Buddhism, chaos theory share spiritual parallels.Byline: FROM HEART TO HEART By Dr. Gary Young For The Register-Guard My career as an emergency physician caring for patients is based upon attention to small details. My faith as a Buddhist helps me to see the big picture in life - to find my personal unified theory Unified Theory may refer to:
The Buddhist teachings (or sutras) posit the existence of basic laws (or Buddhist dharma) governing life and our universe. The practice of Nichiren Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism One of the largest schools of Japanese Buddhism, founded by Nichiren. It believes that the essence of the Buddha's teachings are contained in the Lotus Sutra and that the beliefs of other Buddhist schools are erroneous. involves chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo - "devotion to the mystical law of cause-and-effect through voice." Nichiren, a Japanese priest, translated the title of Shakyamuni Buddha's Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra Text central to the Japanese Tendai (Chinese Tiantai) and Nichiren sects of Mahayana Buddhism. It represents the Buddha as divine and eternal, having attained perfect enlightenment eons ago. into Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. Today, members of Soka Gakkai Soka Gakkai (sō`kä gäk`kī) [Jap.,=Value Creation Society], Japan-based independent lay Buddhist movement. A theological offshoot of Nichiren Buddhism, it was founded (1930) as the Soka Kyoiku Gakkai [Value Creation Educational International chant chant, general name for one-voiced, unaccompanied, liturgical music. Usually it refers to the liturgical melodies of the Byzantine, Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches and is analogous to cantillation in Jewish liturgical music, Qur'anic chanting this phrase. The energy of our vocal sound vibrates with the universal law. Cause and effect also are basic medical science concepts: Good or bad health often depends upon good or bad personal habits. The Buddhist doctrine of dependent origination teaches that no being or phenomenon exists on its own; we exist or occur because of our relationships with others and our universe. A wise religious philosophy combines its innate compassion with current scientific knowledge. A wise doctor combines medical objectivity with the patient's subjective experience. Nichiren Buddhism is based upon three assumptions: Everything in the universe follows the dharma law; everyone possesses the potential to become the highest life condition or Buddhahood; humans can manifest their own highest life condition through chanting the law. I am at my best caring for a sick or injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. patient when I realize that we both possess a Buddha nature. Einstein, scientist and pacifist, wrote: "If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism." My career as a scientist and my faith as a Buddhist help me appreciate chaos theory chaos theory, in mathematics, physics, and other fields, a set of ideas that attempts to reveal structure in aperiodic, unpredictable dynamic systems such as cloud formation or the fluctuation of biological populations. . Chaos theory's beginning (1961): An American meteorologist works on a simple computer weather model, solving equations with three variables. A change in one of the three weather variables in the scientific equation causes unexpected results in the outcome of the weather - an example of a chaotic system. Chaos theorists predict that if a butterfly's wings stir the air in Asia, that the result will be a storm in the Americas. My personal parallel: A nurse shares her Buddhist faith with a young doctor; my goal of medical wisdom becomes eternally enhanced by bodhisattva bodhisattva (bō'dĭsät`wə) [Sanskrit,=enlightenment-being], in early Buddhism the term used to refer to the Buddha before he attained supreme enlightenment; more generally, any being destined for enlightenment or intent on compassion. Chaos theory clarifies the behavior of a complex system, such as the weather or the emergency room where I work. Life is unpredictable (like the next patient coming by ambulance), unperiodic (similar but not repeating, like Eugene's weather) and sensitive to initial conditions (our personal health and our spiritual philosophy). The hypothesis is that chaos is the essence of the universe; thus, our destiny is related to chaos. This unpredictability provokes anxiety, but it also can be a source of happiness. Through our prayers and actions, we can become more responsible for our future by creating a positive life condition out of our past or present chaos. Gary Young is a member of the Buddhist lay organization Soka Gokkai International. "Heart to Heart" is coordinated by Two Rivers Two Rivers, city (1990 pop. 13,030), Manitowoc co., E Wis., on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Twin River; inc. 1878. Two Rivers is closely associated with its twin city, Manitowoc, both of which are highly industrialized. Interfaith in·ter·faith adj. Of, relating to, or involving persons of different religious faiths: an interfaith marriage; an interfaith forum. Ministries, a network of more than 35 spiritual traditions in the Eugene-Springfield area. For more information, call 344-5693. |
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