what happens to a buddhist...?

Question

This is just a hypothetical question of course, so bear with me. What happens to a buddhist if the world as we knew it ceased to exist? A catastrophic event happens, such as a nuclear holocaust, or an asteroid crashing into earth. Now I confess my knowledge of Buddhism is miniscular at best, but one of the main beliefs in Buddhism is the belief in reincarnation, correct? So if there is no life form to reincarnate too, what happens to our "very subtle mind." Does it stay in the intermediate state? I live near a buddhist temple in San Francisco, and the question just came into my mind smoking outside while staring at the temple. Any thoughts?

Actually, I hate weed because of the paranoia that ensues afterwards, I was smoking cigarettes.

To all the Christian responses: It might enrage you to know that there are God-fearing people out there that follow the ways of Buddha as well.

When I was talking about the destruction of earth, I was thinking along the lines of..well, completely gone, like erased in a blink of an eye, or two.

Fascinating to learn that Buddhist believe that there are other planets supporting life, as we know it. It makes sense actually.

to sista!:
I must admit that I thought reincarnation and rebirth meant the same thing, so thanks for filling me in on what you know.
I mean no disrespect when I say that in your response to my dead earth scenario, you didn't really answer the question. You went on to discuss that Buddhism doesn't answer questions such as "the meaning of life" and so on. Are such questions what you refer to as "external matters."
I understand the analogy with the radio waves. Does that mean that Buddhism believes in life on other planets? Is the thought of there being life on other planets count as an "external matter." I'm curious to know. Thank you for your insight

Answer 1

I have no idea, but what a good question! I'll have to see if I can find an answer somewhere, or hopefully someone online here knows =)

Answer 2

question on reincarnation:
The belief that at death the soul leaves the body and reanimates a new one. Reincarnation is a fundamental belief in Hinduism and several other religions but it is rejected by Buddhism which denies the existence of a soul.
Buddhism teaches that when a person dies they are reborn and that this process of death and rebirth will continue until Nirvana is attained.
Rebirth: Think of it being like radio waves. The radio waves, which are not made up of words and music but energy at different frequencies, are transmitted, travel through space, are attracted to and picked up by the receiver from where they are broadcast as words and music. It is the same with the mind. At death, mental energy travels through space, is attracted to and picked up by the fertilized egg. As the embryo grows, it centres itself in the brain from where it later "broadcasts" itself as the new personality.

question on other realms,if there is no 'earth':
Buddhism is the only major religion which acknowledges a large area of ignorance about external matters. Unlike other religions, it does not even attempt to answer questions like 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' . Buddhism regards such questions as at best unanswerable and probably intrinsically meaningless. The only purpose of life is what we personally give to our own lives. Buddha suggested that the most meaningful use of life was to seek liberation from ignorance, suffering and the cycle of samsaric rebirth, both for one's self and others. But this 'meaning' does not reside 'in the sky' or in any way outside of the individual, and it cannot be imposed, but must be freely chosen.
Most other religions go further than Buddhism, and if asked 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' will usually come up with an answer along the lines of 'To fulfil the will of God.'
This invites the further question of 'What is the will of God', which usually brings forth an answer to the effect that 'God's will is to create life, the universe and everything'.

in the 20th century, in the age of physics, astronomy and geology, such myths have been superseded by scientific fact. Science has explained the origin of the universe without recourse to the god-idea.
It is interesting that the Buddha's explanation of the origin of the universe corresponds very closely to the scientific view. In the Aganna Sutta, the Buddha describes the universe being destroyed and then re-evolving into its present form over a period of countless millions of years. The first life formed on the surface of the water and again, over countless millions of years, evolved from simple into complex organisms. All these processes are without beginning or end and are set in motion by natural causes.

Law of Causal Condition: The fundamental doctrine of Buddhism that all phenomena in the universe are produced by causation. Since all phenomena result from the complicated causes and effects, all existing things in the universe are inter-dependent, i.e., no self nature or existence on its own. Moreover, all phenomena and things are impermanent (i.e. changing constantly). It was to this law that Shakyamuni was awakened when he attained enlightenment.

Answer 3

Buddhists believe that there are other planets with other life forms elsewhere in the universe. I believe if there are no humans the mindstream would inhabit another life form. In addition to that Buddhists believe that a person can be reincarnated into a god, demi god, hellish demon and hungry ghost. Of course depending on how you lived your prior life. I too have little knowledge on Buddhism but I love discussing it.

Answer 4

Well, Dearheart, if the world-as-we-know-it goes to hell in a handbasket, then there will be life left over. There usually is. it may not be life as you might like to be reincarnated as (lichen, algae, cockroaches and such) but they're still life. We'll just all have to come back as colonies of coral and platters of algea until we rebuild the population to whatever life form comes next. After the world is completely destroyed and goes to Her death, then we'll head on to the next world and begin again. Hope this helps and Blessings.

Answer 5

One reincarnates as a "star" or celestial creation. Life never ceases, only humans. Who can really say how many times we've been down this path.

Buddhist are knowledgeable in the ways of life, and enjoy being happy as human beings. Furthermore, if everything we knew ceased, it would only mean WE cease to exist.

Answer 6

Well according to our buddism,there are other worlds apat from our earth. Therefore the "Subtle-mind" decides what is good for him and stray at an intermediate state until the exact time comes

Answer 7

Interesting question, but there are infinite galaxies with infinite planets, some teeming with life. There are also infinite dimensions besides this one.

Think outside the box, Grasshopper.

Answer 8

they become yellow as thay get in to a black or jipsy peaples (behind) wich dont have soles and they wont to bee cowboys cose the jipsys in india and black peaple belive in cows u know ^cose cows and bulls never step on things but throw up with the horns so jipsy wona go up and the budist wana be upper then jipsy so when jipsy up budist go upper then jipsy.And theyr all in hell as empty coconut shell or as dark balloons in human shape.so dont worry about them als the earth material gets burned from them thair wont bee anny budist or jipsy left nothing puf.!!!

Answer 9

Among the whole bunch of nonsence questions in this page, you are the smartest guy of all.
If want to be nonsense, at least should be like this and it make me answer.
The answer is " I dont know".

Answer 10

For God - This world is a home made of sand on the bank of a sea. As the kids make small homes of sand on the banks of sea while playing and destroy it themselves while going home, similar is the case of this world for God. So dont worry. Its the game of God - Let him play as he wishes. We toys in His hand.