Radiating Vibrations and Cosmic Influence
by Roshi Hogen Berman

One of the most wonderful aspects of Buddhist doctrine is that it recognizes 10,000 truths and followers may have 10,000 understandings.

In some minor way the butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon jungle may very well influence the weather in Manchuria -- I say may -- because the breeze it stirs up may run into a cross wind on the way and be lost in the turmoil. I do feel certain though that the leaf next to the butterfly, so to speak, being at what might be called the epic center, was certainly disturbed or influenced to a much higher degree than the weather in Manchuria -- or for that matter Peoria, Illinois, USA.

This development is equally applicable relative to our individual Karmas (volitional actions) and most certainly to the Vipakas (effects of our actions) we experience. Certainly they are influenced by an infinite number of other cosmic interconnected causes because we are, in an absolute sense, one with the whole. Our personal Karmas also radiate out from us and have their influence on the Vipakas in the universe -- but perhaps only as much -- outside of our broad community -- as the wind from the butterfly's wings on the weather in Manchuria.

We are all familiar with the vibrations set up by earthquakes. Often when there is an earthquake in Alaska, they have Tsunamis (tidal waves) in Japan and Hawaii. Usually they are smaller in Hawaii and much larger in the Japan, because the latter is closer to the epic center of the quake and the vibrations sent forth are much stronger. Thus the probability of a Tsunami and the potential danger in Japan from an Alaskan earthquake is much greater than in Hawaii.

So it goes with my Karmas. True my actions affect the universe, but the further the radiating energy is from the center of action, the weaker the effect will be. I believe this so strongly that I cannot find time to worry about the global impact of my actions. If I think about burning green tree branches and leaves in my back yard -- I find myself unconcerned about the impact on the world and the global warming effect or pollution of the atmosphere etc., however, I am concerned about the smog and the good health of the living beings in my immediate community and because of that concern, I would not burn the leaves or green wood.

Piyadassi Maha Thera once wrote a small pamphlet addressing this type of thinking. He called it, "Protection." If we concern ourselves with protecting ourselves and our immediate loved ones -- that is all that is necessary -- because that self protection will radiate out to those in our home, our neighbors, and on into an ever expanding community -- thus, perhaps eventually, it may have a small cosmic impact. Using this criteria, if I avoid anger, coveting, selfishness, sexual misconduct, or in anyway bringing harm to all other beings I bring equanimity into my life by protecting myself from the ill effects of these thoughts and actions. Concurrently I protect the community from any unwholesome thoughts and actions I might have entertained.

I should point out that I have little trust in the theories of physicists. I think I recall reading somewhere that one of their theories is that all things that exist are products of the mind and therefore subject to question. If that is so -- then the mind and that thought or theory are also products of the mind and no more valid than anything else one may produce with the mind.

The moral of this posting is that we should each exert all of our effort to make ourselves honest and wholesome human beings. If we do this each moment of our lives, we immediately protect ourselves from the ravages of our own Karmas and concurrently we protect an ever-widening circle of the world community that we live in. Eventually we influence the universe with the vibration emanating from our actions -- like the fluttering of a butterfly's wings.

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