Science of the Buddhist account of Genesis

S. H. J. Sugunasiri; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

PHOTONS: fluorescence and scattering light in a calcite crystal (Jan Pavelka/Wiki)

Dhamma Aboard Evolution: A Canonical Study of Agganna Sutta in Relation to Science

Dhamma Aboard Evolution

Author Suwanda H. J. Sugunasiri in Dhamma Aboard Evolution [The Buddha's Dharma or Teachings aboard the Theory of Evolution] seeks to establish that Section 10-16 of the Aggañña Sutta ["A Buddhist Genesis" or "On Beginnings"] of the "Long Discourses of the Buddha" (Dīgha Nikāya) is no "satire" or "parody," as interpreted by some Buddhist scholars.

Drawing on Buddhist cosmology, Darwinism, psychology (e.g., Freud, Piaget), and linguistics, the book paints a historically and scientifically accurate picture of devolution and evolution, going beyond the Big Bang, in which sentient beings emerge along with their latent defilements of craving and passion, nourished by evolving [adapting] plant life.

What if this sutra actually agrees with science?

Compatible with Western science, the breakthrough comes when âbhassara brahma beings ("divinities" or supreme "shining ones") are taken to be PHOTONS, interpreting the Dharmic religion word âbhassara in a literal etymological sense of "hither-come-shining-arrow."

As accurate as the picture may be, the Buddha’s point, however, is that knowledge of the Dharma (Pali Dhamma) overrides it all, explaining the title.

Resolved in the study are a "chronological paradox" relating to lingua [tongue or language] appearing in earthling beings before linga [phalluses] and a "spiritual paradox" of meditative absorption (jhāna) level âbhassara beings still indulging in sex.

• [EDITORIAL COMMENT: These are neither paradoxes nor contradictions. The light body "shining" beings that alighted on the planet, which may have been photons, could speak. Only later did they develop a desire or need for sexual organs such as the lingam or yoni. And while it is true that for a being to be reborn in the (celestial) âbhassara plane of existence, proficiency in one of the jhanas ("meditative absorptions") is necessary, it is not the case that a being stays in that absorptions throughout the lifespan there or even necessarily has the ability to again attain that absorption or at what depth and duration. It seems as if the author is making bad assumptions or simply enjoying his clever alliteration.]

Among other topics treated are the Vedic creation myth, the intended audience for the discourse (two former Brahmins who are now Buddhist monk wandering ascetics), and the structure of the full sutra (discourse) – which is not a Jātaka ("Rebirth Tale") but the Beast fable of Pañcatantra fame.

The Appendix shows the Buddha as the originator of this story within a literary genre.

Going beyond the sutra is an invitation to an "Academically Engaged Buddhism," taking "trust in the Buddha" as a methodological imperative, just as "trust in God" was for Western science from Ancient Greek times up until Einstein.

WHO were the celestial beings who alighted on ancient earth?

The ābhassara brahmas may well refer to photons as the author argues, but generally the word is understood to refer to a class of brahmas (divinities, gods, supremos, superior to ordinary "shining ones" or devas). More

Science of Eye Color: Blue-Eyed Buddha

TWF; Neil, facty.com, 3/28/22; Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Buddha was Central Asian, a Scythian/Iranian (Aryan) from Gandhara/Afghanistan (RS)

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The Buddha, a Scythian, had blue eyes and gold skin

Eye color has fascinated people throughout herstory. Myths and legends grew up around the rarer colors gracing the "windows to the soul."

Superstitions embedded in folklore -- such as the link between eye color and certain [psychic] abilities and personality traits -- survive into modern times [like envious green eyes on temperamental redheads], even though we now think that genetics determines eye color.

Science: ALL eyes are actually brown.

Scientific advancement has revealed that the genetics behind eye color are more complex than researchers first believed.

Eye color was once thought of as a basic Mendelian inheritance trait determined by one set of genes with dominant and recessive alleles.

