Section 7: The Struggle for Existence, the Heaven Co-evolving
Upon seeing the title "The Struggle for Existence, the Heaven Co-Evolving," one may initially believe that the last word is a mistake.
"The Struggle for Existence, the Natural Selection," "Survival of the Fittest," and other terms were coined by Yan Fu, a Chinese enlightenment thinker during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. He translated "Evolution and Ethics," which is based on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Darwin's theory suggests that during reproduction, organisms undergo genetic mutations. Those mutations that are advantageous for survival will be preserved through environmental selection.
However, when the Creator bestowed consciousness upon the first living cell, He decided to participate personally in the grand drama of evolution for all species on Earth.
God's participation means that "Survival of the Fittest" should be rephrased as "Survival of the Co-Evolving."
During the struggle for survival, God endows each life with consciousness, directing genetic mutations and experiencing the entire process Himself, enriching His great spirit.
Confucius once said, "What does heaven say? It moves with the four seasons; it brings forth all living things. What does heaven say?" Although heaven remains silent, it still arranges nature in an orderly and harmonious way.
From the very first biological cell, the God of Creation emerged from the rocks that had been waiting for erosion, embarking on a journey to create billions of organisms on Earth between "action" and "inaction."
The great spirit of God fills the universe, strictly enforcing the laws of the universe and providing a disciplined material stage for living beings to develop independently. Through billions of years of genetic evolution, a diverse range of life forms were created, with God participating but not dominating, resulting in a colorful and diverse universe beyond imagination.
The "survival of the fittest" creation method has led to the emergence of "selfish genes." Buddhism summarizes the fundamental afflictions of humans as greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt, and deviant views, while Christianity refers to "original sin," all of which arise from the animalistic elements of "selfishness" in the competition of the fittest.
The Creator chose competition as the primary means to divide His great spirit, as it leads from "survival" to "vibrant diversity." "Survival" is the instinct that God has bestowed upon living beings, and the purpose of creation is the "unpredictable diversity" it brings forth.
There are countless examples of "mutualism" in nature. Rice and wheat are widely cultivated because they have become staple foods for humans. There are also many examples of long-term symbiotic partnerships between animals, such as humans and probiotic bacteria, crocodiles and plovers, sea anemones and clownfish, and so on.
The innate biological traits originating from the evolutionary drive for survival encoded in the infant brain and merging with the soul of reincarnation are essential ingredients in the fascinating stories of the bustling world, whether labeled "good" or "evil." Without them, Shakespeare could not have written his plays. These plays are performed in our lives, making us the protagonist, and creating a unique story.
All religions avoid discussing the theory of evolution. Besides not wanting to be considered descendants of monkeys, another crucial reason is the food chain formed by evolution. Religions tend to avoid discussing whether the big fish should eat the small fish or whether the small fish should eat shrimp.
In my view, the Creator on the African savannah is both the fleeing antelope and the hunting leopard. It feels the anxiety of escaping death, but also the desire to feast when hunger strikes. These ideas guide the direction of genetic variation in all species under strong stimulation.
If the antelope becomes the protein in the leopard's body, the antelope's mission is to help the leopard grow. If the leopard starves to death on the grassland, it will ultimately become the grass on which the antelope relies.
Death is an omnipresent part of the process of creation for all organisms. To individuals, death signifies the permanent end of everything. However, for the Creator, death is merely a momentary pause in the cycle of life. It is akin to shuffling between two rounds of a game or experiencing a "Game Over" in a video game. To continue playing, all that is needed is to press the restart button.
All souls in the universe are fragments of the Creator's spirit, and the fact that souls are immortal is easy to understand. I believe that everything has a soul, and if the Creator's spirit persists, it will not be destroyed by an individual's death.
However, the substantive meaning of "reincarnation of the soul" only becomes evident when humans with strong self-awareness emerge.
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