Prime Reality Pantheism/New Age Monism “The One” Monism “The One” Brahman has no attributes, indefinable Brahman has no attributes, indefinable New Age No transcendent God No transcendent God God is all and in all God is all and in all

External Reality Pantheism/New Age Universe flows out of Brahman Universe flows out of Brahman Matter is illusory Matter is illusory Hierarchy Hierarchy –Humans –Animals –Plants –Matter Altered state of consciousness is goal by use of mystical experiences Altered state of consciousness is goal by use of mystical experiences –Channeling –Spirit possession –Out of body experiences

Who is man? Pantheism/New Age Atman is the essence of each soul Atman is the essence of each soul Pass beyond self- awareness and be unified with The One Pass beyond self- awareness and be unified with The One Enlightened are closer to Brahman Enlightened are closer to Brahman Human potential is divine power within self Human potential is divine power within self Places great value on individual Places great value on individual Man is part of God Man is part of God

Knowledge? Pantheism/New Age Brahman is indefinable Brahman is indefinable No knowledge possible No knowledge possible Knowledge needs to be harmonized across the disciplines Knowledge needs to be harmonized across the disciplines –Ex. Science is both material and spiritual as in ESP

Morality, Right and Wrong? Pantheism/New Age Brahman is beyond good and evil. Brahman is beyond good and evil. Therefore, actions are not good or evil Therefore, actions are not good or evil Ethical conduct is a tool for becoming enlightened Ethical conduct is a tool for becoming enlightened Assume occultic view that evil is an illusion Assume occultic view that evil is an illusion Nothing is truer than anything else Nothing is truer than anything else Belief in absolute morality is wrong Belief in absolute morality is wrong

Death? Pantheism/New Age Cycle of life until enlightened – Nirvana Cycle of life until enlightened – Nirvana Karma – present fate Karma – present fate(pleasure/pain) Reincarnation – work out sin until reach Nirvana Reincarnation – work out sin until reach Nirvana Physical death is not the end of self Physical death is not the end of self

History? Pantheism/New Age Events and time are an illusion Events and time are an illusion Events come and go in a meaningless cycle Events come and go in a meaningless cycle Meaning is here and now Meaning is here and now We leave history behind We leave history behind Meaning is personal based upon life experiences Meaning is personal based upon life experiences

BUDDAHISM Prime Reality Prime Reality –Final reality is the Void, nothing that can be named or grasped –The Void is the origin of everything Who is man? Who is man? –Individual person is “not soul” –People are aggregation of previous individuals –Distinctions disappear

Eastern Thought Cyclical history Cyclical history Paths that cross Paths that cross Doctrines that disagree Doctrines that disagree Evil that is good Evil that is good Knowledge that is ignorance Knowledge that is ignorance Time that is eternal Time that is eternal Reality that is unreal Reality that is unreal Holds out the promise of peace, meaning and significance.

Irrationality Irrationality –Reason is not a category, rejected Loss of morality Loss of morality –Duality, both/and Inconsistency Inconsistency –Consistency is no virtue but by reason –I’m not yet perfect –Meditation is the answer, I cease acting West meets East