• allaboutvision.com
• Eye color is a wide spectrum
• If you think you have blue eyes, they're actually brown and you just don't realize it
• 
  [The Buddha (formerly the Scythian Prince Siddhartha Gautama) had the "32 Marks of a Great Man," including the mark of a Dharma wheels on the soles of his feet, long digits, a lion-like torso, sensitive taste buds, evenly spaced white teeth, a very long tongue, long arms that reach his knees, very blue eyes (like ocean sapphire), and a sheath over his sexual organs (S.A. Mattice, 2021). The 29th mark is abhi-nīla-netto, "very blue eyes, like sapphire, eyes deep blue" (R.B. Epstein, 2012). Prince Siddhartha, who became the Buddha (the "Awakened One") at the age of 35, also had the 80 secondary characteristics.]

Eye color is an illusion of scattering light in the iris? (Farbverlauf Augenfarben/Wikipedia)

Not all ET hybridizations go well.

More recent research discovered that eye color does not follow classical inheritance patterns (nature.com):

Approximately 16 genes determine eye color, and genes are influenced by incomplete dominance and epistasis.

"Epistasis" means that a gene is affected by the expression of one or more additional (modifier) genes. In brief, eye color depends on many different genes and their effects on one another.

Redheads, though rare, are plentiful in media.

• But I have BLUE eyes! - No, you don't: The appearance of blue, green, and hazel eyes results from the Tyndall scattering of light in the stroma, a phenomenon similar to Rayleigh scattering, which accounts for the false blue color of the sky [5]. Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. It's an illusion. More

Blue is the rarest color. Ancients used Afghan lapis lazuli for eyes from the Buddha's country.

All eyes are brown, even the ones that appear blue, green, and gray: Science (CNN)

Every eye has a unique iris pattern that can be photographed and examined for health.

Meeks & Green: Eye color made all the difference for Black felon, Jewish billionairess, babies.

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Most beautiful man in the world: Jeremy Meeks

Human eye colors vary widely, with shades of brown, amber (yellowish), blue, gray, hazel, and green.

Cells called melanocytes in the iris (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) contain melanin pigment in their cytoplasm.

Eyes of any color contain the same number of melanocytes. Variations in the amount, distribution, and type of melanin pigments within melanocytes account for different colors. More

Future Buddha Maitreya will be Central Asian king

• Some people dream of success, while you wake up and work hard at it (incels.is - involuntary celibacy)
• Why everyone has brown eyes, even if they appear blue

Michio Kaku: "Time does NOT exist!" (video)

Future Space, May 26, 2023; Pat Macpherson, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Physics Prof. Michio Kaku: "Time does NOT exist! James Webb Telescope proves us wrong!"

(Future Space) Ever questioned what's truly out there in the cosmos, what mind-blowing mysteries the universe might be concealing? Well, viewers are in for a ride. Here is a revelation so colossal, it’s about to rewrite everything we thought we knew about the universe. Brace yourself, as the renowned American physicist Dr. Michio Kaku unveils a discovery that’s revolutionary. It was brought to light by the legendary James Webb Space Telescope, which proves that time does not exist. Ready to dive into a space-time riddle that turns the world upside down?

Decoding Principles of Hermetic Wisdom (video)

Decoding the Principles of Hermetic Wisdom with Robert Edward Grant

(Aubrey Marcus) Sept. 14, 2022. Aubrey Marcus Podcast Who was Hermes Trismegistus [Egypt's Thoth], and what are his teachings?

What can we learn today from this esoteric wisdom that has withstood the passage of time, kept alive for thousands of years? Polymath Robert Edward Grant is a wealth of wisdom in a great many fields, and today he comes on the podcast to explore these questions.

We dive into the seven hermetic principles as described by the Kybalion, one of the great foundational esoteric teachings, the source quotes such as "As above, so below."

As well as this deep dive into the Kybalion, Grant decodes other profound esoteric teachings rooted in ancient sources such as The Dead Sea Scrolls, The Book of Enoch, The Emerald Tablets, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and related works.

