On the buddhist concept of Rebirth

[mrdevious]

Personally I believe even the mind is an impermanent entity, constantly subject to change and utter reformation. I think the mind does proceed to have an effect on certain areas of existence beyond the physical body. I recently read and came to understand a buddhist monk's explanation of death, and why an enlightened being has no fear of it. While it's a bit too much to go into full detail right now, the theory is that once you extinguish the self you see that death is no different than one living moment to the next. The conscious is just a collection of impermanent processes constantly arising and falling, blinking in and out of existence. There is no one mind, one "soul" that permanently exists in a single form forever according to buddhist thought. There is, however, an essence of the self (still not a permanent soul though).

This essence is said to be the remainder of a conditioned mind, one that still harbours attachement/clinging. Because attachement has not been extinguished, this essence of your previous self seeks to grab on to it's previous physical form, and hence latches on to the first new life it finds that most closely matches it's karmic state in an attempt to re-establish the prior form. This is the difference between "rebirth" (prominant in buddhism) and "reincarnation" (prominant in hinduisma and probably others). It's not that "you" are reborn, it's that the essence of the "you" that was created lingers to continue it's karma, and join with a conscious entity to create a new one which carries the core attributes of it's previous lives.

Feel free to discuss :) .

[MelT]

Well put. Good summation of our views as a whole, although not every tradition sees things exactly in this way, especially in terms of the self. But it's a complex subject to put over concisely, well done.

MelT

[mrdevious]

You're quite right Mel T, every tradition has it's variations. Many believe in gods, some others believe in spirits, some blended with taoist traditions have a sort of nature-worship (I really like taoism actually, I find it compatible with buddhism, just explaining and percieving life from another angle).
Anywhoo, this was the belief the Buddha himself had on rebirth so far as I know. I personally don't adhere to a sect, but just read directly from the Buddha's teachings and do my best to interpret and understand them adaquately. Though I think all sects definately have their important pieces of wisdom, along with many non-buddhist philosophies. I especially find certain tribal shamanism practices fascinating and very usefull in my own self-exploration.

I think too it can be rather difficult to describe a certain aspect of buddhist philosophy, since almost all of them tend to relate to each other, and you must understand them all to completely understand one.

[MelT]

Anywhoo, this was the belief the Buddha himself had on rebirth so far as I know. .

Yes, more or less. You have to be careful to think of it as expedient means. It's a relative understanding and not actually the full Buddhist view of what it is, but an intermediate teaching to help guide you towards the fuller meaning.


I think too it can be rather difficult to describe a certain aspect of buddhist philosophy, since almost all of them tend to relate to each other, and you must understand them all to completely understand one.

I'd say the opposite to be honest. Once you fully understand one you will understand them all.

MelT

[the yeag]

more dribble.......drabble drabble are you on codeine again.. devious ...the only budah i like is green and stanky not fat and bald

[mrdevious]

more dribble.......drabble drabble are you on codeine again.. devious ...the only budah i like is green and stanky not fat and bald


I don't use codein yeag, I use tramadol. Though I'd be most surprised if you even knew what they do to you mentally judging by your posts.

So what is your hangup with me anyway? You're still getting on my case about using painkillers that enable me to live like a somewhat regular human being. You're no better than those people saying "damn crazy potheads and their stupid high-brains". Have I actually managed to plague your mind over these several months? That's kinda weired man...

[the yeag]

no i just dislike you...you reapeared i thought you might have passed away. good day

[mrdevious]

no i just dislike you...you reapeared i thought you might have passed away. good day


lol, great mentallity you have there. Though you may want to actually study buddhism to see how much of that was my own ideas, not something that's already existed for 2,500 years. And why don't you threaten me for my lunch money while you're at it Mr. Schoolyard Bully.

Apparently manchild here has nothing better to do.

[Pass That Shit]

"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold"

What's so crazy about believing in the ressurection?
We have seen the miracle of life, so why is it so hard to believe that we will be reborn?

[mrdevious]

"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold"

What's so crazy about believing in the ressurection?
We have seen the miracle of life, so why is it so hard to believe that we will be reborn?

I'm sorry PTS, could you rephrase that? I'm not quite sure what you're getting at.

[RyanTheCaveman]

Yeh i beleive in reincarnation. im wiccan myself. reincarnation/rebirth seems to be in a few diff. religeons.

[Polymirize]

I actually prefer the concept of reincarnation... even though I understand what you're getting at.

People now seem to think, oh, I'll be reborn. It's 'my' rebirth.

and its not. remotely. the phrasing I always heard was only a remnant of a remnant goes forward. nothing recognizable as I or me or mine... it's identity (if any, I'd say no) is karmic.

I think reincarnation is a better concept. What you are, will be re-incarnated. incarnated into a different form entirely.

but, syntax... its never semantics.