Circles of enlightenment

Description:

The use of the circle to indicate the contents of enlightenment is common in Zen teaching. In particular, the five stages of a disciples way can be represented by: (1) A black disc with a white section at the bottom, indicating the lord looking down on the servant; (2) A white disc with a black section at the bottom, indicating the disciple himself as the willing servant; (3) A white disc with a black dot at the centre, where the disciple realizes he is peripheral to the lord; (4) A totally white disc, where he realizes he is within the lord; and (5) An all black disc, where the servant has become lord, they are all one and in complete unity. The stages are realized in each disciple's life but cannot be known until they are experienced, when they are recognized.

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The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

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Circles of enlightenment

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA