Impermanence
by brother Kim
According to the Apostle Paul nobody should expect to be able to do
anything in permanent conflict with the truth. There is no higher way than the
truth (2. Corinthians 13:8). In certain cases it has nothing to do with
religion. Traditional Christian theology teaches, that man has an immortal
soul, and that unsaved men consequently will burn forever in Hell. Buddha
observed life and taught that man has no permanent soul (self). What is the
truth? Should we take a dogmatic stand and prioritize our teaching above
experience? It is better to approach the question of human immortality from
each side. For it could never be healthy, if religious teaching and experience
should contradict each other. If the perception of truth and reality contradict
each other, one or the other will have to be adjusted.
What is the Message from Experience?
Let's begin with the reality of the soul and ask, if man has a soul at
all? If this is the case, how should it be identified in us? Should the soul be
understood as an infinitesimal part of our being? Is there such permanent part
of us, which eventually could be reborn in the world or in heaven. Buddha
taught consistently about the non-permanent character of the self (Anicca) and
thereby he questioned the Hindu concept of personal reincarnation.
Historically, Buddha rejected the teaching about the individual self (atman) as
a permanent substance, which was the theoretical foundation for the yogi
through yoga to identify himself with God (Brahman). Atman is not Brahman.
Buddha is agreeing with the Christians that man is not divine.
Let's next listen to, what modern psychologists say about the existence
of a soul in man. It is ironic, that the science about the soul (Greek: Psyche)
not are concerned about the existence and the reality of the soul. There are,
however, alternative ways of perceiving the soul. On top of viewing the soul as
an infinitesimal part of man, the Greeks understood the soul as the total inner
reality of man, i.e. will, mind and emotions. But such solution is
rational-theoretical. It is therefore impossible to avoid the practical concept
of modern man, that the soul is identical with self. Everybody gets interested,
when the talk is about self-concept. In this we find most of the concerns of
the psychologists. For a human being is not necessarily able to understand
himself or his boundaries correctly. And man (and woman) truly suffers from
superiority- and minority-complexes. Buddha surprisingly understood this
correctly, when he rejected the human self-concept as a true self. Our
individual self-image might not be identical with our real self. For we have no
direct access to our self, we have to relate to our self through our
self-concept. Therefore, the mystery of the soul still remains for many.
What is taught in the Holy Scriptures?
There is no doubt that the traditional Christian theological view of the
immortal soul is insufficient. Since we can do nothing against the truth, it
should be investigated, if such view in reality is taught by the Holy
Scriptures of the Bible. What is taught and what is the foundation for the view
of the immortality of the soul? For me it is obvious that the Bible never
teaches about immortality of the soul. Firstly, to be created in the image of
God does not mean that all the divine attributes, including immortality, are
passed on to mere men (Genesis
On the contrary the Holy Scriptures of the Bible teaches a lot about
human mortality. God said to the first man that, if he ate of the fruit of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he should certainly die (Genesis
It is therefore not surprising that there is no blessing over any
teaching about immortality. For the lies of the Devil always leads to curses.
In Buddhism it is the continued birth and rebirth, from which people need to
escape. In reality there is really no need to bother. In the West people are
troubled about the eternal suffering of the unsaved souls in Hell. It might
even be a beloved husband, wife, son or daughter. But God is not unjust so that
he should punish humans forever. Man should only consider that there is no
permanent life in him. Therefore for the one, who understands that life is
temporary and doesn't look to God for life, such man will soon face the end through
old age, sickness and death. Man is made to live and die once, and then to meet
final and irrevocable judgement (Hebrews