Expert: Justin Choo - 7/8/2011

Question
QUESTION: Greetings,
I am trying to learn the underlying teachings of Buddhism to better understand the over all  metaphysical system. Can you help me understand how Buddhism gives account of how the universe and governing laws such as Karma are guaranteed to remain constant and not change? Or how Nirvana might not change into a type of hell? Or the meditative techniques might not cause another undesirable result in the future? What prohibits these universal laws from changing?
Thank you for your time,
Todd

ANSWER: Hi Todd,

What we understand as Buddhists are based on the teachings of the Buddha.  We can of course use our human intelligence to analyze and even refute what the Buddha had revealed.  The ultimate conclusion is for the individual to make his or her own decision on what is logical and acceptable.  

As Buddhists, we learn from what the Buddha revealed to us.  It is actually quite impossible to want to substantiate 100% what the Buddha taught as correct.  We may create a thousand and one answers to substantiate what is taught in Buddhism.  But this doesn't solve any problem because there is always the never-ending argument against everything.

So I shall not attempt to answer your question, not that I have fool-proof explanations.  From the Buddhist standpoint, the path to realization is to contemplate thoroughly what the Buddha taught.  If they make sense, accept them.  If not, then reject.

Some questions simply have no answer.  

I am sorry I have to disappoint you.

Regards,
Justin Choo   

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Justin,
Thank you for taking time to read and reply to my question. I am not really concerned with the question of whether or not the Buddha taught certain doctrines, so much as how a modern Buddhist who believes what is common to Buddhism justifies that believe logically? In other words, we are communicating with logic assuming it is the same now universally as it was when the Buddha taught. How is this possible in Buddhism? Likewise with Karma. How do we know that the way Karma works now doesn't change into the opposite?
When you say "there is always the never-ending argument against everything"; does this basically mean we can never know anything for certain?

Thank you again for your time.
Todd

Answer
Hi Todd,

Thank you for being understanding of my comment.  It is most difficult not to provide positive answers to questions.  I can easilly give answers to you based on my personal opinion, but what can this achieve?  Nothing.  So I am being honest to you on this count.

I shall comment on your last question :
<<When you say "there is always the never-ending argument against everything"; does this basically mean we can never know anything for certain?>>

This means we will never find a situation where everyone agrees.

It is up to the individual to come to this conclusion.  As far as I am concerned I find the Buddha's teachings absolutely convincing.  No one has to try to influence or force me to believe in anything the Buddha taught.  Likewise I don't need anyone else to convince or influence me.  I therefore know many things for certain within my mind.  Then you may ask : "How do you know that for sure?".  This is the problem.

If a person wholeheartedly practises the teachings of the Buddha, over time this person will find all the answers to his doubts.   When the mind is not trained to think out of the box, it leads the person to create a lot of seemingly "difficult and intellectual" questions, which actually have no answer.  And when insistence to seek these non-existing answers continues, further problems will be created.

Regards,

Justin Choo