Article #131
Subject: Two Truths in Buddhism, Three Truths in Christianity
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 4/4/2012 10:03:00 AM

A Lotus of Happiness (faithful and joyful remembrance, enlightened
realization, wisdom) to you who studies these thoughts


As Buddhism teaches, compassion is the highest energy because it can last
longer than love.

Saint Francis has taught us that in some sense it is better to be a student
than a teacher. It is better to try and love others more than to try and be
loved by them. And, in this sense, I see Buddhism as a very good philosophy
(way to learn wisdom) and also a good religion (that has a One Truth in it
that sets us free). But, what is this Truth? Buddhism teaches that there are
two truths, a material and a spiritual truth. So which of the two is the one
that sets us free? Is it the truth in the world? I don’t think so because the
world passes away and can take our spirits and souls with it when it does. Is
it the truth in our spirits? I don’t think that this is the truth that sets
us free either. For, as you have taught me that our spirits do not exist
independently of themselves. Is it the words of Truth of whom Jesus said in
the Gospel of John He is and I AM? Yes, but only if it is it is also the
truth that listens to and believes in the truth of who we are.

In order to make this happen God had to define and teach us through His only
Son a third kind of truth (logical truth) that exists in a Platonic sense in
itself, in our souls (independently of our bodies). We know that God exists
in himself and us independently of us. This is one of the three qualities
that define Him logically in addition to omnipresence, omniscience, and
omnipotence. And, it wasn’t until this truth was incarnated in us all in a
way that proceeds forward and goes on improving in time from where it was (
not just back to the beginning cyclically) that humankind had a hope of
perfecting itself faithfully and divinely (bettering itself).





Daily Mindfulness Teaching for the One Human Holy Spirit who is God’s Son,
Christ Jesus
(a poem written to tie us all in love and trust, for as long as we are true
to God and he to us)

Awareness and faithfulness are reflections of two truths.
Truth is a heart that listens** and is faithful and aware,
Along with a mind that believes what is right for all of us.

Goodness is a heart that loves and gives
Beauty is a reflection of what is good
And a mind that is open***.

How is our faith and suffering transformed by Christ Jesus into faith and joy?
God’s grace, or love that gives becomes love that can control itself and its
love.
It becomes God’s love and compassion toward others in us.
Past injustices at the hands of others seem more than worth the cost
considering the limitless recompense and happiness these gifts can bring.
Where there is confusion, despair, darkness new understandings of God, the
World, and our selves arise.
Our self images of fear and despair are reflected and transformed hopefully
and beautifully through Christ’s glory in us by God’s Holy Spirit. Christ
Jesus, the saving, redeeming, justifying, sanctifying mind of God dwells
inside of our minds and hearts.
St. Paul has said in II Corinthians 3: 7-18
“The Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because
Of its brilliance….
But, whenever a person turns in repentance to the Lord, the veil is stripped
off…
And, all of us, as with unveiled face [because we] continued to behold
[In the Word of God]as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being
Transformed into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and
From one degree of glory to another [for this come] from the Lord, [Who is]
The Spirit.”

** the Holy Spirit is a heart that listens, eyes and ears that see and hear
what is good, a mouth that speaks what is true, and strong arms and legs that
lift up the fallen, walks with them and leads them in the right direction.
*** To say that it is a reflection means it does not have an independently
existing self. Two reflections can be an image (perceptive reflection) and a
likeness (conceptual reflection)making up the soul and the spirit of a human
being. So, a reflection may or may not be a part of an independently existing
object or person. For instance, the heavens and the skies are beautiful. But,
so can be a person, a woman for example.
Dr. Immanual Kant has said in his section distinguishing the transcendental
logic into a transcendental
analytic and a transcendental dialectic... ,"the conceptions of pure reason
are not obtained by reflection...but by inference and conclusion."
Consider, also, “Beauty is controlled grace” a definition due to Leonardo da
Vinci.
This builds on the term grace which is sometimes defined as “Love that
gives”. Also, I believe beauty may be due to an essential symmetry or a basic
economy of expression in a humanly constructed definition containing a
creative seed of truth or knowledge that can expand on itself growing into a
material, psychological entity or living being (yet start over from the
beginning or some midpoint along its path and reproduce itself if necessary).
Mathematical proofs, a set of physical concepts and axioms or a well written
and designed computer program can fall in this category.