Recently I was asked:
Could you please post your views on rebirth/reincarnation? If nothing is or ever was, then why this whole story about The Buddha being all-knowing and able to trace back his births (the story may have been created by his followers later on)?Who or What exactly reincarnates?
In Jed McKenna's last book he puts it well."When someone starts to quote the Buddha, run away, Big Bullshit coming." Or something like that.
I've thought that on *that* day, when the Buddha Attained, got home and told his wife, she said:
"That's nice dear, now go wash up, we have a dinner party to go to..."
One the one hand, it is easy to dismiss stories related about one who may or may not have existed thousands of years ago; and most stories written about him centuries after his death.
Nisargadatta was asked if he could, while sitting in his room in Bombay, tell his listeners what the weather was in NYC. He thought they were nuts and told them so. He said that is a special power and can be developed, but has NOTHING to do with breaking free of the illusion and awakening.
I tend to think that as one works the path of awakening, one develops some skills and once awake, still has those skills. Like lifting weights as part of practice, till one can bench press 300 lbs. Then, one day he awakes and while lifting weight is clearly seen to have nothing to do with Enlightenment, nonetheless the it is taken that E will give one great strength.
But, the question why is the ability to trace previous birth attributed to the Buddha?
I have no idea. It is easy to ascribe it to egoic-Maya illusion - once more (deliberately) confusing E with not-E and once again, as all religions and spiritual practices do - shift one's attention from The Truth, to a "nice story" that will keep one sleeping soundly and feeling good.
The Buddha is quoted as saying "there is suffering, but no one suffers."
How would that square with seeing previous birth?
Sure, images can come and go and stories proliferate.
That's the point. All there IS is the story.
The REAL question is who or what rebirths?
5 comments:
I quite liked the comment about Buddha's wife, reminding me of Bach's wife saying, "Johannes....the garbage."
Re-incarnation appears to be fact.
Rebirth is ‘YES’. I know about my previous birth. My most Revered Guru of my previous life His Holiness Maharaj Sahab, 3rd Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith had revealed this secret to me during trance like state.
HE told me, “Tum Sarkar Sahab Ho” (You are Sarkar Sahab). Sarkar Sahab was one of the most beloved disciple of His Holiness Maharj Sahab.
Since I don’t have any direct realization of it so I can not claim the extent of its correctness. But it seems to be correct. During my previous birth I wanted to sing the song of ‘Infinite’ but I could not do so then since I had to leave the mortal frame at a very early age. But through the unbounded Grace and Mercy of my most Revered Guru that desire of my past birth is being fulfilled now.
Anirudh:
Is that so? How do you know for sure? You say it seems correct.
So, exactly who or what reincarnates?
what reincarnates? maybe the same 'thing' that's here now, an illusionary separate person. isn't everything possible?
yes, absolutely. I think the "entity' - single point of consciousness can retain identity through many births if that is what is called for or believed in.
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