I've read about buddhism a lot in the past year, but I'm still not totally clear of their views on the after life and devine (I do know they don't have a god).

anywhoo, the way things work is that ignorance and craving are the cause of suffering, which is the cause of continuous rebirth. When one reaches enlightenment, you're freed of suffering, ignorance, craving, and apparently have the "final extinction" at which point the cycle of rebirth is stopped.

Now my first question is, why would we want this? I mean life is full of suffering, but I'd preferre it to disappearing from existence. Or am I wrong about disapppearing from existence, do we pull some Obi-Wan-Kenobi going into the force thing?

Also, is there any explanation as to what force is involved in causing reincarnation? or is it just assumption from buddha's Hindu background?

one more thing, the whole detachment issue. As a buddhist, would I be expected to just eliminate most craving and be detached from negative influence, or does that go with everything and I can't even listen to my heavy metal and have a good adrenaline rush and headbanging once in a while? I know buddhism doesn't have strict doctrine, I'm just looking for clarification on what "detachment" means, and if it's a universal definition.

The top 2 are the ones I was wondering about most though.
mrdevious Reviewed by mrdevious on . A few things on Buddhism I could use some clarification on... I've read about buddhism a lot in the past year, but I'm still not totally clear of their views on the after life and devine (I do know they don't have a god). anywhoo, the way things work is that ignorance and craving are the cause of suffering, which is the cause of continuous rebirth. When one reaches enlightenment, you're freed of suffering, ignorance, craving, and apparently have the "final extinction" at which point the cycle of rebirth is stopped. Now my first question is, why Rating: 5