In Tibetan Buddhism they hold that certain famous lamas are reincarnated, and they venerate them. My question is isn't becoming a Buddha, the goal of Buddhism, the thing that releases you from the cycle of samsara and rebirth? These famous lamas that are presumed to have achieved realization of their Buddha mind, shouldn't they not be reincarnated? I know this is unique to Tibetan-style Buddhism, and not all adherents of Buddhism believe this (and that some don't even hold to the idea of reincarnation) but any clue as to how this works would be great.
2007-08-03 04:38:24 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The ones who choose to take rebirth are what we call buddhas w/ absolute Bodhicitta in order to bring others to enlightenment too, out of compassion. Some do it before they choose enlightenment for themselves, some do it while they're on their own path, etc. When they're as realized as some of the lamas are, they can pick and choose rebirth as they wish out of compassion for all sentient beings.
One more thing: two books might help you understand the whole thing better, one by Sogyal Rinpoche, "The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying" and one by Tulku Thondup "Peaceful Death Joyful Rebirth". Both give excellent info... there are others but these are the 2 that I've read on this topic so far. They also discuss the process of dying and how we take rebirth, so you might like 'em.
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2007-08-03 04:47:44 · answer #1 · answered by vinslave 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