In Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together (pp. 150-151), His
Holiness the Dalai Lama divides religion into three parts. According
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, all religions can be divided into
these three parts:
1.
ethical teachings – moral ethics and developing virtuous qualities
2.
doctrines or metaphysics
3.
culturally dependent aspects, such as attitude to images
His Holiness also divides humanity into three: theistic believers who believe in God or gods, non-theistic believers and non-believers.
I will argue that we all also need "religion," a secular science based path for spiritual development that we follow religiously, and once you understand what these three parts of religion are and how a secular religion is possible, you may agree with me.
1.
Moral ethics. We all need ethics and positive qualities such as
patience, generosity, a positive attitude towards others including
the wish that every being have happiness (an altruistic attitude,
universal love) and the wish that every being be free from suffering
(universal compassion) in order to be good, positive and happy
people. To be good or to be happy means to have a clear conscience,
without feelings of guilt or shame or blame, and a relaxed mind in
which no negative thoughts arise. It is not possible to develop inner
peace without moral ethics, honesty, kindness, love, compassion,
patience, generosity.
2. The doctrines of different religions are different. There are believers who believe in God and non-theists who rely on the Law of Cause and Effect, a natural law that pertains to all minds and to all interactions between minds in the universe. (The Law of Cause and Effect also governs interactions between mind and matter.) As a basis for secular doctrine we will rely on science, on Western (Einstein's) science and on Buddha's mind science, where both are based on empiricism and logic.
For
example, we all agree that the earth goes around the sun, even though
it doesn't look like that.
We
can all agree that all compounded phenomena are impermanent. We can
all agree that things exist based on causes and conditions and
therefore do not come into being independently. Someone who believes
in God will also agree that making a hard-boiled egg depends on
causes and conditions: pot, egg, chicken, water, heat source, a
certain amount of time, and on combining all these causes and
conditions: putting the egg into the water into a pot on top of a
heat source for a certain amount of time.
Reincarnation has
a scientific basis and is therefore included in our secular
metaphysics.
The
possibility of purifying our mind, of turning a traumatized neurotic
and/or depressed mind into a calm mind with a sense of inner
well-being has been scientifically proven, and also the entire field
of science called neuroplasticity, enable us to accept the capacity
of the mind to transform and lead to positive changes in brain
function and anatomical structure.
The
nature of compounded impermanent phenomena lacking independent
inherent existence, is suffering. This understanding liberates from
suffering.
3.
What is secular culture? Which secular habits and customs are
positive and are worthwhile keeping and which are best abandoned in
order to achieve happiness? Customs are the recipe for daily life
that help us apply moral values (1 above) and the realizations
regarding the nature of existence (2 above), and to incorporate these
into our lives and our mind.
Since
the mind is what's important, clothing is not restricted. You can
wear a blue sock next to an orange sock. It's okay to wear a uniform
– secular religion is suitable for military people, policemen,
prison wardens and guards, doctors, nurses – and politicians,
social workers, judges, lawyers and psychologists. It's all right to
smell bad and not bathe for weeks or months and it's just fine to
bathe twice a day and to use perfume. It's okay for both men and
women to use lipstick and nail polish.
Images
are allowed: family photos, paintings on the walls in homes. Pictures of enlightened beings are aids to attaining enlightenment. Images of great mind scientists are especially recommended. (The Buddha, Padmasambhava and Je Tsongkhapa are three of the world's greatest mind scientists.)
As
much sex as you want is all right, and the more the better – as
long as it's by consenting adults – and it's okay to be celibate.
Sexual fasting for periods reduces lust and lust is the source of
great suffering, like drinking salt water, all the sages have said.
It's okay to fill political roles and to be informed about current
events, and it's okay and recommended to undertake a “news
fast”(according to Dr. Andrew Weil) and to stop consuming
commercial media (according to Prof. Michael Nagler, Metta
Center for Non-Violence).
Meditation
to develop single-pointed concentration is recommended. Without
meditation it's not possible for significant changes to take place in
the brain. Before one starts meditating, it's advisable to be a good
person.
Neuroscientist
Prof. Davidson points out four conditions for happiness, for a sense
of inner well-being:
1.
Resilience – the ability to forgive, to not bear grudges, to let go
of grievances and move on, to let it go.
2.
Positive attitude, positive thinking, an optimistic outlook
3.
Paying attention, mindfulness, single-pointed concentration,
concentrative ability
4.
Generosity, kindness
Davidson's
1, 2, and 4 belong to Moral Ethics. All four of his findings belong
to Doctrines. Number 3, meditation, mind training, paying attention,
concentrative ability, belong to the practical or applied area, to
Customs and Culture. In this way, secular religion becomes a way of
life.
Let
us not forget the importance of the teachers – we are grateful to
the tradition of Eastern mind science beginning with the Buddha and
the Hindu surroundings in which he was raised, educated and
meditated. We acknowledge, the lineage of Indian and Tibetan teachers
who preserved, practiced and transmitted the Buddha's knowledge,
including the 14th Dalai Lama and Prof. Davidson, “the
guru of science,” Mind and Life Institute and others.
We
will also express gratitude to the contributions of all beings,
especially the Western scientific tradition up until the development
of the scientific tools that were sensitive enough for Prof.
Davidson's Center for Healthy Minds (formerly: Center for
Investigating Healthy Minds) and others to carry out their research.
My
profound gratitude to Geshe Pema Dorjee, from whom I first heard the
expression: “Secular Religion,” that is both absurd and wise.
Secular
Religion –
Secular
mind training based on Western science and the science the Buddha
taught in order to cultivate a compassionate and altruistic mind and
to realize the full human potential that is within each individual
for a better and more pleasant world for all.
The
three aspects of religion also need to be essential parts of a
secular person's life so that he or she will be able to realize his
or her full potential:
1.
Moral values and cultivation of virtues such as generosity, patience,
perseverance, enthusiasm and/or interest and/or curiosity regarding
the practice, are parts of religions worldwide and are also essential
for secular people.
2.
Right views (correct perception) regarding the way reality exists are
also part of Western science, not only religion. Striving towards an
understanding of truth regarding the way consciousness exists, the
way the self (the “I”) exists and the way reality exists are a
human aspiration that is suitable for everyone, also a secular
person.
3.
Mind training to cultivate mental concentration has been proven to be
one of the essential factors needed for positive changes to take
place in the functioning of the mind. and in brain functioning and
anatomy. Therefore, it makes sense for a secular person to be
interested in engaging in this type of practice.
Respect
and appreciation of the customs of the various religions can grow
from the practice of secular religion. Secular religion will reduce
the tension between religious and secular people, by developing
mutual respect and appreciation, through study, practice and
dialogue. The religions will flourish in a social environment of
human dignity. Religious believers will respect ethical and moral
secular people and secular people will develop appreciation,
understanding and tolerance for engaging in religion, with all of its
peculiar customs.
Dedicated
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, all the great lamas of Tibet, all the
great spiritual masters of all time, and to the Tibetan people, whose
extraordinary commitment to non-violence is a model for the world.
May secular religion flourish for an ethical, compassionate and wise
world for all!
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Message from Pope Francis on Interfaith Dialogue:
Hebrew translation of Pope Francis' video is here:
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Secular Religion was translated from the original Hebrew post (with slight changes), published on The Marker Café Current Events Forum, March 12, 2016. (On my Hebrew blog.)