Timestamps

• 00:00- Intro
• 2:02- Who was Hermes Trismegistus?
• 15:16- The Principle of Mentalism
• 20:04- More on Hermes and Esoteric Teachings
• 32:33- Synchronicities
• 45:22- The Principle of Correspondence | As Above, So Below
• 1:11:10- The Principle of Cause and Effect
• 1:17:14- The Principle of Rhythm
• 1:27:00- The Principle of Vibration
• 1:36:30- Integrate Your Shadow | The Hero's Journey
• 1:48:04- Applying Hermetic Wisdom and Alchemy
• 1:57:30- Epic of Gilgamesh | Numerology | Esoteric Wisdom
• 2:01:04- The Principle of Gender
• 2:26:51- From the Age of Pisces to Aquarius
• 2:35:21- 7 Hermetic Principles Recap

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ABOUT THE PODCAST: Founder of Onnit and modern philosopher Aubrey Marcus asks the important questions: How do we find our purpose, wake up to who we truly are, have a few more laughs, and human being a little better? The Aubrey Marcus Podcast brings in world-class guests from the fields of athletics, health, business, fitness, science, relationship, and spirituality and asks them to open up about the failures and successes that define their wisdom and character. Follow on social to keep up with the latest and meet many of the incredible guests on the show.

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• Aubrey Marcus ► Fit For Service: fitforservice.com ► Own the Day, Own Your Life: bit.ly/2vRz4so ► Aubrey Marcus Podcast: apple.co/2ns8zFP ► Ayahuasca documentary: bit.ly/2OrNBTf ► Get 10% off all Onnit Products: bit.ly/3LMVArK ►Aubrey Marcus poetry: bit.ly/2My1ezC ► Aubrey Marcus binaural beats: bit.ly/2vVc3EC

#hermes #esoteric #ancientwisdom

Check out Code X on Gaia | gaia.com/series/code-x

LIVE EVENT: "The Divine Encryption with Robert Edward Grant" at GaiaSphere in Boulder, Colorado. Discount code: Summer (20% off). Event info: gaia.com/eventsplus/robert...

ONLINE COURSES: "The Etymology of Number" and "The Language of Light" Discount code: AUBREY10 (10% off) Website: robertedwardgrant.com/courses. Connect with Robert Edward Grant.

"The World Peace Diet" (Dr. Will Tuttle)

Dr. Will Tuttle (amazon.com); Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Wisdom Quarterly

The World Peace Diet: Eating for Spiritual Health and Social Harmony

(4.7 out of 5 stars, 186 ratings)

Former Zen Buddhist monk and vegan of 42 years Dr. Will Tuttle (worldpeacediet.com) has a 10th anniversary edition of his bestselling World Peace Diet (previously a number one best-seller on Amazon). It includes a new preface, new resources, and a study guide.

The World Peace Diet presents the outlines of a more empowering understanding of our world, based on the comprehending the far-reaching implications of our food choices.

Dr. Tuttle, Ph.D., offers a set of universal principles for all people of conscience that show how we as a species can move our consciousness forward: World Peace Diet (10th Anniversary Ed.)

Hitler's Secret Science: UFOs, weapons (doc)

The Secret Science of World War II (doc)

(Janson Media) Oct. 20, 2022. In the crucible of World War II, Nazi Germany’s most brilliant scientists raced to create an arsenal of terrifying American-style new weapons of mass destruction, even an atomic bomb like the one the USA would build and drop on innocent civilians in multiple cities, killing millions to terrify the world. Before the war ended, Nazis produced a series of technological firsts that were the basis for many modern-day air and spacecraft. This documentary highlights the inventions of heroic American Nazi Wernher von Braun, Werner Heisenberg, and many others. #documentary #worldwarii #history

String Theory and the End of Space and Time

Prof. Robbert Dijkgraaf, Flagey, 8/26/19; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

(Scienceandcocktails.org) In the framework of the largest string theory conference in the world, Strings 2019, "Science and Cocktails" [or Drunk Science] organized a special event at Flagey in Brussels.

