Originally posted by ---
Originally posted by ---
If reincarnation is real, and there is life on other planets, then how come we never hear about people who are alien beings reincarnated?
If you follow Buddhist belief in reincarnation, you "forget" your previous life, BUT are presented with problems in "living" life that allow you
to better your "soul". For example everything is impermanent, therefore why carry the burden, of worrying about possesions. Yes that is the strict
version of Buddhisim, but you can lead a normal life and be Buddhist, and still be able to "unburden" yourself from certain needs,wants, desires,
etc. thus allowing you to obtain "enlightment"and not have to reincarnate again and become "one" with all. But that would bring to question, "If
we become "one with all" at enlightment, wouldn't that mean that our "soul" is made of many other souls since a living being would still be a
part of "all"?
And maybe giving credence to certain people being able to "be one with all" by meditation, trance or whatever?
[Edited on 26-2-2004 by NetStorm]
Ok, I am back, and will now explain...
To begin... I do not mean to pick out the above [quoted] post to bash, or flame it, the reason I am about to pick it apart is because I've noticed a
few points that were abit off skew, and a question that I'd like to answer... (I'd also like to add that I am a buddhist, and all the info I'll be
posting can be sourced back to the Tripitaka.)
If you follow Buddhist belief in reincarnation, you "forget" your previous life, BUT are presented with problems in "living" life that allow
you to better your "soul".
To begin... Buddhist do not believe in "reincarnation", buddhist believe in "rebirth". The difference being that reincarnation is the
transmigration of a "soul" from one body to another... Buddhism however does not acknowledge the existance of a soul (Atman), and instead is an
"Anatta" (
no soul) doctrine.
Right now someone reading this may be going "well if there is no soul, then what gets transmigrated where?"
-A being, (whether it be human being, or something greater, or lesser), is a combination of physical, and mental energies (They are the five
aggregates... I will not explain this concept however, because it is a very complex subject that takes much time to explain. Still after reading this,
If you would like me to try, and explain, ill take a shot at it.). What we call "death" is the total non-functioning of the physical body, but all
the energies I spoke of earlier do not stop.
Will, volition, desire, thirst to exist, thirst to continue, desire to become more and more, is a tremendous force within us, a force that moves whole
lives, whole existances, even the world... is the greatest force, the greatest energy in the world, and according to buddhism, this force does not
stop with the non-functioning of the body, which is death, but it continues manifesting itself in another form, producing re-existance which we call
rebirth.
As far as forgetting your previous life??
It is possible, but not very easy for us to actually verify our past lives. The nature of mind is such that it does not allow most people the
recollection of their previous lives. Our minds are overpowered by the five hindrances:
1)sensual desire,
2)ill-will,
3)sloth,
4)restlessness and
5)doubt
because of these hindrances, our vision is earth-bound and we cannot visualise rebirths. Just as a mirror does not reflect an image when it is covered
with dirt, so the mind does not allow most people the recollection of previous lives. We cannot see the stars during daytime,not because they are not
there in the sky, but because they are outshone by the sunlight. Similarly, we cannot remember our past lives because our mind at present is always
over-
burdened with many thoughts in the present day-to-day events and mundane circumstances. (WBB)
As far as problems arrising, so you can better your soul?
Problems do not arise out of no where, like all things, they are a reaction of something (past deed/karma).
***Before I continue I'd like to offer this reminder that I'm not trying to bash on the writer of the quoted reply (I've discluded the name) The
reply hit most subjects that I wanted to talk about, so I'm using it as a reference for questions to answer.***
Yes that is the strict version of Buddhisim, but you can lead a normal life and be Buddhist, and still be able to "unburden" yourself from
certain needs,wants, desires, etc. thus allowing you to obtain "enlightment"and not have to reincarnate again and become "one" with all.
Enlightenment is not becoming "one with all", this is a western view (of buddhist enlightenment), that I'm not sure where it arose from...
enlightenment can happen to anyone, any time... It is to merely understanding, and begining to see clearly the way things work... if you finally begin
to understand calculus you can finally say you've been enlightened... things are now becoming clear, and you can see the way things work, and how to
accomplish the task at hand.
Nirvana on the other hand is different... I think this is what you meant by being "one with all"... but once again... "being one with all" is not
100% correct. Nirvana in sanskrit means "blowing out, extinction", and that is exactly what happens... the energy that I mentioned before, (the will
to live on, to continue...) finally stops, and is no longer... meaning it is reborn, meaning... an end.
"If we become "one with all" at enlightment, wouldn't that mean that our "soul" is made of many other souls since a living being would still
be a part of "all"?
And maybe giving credence to certain people being able to "be one with all" by meditation, trance or whatever?
As was explained earlier... there is no soul in buddhism... and upon reaching nirvana, there is no "becoming one with all" it is like a candle being
blown out.
I do realize that this post is abit "confusing" I tried to cover many many many points it seems, and wound up loosing my intial point... I left out
alot of info, in this post, and have included only major, major, major info... however this is like looking at a puzzle thats 3/4 of the way
done...
Yes you can see what the puzzle picture is (its 3/4 done), but the picture is not complete.
In order for me to write a post that would cover each topic, and for me to include each detail, about each concept, i'd have to type for a life time,
or perhaps write a book... that'd cut back on typing I bet, lol...
like I said I did not include all the details, so if anything is unclear, and needs more explaining feel free to ask, and I will try to answer, and if
I cannot answer, i will try to lead you to someone, or something that can answer you're question.
Once again I did not pick apart the quoted post to be mean, or flame it, or anything. It merely had the topics I wanted to cover, so I used it as a
frame of reference.
Anyhow peace and love to all beings,
_oui.
PS-sorry for the long post length
) 
