the veil of illusion and go beyond it.

[@kevinlipps2817]

Essentially, the universe is a manifestation of God's being, as it reflects all of creation that originates from the Creator. Therefore, one could argue that the universe has existed eternally, just as God has. Nevertheless, the concept of God is highly ambiguous, causing the word to lose much of its meaning. However, this fundamental aspect of reality is the source of all that will be.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks for sharing that Kevin. In terms of the Buddha Dharma at least then the question is whether there is any substantially existent phenomena or not. And also one must ask "Can there be an uncreated creator?" The short answer (in terms of the Buddhist position) is that such a question doesn't make sense on the grounds of its own assumptions. 🙏🙏🙏

[@JungleJargon]

In physics matter and energy cannot make or direct themselves. So there was a time when matter and energy were made as well as time itself since time can’t exist without a great amount of matter. This means there was a time when time was made in the not too distant past. This shows that every physical thing is the result of the Creation. Only your Creator can perfectly cover for you Himself and remake you again from the inside out by the power of His true word as no one else ever can. This is the only absolute truth in existence.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks for that. How do we interpret the earliest times of the big bang when there is said to be only energy and no time?

[@JungleJargon]

@@ultimatemeaning That might be a problem. There is no measurable time without the formation of matter with mass.

[@ultimatemeaning]

@@JungleJargon "in physics matter and energy cannot make or direct themselves... This shows that every physical thing is the result of the Creation" in term s of the Buddha Dharma this logic is based on the assumption that matter and energy are substantially existent or have fixed identity. Similarly the idea that there is waveform collapse (or bifurcation) is based on the notion that conventional reality has taken on substantial existence or specific identity.So if this assumption was incorrect then there would be no need for creation as such. Therefore creation isn't proven in his manner only possible. So how do we determine if "something" is real or substantial? Well we need to investigate it, right? That's what we have been doing for centuries, at first with mortar and pestle and then recently by accelerating particles. So what are the results? Have we found substantial building blocks or finite constituents of matter and energy?

[@JungleJargon]

@@ultimatemeaning Every physical thing is made of energy. It’s bound up forces. It’s substantially existing considering it’s what you are made of. It’s what the earth is made of.

[@ultimatemeaning]

@@JungleJargon I've always wondered- What is energy?

[@Flammenhagel]

The critique you posed on the kind of static, fixed nature of Hindu determinism would actually be followed by a direct critique of Buddhism: If there is no soul, no self, what is it that is being reincarnated? If everything is empty, why is there anything? Other questions that hellenistic philosophers and early christian theologians posed against the gnostics apply here too; Buddhists are very much like Parmenides as well.

[@Ajooze]

A solace to my mind, as always

[@FloyDJode]

I think it's neat to see Buddhist perspective now and again.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Glad to be in your the picture friend♥♥♥

[@WoodstockG54]

“The one you are looking for, is the one who is looking”

[@ultimatemeaning]

As long as that isn't a solipsistic view then I haven't much to say about it, except this "How does this knowledge effect one's actions" ♥

[@WoodstockG54]

@@ultimatemeaning My actions are influenced by these two sayings. “Love one another. Without love, there is no lasting peace.” And “Why is the ocean greater than all the lakes, rivers, and streams? It is greater for it lies lower than them.” There’s a lot to say about keeping it simple.

[@ultimatemeaning]

​@@WoodstockG54 ♥🙏♥🙏♥🙏

[@strangecurrency]

“The Hindus teach that god is responsible for everything, and whether I experience happiness or suffering, it’s all down to god.” I thought hinduism was premised on karma, rebirth, samsara, and liberation from samsara (moksha) through one’s own volition and effort. This is the instruction I’ve encountered anyways, in the Vedanta tradition.

[@TheKing-qu8cm]

That knowledge came from unorthodox folks who are not religious , learn from real source , Hinduism says our actions responsible for all actions whether good or bad , planets or devas or angels as you can call them coordinate our results , those planets have their own specific structure on how to deliver , they have professional altitude they don't take pleasure or sadnnes in their duty they just follow karmic algorithm orders

[@ultimatemeaning]

Herein lies an inner contradiction in the Vedic presentation that I have not as of yet found and answer to, and that is "how can Karma work if God is responsible for creating the UNiverse and everything in it?" Also "how can there be free will exist in such a universe?" and this likewise a point of contention for Christian theologians who do not all agree.

