I don't believe in the world beyond

My copy of the Dhammapada is falling apart (don’t worry I still have other copies).  This book never ceases to amaze me.  I can see why it might not be popular with secular Buddhists.  Thinking about secular Buddhists, I wonder what they think of this passage from the Dhammapada (176), vitinnaparalokassa, “Who has rejected the world beyond” which is the opposite of this world?  Here is the whole verse:

For the person who has transgressed the One Dharma,
Who speaks falsehood,
Who has rejected the world beyond,
There is no evil that cannot be done.

The commentary to this particular verse goes as follows:

“Who has discarded this world beyond— such a person sees neither the bliss of [the world of] human beings, nor that of the worlds of the gods, nor finally that of Nibbâna.  These three kinds of blisses he sees not.”

This invites us to ask about about apâra, that is, what about the “not beyond”?  Well, we learn from the Niddesa that it applies to the kilesas (corruptions), the psychophysical body (khandhas), and our volitions (abhisankhâras) which is pretty much the secular life!  

So the question we must ask of our secular Buddhists is how can they dismiss the world beyond and still call themselves Buddhists?  The short answer is they can’t. 

 

Comments

[Dana Nourie]

I'm curious why you are asking a question, and then providing what you believe is the answer? That gives me the impression you are already closed to what I have to say.

As for the Dhamapada, you are mistaken in thinking we somehow don't like it or reject it. I the contrary the Dhamapada is one of my favorites. Do I agree with all of it, or take it literally? No. Do I need to believe every word of it and take it literally for it to be useful to my practice? No.

The Dhamapada is full of wisdom. I use what I can. I look at much of it through metaphor which makes it exponentially more useful to me.

Do I give thought to what is not of this world? No. I'm a human being of this world, of this life, and that is my focus.

[David Ashton]

While open to the existence of infinite dimensions and interpenetrating worlds beyond, I haven't grasped the point of discussing them. Because I don't really know what a secular Buddhist is (an unordained Buddhist?), I think I must be one. I use the label Buddhist only because it seems the best fit, so perhaps I'm not even a Buddhist. I relate to your previous post but have trouble with the cerebration required for this one. I appreciate the work you do here.