OMG, you guys are drunk doing "science."

Sipping cocktails in a cheesy art-deco building with string theorist and science "superstar" Robbert Dijkgraaf [dick-graft] as he boasted about the fundamental laws of Nature. Afterwards, cellist and composer Benjamin Glorieux performed a musical piece together with invited guests commissioned for the occasion, while live-video artist Klaas Verpoest accompanied them with his visual magic. [One illusion deserves another.]

How many strings, 11...or 13? I think 13.

What is string theory? What happens to stuff that falls inside a black hole [assuming black holes exist, but there's math we say says they do]? What are the fundamental building blocks of space and time? [The Buddhists say kalapas, but science says it's sparticles and stuff.] Did Nature have any choice in picking the fundamental laws of physics? What is the role of mathematics in physics? This talk by Prof. Dijkgraaf was recorded on July 13, 2019.

• Science & Cocktails, Brussels scienceandcocktails.org/bxl
• Contact: bxl@scienceandcocktails.org
• Facebook.com/science... YouTube.com/playlist...

Winter Solstice 2019: Yule begins (video)

Weather.com; Amber Wells, Crystal Q., Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly, Dec. 21, 3019

Yule begins (Europe); Yaldā Night in Iran (post-Persia), Hanukkah begins at sunset (Judaism, 2019)

Krampus Xmas greeting card

YULE (Yuletide or "Yule time," "Yule season") is a festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples.

Scholars have connected the original celebrations of Yule to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the Pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht.

St. Nicolas and Satan/Krampus

Later departing from its pagan roots, Yule underwent Christianized reformulation, resulting in the term Christmastide.

Many present day X-mas customs and traditions such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing (Wassailing), and others stem from European Paganism, not Christianity. More

The winter solstice arrives today; here's what that means
Brian Donegan and Jonathan Erdman (weather.com)

Look at the Satan Claws, kids.

The winter solstice is this Saturday (Dec. 21st) in the Northern Hemisphere. Here's what that really means.

The winter solstice is just a moment in time, astronomically speaking. The least amount of possible daylight hours occurs on the winter solstice.

On Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, the winter solstice marks the official astronomical start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. However, many of you already have seen at least some cold and snow for weeks prior to the winter solstice. So let's walk through what the winter solstice actually means.

Shown above is the orientation of the Earth relative to the sun's most direct rays around the time of the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice.

Unquestionable "science" speculation:
"A tilted Earth gives us seasons"?

Looking from space the Earth isn't aligned in such a way that a line going through the planet's poles is vertical. Rather, the Earth has a tilt of roughly 23.5 degrees off a vertical axis.

Because of that tilt, the Northern and Southern hemispheres are tilted either toward or away from the sun at different times of the year as the Earth makes its orbit around its closest star.

Therefore, the most direct sunlight shifts between a band of latitudes, specifically between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, throughout the year, leading to the change of seasons seen in the middle and higher latitudes.

The sun's most direct rays are positioned over the Tropic of Capricorn on the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice.

The Solstice: One Moment in Time

This year rise above it: Meditate

Typically around Dec. 21 or 22 -- though on rare occasions, it can be as early as Dec. 20 or as late as Dec. 23 -- the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude).

That precise instant in time – in 2019, at 11:19 p.m. EST on Dec. 21 – is the solstice. Around the time of the winter solstice, the sun is farthest south in the sky at noon in the Northern Hemisphere.

Less direct solar radiation means less heating of the ground in the winter hemisphere. The day of the winter solstice features the least amount of possible daylight hours and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. The reverse is true in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Why winter should really start on December 1st

Below are some sunrise and sunset times for the winter solstice:

Soon after the winter solstice, the number of daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere will gradually grow longer each day until the summer solstice in late June, when the greatest amount of daylight hours occurs. More

• What is the winter solstice of 12/21/19? (latimes.com)

Science: Secret to Popularity discovered

Ellie Zolfagharifard (dailymail.com, 4/15/15); Crystal Q., Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

It's not about wearing the latest fashions but about having enough empathy to "read minds."

