Question for Buddhist

[mif_slim]

Hey Buddhist friends, what Im about to as is not to mock the Buddhist faith, but just got me curious.

I know when someone hears Buddhist, they think reincarnation. But from the limited reading i have done, it doesnt teach reincarnation. Right? However, if a person is to do good, then they give good Karma which transforms the enregy into positive (paraphrasing to the max, so sorry if it doesnt come close to what is really taught).

If that is the case, what/who chooses good and bad and how is it determined a person/living thing who does goods energy goes to a positive and bad to bad?

TIA, im just trying to understand it clearer.

[mossy]

Hey Buddhist friends, what Im about to as is not to mock the Buddhist faith, but just got me curious.

I know when someone hears Buddhist, they think reincarnation. But from the limited reading i have done, it doesnt teach reincarnation. Right? However, if a person is to do good, then they give good Karma which transforms the enregy into positive (paraphrasing to the max, so sorry if it doesnt come close to what is really taught).

If that is the case, what/who chooses good and bad and how is it determined a person/living thing who does goods energy goes to a positive and bad to bad?

TIA, i'm just trying to understand it clearer.

depends what tradition you are reading texts from some focus heavily on reincarnation while others do not, western theravada really doesn't put big focus on reincarnation. that's the great thing about Buddhism, unlike christianity we don't hold there is one correct buddhism. that's why you won't see any "calvinist debates" between us. we all follow the precepts and we all take refuge in the triple gem so it doesn't matter if we are Zen, Pure Land,theravada, nichiren....

Karma is law and as long as you live in Samsara you are subject to it. it does not need intervention from an outside entity to operate as you are the one causing it. basically, positive action taken will result in positive reaction experienced while negative action taken will result in negative reaction experienced. the precepts guide us to living a positive life as long as we keep them. if you are following them, you will not be engaging in negative actions. the buddhist practice educates us and guide us out of ignorance to see the true nature of reality.

hope this helps, if you have more questions feel free to ask.

[Wordupmybrotha]

depends what tradition you are reading texts from some focus heavily on reincarnation while others do not, western theravada really doesn't put big focus on reincarnation. that's the great thing about Buddhism, unlike christianity we don't hold there is one correct buddhism. that's why you won't see any "calvinist debates" between us. we all follow the precepts and we all take refuge in the triple gem so it doesn't matter if we are Zen, Pure Land,theravada, nichiren....

Karma is law and as long as you live in Samsara you are subject to it. it does not need intervention from an outside entity to operate as you are the one causing it. basically, positive action taken will result in positive reaction experienced while negative action taken will result in negative reaction experienced. the precepts guide us to living a positive life as long as we keep them. if you are following them, you will not be engaging in negative actions. the buddhist practice educates us and guide us out of ignorance to see the true nature of reality.

hope this helps, if you have more questions feel free to ask.

What's considered positive or negative action?

[mif_slim]

Thanks Moss, but youre reply also brings up another question. You said Karma is law, so how did this law come about? Can you clarify?

Thanks for answering my questions.

[mossy]

Thanks Moss, but youre reply also brings up another question. You said Karma is law, so how did this law come about? Can you clarify?

Thanks for answering my questions.

It's part of samsara. As long as there is life there is karma.

[mif_slim]

Sorry if Im asking a lot of questions, i really do want to understand this worldview.

What samsara? As in, how it began or how it came about?

[Alan Block]

Samsara is the circle of life. If you need an origin point, Hinduism can provide that.

[mossy]

Samsara is the circle of life. If you need an origin point, Hinduism can provide that.

No we don't, buddhism does not concern itself with explaining the origin of everything. That is not important, the important thing is that you are here now. Origin stories are parable of the arrow stuff, not important things that keep us distracted.

[mossy]

Sorry if Im asking a lot of questions, i really do want to understand this worldview.

What samsara? As in, how it began or how it came about?

Samsara is the circle of birth, life, death. How it started is not important, buddhism is about the cessation of human suffering. Buddhism is not about creation stories that make humans "the chosen creatures".

[mossy]

What's considered positive or negative action?

