This piece hums with quiet genius. The twist lands perfectly: hell is not a location, it is a projection. The Buddha and quantum physicists shaking hands across millennia. Every mind its own painter, every thought a brushstroke of heaven or torment. It is not punishment we face, but perception. Blessed be the ones who learn to see their fire as light.
Hello interesting but my thoughts are remember that men made up myths to keep the masses under control and hell was there to scare you all into being good. Great story tellers and fear being passed down from the beginning of mankind to the end!! It all makes great art and literature added to culture and wars but that is all it is, not real.
Thank you David. A great teaching made so easy by your simple writing. Your gift is phenomenal.
I think we all experience our own hell. We create it and then grumble about it. That is why meditation is so helpful. You can turn that mind off (hopefully) and just let hell pass without getting involved in it.
Spooky! One morning about 5 weeks ago, I woke contemplating how crazed I had been feeling. I looked up "planets in retrograde". I was relieved that I wasn't going crazy. Five planets were/are in retrograde.
Now, I know, intellectually, that this whole universe is an illusion. That brings me comfort. So through this trying time I am so often reminded that this is not, in fact, real. And I remind myself of my Buddha Nature and a world of peace comes over me.
I remind myself that all of the people practicing Bodhicitta since begingless time have been doing their practice with our enlightenment as their motivation. What a blessing to receive 24/7/365. How grateful I am for all of us bombarding each other continually. You are an important part of my Sangha. How blessed am I?
David, thank you for the helpful & wise information about our very own custom made hells!
One of the answers to the Catholic version I heard so often was that yes indeed, Hell does exist, but there's no one there. Variant on that: Only resident is Satan because Hell is absence from the presence of God. <------edging toward Buddha's more nuanced explanation.
My most recent experience with personalized hells was just a few days ago when I realized depression was rearing its ugly head. Turns out a few days' vacation from the "cozy" and increasingly violent mystery series I'd been binge-reading revealed it as the cause. GIGO. [that's an old DOS-era programmer acronym Garbage In Garbage Out)
Thank you David for, first a good laugh about Buddhists ‘going to town’ about hell descriptions, and the thoughtful explanations!! And as always the Wild Is Life updates are so uplifting!!! Sending all the best juju out to you, this amazing community, and the world.
Love such clarity with brevity. Thank you for sharing the photos and stories of the animals, reminded me why I'm a paying subscriber. May all continue to be auspicious.
Thanks again, David for such an amazing article that teaches us bout Buddist thought. Our own minds certainly do create our existence. I looked around and said there’s no way I’m leaving in hell. I am one of the lucky ones that has two patios with flowers. Flowers in the house. The doors open, the sunshine pouring in. This is definitely heaven not a permanent heaven, of course, but certainly of my mind. The Buddha’s teaching are just wonderful. And you explain them, so well. Thank you, David.
Also, it gives me some ability to have compassion for Trump to know he's been living in hell his whole life. I can't imagine what karma he is accumulating.
Powerful political roles do come with massive karmic implications. The example often given is that if a leader urges followers to kill innocent others, not only do the followers create negative karma by their actions, the leader creates exactly the same karma as each of them, as well as the karma for inciting their behaviour Heavy duty stuff indeed.
I hold him in my thoughts and prayers, especially when doing my Medicine Buddha recitation & meditation. What a layer of hell he seems to be in. That makes it easy to have compassion for him and his ilk.
Well, not exactly easy for me, but I did just manage to add him to my metta practice the other day. ....all the while thinking he doesn't really deserve it, so you see i'm one of those with a way to go to full compassion.
Thank you, David for the insight! Growing up in a religious community, I had wondered about this in Buddhism.
Which also reminds me - I used to fly with this other pilot, we’d go through these long days together, with multiple flights and at some point he’s look over and say, ‘how’s your day going?’
I used to shake my head like ‘you KNOW how my day is going. We had to de-ice twice, the weather’s rolling in, I didn’t get lunch and we’re late! Whatdoya mean?!’
Later, it began to make sense, I just assumed we were having the same day, but we weren’t at all. I hadn’t even considered that we could be having a different experience.
Thank you for the reminder. And, it’s wonderful to hear about little George and Coco: inspiring for sure.
Always nice to receive happy news about the animals. Coco certainly enjoys smiling having her photo taken, as well as Catherine, Camille and baby George. Very sweet, indeed. Thanks for the update David.
Thanks David. A lovely story from Wild is Life. Hope the rains come soon for them all.
Hell. An interesting concept. Swear there ain’t no heaven and pray there ain’t no hell, as someone sang once. I am still trying to get my head around the people looking at the same scene and seeing something different! Until next weekend!
This piece hums with quiet genius. The twist lands perfectly: hell is not a location, it is a projection. The Buddha and quantum physicists shaking hands across millennia. Every mind its own painter, every thought a brushstroke of heaven or torment. It is not punishment we face, but perception. Blessed be the ones who learn to see their fire as light.
Such a beautiful response to the post - great to hear from you!
Thanks David --very clear and straightforward explaination of the hell realms!
So glad you feel that, Vicki - thank you!
Hello interesting but my thoughts are remember that men made up myths to keep the masses under control and hell was there to scare you all into being good. Great story tellers and fear being passed down from the beginning of mankind to the end!! It all makes great art and literature added to culture and wars but that is all it is, not real.
The 'control of the masses' explains a lot of dogma, Angie, but as Buddha explains, reality is very much an individual projection.
Thank you David. A great teaching made so easy by your simple writing. Your gift is phenomenal.
