..續本文上一頁 of these arise from our likes and dislikes, or as the Venerable Ajarn puts it, from the positive and the negative. These in turn are products of ignorance, of not understanding life as it really is. Whenever ignorance reigns in our hearts, there will always be desire, attachment, ego, and selfishness. Through them we try to manipulate, control, and dominate Nature.
Worldly Power seeks to manipulate and dominate others in order to get what it wants. It always tries to run the show. It is inherently violent, although few have the sensitivity to see it as such. Any actions carried out by and for Worldly Power, as well as the beliefs and attitudes which justify them, are the meaning of “unnatural.” Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has tried his best to abandon such Worldly Power in order to be “natural” and serve Dhamma.
To experience in our every breath that we are nothing but Nature and that Natural Law runs the show is wisdom. With this wisdom we can respond to life peacefully and with the deepest love. We no longer fight things, but find out where, when, and how we can aid and support the natural development of things. We don”t give any self-importance to this help because we know that what little intelligence and ability we have comes from Dhamma.
I can only guess whether these words have any meaning for you or not. I suspect that they may conflict with the theories you learned in medical school. My own upbringing and education in the West taught me perspectives and ways of thinking which don”t fit very well with the Dhamma principles discussed above. From what I have seen, the medical science practiced here is based on those same Western perspectives and ways of thinking, that is, those which are Cartesian, dualistic, materialistic, mechanistic, and reductionistic. Nonetheless, I know that you are intelligent, decent people. Thus, I have faith that you can understand some of what I am trying to explain. Anyway, it”s right in front of our noses, plain and clear for all those who would “see”.
To make myself more clear, please allow me to apply these principles more directly to our situation here. Any action which seeks to overpower or control Nature is unnatural. Medical science which tries to control bodily functions and conditions through drugs and technology is unnatural. A mentality that speaks of “fighting disease,” “controlling vital signs,” and “winning” is unnatural. Yet these are common in the modern medical world. Even Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu has been subjected to them. I do not claim that these things are “wrong,” but they don”t fit very well with Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu”s understanding and teaching concerning Dhamma and Nature.
On the other hand, it is possible that modern medical science can adapt its knowledge, experience, skills, and technology to work with Nature rather than fight it. In fact, there are increasing attempts to do so, attempts which appreciate the role of the mind in all forms of illness and healing, which see life holistically and organically. Some medical fields are more in harmony with Nature and Dhamma than others. Others, especially the most invasive and hi-tech dependent, have a way to go before they can harmonize with Dhamma.
The Venerable Ajarn”s advice is that doctors learn to adjust to Nature and its Law. This requires that doctors discover that nature is not primarily materialistic, which means they must unlearn the basic philosophy underlying their profession. Your words and actions reveal a belief that matter is more fundamental than mind; I have yet to hear any serious discussion of the mind”s role in healing. In Buddhism, however, mind is first, foremost, and most fundamental. Further, doctors must shift from a paradigm of control and domination to one of cooperation, part…
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