My Understanding about Gods

As soon as one mentions gods, those people who do not believe in gods will think of superstitions, fantasies, a yearning for beautiful pursuits, incredible stories, and wishes to seek for mental solace. They don’t think gods truly exist. Even for those who believe in gods, their feelings for gods only amount to deep admiration, worship and respect. Although they believe in gods, they are not necessarily clear on what gods really are, and what being one means. Therefore, modern people have an unclear understanding about gods. They certainly do not have a realistic concept and feeling, they feel that it is illusory and mystical, and treat it as a kind of fable or preaching that the ancients have passed down. They are not really clear on what a god is. This is one of the major reasons that modern people cannot truly know and believe in gods deep in their hearts. Then what are gods? Why does the world have the terms “gods” and “Buddha”? The following is my personal understanding on this issue.

I watched a documentary film when I was in college, which was made by a group of Germans. It is about explorations and contemplation of some mystical phenomena on earth. There was a true story in the movie about an African tribe in the 80's. They worshipped an object woven of branches and weeds that resembled a World War II fighter aircraft . They treated it as a god, because in their minds it was a god. Why? During World War II, a fighter aircraft flew down to that place, and later flew away. For the inhabitants of such a primitive, isolated tribe, this was simply inconceivable. They couldn’t imagine or do it. Therefore they thought the plane was a god.

We can see from this story that it is not a mysterious or fictitious thing for the concept of gods to form in people's minds. In people’s minds, gods are simply a kind of higher-level life with greater wisdom, nobility and ability.

Sakyamuni, Lao Zi, and Jesus are real historical figures. People think of Sakyamuni as a Buddha, of Lao Zi as a Tao, and of Jesus as God, because those beings’ moral character, wisdom and ability greatly surpassed those of average peoples, or were even unimaginable for average people. From this standpoint, are gods still as mystical as they been viewed in people’s minds? The answer is No. Rationally speaking, the existence of this kind of life cannot be denied. Who can deny the existence of a life at a higher level? Humans just don’t come into wide contact with them. But the existence of these people in history confirms this point.

In Chinese, someone with great capability who does something that everyday people believe to be unthinkable and unimaginable is called “godlike.” Actually, this person has simply reached a certain level that is beyond everyday people through certain means and efforts. When something surpasses people's conventional understanding, people use “godlike” to describe it. In fact, gods are certainly not inconceivable. As long as a person can achieve that sort of realm, he or she is a Buddha or Tao. Then, is there really a way and means for people to perceive that level? Yes, there is and it is called cultivation practice. There is a detailed description about this in the first chapter in Zhuan Falun: “One can develop supernormal abilities through cultivation practice. In the world today, six supernormal abilities are recognized, yet they are not limited to these alone. I would say that over ten thousand genuine supernormal abilities exist. As a person sits there, without moving his hands or feet, he is able to do what others cannot do even with their hands and feet, and he can see the actual truth of each dimension in the universe. This person can see the truth of the universe and things that an everyday person cannot. Isn’t he a person who has attained the Tao through practicing cultivation? Isn’t he a great enlightened person? How can he be considered the same as an everyday person? Isn’t he an enlightened person through cultivation practice? Isn’t it correct to call him an enlightened person? In ancient Indian language he is called a Buddha.”

Therefore, as to those who don’t believe in gods, they are either not clear what gods are, or they don’t believe in the existence of any method that can help an ordinary person sublimate and turn into a person with greater wisdom, nobility, and capabilities. Such a person is actually a Buddha, Tao, or god. In fact, at present, over a hundred million Falun Dafa practitioners around the world are practicing this great magnificent cultivation practice. Achieving such an immense change is certainly not an easy thing for anybody. In addition to a clear rational understanding and upright faith, one has to put one’s belief into actions and cultivate solidly. This is not something beyond one’s reach . One can do it if he or she really wants to. “The path for cultivating gong lies in one's heart. The boat to sail the boundless Dafa rides on hardships.” (From “Falun Dafa” in Hongyin, Master Li’s Book of Poetry) An average person may become a god, and it only depends on whether he or she can obtain the Fa and practice It. Actually, being a god is just that simple.

For those friends who don’t believe in gods, what do you think about this?

Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/1/20/13434.html