Does your act violate the precepts? It's negative...

[mif_slim]

Accidentally double post from my phone, please delete.

[mif_slim]

So Buddah doesnt answer the beginning correct? Im trying to grasp the concept of Samsara. So, correct me where Im wrong:

Buddah believes in the circle of life. Its energy is transfered (karma) and continues the circle. However, it's not concerned with beginnings. Now, my question would be that, how does this circle begin without an explanation for how the cycle started? Please dont get me wrong, but from what i understand, Buddah has some loose ends right? In your first post you mention about how certain branch of Buddah emphasizes on reincarnation and others dont. This got me pondering today on how consistent Buddah is. If today we believe in say, reincarnation would our next generation be able to remove the concept of Karma out and insert a new idea?

The reasons why Im asking these question is because my parents came from a Buddhist background country, therefore, i just want to know the root religion of my ancestors to have a better understanding of it.

Thanks for takibg your time to answer these questions.

[mossy]

So Buddah doesnt answer the beginning correct? Im trying to grasp the concept of Samsara. So, correct me where Im wrong:

Buddah believes in the circle of life. Its energy is transfered (karma) and continues the circle. However, it's not concerned with beginnings. Now, my question would be that, how does this circle begin without an explanation for how the cycle started? Please dont get me wrong, but from what i understand, Buddah has some loose ends right? In your first post you mention about how certain branch of Buddah emphasizes on reincarnation and others dont. This got me pondering today on how consistent Buddah is. If today we believe in say, reincarnation would our next generation be able to remove the concept of Karma out and insert a new idea?

The reasons why Im asking these question is because my parents came from a Buddhist background country, therefore, i just want to know the root religion of my ancestors to have a better understanding of it.

Thanks for takibg your time to answer these questions.

Buddha was a person, not a branch. It seems like you are trying to narrow down to one school of Buddhism and declare that to be the one true way to liberation. That's not buddhism, with buddhism comes the understanding that there are many paths to the same destination. One and only one path is not and will not be beneficial to everyone in the world. People are different shaped pegs, the all can't fit through the same hole. In buddhism we have the concept of expedient means. You teach to the level of your audience and advance as they advance instead of starting off advanced and expecting them to catch up. That's why buddhism takes different forms around the world. It matches the audience in the best way possible with the goal of guiding them to final liberation.

We don't require an explanation of how the earth was made, its not important. Buddhism is about the cessation of suffering, NOT origin stories. You are here now so it's important that you deal with your current situation instead of worrying about how the universe formed. one school of Buddhism can't remove karma from samsara.
Just because one school of Buddhism decides not to focus heavily on reincarnation does not mean that there is no reincarnation. All it means is that the people are not at a point where they can accept the idea of reincarnation yet. So instead of saying screw you sinner you go to he11, and force them to live life in ignorance. Instead instead you are introduced to the most important things and guided along the path to a point where you can accept that you are subject to reincarnation.

[POLICESTATE]

If I remember correctly, the Hindu prince who became Buddha (whose name I forget and don't care to look up) is the end-result of finally obtaining that state of nirvana. So once you obtain that enlightenment you no longer do reincarnation or something to that effect.

Buddhism grew out of Hinduism.

In any case, both systems are a completely man-centered system of works-based spiritual progression... like ALL religions in the world save for one: faith in Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins, that all that might believe in His resurrection will also be resurrected on the last day and receive eternal life with The Lord in a new Earth. Okay the other people get resurrected as well, but having not that faith in Christ (which faith is a gift by God's grace is not something you "choose" to do) they will go to eternal condemnation. The entire message of the Gospel is that it is God's work, which makes it unique among the world religions.

Of course one could have many discussions about the adherents to various religions and how they screw it all up, but that is merely just more evidence that affirms our fallen natures.

[Alan Block]

No we don't, buddhism does not concern itself with explaining the origin of everything. That is not important, the important thing is that you are here now. Origin stories are parable of the arrow stuff, not important things that keep us distracted.

That was my point! Someone asked what was the beginning and I replied that Origin stories are found in the Hindu take on Samsara.