I think we all experience our own hell. We create it and then grumble about it. That is why meditation is so helpful. You can turn that mind off (hopefully) and just let hell pass without getting involved in it.
The pictures are fantastic.
So grateful, as always, for your encouraging response. Thank you so much, Peter!
Spooky! One morning about 5 weeks ago, I woke contemplating how crazed I had been feeling. I looked up "planets in retrograde". I was relieved that I wasn't going crazy. Five planets were/are in retrograde.
Now, I know, intellectually, that this whole universe is an illusion. That brings me comfort. So through this trying time I am so often reminded that this is not, in fact, real. And I remind myself of my Buddha Nature and a world of peace comes over me.
I remind myself that all of the people practicing Bodhicitta since begingless time have been doing their practice with our enlightenment as their motivation. What a blessing to receive 24/7/365. How grateful I am for all of us bombarding each other continually. You are an important part of my Sangha. How blessed am I?
I am so very grateful for your generous response to the post, Penelope! I also share your gratitude for this very special sanga on our shared journey!
David, thank you for the helpful & wise information about our very own custom made hells!
One of the answers to the Catholic version I heard so often was that yes indeed, Hell does exist, but there's no one there. Variant on that: Only resident is Satan because Hell is absence from the presence of God. <------edging toward Buddha's more nuanced explanation.
My most recent experience with personalized hells was just a few days ago when I realized depression was rearing its ugly head. Turns out a few days' vacation from the "cozy" and increasingly violent mystery series I'd been binge-reading revealed it as the cause. GIGO. [that's an old DOS-era programmer acronym Garbage In Garbage Out)
LOL - thanks so much for sharing this with us, Pat! And I like the idea that Satan is Hell's only resident - because it's his own custom-made version.
How it made my day to hear mention of my love, Moyo!
Very glad to know this, thank you Sheila!
I love the cat themes in your writing. Hoping to read more of your books!😻
Lovely to hear from you, Kathleen - many thanks for taking the time to leave this message!
Thank you David for, first a good laugh about Buddhists ‘going to town’ about hell descriptions, and the thoughtful explanations!! And as always the Wild Is Life updates are so uplifting!!! Sending all the best juju out to you, this amazing community, and the world.
Lovely! Thanks so much for your constant support and engagement, Johanna. You really go to town on it!
Thank you for the update on Catherine and her calf George. 🦒 The photos are beautiful.
Heartfelt wishes for Coco’s🐘 continued healing and wellbeing.
Your post is a well needed reminder to watch what mind projects onto our circumstances ( the origin of hell realms can so often be self- made).
☮️🙏
Exactly - many thanks indeed for being such an uplifting part of our group here, Linda!
Love such clarity with brevity. Thank you for sharing the photos and stories of the animals, reminded me why I'm a paying subscriber. May all continue to be auspicious.
Lovely to hear from you as always, Gogo! Grateful that you're part of our online sangha!
Thanks again, David for such an amazing article that teaches us bout Buddist thought. Our own minds certainly do create our existence. I looked around and said there’s no way I’m leaving in hell. I am one of the lucky ones that has two patios with flowers. Flowers in the house. The doors open, the sunshine pouring in. This is definitely heaven not a permanent heaven, of course, but certainly of my mind. The Buddha’s teaching are just wonderful. And you explain them, so well. Thank you, David.
Thank you for the heaven realms reminder, Pamela!
That's very kind of you as always, thank you Pamela!
I love your Dalai Lama's Cat series!
Also, it gives me some ability to have compassion for Trump to know he's been living in hell his whole life. I can't imagine what karma he is accumulating.
Powerful political roles do come with massive karmic implications. The example often given is that if a leader urges followers to kill innocent others, not only do the followers create negative karma by their actions, the leader creates exactly the same karma as each of them, as well as the karma for inciting their behaviour Heavy duty stuff indeed.
Yes, but he needs to stay there please so I can get some sleep at night.
No worries on that score!
I hold him in my thoughts and prayers, especially when doing my Medicine Buddha recitation & meditation. What a layer of hell he seems to be in. That makes it easy to have compassion for him and his ilk.
Well, not exactly easy for me, but I did just manage to add him to my metta practice the other day. ....all the while thinking he doesn't really deserve it, so you see i'm one of those with a way to go to full compassion.
Bless you for leading the way by your example.
Thank you, David for the insight! Growing up in a religious community, I had wondered about this in Buddhism.
Which also reminds me - I used to fly with this other pilot, we’d go through these long days together, with multiple flights and at some point he’s look over and say, ‘how’s your day going?’
I used to shake my head like ‘you KNOW how my day is going. We had to de-ice twice, the weather’s rolling in, I didn’t get lunch and we’re late! Whatdoya mean?!’
Later, it began to make sense, I just assumed we were having the same day, but we weren’t at all. I hadn’t even considered that we could be having a different experience.
Thank you for the reminder. And, it’s wonderful to hear about little George and Coco: inspiring for sure.
A wonderful example, Laurel, thanks so much for sharing. Same cockpit and flight, very different experiences!
Always nice to receive happy news about the animals. Coco certainly enjoys smiling having her photo taken, as well as Catherine, Camille and baby George. Very sweet, indeed. Thanks for the update David.
My pleasure, Morena!
Thanks David. A lovely story from Wild is Life. Hope the rains come soon for them all.
Hell. An interesting concept. Swear there ain’t no heaven and pray there ain’t no hell, as someone sang once. I am still trying to get my head around the people looking at the same scene and seeing something different! Until next weekend!
Thanks Chris. See Laurel the pilot's example above! Always nice to hear from you.