[@strangecurrency]

@@ultimatemeaning I don't know enough about the Vedic presentation to answer that question. But Swami Sarvapriyanada is a legit Advaita Vedanta monastic who also has some training in Buddhism, and he offers some food for thought in several videos. I'll link one below. As for how free-will can exist in a universe created by an intelligent first principle, CS Lewis gives the Christian view here: “God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata -of creatures that worked like machines- would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they've got to be free. Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk. (...) If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will -that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings- then we may take it it is worth paying.” Swami Sarvapriyananda: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHK9gYqrZZ1no5Y

[@theodorebear6714]

You are a good man. *I wish more leaders thought like you.* I use different words, and I honestly don't like hinduism, but I fully agree that the action of the mind leads to speech and bodily action. I may already know the path even though I use different words. This video was good for me because I've been wondering how to influence the minds of others to prevent dangerous thoughts in the mind that lead to dangerous actions. That's not our responsibility, but we can influence others in a constructive way. You're more calm than I am but we probably realize the urgency of modern circumstances and so that makes me angry that people don't grow up. If I am more calm, I may be more convincing to others. No matter what, I respect the honesty and good will I noticed in this video. *Siddhartha for global Emperor 2024!!!* 🌞 ❤️

[@CoSelf]

I genuinely appreciate the video and what you shared. However, I don’t feel you answered the question in the video title. If you have time, please direct to more information on the source of creation from the Buddhist perspective. Thanks!

[@ultimatemeaning]

Hello friend, it is as stated. Apparent reality is created by our karma and because of this "reality" is 1. subjective", and 2. illusion-like. The Buddha taught that there is no substantial reality to be created and so the notion of a creator is essentially flawed. Having said that, there is a further question "Why is there something rather than nothing?" An answer for which can not be satisfactorily accommodated by religion or science. After years of contemplating this issue in retreat my conclusion is that the Middleway philosophy of the Buddha Dharma can. The problem is that we cling to our preconceptions about the ontological truth so strongly we can not accommodate this truth. Thanks for participating in the discussion 🙏🙏🙏

[@CoSelf]

@@ultimatemeaning Wonderful! Thanks you for the thoughtful response and going beyond my question. Best wishes

[@TycoVai]

If existence was always here there is no need for a creator.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Yes that is true and one possible solution, but it depends on how you define existence. Buddhism says that Samsara is without a beginning but there Samsara is seen as illusory and adventitious.

[@stephenowen5229]

Many thanks for this profound teaching and for sharing the precious dharma. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ultimatemeaning]

Thanks Steve!

[@obeb787]

So where did God come from? If we’re going to use the same logic fairly or why do you think there is a special exception to your belief?

[@ultimatemeaning]

I don't think there is a special exception to my belief or that of any one else, but what is contested in the BUddha Dharma isn't the origin of existence. What is contested is the nature of existence ♥♥♥

[@1littlebrainthatcould]

Dear sir, For me, the idea of Karma would indeed be easy to accept if it simply had to do with recognizable and uncontroversial causation--such as is exemplified by your examples involving persons in rooms and on buses and so on. Karma is difficult to buy, for me at least, because it seems to suggest that those who cause suffering are bound to suffer themselves (as a consequence of causing suffering), whether in this life or the next. There is then an extended version of Karma that includes a suggestion of necessary reciprocity--a law of return even. I suspect this is the sticking point for many. For instance, imagine a demented individual who enjoys hurting and murdering. Imagine further that this person lives out his whole life hurting and murdering and is never impeded or caught--he dies of old age happy for what he had done and without remorse. What about causation says this is impossible? Do we then have to believe in reincarnation to believe that this man's Karma will eventually catch up with him? I wonder if it is best for one such as me not to engage with this extended version of Karma since a more limited one suffices as a moral motivator and it is beyond my powers of perception and intellect to verify the extended one. Warm regards, T

[@ultimatemeaning]

Hello sir, whereas it appears that karma is such a force, what we understand from the Buddhist view from the mind only school and upwards is that subjective experience arises from habitual imprints in consciousness. So by that we understand there is no need for an impelling force that must span one life time to another, or likewise one world to another. Its just about conditioning.

