Self and Rebirth

Questions: “How rebirth takes place? What is the connection between the present annihilation of body and future rebirth? What is the basis of this connection? My gratitudes for answering my questions?”

I’m going to answer this question with relation to your other question that seems to be asking roughly the same thing (Q: Does self have the choice of not taking birth in any life forms in the first instance, rather than work around the karmas for liberation from cycle of birth and rebirth.).

This is a slightly tough question and the answer can differ greatly depending on who you ask, so my answer is going to be strictly from my own understanding and not necessarily what is “right.”

Basically, this body is the host to our “self,” we are reborn in different forms based on our karma and merits, we are trapped in this cyclic cycle of rebirth because of our unawakened Self.

Until we are liberated and gone pass our ignorance, delusions, and anger, we have no choice of being reborn. There are different levels of enlightenment/liberation (four levels in Theravada and seven in Mahayana, if I remember that correctly), these stages are reached as we abandon more and more of the ten fetters. The ten fetters (samyojana) are what binds us to the cycle of rebirth, so as we abandon each of these fetters, our rebirths in this world (or in any of the other realms) lessens.

As we practice and the fetters gradually fall away, we can enter the first stage, Stream-Enterer. As a stream-enterer, you will have no more than seven rebirths as a human, or higher, before reaching full enlightenment. And as you go up the levels, your rebirths become less until full enlightenment. In Therevada, the fourth level is the level of Arahat, once reached you can attain Nirvana. However, in Mahayana, where the ideal is to become a Bodhisattva, you continue being reborn to save all sentient beings, while also continuing up the levels to become a Buddha.

The only thing that’s going to give you a good or bad rebirth is your karma. Your karma is controls your rebirth, but you can control your karma! By practicing the Dharma, accumulating good deeds, spreading loving-kindness and compassion, and gaining merit be offering offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha – you’re gaining countless “good karma points” and controlling your karma to give you a better rebirth. I always tell myself, this might not be the best life because sometimes I forget my practice, I have a large debt from student loans, I’m no supermodel, my circle of friends is small, and I don’t have very good luck – so my next life will be much better, because maybe I’ll be a monk who is always remembering his practice, I’ll have no debt, I’ll be a better looking person, and I’ll never have to worry about anything.

So don’t think about how bad this life is – think about how great your next life is going to be! By just listening or reading the Dharma, you’ve already created a better rebirth! Imagine the greatness of your future lives if you continuously practice!!

 

Smile and be well!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: