I'm an atheist. That should be no
surprise for anyone who knows me. I dabbled a little with religion
and found I had very little interest in any of those belief systems I
tried to understand and incorporate into my world. I got a little
closer to spirituality, thinking for a while that it was the
organization and structure of religion that stood in the way. That
really didn't work out either, but I did learn to appreciate benefits
of seeing humans as part of something larger. It fit well with my
understanding of environment, evolution and belief that we are,
indeed, part of the web of life. Many trips to the wilderness and
maybe a little bit of time spent under the influence of things that
allowed me to believe in things that can't really be seen may have
helped a little there as well. But in a life where I've celebrated
with family and friends the same music and food and sporting events
and politics and concern for the welfare of others managed to
illustrate that there are common bonds that humans share.
But all of that is just prologue to the
point, if there is one, of this note. While wandering the world of
Eastern religious belief it's not unusual to run into the concept of
reincarnation. Buddhist teaching tell us that we are on this wheel
time and time again as we attempt to improve our soul and earn our
ticket off. Reincarnation isn't a reward, but a continuation of the
struggle not being able to attain Nirvana or a real understanding of
the nature of existence. Some would suggest struggle is the wrong
word, but for those who feel they've come to understand why we exist
and what the purpose of life actually is, they would have to be
pretty convinced they were being punished when they are sent back to
ride the wheel around one more time. Now I'm not going to claim I
have any insight on what the ride is all about. However be sure to
keep your head and arms inside the ride at all times, just to be
safe. I'd be a bigger liar than I already am if I didn't admit I've
had times when I've thought about the possibility of reincarnation.
It is an interesting concept. Normally we play with it, not as a way
to evaluate how we are progressing spiritually toward that ultimate
understanding of reality but more as a wishful exercise in how we may
become immortal. By the way, that desire for immortality will
probably get you back on the wheel again, so if you are looking to
get off, stay away from that one.
I don't understand all the dynamics,
conditions and limits to reincarnation, but as I said there have been
times when I've explored a possible future path that included various
additional spins around the old cosmic block. It's actually quite a
fun game to play, sometimes. At least until you get to that part
where you have to acknowledge the realities of life, regardless of
circumstance, gender or species. If you take it past the purely
superficial where the future you is a super-model, leader of your
favorite NFL franchise, extremely wealthy entrepreneur, lion or wolf.
Of course I left out the sickly child born into poverty in the slums
of Lagos, Mumbai or Los Angeles, the starving dog on the streets of
Tijuana or the lab rat. None of us has done so poorly to end up in
any of those situations, right? And we ignore the fact that those
first picks will also suffer and die, maybe the super-model will have
organ failure from the years of not eating properly, the athlete
might end up with early dementia from repeated head injuries, the
entrepreneur suffering from liver failure and the lion and wolf
scraping to find enough to eat in a depleted and altered habitat or
maybe end up in a poorly run zoo. Not really the kind of fun we
think about when we play the old reincarnation game, so I won't talk
about any of those things.
My fantasy has a few steps in it and
somehow they all keep me in this region. So play along with me as I
plan something well beyond my control as I make a few draft picks in
the Fantasy Reincarnation Lottery, first up, next life will be a
raven;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raven
- the one after that coyote;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote
- and then bristlecone pine tree;
Of course all of these may end up
having their lives changed by climate change or other more direct
human behaviors. But the image of a raven gliding along, wingtips
inches from slot canyon walls, croaking and pinging above the heads
of hikers has stayed with me for quite a while. Studies suggest they
are an intelligent bird, crafty in it's own way and I'd like to think
it has a bit of a sense of humor. Coyotes padding along, trailing a
herd of deer or looking for handouts near a rest stop in Death
Valley, then singing at the moon later in the night also has a
slightly romantic image in my mind. The day to day focus on survival
for the individual and genetic drive to preserve the species would be
a nice extension beyond politics, entertainment and self-awareness.
Then the stability and amazing longevity of the bristlecone pine
would give a reincarnated soul plenty of time to search for that key
to the universal off-ramp. And evidently I'm not the only one with
that thought, take a few minutes, relax and listen to the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gTu18pgDwY
.
So there you have my preferred path for
the next several incarnations, but I understand the forces that
govern the Karmic recycling process pay little attention to what we
say, only what we do. Given my transgressions, weaknesses, lack of
faith and unwillingness to change away from comfortable patterns may
end up keeping me on the wheel as a human, housefly or Pomeranian for
a few more turns. Hell, with my track record I'll probably come back
as a member of congress. Maybe I'd better start working harder.
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