[@opiter5787]

2:36 I think there might be a bit of a misunderstanding of what pre-destination (Or fate) is. Fate is not "I cannot do anything about this event", fate simply means that everything is ordered. If things are fated, that doesn't say anything about whether a person should or should not do what is good, of course people should always strive to do what is good, for example. Fate simply means that there is an order to all events, to the point where it can be predicted, often through divination. Of course, the theology/philosophy behind fate may differ greatly from tradition to tradition or belief-system to belief-system! I am speaking as someone mostly exposed to Hermeticism (A Graeco-Egyptian philosophy/religion) and Platonism.

[@ultimatemeaning]

And so what dictates this fate or pre-destiny in your opinion? Thanks

[@opiter5787]

@@ultimatemeaning Following Hermeticism and Platonism, I believe that everything is part of, caused by, and governed by God and the Gods. So, I personally believe that the Gods govern fate.

[@ultimatemeaning]

@@opiter5787 Please explain what you mean by "god"

[@josephturner7569]

There is no suffering. Just experience. We are the IS evolving. Let go of ego. It is just a frame of reference.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Are you saying that you never experience suffering? Because I find that hard to believe, maybe you could convince me? Thanks for sharing! 🙏🙏🙏

[@josephturner7569]

@@ultimatemeaning our avatars appear to suffer. But reality is just an illusion. A construct that allows us to have experience. The purpose is to grow and evolve. We evolve by cooperating. By learning to love. Our lives are lessons. Some are hard. Many have to repeat the same lesson.

[@Bhuyakasha]

All suffering is is an experience, so if there is "only" the experience of suffering then there is still suffering.

[@josephturner7569]

@@Bhuyakasha If you play a computer game and your avatar is injured, do you suffer? If your avatar is killed, do you die? So, what is suffering? If you see another avatar suffering, do you render aid? Or move on? This is your lesson.

[@Bhuyakasha]

@@josephturner7569 Let me respond with a counter question. If your very own mother is in pain do you tell her to let go of her ego? Or do you help her and try to get her through it? Not only with the necessary things like medical care but also very much with the mental aspect of trying to lift her spirits. The computer game avatar is not having physical sensations/qualia, but we humans do.

[@weewee2701]

Make peace with the idea that sometimes, we cannot do anything. Let yourself cry. Let yourself submit to God. We are not special. We need to be humbled.

[@wthomas5697]

We don't have a choice. We don't have the choice not to attempt to mitigate suffering. How we go about it is a function of cause and effect. This is how we're made. At human scale everything is a function of cause and effect. At the quantum level the universe is probabilistic.

[@brianarsenault8882]

No one has the power within itself to create itself.

[@ultimatemeaning]

Well the point of Karma isn't that we created our self (or a universe for that matter) but that we create our delusion. There is a big difference. Our ultimate aim is to transcend delusion. Thanks for sharing

[@StellaByLuna]

One of my most fundamentally held beliefs is that all effects have physical causes, and I think that's why religion and spirituality bounces right off me. (though it is itself a pretty spiritual belief.) And I do believe that all religions recognize effects that don't have physical causes to some degree, that's what makes them religious in the first place, without it they're just perspectives, and from what you said in this video, the buddhism you follow sounded like more of a perspective than a religion but also I am so so sleepy right now so who know's if I'll stand by any of this in the morning

[@ultimatemeaning]

😆🤣😆 The important point is that all composite phenomena arise from causes and conditions and so a causeless creator is refuted.

[@codyspinelli5609]

I wouldn’t say I’m a spiritual practitioner but I’ve been interested in the spiritual path for some time now. Recognizing the mundane and the futility of it all, how does one begin to practice dharma Buddhism?

[@ultimatemeaning]

Well according to the Buddha you have already made the most important first step, and that is "Recognizing the mundane and the futility of it all" the next step is to determine the cause of this. Well that's how the Buddha's path started anyway! 🙏🙏🙏

[@codyspinelli5609]

@@ultimatemeaning suppose I answered my own question by subscribing and listening to what you have to say. Thank you for sharing these insights, I look forward to learning more Buddha dharma. I believe we can transcend the mundane but like you said it’s not easy.

