Take a few paragraphs to describe a perfect world

(This is in response to the Questions and Reflections for March 25, 2007)

In the two truths doctrine of Buddhism there are two levels of truths, or expressions of reality: the relative and the absolute. The relative is the ever-changing nature of reality, and the absolute is the ground in which everything and nothing happens (so they say). The absolute is unfathomable to grasp because it can never be imagined. Whatever we think of the absolute, it's not it. Still we try. But if there is such a thing as perfection, only the absolute deserves to be described as such, because being perfect means being imperfect at the same time.

It is easy for us to proclaim (or imagine) that the world is perfect as it is -- that we are aware of living in every moment. It is easy to project our ideals on what the absolute is. But from what level of consciousness are we proclaiming this insight? I leave that for you to decide.

My take is that the injunction “describe a perfect world” stems from a dualistic (read: relativistic) notion, so I will answer it in a relativistic fashion.

Yes, we (the whole of humanity) are doing better now, historically speaking. But we can do much better! And we should. And we would. Because it is in our nature to push the limits of our individual and collective boundaries. And since the idea of perfection is always projected somewhere into the imagined future, allow me to describe my humble version of a Utopian vision.

There will always be suffering and pain in the relative world, because it is through suffering and pain that we learn. So I equate “perfection” with the ability to quickly adapt to change with less (not absence of) suffering as much as possible.

Thus, a perfect world to me is a world where:

– human societies develop spontaneously in freedom with minimal harm to the environment, other creatures, and especially to each other

– people settle disputes by diplomatic means instead of bombing each other

– religious differences are tolerated yet dogma is thrown away whenever it cannot withstand the rigorous test of scientific inquiry

– spirituality, the arts, sciences, and morals are taught as complimentary modes of knowing in schools, colleges, universities, and corporate boardrooms

– morality and ethics could easily catch up with technological breakthroughs and innovation

– poverty is nothing but a distant nightmare

– the inner sciences and exterior technology would enable us to travel to distant stars, as well as to the depths of our own individual and collective psyches, in order to fulfill our destiny, which is: to explore and evolve into Infinity.

In the relative world, we'll always strive for perfection yet we would never attain it, because everything that happens unfolds as it is, in all Its glory and imperfection.