Professor Thomas Maher
This will be an open discussion led by the moderator, but he will first
try to provide a brief sketch of the universe in which we now find ourselves.
Recent reseach in astronomy strongly suggests that the galaxies, instead
of slowing down as previously thought, are actually moving faster and
farther away from each other because of newly discovered anti-gravitational
forces. Rather than a "big crunch," it seems that the galaxies
will gradually drift into nothingness as "dark matter" and "dark
energy" occupy more of the universe than observable matter. If there
is to be no "big crunch," will there be another "big bang?"
This is not a "Stephen King novel," but a koan that forces us
to ask why we are here. In an attempt to answer the question, the moderator
will lead a practical discussion of "emptiness," the "three
poisons," the notion of "lakshana," the "six paramitas."
the nature of "generosity," the dynamic of "love,"
and other key concepts contained in
the Diamond Sutra. No attempt will be made to answer the question contained
in the title until the conclusion of the discussion.
