Asked the student: "Wise man, you taught us that the creator made the universe. What did they use as source material? If the creator started existence, how can there be anything before that moment? Isn't that a paradox?"
Answered the teacher: "Why do you assume that the creation of our universe equals the starting point of existence? Stop assuming that, and your paradox will be no more."
Asked the student: "Then something existed before the universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Well, since we believe our creator is responsible for creating our universe, the logical conclusion must be that the creator existed first."
Continued the student: "Then I must ask again: what did they use as source material? If there was no universe, there also can't have been any matter."
Asked the teacher: "How is it you assume there was no universe before this one?"
Asked the student: "Are you implying that there were more universes than one?"
Answered the teacher: "You just answered your own question."
Insisted the student: "But where did those universes come from?"
Explained the teacher: "We believe they were created by previous creators."
Asked the student: "You mean there was more than one creator?"
Repeated the teacher: "Again, you answered your own question."
Asked the student: "Then where did those creators come from?"
Said the teacher: "Here we embark upon one of the mysteries of our faith. We believe that our creator emerged from the last universe, as from ours eventually a new creator will emerge."
Asked the student: "Emerged? How?"
Explained the teacher: "Remember our talks about reincarnation? How all creatures gather experience and energy, which they deposit while in transit between incarnations? That deposit will grow untill it reaches a critical mass. At that moment, from that deposit, the new creator will be born."
Asked the student: "That new creator... will they create a new universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Such is their purpose."
Continued the student: "Then what will happen to ours?"
Explained the teacher: "Science teaches us that matter cannot be created nor destroyed... but it can change form. Once our universe runs out, the new creator will take all of our universe and form it into a new universe."
Said the student: "And we would die. Why should we suffer for this new universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Well, if you expect to be alive at the end of times, maybe you will live through the reincarnation and see the birth of the new universe. I must say, that would be one awesome experience."
Insisted the student: "But it's unfair! The creator simply takes our lives and rearranges everything and creates this whole new universe! Don't we get any say in that?"
Sighed the teacher: "Again, you assume too much. How is it you believe divinity to be fair? And how is it that you believe divinity has a choice in the matter? And finally, how is it you believe we are unable of influencing the outcome?"
Surprised, the student asked: "We can influence the reincarnation of the universe? How?"
Answered the teacher: "By becoming deity ourselves, of course. But that is a whole new subject."
With that, the teacher left the student to ponder.
Asked the student: "Then something existed before the universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Well, since we believe our creator is responsible for creating our universe, the logical conclusion must be that the creator existed first."
Continued the student: "Then I must ask again: what did they use as source material? If there was no universe, there also can't have been any matter."
Asked the teacher: "How is it you assume there was no universe before this one?"
Asked the student: "Are you implying that there were more universes than one?"
Answered the teacher: "You just answered your own question."
Insisted the student: "But where did those universes come from?"
Explained the teacher: "We believe they were created by previous creators."
Asked the student: "You mean there was more than one creator?"
Repeated the teacher: "Again, you answered your own question."
Asked the student: "Then where did those creators come from?"
Said the teacher: "Here we embark upon one of the mysteries of our faith. We believe that our creator emerged from the last universe, as from ours eventually a new creator will emerge."
Asked the student: "Emerged? How?"
Explained the teacher: "Remember our talks about reincarnation? How all creatures gather experience and energy, which they deposit while in transit between incarnations? That deposit will grow untill it reaches a critical mass. At that moment, from that deposit, the new creator will be born."
Asked the student: "That new creator... will they create a new universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Such is their purpose."
Continued the student: "Then what will happen to ours?"
Explained the teacher: "Science teaches us that matter cannot be created nor destroyed... but it can change form. Once our universe runs out, the new creator will take all of our universe and form it into a new universe."
Said the student: "And we would die. Why should we suffer for this new universe?"
Answered the teacher: "Well, if you expect to be alive at the end of times, maybe you will live through the reincarnation and see the birth of the new universe. I must say, that would be one awesome experience."
Insisted the student: "But it's unfair! The creator simply takes our lives and rearranges everything and creates this whole new universe! Don't we get any say in that?"
Sighed the teacher: "Again, you assume too much. How is it you believe divinity to be fair? And how is it that you believe divinity has a choice in the matter? And finally, how is it you believe we are unable of influencing the outcome?"
Surprised, the student asked: "We can influence the reincarnation of the universe? How?"
Answered the teacher: "By becoming deity ourselves, of course. But that is a whole new subject."
With that, the teacher left the student to ponder.