how empty is our reality?

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Aemilius
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Re: how empty is our reality?

Post by Aemilius »

Nadereme wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:08 pm
Aemilius wrote: Sat Aug 28, 2021 7:36 am There is an answer to the question into what does the universe expand, it is in the much detested ufo-lore, and it goes:

"The energies from this explosion initially shoot outward and then expanded for fractions of a second at 10exp7000 times the speed of light, as they displace other universes in an effort to create Its own space among the uncounted other universes, or Creations, already in existence. The seven Creational belts, or Universe belts, form simultaneously, of which one is the coarse-matter belt, the visible-matter-universe. In this belt originate coarse matters and gases and dust particles from which derive meteors, suns, comets, planets, nebulae, galaxies and other things when coarse matter gathers and condenses. In this way our Earth was born. This means our universe's birth and that of our Earth, along with foreign worlds, stars and galaxies and so forth, is a Creational-physical energy process and has nothing to do with a Creator God. These happenings are the result of purely spiritual-physical and material-physical laws and processes based upon physics and chemistry in every way and are, indeed, explainable through them."
This all assumes a mind-independent view not based on emptiness. It’s also a materialist and linear view.
I don't know very much about Billy Meier's philosophy concerning the formation of the universe, but this description in itself doesn't make it materialistic. Buddha also says that the universe expands and then it contracts. And that he has seen many kalpas of expansion and contraction. For example in Aggañña sutta and the sutra concerning his enlightenment at Bodhgaya. And we don't accuse him of materialism.

In Billy Meier's view the other dimensions of existence beside the material one form in the expansion at the same time, he says above:
"The seven Creational belts, or Universe belts, form simultaneously, of which one is the coarse-matter belt, the visible-matter-universe."

The Buddhist Abhidharma teaching about the formation of the universe also says that the worlds of devas form (and are destroyed) together with the material world or the Kamaloka.

Meier also says above: "These happenings are the result of purely spiritual-physical and material-physical laws. " How about that?

Emptiness means that things and phenomena arise dependent on causes and conditions. (For example in MMK of Nagarjuna)
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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Aemilius
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Re: how empty is our reality?

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The Abhidharmasamuccaya of Asanga explains that the heavens of first three dhyana states arise(evolve) at the beginning of a Mahakalpa and are destroyed(devolved) at the end of it. The fourth dhyana state remains, but the deities and their abodes disappear, Asanga says. One Mahakalpa consists of 80 minor kalpas. After the destruction of the universe the state of emptiness/vacuity lasts for 20 minor kalpas. The evolution of the universe lasts 20 minor kalpas, it stays evolved for 20 and is destroyed in 20 minor kalpas.
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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Javierfv1212
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Re: how empty is our reality?

Post by Javierfv1212 »

Malcolm wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:15 pm
Alastair wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 5:09 am But the cells are real, just the way we see them as an object is illusional?
Cells are also composed of parts, there is nothing in the universe that is not composed of parts. So when those things are examined, they are found to empty. Empty does not mean "unreal," per se. It means empty of independent, aka inherent, existence. But things are also empty of dependent existence as well, since that is merely another form of inherent existence. Things are dependently originated, and thus they are empty and dependently designated. This is the middle way.
...
A mirage is empty of water. It's merely an appearance that is mistaken for water. The point of the example is that appearances are deceptive, not that they do not exist. In order for an appearance to be deceptive, the appearance has to be real. No one is deceived by a nonexistent mirage.
Sounding a little Gelugpa there Malcolm, appearances are real? be careful now! :rolling:
It is quite impossible to find the Buddha anywhere other than in one's own mind.
A person who is ignorant of this may seek externally,
but how is it possible to find oneself through seeking anywhere other than in oneself?
Someone who seeks their own nature externally is like a fool who, giving a performance in the middle of a crowd, forgets who he is and then seeks everywhere else to find himself.
— Padmasambhava

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