We are relative beings, in that we exist in relation to external factors, such as other people, our environment, our knowledge, the media, etc. Above us are the sun, the sky, the stars, the clouds, ideals, saints, the truth. Below us is the earth, the grass, the rocks, the roots of plants, and air is all around us at all times.
We are generally taught in this modern society that no one is perfect. But then there are several religions which disagree; they say that Jesus is perfect, that Buddha is perfect, that Allah is perfect, that Krishna is perfect. Some say that there are others who followed these teachers who also became perfect, such as Dostoevsky, Milarepa, or saints in other religions.
I would like to talk about some ideas, and I will begin with some Buddhist teachings. I will use several examples from Buddhist scriptures. The question for us is that if we exist as relative beings, then what is truth?
Everyone is searching for God. Some do not know it, but they are. God is the answer to our equation; service to God is service to humanity in a way that awakens its spiritual consciousness.
In Buddhist scriptures, it says that Buddha is identical to the cosmos, it also says that Buddha is identical to the realm of reality. It says in Buddhist scriptures that you do not need to travel anywhere to see Buddha, you can stay exactly where you are and see Buddha. This is true, although seeing Buddha is not possible unless one is very far advanced.
Some people think that Buddhists are atheists, but this is not true; a Buddhist would tell you that atheist is an incorrect term to call a person; that no person can be an atheist; to call one such would be false labeling. And secondly, as it is said that Buddha is identical to the realm of reality, it would not make sense to say this; because one form of God is the universe, is reality.
George Harrison explained in an interview:
As GOD is unlimited, HE has many Names.
Allah-Buddha-Jehova-Rama
All are KRISHNA, all are ONE.
We exist in relation to Buddha, as well as to other beings. Buddha is the cosmos, and we are an infinitesimal part and parcel of the cosmos. Buddha is the realm of reality, and we are infinitesimal part of reality. But sometimes we do not feel as enlightened as Buddha? I will explain.
Reality is the question here, it is one which is not so well understood. Buddha is reality, and we are part of reality; we are part of Buddha. Likewise, Buddha is part of us.
Buddha is invisible, and reality is also invisible. By logic, it is very simple to say that we exist in reality; but we don't feel like we do, we don't feel enlightened. However if we realized the very simple truth that we exist in relation to God, that we exist to serve God, then we would understand that God is right here with us, always. God, Krishna, Allah, Buddha, is with us at all times, because we are part of Him, and He is part of us. We exist in relation to all of these different elements; but foremost and above all, we exist in relation to God. When a person dies, do they merge into Brahman? Do they become reincarnated? These are questions which can only be answered by the universe, at the time of death. The saints and holy teachers, however, say that if we are God-conscious, then we can experience something greater than simply merging into God's impersonal effulgence, that we can experience God right now.