Life is sacred
I have long been fascinated by the fact that it is extremely important in this life journey to keep in mind two seemingly opposing or contradictory “truths.” These are:
· All life is equally sacred and deserves to be treated as such.
· The “natural” order of all of existence or creation is the cycle of birth, life, and death.
For the purpose of this discussion I am going to limit myself to a discussion of human life forms although I would argue that all life is sacred and although this can lead to a very spirited and confusing discussion.
Obviously, despite all the anti-aging creams, nutritional formulas, surgeries, and the possibility of life outside of this planet which measures time differently than we do, on this earth the life of we humans and all other so-called life forms is limited to a relatively few years no matter what we do. If we stay on this earthy plane and just think in terms of distance between “ages” such as Ice Ages, whether we live one hour or 112 years, it is still a brief time. For those of us in our mid-seventies, it has been obvious for quite some time that life is actually measured in seconds. We know, of course, that we are going to die soon no matter what we do, but most of us abhor the fact that we humans seem to find it so easy to hurt and even kill each other. On the one hand, I want to say, “What is the big deal?” So what if I or someone I love dies a micro-second sooner than they might otherwise have done so. Although we are usually ready to acknowledge that we want their death to be quick and without any long period of painful suffering, our existential angst is not necessarily mitigated by that fact. We grieve when there are mass murders or a police person shoots someone 16 times. We are devastated when some illness or worse, some person takes the life of a young child. Whether the death is the result of suicide, homicide, illness, or the “hand of justice” delivered by a someone appointed by a particular government, a group or an individual who has received orders directly from the God of their understanding, we mourn the loss to a more or lesser degree. Of course if we, our group, or our government is dropping bombs on the bad people who would just as nonchalantly drop bombs on us, we may cheer. After all, this is a righteous or just killing. If, on the other hand, that same group of people or individuals who so deserved our deliverance of justice drops bombs on us first, we are horrified and really angry that they do not understand and accept that we are the good people and they are the bad people.
I digress. The subject is the apparent “need’ to hold the yen and yang of sacredness of life and the fact that it is brief in our minds simultaneously.
The web site sacredlotus.com, discusses the Chinese concept of yin and yang. One of the authors of this site says:
Four Main Aspects of Yin and Yang Relationship
1 Yin-Yang are opposites
2 They are either on the opposite ends of a cycle, like the seasons of the year, or, opposites on a continuum of energy or matter. This opposition is relative, and can only be spoken of in relationships. For example: Water is Yin relative to steam but Yang relative to ice. Yin and Yang are never static but in a constantly changing balance.
3 Interdependent: Can not exist without each other
4 The Tai Ji (Supreme Ultimate) diagram shows the relationship of Yin & Yang and illustrates interdependence on Yin & Yang. Nothing is totally Yin or totally Yang. Just as a state of total Yin is reached, Yang begins to grow. Yin contains seed of Yang and vise versa. They constantly transform into each other. For Example: no energy without matter, no day without night. The classics state: "Yin creates Yang and Yang activates Yin".
5 Mutual consumption of Yin and Yang
6 Relative levels of Yin Yang are continuously changing. Normally this is a harmonious change, but when Yin or Yang are out of balance they affect each other, and too much of one can eventually weaken (consume) the other.
7 (This section intentionally left blank – would not copy and paste.)
8 Four (4) possible states of imbalance:
Preponderance (Excess) of Yin
Preponderance (Excess) of Yang
Weakness (Deficiency) of Yin
Weakness (Deficiency) of Yang
9 Inter-transformation of Yin and Yang.
10 One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.
One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.
One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.”
I am particularly intrigued by the 4 possible states of imbalance: Excess of Yin, excess of yang, deficiency of yin or deficiency of yang.
Already I am sorry that I have chosen to discuss this concept because now, if I am going to be consistent, I must apply this concept to the subject with which I began this blog. How might one do this?
If yin represents “all life is sacred” and yang represents “ how long we live is not important – it is all a micro-second,” we must first consider an excess of yin. We are already, to some extent, seeing this imbalance. With advances in medicine, we are seeing more people being born and living to an older age. Although mother nature continues to assert herself and periodically wipes out a large group of people via a “natural event,” we are still experiencing an overabundance/an excess of human beings (some other animals are extinct; some are over populating). Clearly an imbalance is present.
An excess of yang has been created, at the same time, by the ever increasing technology allowing us to kill off larger number of people, often without personally leaving our desk in Arizona or wherever. Imbalance. (We must also keep in mind that we are more instantly aware of when we harm or destroy each other.)