[@ultimatemeaning]

@@codyspinelli5609 Yes I believe it as well Cody. And good luck on your journey. Feel free to DM me anytime you like

[@snoutysnouterson]

So why did physical life have to start in the first place? If we we were just conciousness without a physical body, wouldn't we all be fine and free of suffering?

[@ultimatemeaning]

Well the scriptures say that the reason why we manifested in the desire realm (embodied in our universe) was because we gave rise to craving. The story is very much like a parable and certainly allegorical. But existence is seen to be cyclical in Buddhism and not linear.

[@snoutysnouterson]

@@ultimatemeaning Thank you. I've had depression all of my adult life, about 15 years ago at a particularly low point I discovered Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, I was a typical atheist at this point, but after watching him for several months and seeing how much sense he made I started to believe in the spiritual realm, at first it gave me great joy to think that I would exist forever, but now the thought of being born again and again is the worst thing I could imagine. I would do anything for this to be my last life.

[@altaydogahan342]

10:34 please look into Mr Ghandi more from the perspective of Hindus. He is quite a controversial figure in India. In fact the western man celebrates him much more than the average Indian and many outright despise him.

[@valeriepaul8542]

I know his aim was to relieve the suffering of sentient beings, so understanding why there is existence is not essential in that regard, but I have to admit that I’m very curious. I guess this is what the christians call the Mystery

[@ultimatemeaning]

Maybe its pride but I have never been happy with the divine mystery excuse 😆🤣😆

[@valeriepaul8542]

@@ultimatemeaning😅

[@MacShrike]

Small perturbations... very well put, that one flew over my head many times. On the other hand (or is it in the other hand?) these perturbations are also the ever expanding divisions that lead from the grabbing death and desire and so on, extinguishing and creating desire, that is samsara. A very spirited talk on being subdued, but it is a very doubly edged sword. This is, in my mind, very important, or the only importance. But also, and obviously, we(I) are not very good at this at all. Thank you once more for your love, energy, time and effort. Come on baby hit me one more time (Britney Spears)

[@ultimatemeaning]

You got the music MAc. And not to worry we aren't supposed to be good at this stuff. We progress from one mistake to another until Buddha hood ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@janwag6856]

@@MacShrike One by one Day by day Inhale Exhale That’s the way….

[@dennisdolan7250]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🙏🙏 from a Catholic brother😎👍🏻

[@ultimatemeaning]

Please to meet you Dennis welcome to the community! 🙏🙏🙏

[@BeALiteU2urself]

@@dennisdolan7250 that you are a catholic is an illusion

[@maha-madpedo-gayphukumber1533]

Is feeling of transedence and awareness is possibly without brain. and body. Beacause meditation induce ego desolation, transedence, Nirvana feeling requires brain and body. But is it outside of human sences,boddy and brain?

[@samuelmacdowell559]

Nice talk but he didn't answer the question who created the universe. Ok, he talks about Karma as cause and effect but where did the original cause come from? From a universal mind?

[@ultimatemeaning]

The meaning is that we create our own illusion and will continue to do so until we drop our clinging to false reality. The question "where did everything come from?" Is predicated upon the notion that there is something substantially existent. The example from the scriptures is someone waking up from a dream about their unborn son Dorje having died, and then thinking ""Its ok Dorje didn't die" of course he was never born

[@clodhopper-dodo]

God himself is the universe. He created himself but will not tell us how he did that.

[@BeALiteU2urself]

@@clodhopper-dodo why would He create something so useless,

[@ultimatemeaning]

Why would god need to create herself? If she was already an agent capable of creation would there be any need? Thanks for sharing

[@ultimatemeaning]

@@BeALiteU2urself or "Why create suffering?"