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There are Four Bases of Popularity

The secret of the popular kids: Researchers find "mind reading" abilities make children more likeable. The research looked at 20 separate studies involving 2,096 children.

Empathy [feeling others' feelings with them, what the Buddha referred to as mudita, "empathetic joy," "happiness in others' happiness"] was the common factor in making and maintaining friendships. This is especially true for girls, whose friendships usually involve more intimacy.

"Wipe your butt, Stinky." (The Rut)

It's not about wearing the latest fashion or being on the football team; the secret to being popular at school is "mind reading." This is according to an Australian study that found popular children are better at knowing what others want, think, and feel.

The same goes for pre-schoolers and young adults, suggesting that empathy is one of the most important skills for becoming part of the "cool crowd."

"Our study suggests that understanding others' mental perspectives may facilitate the kind of interactions that help children become or remain popular," said Virginia Slaughter, professor of psychology at the University of Queensland.

• "Tinder for stoners" goes global: High There!
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• Our politics are in our genes? Twin study suggests...

The ability to find out what other people are thinking and feeling is called "theory of the mind" and helps people distinguish, for instance, between sarcasm and insult.

While individual studies have shown an association with popularity in the past, this research looked across the findings of 20 different studies.

Together, the studies included 2,096 children from 2 to 10 years old from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. More

• Comments

The Penis Museum (cartoon)

Icelandic Phallological Museum (phallus.is/en); Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy; Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Vagina Museum Founder

The Icelandic Phallological Museum is probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic (dick, penis, schlong, cock, wiener...) specimens belonging to all the various types of mammals found in a single country.

Phallology is an ancient science which, until recent years, has received very little attention in Iceland, except as a borderline field of study in other academic disciplines such as history, art, psychology, literature, and other fields like music and ballet.

Scientific study of penises (images)

Now, thanks to The Icelandic Phallological Museum, it is finally possible for individuals to undertake serious study into the field of phallology in an organized, scientific fashion.

The Icelandic Phallological Museum contains a collection of more than 200 penises and penile parts belonging to almost all of the land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland. Visitors to the museum will encounter:

• 55 dick specimens belonging to 16 different kinds of whale,
• one specimen taken from a rogue polar bear,
• 36 specimens belonging to seven different kinds of seal and walrus, and
• more than 115 specimens originating from 20 different kinds of land mammal:
• all in all, a total of more than 200 dick specimens belonging to 46 different kinds of mammal, including that of modern humans (Homo sapiens).
• Besides, there are some 24 folklore penis specimens and
• over almost 50 foreign ones.
• Altogether the collection contains 282 dick specimens from
• 93 different species of animals.

In addition to the biological section of the museum, visitors can view a collection of about 350 artistic oddments and practical utensils related to the museum's chosen theme.

Name That Animal Penis:
Museum history in the founder's own words

Former exhibition room in Húsavík, 2008, phallus museum of Sigurður Hjartasson (Celander)

Seth MacFarlane knows Western culture.

The foundation was laid in 1974 when I got a "pizzle" or bull's penis.

As a child, I was sent into the countryside during summer vacations, and there I was given a pizzle as a whip for the animals.

Founder Sigurður Hjartarson

At that time in 1974, I was living in the town of Akranes on the southwest coast, working as the headmaster in a secondary school.

Some of my teachers used to work in summer in a nearby whaling station, and after the first specimen, they started bringing me whale penises, supposedly to tease me.

Then the idea came up gradually that it might be interesting collecting dick specimens from more mammalian species. More

• Were you touched by a penis-loving Catholic priest?
• Is Iceland part of Scandinavia? The surprising answer