Deficiency of yin. This one is more difficult in that the deficiency seems to be created by an ongoing belief that some life is sacred and other life is not sacred or some life if more sacred than others. For example, some people deserve quality medical care and some do not. Some people deserve the means to feed and clothe themselves and their families and some do not. Is there an overall deficiency of yin? If some life is sacred and some is not then, is there is an imbalance?
Deficiency of yang. Would this mean that we are not killing off enough people or could it mean that the imbalance is because we have extended the possibility of more people being born and living a long life without correspondingly creating a balance by more resources of the earth becoming more equally available?
We are reminded above that there is always a tension between the yin and the yang. There is never a permanent or long-term balance. The fact that we continue to struggle with these seemingly conflicting truths about the sacredness of life is witness to this tension. The problem, of course, is that there does not seem to be a way for we humans to live together and accept this particular demonstration of yin and yang. As soon as debate moves to action the possibility of balance is voided. On the other hand, there is increasingly a revival of the old practice which has throughout the ages been held dear by some tribes or groups. This is the practice of allowing people to choose the timing of their own death; to decide when the quality of life is not sufficient to warrant an ongoing existence for a few more seconds (actual days, weeks, months, years). Daily, given the advent of current medical tools, decisions are made of when to turn off the artificial life support machines. This seems like a different decision than killing off people who are unable to have a choice or taking the lives of others with one’s own life (suicide bombers).
I am reminded of the belief by certain tribal people that it is okay to kill and eat an animal while also recognizing that it is a sacred creature for which one must give thanks. Killing for the sake of killing or killing for the purpose of getting a trophy as has been the case of some hunters, would violate the “laws” and the beliefs of the tribe. While the suicide bomber may give thanks for their life while also deciding to perform the action of a martyr, it is not possible for them to give thanks for or to honor the sacredness of the people that they are killing. This is true also for those we kill in warfare or in pursuit of another goal such as theft for the sake of theft.
There are many questions about how heroic an effort should be made to keep someone alive for a metaphorically few more seconds. This is, in my humble opinion, certainly a question we can ask while maintaining adherence to our belief that all life is sacred.
Perhaps this could be the litmus test to determine whether someone is within the acceptable bounds of making a decision while honoring the yin of the sacredness of life with the yang of the brief spark of this life journey.
I think that I as soon as I put a belief of mine into the context of the principles of the yin and the yang, I am opening myself to the possibility of a respectful dialogue with those who might hold a belief which is opposite or different than mine.
Written December 4, 2015
I have long been fascinated by the fact that it is extremely important in this life journey to keep in mind two seemingly opposing or contradictory “truths.” These are:
· All life is equally sacred and deserves to be treated as such.
· The “natural” order of all of existence or creation is the cycle of birth, life, and death.
For the purpose of this discussion I am going to limit myself to a discussion of human life forms although I would argue that all life is sacred and although this can lead to a very spirited and confusing discussion.
Obviously, despite all the anti-aging creams, nutritional formulas, surgeries, and the possibility of life outside of this planet which measures time differently than we do, on this earth the life of we humans and all other so-called life forms is limited to a relatively few years no matter what we do. If we stay on this earthy plane and just think in terms of distance between “ages” such as Ice Ages, whether we live one hour or 112 years, it is still a brief time. For those of us in our mid-seventies, it has been obvious for quite some time that life is actually measured in seconds. We know, of course, that we are going to die soon no matter what we do, but most of us abhor the fact that we humans seem to find it so easy to hurt and even kill each other. On the one hand, I want to say, “What is the big deal?” So what if I or someone I love dies a micro-second sooner than they might otherwise have done so. Although we are usually ready to acknowledge that we want their death to be quick and without any long period of painful suffering, our existential angst is not necessarily mitigated by that fact. We grieve when there are mass murders or a police person shoots someone 16 times. We are devastated when some illness or worse, some person takes the life of a young child. Whether the death is the result of suicide, homicide, illness, or the “hand of justice” delivered by a someone appointed by a particular government, a group or an individual who has received orders directly from the God of their understanding, we mourn the loss to a more or lesser degree. Of course if we, our group, or our government is dropping bombs on the bad people who would just as nonchalantly drop bombs on us, we may cheer. After all, this is a righteous or just killing. If, on the other hand, that same group of people or individuals who so deserved our deliverance of justice drops bombs on us first, we are horrified and really angry that they do not understand and accept that we are the good people and they are the bad people.
I digress. The subject is the apparent “need’ to hold the yen and yang of sacredness of life and the fact that it is brief in our minds simultaneously.
The web site sacredlotus.com, discusses the Chinese concept of yin and yang. One of the authors of this site says:
Four Main Aspects of Yin and Yang Relationship
1 Yin-Yang are opposites
2 They are either on the opposite ends of a cycle, like the seasons of the year, or, opposites on a continuum of energy or matter. This opposition is relative, and can only be spoken of in relationships. For example: Water is Yin relative to steam but Yang relative to ice. Yin and Yang are never static but in a constantly changing balance.
