Unconsciously I've been talking about ideas that I first learned from
E. F. Schumacher back in 1973 back when I read his book "small is
beautiful." He also wrote another book that kind of explained the 3
bodies.
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Is_Beautiful
and:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Guide_For_The_Perplexed#Levels_of_being
Schumacher agrees with the view that there are four kingdoms:
* Mineral
* Plant
* Animal
* Man
Schumacher argues that there are critical differences of kind between
each level of being. Between mineral and plant is the phenomenon of
life, As Schumacher says though scientists say we should not use the
phrase 'life energy', the difference still exists and has not been
explained by science. Schumacher points out that though we can
recognise life and destroy it, we can't create it. Schumacher notes
that the 'life sciences' are 'extraordinary' because they hardly ever
deal with life as such, and instead content themselves with analysing
the "physico-chemical body which is life's carrier." Schumacher goes
on to say there is nothing in physics or chemistry to explain the
phenomenon of life.
For Schumacher, a similar jump in level of being takes place between
plant and animal, which is differentiated by the phenomenon of
consciousness. We can recognise consciousness, not least because we
can knock an animal unconscious, but also because animals exhibit at
minimum primitive thought and intelligence.
The next level, according to Schumacher, is between Animal and Man,
which are differentiated by the phenomenon of self consciousness or
self awareness. Self consciousness is the reflective awareness of
one's consciousness and thoughts.
Schumacher realizes that the terms - life, consciousness and
self-consciousness - are subject to misinterpretation so he suggests
that the differences can best be expressed as an equation which can be
written thus:
* 'Mineral' = m
* 'Plant' = m + x
* 'Animal' = m + x + y
* 'Man' = m + x + y + z
He went on to explain how these really can be thought of as dimensions
of being. Each "containing" the lower ones. Rather like Ichinen sansen.
I don't agree with everything he said, but it is all illuminating to
read and his economic theories are vastly superior to supply side,
objectivist, or "Libertarian/Austrian school" theories.
Chris
Posted by cholte at February 26, 2008 09:54 PMChris,
I read A geography of human life, by Makiguchi and he addresses these same issues except he notes that all life is equal and each element contains all life, equally, true ichinen sanzen.
As Sensei Makiguchi says, 'In observing our own backyard, we can observe the entire universe!'
I think each component of life; mineral, plant, animal, man; all equally contain life at the same levels, and not as Schumaker expresses.
Nichiren calls it the true aspect of all phenomena. The true aspect being myoho; mystic/wonderful law; and all phenomena being renge; simultaneity of cause and effect.
Whether we possess the inner resolve to observe this phenomena is all about the our own life-state, I think.
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick at February 29, 2008 05:12 PMOf course Patrick. Great minds think alike, and Makiguchi was on his road that led to Buddhism where he found that Nichiren and Dengyo before him had come to virtually the same idea. We keep thinking we are inventing the wheel, when the wheel was set up long ago, possibly before any of our ancestors were done brachiating through canopies or calling to one another across dales and rivers. All it took was someone to discover the wheel to get it turning.
Ichinen sanzen is one way to express the interpolatedness and complexity of not just the material world we live in but our own inner worlds and the shared "innerness" of the human race.
Looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing. It's on it's way.
Posted by: joe at March 7, 2008 10:18 AM