English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

I've been studying Buddhism and it really jives with my view of the world, except for reincarnation. I'm trying to reconcile this idea with my scientific view of the world which doesn't allow for such mystical paranormal hocus pocus.

2006-12-08 20:47:18 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

10 answers

rebirth, not reincarnation.
reincarnation is a hindu idea.
Buddhist do not believe in an eternal soul. It is the mind-stream, not the soul, which goes through rebirth and cycles in existence. The mind-stream is ever-changing.

2006-12-08 21:00:51 · answer #1 · answered by sista! 6 · 1 0

Michael J, its the eightfold path and not seven steps. And sista!, rebirth and reincarnation is pretty much the same thing. Hindus and Buddhists both believe in that particular concept.
There is really nothing to understand about the concept of reincarnation, it's the base or foundation of the religion. Concept of reincarnation is one of the major differences between eastern (Hinduism and Buddhism) and western religion. It's just like trying to understand "heaven" in Christianity or Judaism, there is no scientific way to "understand" it. The concept of reincarnation is just a fact or note to keep in mind when embracing Buddhism, Buddhists just "believe" in reincarnation; there is no answer why they do. And "hocus pocus," well that's just kinda mean.

2006-12-09 19:00:37 · answer #2 · answered by tangerine 3 · 0 1

Think of it this way. Something always exists, whether it is manifest or latent. A tree is the manifest stage of a seed, and a seed is a latent stage of a tree. Death, thus, is the latent stage of life. For that reason a person or other life form can keep dying and being reborn because their essence hasn't disappeared entirely but has simply become dormant.

This is easier to accept if you accept the Buddhist concept that all things we experience are illusion; a computer isn't really seperate from a hand because they are both parts of the same whole.

I hope this helps some. If you're really curious, there are many Buddhist organizations of varying sects that have study groups. One that I'm familiar with is Sokka Gakai International (SGI). In my experience people have been very open and delight in teaching anyone who wants to learn about Buddhism.

2006-12-08 21:01:30 · answer #3 · answered by Victoria 4 · 1 0

an extremely exciting question there is greater suitable than one college of Buddhism and interior of distinctive faculties there are fairly some Sects To non Buddhists they are in a position to look as distinctive as chalk and cheese The center ideals are the same yet that's approximately it it would remember very lots on the college and Sect those specific Buddhists belong to My first impact is they could have been Theravadan Buddhists All Buddhists have confidence in karma and it performs a super area in all faculties besides the fact that we do not have confidence in reincarnation as there is not something everlasting to reincarnate that's broadly believed the 8th understanding The Alaya is what undergoes rebirth yet even that's impermanent accumulating and discharging karma because it does Buddhists attempt and do healthful acts [ meritorious deeds ] to pay off karma and to circumvent coming up any further it could take many existence cycles in the previous a guy or woman has resolved all their marvelous karma there is not basically karma from the present existence yet additionally from all the previous too that's believed we've been taking rebirth because of the fact that beginningless time sure there is an afterlife of course yet Lord Buddha's advice became into to pay interest on the right here and now the present 2d on the same time working in direction of the perfect purpose of Buddhism super Bodi A Theravadan might prefer to first grow to be an Arhant than a Pratyeka Buddha [ private Buddha focusing on their very own salvation ] on the same time as those interior the Mahayana faculties do it slightly in yet in a distinctive way In my own Sect we comprehend in those Dhamma ending circumstances the situations at the instant are not as suitable as they have been in Lord Buddhas time and to hack it out of right here we choose a hand fortuitously Lord Buddha left specific Dhamma basically for this time we remember customarily on Lord Buddha Amitabha and the Bodhisattvas and artwork in direction of a rebirth in Amitabha's organic Land the place situations are lots greater favorable to reaching the perfect purpose Buddhism additionally teaches fearlessness too that is all an phantasm on the top of the day So sure we are in a position to be carefree I got here into this international screaming and kicking in accordance to my previous Mum i'm desperate to pass away giggling

2016-10-18 00:32:48 · answer #4 · answered by kigar 4 · 0 0

I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to make any religion totally "jive" with your realistic and scientific view of the world. That's what religion is about...faith. As far as reincarnation, it has to do with getting what you gave..the better a person you are in this life the better off you will be in the next until you finally reach nirvana. A pretty good way to be as far as I'm concerned, though I'm not sure one needs religion to tell them to be kind to others, but if that's what it takes, so be it.

2006-12-08 21:01:02 · answer #5 · answered by sevensbud 1 · 0 0

Buddhists don't believe in reincarnation. They are naturalists and their philosophy doesn't contradict your scientific view of the world. Reincarnation? Whatever text you read that from is a bad translation if presents that as a literal belief. The concept their speaking of is metaphorical, not literal.

When you die, "you" still exist, only you exist as a corpse. Then "you" become detritus in the ecosystem (whether as fossils in the ground or ashes). No matter what changes the world goes through, "you" will always exist in the universe in some form, yes? The matter that you are composed of will always exist. That's the Buddhist take on "reincarnation."

2006-12-08 22:43:49 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Rock 2 · 1 2

The Buddhist doctrine of rebirth must be differentiated from the teaching of transmigration and reincarnation of other religions.Buddhism unlike Hinduism does not subscribe to the existence of a permanent,god-created soul or an unchanging entity that transmigrates from one life to another.

Just as relative identity is made possible by causal continuity without a Self or Soul,so death can issue in rebirth without a transmigrating soul.In a single life,each thought-moment flashes in and out of being,giving rise to its successor with its perishing.Strictly speaking,this momentary rise and fall of every thought is a birth and death.Thus even in a single life we undergo countless births and deaths every second.But because the mental process continues with the support of a single physical body,we regard tha mind-body continuum as constituting a single life.

In Buddhism,death does not spell either the entrance to eternal life or complete annihilation.It is,rather,the portal to a new rebirth which will be followed by more growth,decay and then another death

2006-12-08 22:42:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anger eating demon 5 · 0 1

Then you will never really be much of a Buddhist, lol

Not sure how Buddhism seems to fit with your view of the world, but you call this "hocus-pocus".

What do you think happens when you die?

IM if you fancy a chat about this

2006-12-08 20:53:45 · answer #8 · answered by MrsTrellis 2 · 0 2

My limited understanding (once married to a Buddhist), there are 7 steps to Nirvana and reincarnation and also 7 steps to hell. Each step must be attained before moving on.

2006-12-08 20:52:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

Friend….. pl read on ….Most important……God’s Simple Plan of SalvationMy Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die? God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How? First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell. “ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22). “ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie. My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross. In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ” Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved. Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer. In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.” Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it! God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith. You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today. If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this tract over and over, without laying it down, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment. God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth:·Pray -- you talk to God. ·Read your Bible -- God talks to you. ·Witness -- you talk for God. You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8) “Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

2006-12-08 20:53:50 · answer #10 · answered by jabez 1 · 0 6

fedest.com, questions and answers