3 Interdependent: Can not exist without each other
4 The Tai Ji (Supreme Ultimate) diagram shows the relationship of Yin & Yang and illustrates interdependence on Yin & Yang. Nothing is totally Yin or totally Yang. Just as a state of total Yin is reached, Yang begins to grow. Yin contains seed of Yang and vise versa. They constantly transform into each other. For Example: no energy without matter, no day without night. The classics state: "Yin creates Yang and Yang activates Yin".
5 Mutual consumption of Yin and Yang
6 Relative levels of Yin Yang are continuously changing. Normally this is a harmonious change, but when Yin or Yang are out of balance they affect each other, and too much of one can eventually weaken (consume) the other.
7 (This section intentionally left blank – would not copy and paste.)
8 Four (4) possible states of imbalance:
Preponderance (Excess) of Yin
Preponderance (Excess) of Yang
Weakness (Deficiency) of Yin
Weakness (Deficiency) of Yang
9 Inter-transformation of Yin and Yang.
10 One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.
One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.
One can change into the other, but it is not a random event, happening only when the time is right. For example: Spring only comes when winter is finished.”
I am particularly intrigued by the 4 possible states of imbalance: Excess of Yin, excess of yang, deficiency of yin or deficiency of yang.
Already I am sorry that I have chosen to discuss this concept because now, if I am going to be consistent, I must apply this concept to the subject with which I began this blog. How might one do this?
If yin represents “all life is sacred” and yang represents “ how long we live is not important – it is all a micro-second,” we must first consider an excess of yin. We are already, to some extent, seeing this imbalance. With advances in medicine, we are seeing more people being born and living to an older age. Although mother nature continues to assert herself and periodically wipes out a large group of people via a “natural event,” we are still experiencing an overabundance/an excess of human beings (some other animals are extinct; some are over populating). Clearly an imbalance is present.
An excess of yang has been created, at the same time, by the ever increasing technology allowing us to kill off larger number of people, often without personally leaving our desk in Arizona or wherever. Imbalance. (We must also keep in mind that we are more instantly aware of when we harm or destroy each other.)
Deficiency of yin. This one is more difficult in that the deficiency seems to be created by an ongoing belief that some life is sacred and other life is not sacred or some life if more sacred than others. For example, some people deserve quality medical care and some do not. Some people deserve the means to feed and clothe themselves and their families and some do not. Is there an overall deficiency of yin? If some life is sacred and some is not then, is there is an imbalance?
Deficiency of yang. Would this mean that we are not killing off enough people or could it mean that the imbalance is because we have extended the possibility of more people being born and living a long life without correspondingly creating a balance by more resources of the earth becoming more equally available?
We are reminded above that there is always a tension between the yin and the yang. There is never a permanent or long-term balance. The fact that we continue to struggle with these seemingly conflicting truths about the sacredness of life is witness to this tension. The problem, of course, is that there does not seem to be a way for we humans to live together and accept this particular demonstration of yin and yang. As soon as debate moves to action the possibility of balance is voided. On the other hand, there is increasingly a revival of the old practice which has throughout the ages been held dear by some tribes or groups. This is the practice of allowing people to choose the timing of their own death; to decide when the quality of life is not sufficient to warrant an ongoing existence for a few more seconds (actual days, weeks, months, years). Daily, given the advent of current medical tools, decisions are made of when to turn off the artificial life support machines. This seems like a different decision than killing off people who are unable to have a choice or taking the lives of others with one’s own life (suicide bombers).
I am reminded of the belief by certain tribal people that it is okay to kill and eat an animal while also recognizing that it is a sacred creature for which one must give thanks. Killing for the sake of killing or killing for the purpose of getting a trophy as has been the case of some hunters, would violate the “laws” and the beliefs of the tribe. While the suicide bomber may give thanks for their life while also deciding to perform the action of a martyr, it is not possible for them to give thanks for or to honor the sacredness of the people that they are killing. This is true also for those we kill in warfare or in pursuit of another goal such as theft for the sake of theft.
There are many questions about how heroic an effort should be made to keep someone alive for a metaphorically few more seconds. This is, in my humble opinion, certainly a question we can ask while maintaining adherence to our belief that all life is sacred.
Perhaps this could be the litmus test to determine whether someone is within the acceptable bounds of making a decision while honoring the yin of the sacredness of life with the yang of the brief spark of this life journey.
I think that I as soon as I put a belief of mine into the context of the principles of the yin and the yang, I am opening myself to the possibility of a respectful dialogue with those who might hold a belief which is opposite or different than mine.
Written December 4, 2015
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