Do you believe in Karma?

[ForEverAfter]

I personally think reincarnation is nonsense. With a rapid increase in human population where are all the new "spirits" coming from, and why do so many imagine they're old souls if their belief is true (and that's just one of many problems with it)?

This relies on the assumption that (literal) re-incarnation works on a linear timeline.
Re-incarnation isn't meant to be taken literally, IMO... Like heaven and hell, it's a way to teach people about consequences.
Unfortunately, like Christians, the majority of Buddhists interpret mythological analogies literally.

reincarnation is not buddhist.

It may not belong solely to Buddhism, but it certainly exists within Buddhism.
I can cite you many examples, if you like, including passages from numerous Dalai Lamas (who are re-incarnations of former Dalia Lamas).

Hinduism overlaps with Buddhism.
Although the Buddha made it clear that reincarnation is not literal, that doesn't prevent the majority (or, at least, a great deal) of Buddhists from believing it to be so.

 

[murphythecat]

This relies on the assumption that (literal) re-incarnation works on a linear timeline.
Re-incarnation isn't meant to be taken literally, IMO... Like heaven and hell, it's a way to teach people about consequences.
Unfortunately, like Christians, the majority of Buddhists interpret mythological analogies literally.



It may not belong solely to Buddhism, but it certainly exists within Buddhism.
I can cite you many examples, if you like, including passages from numerous Dalai Lamas (who are re-incarnations of former Dalia Lamas).

Hinduism overlaps with Buddhism.
Although the Buddha made it clear that reincarnation is not literal, that doesn't prevent the majority (or, at least, a great deal) of Buddhists from believing it to be so.

definitely. but I think even hindouism as we know it in time of the buddha wasnt like it is now, not even close actually. the buddha was against the brahman tradition I think.
Dalai lama reincarnation is something Im not familiar with, but I have a heard often that once advanced in your practice, you can decide where you will go in next life. I think the dalia lama is more like that.

I must admit that Im confuse about this aspect. I was actually wondering about it yesterday, what is transfered, of us, to our next life. I think its our intention. karma is intention said the buddha. therefore, if your intention in life is to love, be kind, helpful, generous, in your next life, you will of course be given the opportunity to continue on that path.

 

[psood0nym]

This relies on the assumption that (literal) re-incarnation works on a linear timeline.
Re-incarnation isn't meant to be taken literally, IMO... Like heaven and hell, it's a way to teach people about consequences.
Unfortunately, like Christians, the majority of Buddhists interpret mythological analogies literally.

Fair enough, though this interpretation largely evades the possibility of falsifiability. If it's not to be taken literally much of what's been written becomes strange and ambiguous.

 

[ForEverAfter]

There's nothing wrong with a bit of strangeness or ambiguity.

 

[CosmicG]

I believe in all of us being one giant consciousness that is experiencing itself subjectively. By doing good and spreading light we create positive vibrations that carry on through other people and living creatures alike. Negative produces negative vibrations. I suppose this could be considered karma. Time does not exist only the pure existence of everything. Death is the beginning of the next life. If now is infinite then so are we.

 

[Xorkoth]

That's what I believe as well. By being good we are being good to ourselves, and by being bad, we are being bad to ourselves.

 

[Ninae]

reincarnation is not buddhist.
there no you, so how can noyou be reincarnated?
every moment, ''you'' die and get reborn in the next moment.
we think there's a continuity, that life is solid, that we are solid, but its not. and we must try to see beyond ourselves, beyond our ego, to see the true nature of reality, which is much more fulfilling then trying to feed the ego senselessly.
its only when you stop that thought process and get your mind concentrated that it becomes evident how much we are missing of life.

The way you think of human souls is very much like animal souls are described in some spiritual philosophies, Theosophy, or initiatic science. There animals are described as a "stream" where there is no individualisation of consciousness and all are at one with each other. But this goes more for the lower level animals and the ones that are higher evolved and almost ready to enter the human chain, like cats, horses, and dogs are said to have gained an idividualised soul to develop through repeated embodiments.

The human soul is generally described as being one at the highest level, the level of the spirit/monad/higher self, or the part of us that is a replica of God's consciousness and at one with God and each other. But we also have a lower individualised self which is the part that developes and is subject to evolution before it's re-united with the higher self to add to its nature. This is the part of ourselves we take with us lifetime after lifetime and comes to expression through the temporary self we have in each lifetime (comprised of a physical, mental, and emotional body which varies and makes us different from lifetime to lifetime).

