Heaven - Explained Through Integrated Eastern Philosophy

I've always wonder how heaven looks like. This chapter is probably the best description out there.

According to Profound Truths of Heaven's Tao, a book of integrated Eastern philosophy, this common sighting is a view of a lower heaven. Photo by Anton Repponen on Unsplash

Chapter 1 – Heaven

from "Profound Truths of Heaven's Tao"

A Book of Integrated Eastern Philosophy

Non-Dual Eternal Mother imparts: Before the universe, there was just chaos. Then, lighter things rose up to create space for the sun, moon, stars, and planets to find their places. This vast expanse can hold everything, and it is called Heaven or the Great Sphere. Earth is just one of many planets. When people look up from Earth, they see Heaven all around them. It is where the immortals live and is often called paradise or Heaven's kingdom. The essence of Heaven forms to make the sun, moon, stars, and plants. Once they are made, they keep moving.

Heaven also has thirteen levels, with thirty-six smaller levels. Above these is the realm of nonduality—unity and oneness. Inside these levels is the realm of duality. The I Ching says: "Non-duality" gives rise to "duality," then "duality" leads to the "two modes," and then the "two modes" lead to the "four forms." This shows how Heaven makes and supports all things.

Beyond the universe is a state of nonduality. The universe has six directions: above, below, east, south, west, and north. These directions stand for Heaven, Earth, and the four sides of the world. "Duality" means Heaven and Earth. Before they were split, there was only formless chaos, called the Great Beginning or Unity. The "two modes" are Heaven and Earth, and the "four forms" are metal, wood, water, and fire, which come from the balance between Heaven and Earth.

Heaven is also split into five zones: east, west, south, north, and center. These zones are part of the thirteen levels of Heaven. Each zone has a gate, but only the South Heavenly Gate is open and leads to the world. Saints and Buddhas pass through this gate while the other gates - east, west, north, and central - stay closed. Because of this, the Three Honorable and Five Elders, along with the Taiyi Golden Sages, live beyond the universe. The Ancient Golden Sages, full of life, rest in Heaven. All divine beings call this place Heaven. As the saying goes, "The great heaven and fine earth—they know and respond." Since the universe is a natural space, it has other names like Heaven's way, Heaven's will, Heaven's nature, and Heaven's heart.

Human souls come from Heaven and are born into the world. When people pass away, their souls are meant to return to their home in Heaven. Sadly, since the dawn of humankind, many have become lost in things like fame, personal gain, substance abuse, sexual misconduct, wealth, and anger. Driven by greed, some commit terrible crimes and stay stuck with bad choices that pain them. They reach a point where they feel helpless and forget their real home in Heaven, ultimately ending up in hell. This tragic fate is not because Heaven is cruel but because of the choices people make and their unwillingness to change. What more can be said? An old saying goes, "Those who follow Heaven will thrive; those who fight it will fall."

The "vast and far sky" means Heaven. It is the source of all things and keeps everything going. A Confucian saying goes, "Heaven always renews and improves." Heaven's power is unmatched; it stands for justice, purity, and goodness and is a model for all to follow.

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天道奧義

第一章　天

無極老母曰：混沌初開，氣之輕清，上浮者為天，日月諸星羅列其間，天無所不覆，無所不容，故，天之號，又曰大圜。地球亦諸星之一，人在地球視天，見為天體所包圍，乃自然之天也。天是神仙所居，故有天堂天國之稱。天之精華，凝結而為日月星辰，成象既著，功用乃行。

天有十三層天，由十三層天再分為三十六天，天外之天，謂之「無極」，天內之天，謂之「太極」，故有「無極」生「太極」。「太極」生「兩儀」。「兩儀」生「四象」。所以，天能生萬物，也能養萬物者也。

六合之外、謂之「無極」，六合者，上下東南西北，即天地四方也。「太極」謂天地，未分之前，元氣混而為一，即太初、太一也。「兩儀」，即天地也。「四象」乃金木水火之謂也。金木水火乃稟天地而有者也。

天分為東、西、南、北、中天，均屬十三層天之內，雖各有天門，但僅啟開南天門，有路直通凡塵，諸聖佛仙神，均由南天門出入，其它東西北三大門，均被封閉，不與凡塵接觸。故三清五老，太乙金仙，神超於六合，斂氣於三界之古老金仙，皆逍遙自在於天界也。凡天神，省稱曰天，如云：皇天后土，天知地和。因天是自然之天，故有天然、天命、天性、天心之謂也。

人之靈，皆由天而降生於凡塵，故死後，其靈應歸回故鄉之天。怎奈，人自降生於花花世界，多數為名、利、酒、色、財、氣所迷，更為貪欲所驅使而無惡不作，甘願墜落於苦海之中，不能自拔，致忘記回歸故鄉之天，而墜落於地獄，此非天心不仁，實世人自甘墜落，夫復何言乎？所謂：順天者昌，逆天者亡也。

玄穹彼蒼，是上天之稱，天乃主宰宇宙萬物，化育群生，生生不息，所謂：天行健，自強不息。天是奇妙不可解？是威力最強大的。天為公正、純潔、至善，一切以天為標榜。

Note: This draft is my humble attempt, and it will be finalized at a later date.

Updated on December 8, 2024