We are reborn, according to Buddhist scripture, because of the same kind of clinging and desire that causes us to suffer. The engine of the ego is so powerful that even when the body dies, the mind continues its clinging and searching.
In this way, according to Buddhism, it builds a bridge to another body and takes birth again. The Buddha taught that the where, when, and how of rebirth is entirely determined by our accumulated karma.
That is, our actions in this and previous lives shape the outcome for the next life. Even at the point of death and thereafter, we can make choices that will have a positive or negative effect on our next life. The attitude of the mind at death is very important, Buddhists believe. With each action-influence he sends out and at the same time, receives, he is changing. This changing personality and the world he lives in, constitute the totality of his karma. Karma should not be confused with fate.
Fate is the notion that man's life is preplanned for him by some external power, and he has no control over his destiny. Karma on the other hand, can be changed.
Because man is a conscious being he can be aware of his karma and thus strive to change the course of events. In the Dhammapada we find the following words, "All that we are is a result of what we have thought, it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts.
What we are, then, is entirely dependent on what we think. Therefore, the nobility of man's character is dependent on his"good" thoughts, actions, and words. At the same time, if he embraces degrading thoughts, those thoughts invariably influence him into negative words and actions.
The World. Traditionally, Buddhism teaches the existence of the ten realms of being. At the top is Buddha and the scale descends as follows: Bodhisattva an enlightened being destined to be a Buddha, but purposely remaining on earth to teach others , Pratyeka Buddha a Buddha for himself , Sravka direct disciple of Buddha , heavenly beings superhuman [angels?
Now, these ten realms may be viewed as unfixed, nonobjective worlds, as mental and spiritual states of mind. These states of mind are created by men's thoughts, actions, and words. In other words, psychological states.
These ten realms are "mutually immanent and mutually inclusive, each one having in it the remaining nine realms. Man is at the same time capable of real selfishness, creating his own hell, or is truly compassionate, reflecting the compassion of Amida Buddha. Buddhas too have the other nine realms in their minds, for how can a Buddha possibly save those in hell if he himself does not identify with their suffering and guide them to enlightenment.
The Lesson. We can learn a valuable lesson from the teaching of reincarnation. In what realm do you now live? If you are hungry for power, love, and self-recognition, you live in the Preta world, or hungry ghosts. The Noble Eightfold Path consists of the following elements:. Understanding of the Noble Eightfold Path has evolved over the years.
For example, in the past, many commonly treated the Noble Eightfold Path as a set of prescriptions for how someone should behave in life, like the Ten Commandments in Christianity.
Although following the Noble Eightfold Path can lead to enlightenment, embodying the Noble Eightfold Path is also the end result of enlightenment. Buddhist funeral rites can vary. For example, Tibetan Buddhists have three traditional ways of laying a person particularly a monk to rest. They may cremate a body, perform a water burial, or in some instances, perform a traditional Tibetan sky burial. Some refer to this custom as jhator.
However, those performing it typically keep them at a distance. They then ritually cut up and destroy the body until it is no more than a pulp mixed with milk, butter flour, and tea. The monks leave the mixture out for vultures to consume.
Some Buddhists also practice extended rituals for honoring the dead each year. Consider the example of Pchum Ben. During this day annual celebration, Cambodian Buddhists visit pagodas where they make offerings to the dead. They also participate in ceremonies that are meant to convene the dead together.
Although Pchum Ben is unique to Buddhist culture in many ways, this somewhat mirrors the way many Mexicans honor the dead during Day of the Dead celebrations. Every culture has its traditions surrounding death because death is a universal and unavoidable experience. Religious and spiritual beliefs help cultures come to terms with this reality.
However, as Buddhist afterlife beliefs prove, they can also give meaning to life itself.
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