So there are 3 levels of self in that sense. The way you describe it is like it was before we individualised to start to experience life as separate from God, each other, and our higher nature. But this is not something we can just re-set or go back to with a change of perspective. It's a long process that has to be completed, and something you can regret initiating when you're in the middle of, but now it's began it has to be completed.

 

[Ninae]

Fair enough, though this interpretation largely evades the possibility of falsifiability. If it's not to be taken literally much of what's been written becomes strange and ambiguous.

But this is what charecterises the spiritual dimension of our existence the most. The sense of ambiguity, openness to personal interpretation, and lack of anything we would consider proof. You can't make it into something it's not in my understanding.

Although this makes it impossible to be "right" in the sense you can be in other areas of life which is hard to deal with for many.

 

[Ninae]

Dalai lama reincarnation is something Im not familiar with, but I have a heard often that once advanced in your practice, you can decide where you will go in next life.

I think at this time and especially at this time there are many, like 30% or even more, who started out at higher consciousness-levels before they came to earth and have fallen into lower consciousness-levels in the process of living here.

Although this can be seen as a temporary sacrifice in the sense that regaining higher consciousness isn't so hard when you get taken out of the earth-sphere and its lower vibrational energy so it's just seen as a part of your service. It also seems like many aren't bound to earth, in the sense that they can take time out in between earth-lives to incarnate on higher-consciousness planets, like planets in the Pleiades which are more 5th dimensional and gather spiritual strength that way.

I was also told about a recent incarnation on the planet Erra in the Pleiades although I don't know much about the Pleiades or that whole "star seed" culture of souls who are said to be from higher planets. But there are supposed to be more around at this time than any other point in history to help out with the transition to a higher-consciousness state or mass-ascencion that is hoped for, and it's more likely now that more than 1/4 of humanity pulls in that direction (the main way you contribute is just by beng here).

 

[murphythecat]

But this is what charecterises the spiritual dimension of our existence the most. The sense of ambiguity, openness to personal interpretation, and lack of anything we would consider proof. You can't make it into something it's not in my understanding.

Although this makes it impossible to be "right" in the sense you can be in other areas of life which is hard to deal with for many.

please explain higher consciousness? so you think theres people inferior to you?
I dont know why you talk about the different planet ect. I dont see how that can really help you to find happiness.

seriously, there are truth in life which are universal and that anyone, if they knew and understood, would have no choice but to accept.

That's what I believe as well. By being good we are being good to ourselves, and by being bad, we are being bad to ourselves.

definitely, the question is: what is good for you and what isnt.
and what our ego tells us is good for us is most of the time, not totally right or good.

 

[Ninae]

Higher consciousness = higher than average and nothing unique to me in particular.

Why talk about the different planes? Why talk about the different energy centers? Why talk about the different bodies?

Why talk about anything at all. Some might find it of interest to learn about. Even if you don't believe something exists it doesn't necessarily exclude it from doing so. Especially seeing as Buddhism seems to deny the existence of most things, and I don't really see how that helps us find happiness, either.

Might as well agree there is nothing much in existence for us to talk about (although I disagree) and I don't really know what is the most limiting of hardcore Christianity or Buddhism. Pot and kettle? I can't really see one's advantage over the other but don't really know why we bother to argue about the established mass-beliefs anyway (it should be obvious not just something but a lot will be missing).

There might be a tendency to view Eastern faiths as more open or liberal but maybe that is because when you discover them you're more free to choose to accept the things about them that you like and discard the rest (although this is also a problem as you make a faith suit yourself rather than the other way around).

 

[Erikmen]

Good point.

 

[murphythecat]

Higher consciousness = higher than average and nothing unique to me in particular.

Why talk about the different planes? Why talk about the different energy centers? Why talk about the different bodies?

Why talk about anything at all. Some might find it of interest to learn about. Even if you don't believe something exists it doesn't necessarily exclude it from doing so. Especially seeing as Buddhism seems to deny the existence of most things, and I don't really see how that helps us find happiness, either.

Might as well agree there is nothing much in existence for us to talk about (although I disagree) and I don't really know what is the most limiting of hardcore Christianity or Buddhism. Pot and kettle? I can't really see one's advantage over the other but don't really know why we bother to argue about the established mass-beliefs anyway (it should be obvious something will be missing).

