Expert: Justin Choo - 4/13/2011

Question
Dear Justin!
I have an important question and I am determined to find the answser. My question is very simple in fact: Is there any security in our world?

See, the tsunami brought some of the Japan's cities to its knees in a couple of minutes. People were afraid and many lost their loved ones. It was awakening for me as I learnt that our "well-bulit and preserved" safe cities can be destroyed so quickly and unpredictably. No doubt that it won't be the last natural disaster.

Now, we try to do so many things in our lives to gain this security: we build strong houses, try to find a trustworthy spouse, put our money in banks and avoid diverse risks. But ultimately, it seems that life is just a big river in which everything is continually changing. There is no security, it seems. And still we take refuge in god, in buddha, in religion to give us some solace in this ever-changing world.

What do you think? Is there any security in our world? Or are we merely after an illusion?

Yours,
Farshad

Answer
Hi Farshad,

Thanks for sharing the thought-provoking scenario.  Buddhists don't have problem trying to reconcile apparent contradictions; like giving a host of reasons for natural disasters.  Buddhists have been taught to accept the world as it really is.  And what is this?  It is the nature of this world to have natural disasters.  As far as the world is concerned, they are not natural disasters, but natural phenomena where the world "adjust" itself to stay in equilibrium.  If we look into the vast outer space, planets undergo different stages of development.  

There is no guaranteed security for the hapless humans in this world. Buddhists view existence in this world as "unsatisfactory", simply because many things in this world are beyong our control, tryng hard as we would to want to control our destinies.  In fact there is a viral email in circulation about the calm and controlled response of the Japanese people having struck with these calamities.  The main reason it is stated is that they understand the teachings of the Buddha, that such disasters do occur, and they are a natural order of things.  

By the way, Buddhists "take refuge in the Buddha" simply means that they follow the teachings of the Buddha and are grateful for his teachings, paying reverence to him and not that the Buddha can protect them.  The Buddha is dead and gone.  Only his teachings guide us to maintain contentment and inner peace, through correct understanding of the real nature of this world and this existence.     


Take care.

Justin Choo