We're aware that we are aware

February 5, 2001

Shortus, I think I understand the basis

for your remark about Buddha's knowledge. I think it

is the anger of holy wars committed in the name of

advancing Buddhism that gets to you. I deplore the fact

that genocides and atrocities were committed in this

hemisphere similarly in the name of Christianity. I

seriously doubt Jesus, or Buddha or Mohammad or any of the

great prophets or holy men would have wanted wars to

advance their causes. And if they did, then I would have

no respect for them. Your comments about

current scientific knowledge are acknowledged, although I

think there's a lot to be said about using empirical

evidence about the body gathered over thousands of year -

like what the Chinese and eastern traditions have done

and created health systems based upon that knowledge.

I have personally seen acupuncture work. I won't

say it's appropriate for everything, but neither is

conventional medicine the best choice for all things either.

My biggest concern is we're throwing away some good

knowledge in the zeal to embrace the new scientific

environment. There should be room for both. I do find

it difficult to understand the significance of the

point you're trying to make about animals'

consciousness. I once heard Deepak Chopra state that human

consciousness is different because, in his words, we're the

only species that is aware that it is aware. It was

said in a general and spiritual sense, not in the

context of animal cruelty. I don't think I fully

understand the remark and I do not feel we can dismiss

animals as having no conscious. It would be interesting

to hear more about this subject though.

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