[@BeALiteU2urself]

@@ultimatemeaning agree

[@Dreadnaught14_88]

Remember Winston Churchill was the one that started WW2 and that chimney are usually attached and gas chambers don't have wooden doors ect

[@MChimz]

Question: You say it's not helpful to interpret Karma as a mystical force but as action and consequences, causes and conditions, but what are the mechanics involved when Karma affects the next life? In the Majjhima Nikaya 135: The Shorter Exposition of Kamma (Cula-kammavibhanga Sutta), the Buddha states the consequences of karma, which one reddit comment summarised as follows: (This is in addition to a possible bad destination) Executive Summary = 1. Killing => Short Life 2. Non-Killing => Long Life = 3. Harming => Sickly Life 4. Non-Harming => Healthy Life = 5. Angry => Ugly 6. Non-Angry => Beauty Etc If so, how does that work? I can understand the mechanic of a negative mind state generating a hell world, but not how a single action, such as harming, seems to arbitrarily lead to sickness in a random point in a new human life.

[@moltenchocolate9725]

if a buddhist does not succeed in becoming enlightened in their life, does their spiritual progress continue into the next life?

[@kelseykjarsgaard5774]

May never know especially if it's spiritual realms involved

[@ultimatemeaning]

Yes this isn't in any way a foolish position to hold. The question is how does this understanding affect one's conduct? If it leads to a nihilistic view it is concerning. Thanks for sharing! ♥♥♥

[@kelseykjarsgaard5774]

@@ultimatemeaning I have spiritual and nihilistic view. Especially since think dark entities may have control of certain things and mind wipe us..

[@maryfreund4957]

I'm interested in learning about how this could apply to the double slit experiment. For example, if humans are the particles and our interactions with each other (our attitudes and ideas) change the outcomes of our interactions. And then how would that work with the observer of the experiment? Would that be our consciousness? Sorry if im complcating things here lolz 🙏💚

[@PP-G]

@maryfreund4957 that's a fine idea! Wouldn't the outcome of the experiment be ultimately affected by the observer?🙏🙏🙏

[@maryfreund4957]

@PP-G oh yeah!! That makes more sense! But now I'm more confused lolz. I'll have to think about this more. Or maybe don't think about it 🤣💀

[@PP-G]

@@maryfreund4957 it's an awfully deep one .

[@I_scribbles]

One has to include the consciousness behind the conscious. You may call it the subconscious, either way, to be mindful of the awareness behind being aware should also be tested in quantum theory. Mind is ALL and All is Mind. We test this on humans all the time both consciously and subconsciously. Results may depend on the mental strength of an individual and the emotion put into the intention, luckily most are not equipped for such things. And this day and age in the western world the Will is severely under developed. Those who are trained to use mental powers in conjunction with the Will is for the most part forbidden unless under severe circumstances.

[@maryfreund4957]

@I_scribbles yeah I agree with some aspects of your idea. I guess it would have been better for me to say awareness is the observer. Then, I wouldn't have confused myself so quickly. It seems finding the answers in our practice and developing that insight through our experiences must be the best approach 🙏💚

[@mongolianstallion8274]

When I first became atheistic, I was undoubtedly one of those annoying science knows best type guys, but nowadays I approach this topic with a more intutive sense. I personally feel quite uncomfortable with the existence of a god figure, that someone has omnipotent powers over me and I am powerless beneath them. It just makes me feel sad so therefore I do not choose to believe in a god figure. I do sometimes try to practice the teachings sometimes because I think some of them are quite beneficial. I do fasts on ramadan, and I sometimes meditate/pray. I think that when it comes to such a personal topic as religion, you should mainly act on your feelings and not logic since logic can be used to support whatever your feelings desire.

[@No2AI]

Then the question is , who created ‘God’ …. Somewhere on the ‘existence’ timeline there must be a start a genesis OR ‘Time’ is the key …. Base reality does not exist in TIME! So this Universe is a construct, a design managed in TIME!

[@ultimatemeaning]

In terms of this path we do not believe in a beginning because that notion is predicated on the acceptance of something substantially existent. This also means that the universe and everything in t is a mere construct. 🙏🙏🙏

[@sanekabc]

There was no beginning to the laws of physics and no beginning to God. They are eternal.

[@No2AI]

No time and space … try and wrap your mind around that state of being - it’s mind boggling. So just as we creating simulations as an extension of this reality, so ‘they’ create the physical universe as an extension of their own reality…. Then we could consider that their state of being could similarly be an extension of another , and so on and so on ! Multiple possibly indefinite Levels of ‘realities’. Wow imagine that.