Sukhavati: Western Paradise: Going to Heaven as Taught by the Buddha
In their typical arrogance, most mediocre scientists decree that what they cannot perceive and measure do not exist, despite the fact they know how limited their perception and measurement are. Understandably, only a few great scientists have been farsighted and brave enough to put forward revolutionary concepts that have turned out to be valid, like our earth is not the center of the universe, there are unimaginably more stars than what our eyes can see, matter is energy, contact over immense distance without discernable physical connection is possible, the implicate order of reality, the presence of shadow matter, and the existence of multi-dimension universes where only the one that is observed is manifested. Interestingly, all these exciting scientific discoveries have been discussed in Buddhism for centuries, and have been recorded in numerous sutras. --Chapter 2: The Marvelous and the Fundamental (Scientific Knowledge and Basic Teaching of Buddhism) - Buddhist Wisdom and Modern ScienceOur world as we know it, exists because it is created by our mind, not just in the present lifetimes, but also throughout millennia and imprinted in our alaya or collective consciousness. The same world will be very different for other sentient beings, like bacteria and crocodiles, because their alaya consciousness is different. For most ordinary people, many realms of existence in this world such as the realms of ghosts and asuras, are non-existent because, among many reasons, they do not belief in them. Why, then, familiar objects like tables and chairs continue to exist even though we try to believe they are non-existent? This is because they have been imprinted so deeply in our alaya consciousness that even if we try in our normal consciousness to believe they do not exist, our unconsciousness accepts their existence. --Chapter 13: The Importance of Faith (Various Kinds of Faith in Amitabha Cultivation) - Phenomena and PrinciplesOf course, it is never implied that one should accept any teaching blindly; it is a basic Buddhist tenet that one should accept the Buddhist teaching only after he has assessed it to the best of his understanding and experience. It is also important to remember that the teaching described in this book is not my idea or invention; the wisdom in the teaching is far, far beyond what I could even there to dream of. This is certainly not modesty. It is simply the truth. I merely report what the Buddha, considered by many as the greatest teachers, amongst men and gods, has taught; and I attempt to make the profound teaching easier for modern readers by explaining with illustrations what great masters throughout the ages have provided, and expressing in an imagery and vocabulary that western readers can readily understand. --Chapter 18: Settling Doubts (Some Common Questions and their Answers) - Can One Really Go to Heaven?