There might be a tendency to view Eastern faiths as more open or liberal but maybe that is more because when you discover them you're more free to choose to accept the things about them that you like and discard the rest.

well, we should talk and must talk about the reality and the truth. Part of the truth is love.
which reality though? which reality can we really be sure we know? Only our reality. you can never know someone else completely and most importantly, as soon as we judge someone, we are getting farther from reality.

buddhism doesnt deny the existence of most things. love is, suffering is, ect. but theres no sufferer, no lover, no entity or no self that we can call our own.

every experience you have of everything is conditioned and cannot be taken as fact or truth as its all conditioned by you. reality as you know it is entirely conditioned.
however, insight into a truth is a fact and cannot be taken away from you. a experience though is just a experience with no truth in it unless you clealry have a insight into what you can do to ameliorate your life.
its clear you understand love for example and you want to love. you know that as a fact and nothing could convince you otherwise. this is part of the reality and I couldnt agree more. Love is and needs to be developed into one heart.
the question is how to love at all time and to be mindful enough to see when love leaves ones heart and hatred, judgments, critic come in.
its like, we all play ping pong with wholesome and unwholesome state of mind. the goal is to stop playing and always be wholesome.

 

[Ninae]

I have a lot of respect for the Buddhist faith and the Buddhist path to enlightenement. However, you sometimes sound more like someone reciting from Buddhic texts rather than someone talking out of their own experiences or the consciousness states it has lead them to. I don't know why, but it's like it's a bit lacking in individuality and power to inspire, maybe it needs to be lived out in the context of human life experiences a bit more.

Because saying "human life is nothing and nothing of it is of any importance to anything" isn't very inspirering. It doesn't really fire up the imagination, so to speak. For me, I've always felt like God loves you to find beauty and meaning in human life (and also has hidden meaning everywhere). Now I know you will say "There is no God" but that's also part of what I am talking about.

And it's not just me who feels this way, just look at the synchonicity threads to see how people love to find meaning in everything. Some might love to be nihilists (or, more like it makes them feel clever, no one really enjoys how it feels) and say things like "There is no meaning to human life apart from pro-creation" but that is another depressing point of view.

 

[murphythecat]

i agree.
ive only recently connected my mind with my heart and my heart has been open just recently. my mind was very developped and understood a lot, but my heart was very polluted.

I should just get on with the practice now.
thanks, that was helpful.

however, nobody said human life is nothing. the buddha specifically said how precious a human life is and indeed, we must see the beauty we have within. but to do so can only be done with a pure mind.
I dont believe in individuality though . we are all in this together with all different but same basic in satisfaction and impermanence. as as long as we see us different then the rest, we create negativity within. as soon as we find fault in someone else, we suffer. this is my direct experience and all I wanted to do is to help. not promote me or the buddhism over your belief. sorry if I sounded like that.

I have a lot of respect for the Buddhist faith and the Buddhist path to enlightenement. However, you sometimes sound more like someone reciting from Buddhic texts rather than someone talking out of their own experiences or the consciousness states it has lead them to. I don't know why, but it's like it's a bit lacking in individuality and power to inspire, maybe it needs to be lived out in the context of human life experiences a bit more.

Because saying "human life is nothing and nothing of it is of any importance to anything" isn't very inspirering. It doesn't really fire up the imagination, so to speak. For me, I've always felt like God loves you to find beauty and meaning in human life (and also has hidden meaning everywhere).

 

[Abram]

I do not believe. I think that all these Karma stuff is only in your head and you only explaining your life in this way.

 

[murphythecat]

I do not believe. I think that all these Karma stuff is only in your head and you only explaining your life in this way.

since Ive been in contact with my heart and aware of how to purify it, there's no doubt that there's a truth in wholesome actions and the direct impact positivity has on my happiness

 

[Ninae]

since Ive been in contact with my heart and aware of how to purify it, there's no doubt that there's a truth in wholesome actions and the direct impact positivity has on my happiness

A-ha. Maybe your niche is among the non-believers. I don't really have any patience with them or don't want to waste my energy but if you can be bothered.

 

[Erikmen]

I do not believe. I think that all these Karma stuff is only in your head and you only explaining your life in this way.

It's ok not to believe but your approach could have been more gentle.

You've just started and in 6 posts you are already telling who people are, and how they think!!

Unless you know them, have a supporting feedback based on facts, you can't say what is or is not in someone's mind.

Suggest you go to the Lounge as you may belong to easy going threads with all due respect.

Besides, who are you to state with so many facts that "this is in your head".

We respect each other, at least most of us, so try to fit in!

 

[ForEverAfter]

I don't see how he said anything remotely offensive, and that goes for all 6 of his posts..
Chill, Erik... He's not telling people who they are and how they think.
It was one sentence and all he said was he doesn't believe.
The "only in your head" part is implied by disbelief.

...

Welcome to Bluelight, Abram.
(P&S can be rather heated.)