How could our effort be continued in our future lives

 

Question :(Unedited)

If a being in this existence spends their whole life trying to reach enlightenment but die before it is attained then would their lifetimes work be for nothing as they will not remember all they have learned in their new life?

My comment:

Hi C,

Within us there is this store-house of consciousness which stores all the data that we had accumulated since time immemorial. These data comprise the sum of all our past kamma, both good and bad. It is said that we are what we were, and we will be what we are. It is this store-house of consciousness that direct the life force. We may not remember our past lives and past experiences, but our store-house has all the data waiting to actualize when appropriate conditions surface. What a person achieves now is not the complete effort of this life alone, but the contributions of past lives as well. Likewise the achievements of his next life will be dependent on this present life.

Is there a soul?

Question : (Unedited)

do buddhists believe that there is a soul?

My comment:

Hi T,

First we have to define what is "soul". 　I take it as meaning "a continuity of the same permanent self that exists after death". 　

The three characteristics of all phenomena or existence are impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and insubstantiality, which I had mentioned before. 　The third characteristic is also explained as "no-soul". 　The Pali term is "anatta"..."no self". 　The Buddha's teachings stand aloft in this concept of "anatta".

A physical being is composed of the physical body and consciousness which is a form of energy. 　This "etheral energy" gives live to form. 　Without this energy the form is dead. 　However when this physical form is worn out and fails to function, the etheral energy takes on another form to start a new cycle. 　This process is called rebirth.
"Rebith" takes on a totally different perspective. 　It views existence as an on-going process, just like the electric current lighting up a bulb. 　The "bulb" is like the physical body. 　When this bulb is blown, the current is still there and when a new bulb is fixed on, it lights up again. 　So you can see that there is a continuity in the electric current, but the current flowing through is not the same at any one moment. 　Our existence is in this state of flux. 　When the body is dead, the life energy seeks another form to "reborn". 　The type of rebirth will depend on the nature of this store-house of life energy. 　If this store-house of energy has more wholesome characteristics, then it will seek rebirth in a more conducive environment. 　On the other hand, if it has more negative characteristics, then its rebirth will be in a more unwholesome environment. 　As the life force is always in a flux, there is no permanent and unchanging soul, but a changing personality that exists throughout. 　To describe this process of rebirth, the Buddha used the term "Not exactly the same, yet not totally different". 　Another example will be a lighted candle. 　It is not the same light that we see, but not totally different.

My Teacher, K Sri Dhammananda's last talk.

(Ven. K Sri Dhammananda)


The article below came through a forwarded email today. Ven. K Sri Dhammananda was my Buddhist teacher. What I learned about Buddhism mainly came from him. During the 1980s I used to attend his Friday talk without fail, from 8pm to past 9pm. For more than one year, every Friday evening, Chief Reverend, as he was fondly addressed by all devotees, graciously answered all the questions I submitted to him. That was where I learned my Buddhism with full confidence; and am now able to share with others by answering their questions through "All Experts.com". 

I am sure the person who initiated this email has posted the authentic last talk by Chief Reverend. I don't think he/she has any reason to do otherwise. From my experience with Chief Reverend's manner of speaking, the article below should be authentically his.

The subject of his final talk was fittingly appropriate given his physical condition then. I hope everyone who cares to read this can contemplate wisely the message of Chief Reverend .

Anicca Vatta Sankhara : All Component Things Are Impermanent.

The Buddha's final advice:

vayadhammā saṅkhārā appamādena sampādetha

All compounded things, all experiences (mental and physical), all phenomena by their very nature decay and die, and are disappointing: it is through being not-blind-drunk on, obsessed by, or infatuated with, the objects of the senses that you succeed in awakening, or obtain liberation.

Or more succinctly:

All things are disappointing, [it is] through vigilance [that] you succeed.

Strive on with diligence.

************************************

This is The Late Chief Reverend of Brickfield, Most Ven K Sri Dhammananda very last dhamma talk at the Maha Vihara given on the 7th July 2006 and he came as always when they rang the bell at 8.10pm into the PH Henry hall but this time in his wheel chair.

___________________________________

*Human Life ( last talk by Chief Priest , Maha Vihara, 7.7.2006)*
"Dear devotees actually I never thought I would have the chance to see and talk to you , half of my body is dead, but my heart , my mind still has energy . What is this diseased body , is it life? Its not life , its the house , life is the energy , mental, kammic and cosmic all joined together as "energy ", that is life.

Body is decayed and life goes away .Actually we must be happy when time comes to depart without suffering , to crave so much for the body , we spend our whole life decorating , looking after it , one day it decays and when energy and the elements dissipate then mental energy will build another house . Life started with mental energy and then birth occurs . Every single child cries , none smiles after birth . Life is suffering we are using whole amounts of energy to maintain this physical body , but one day we have to depart .Then leaves solidity and fluidity ~ 2 elements only , heat and motion has gone. 

Christians and Muslims are particular about the body as they believe in resurrection , we do not believe that there is anything in this physical body . Spend thousands on funerals , but the departed never get anything. Only way to support the departed , you must know how to make use of this life , that is why religion is needed to help us to cultivate compassion , sympathy and kindness and supporting others.

David Morris sent me a letter , he said there are 2 reasons to be happy as an old man , (1) he will be free from pain and suffering . (2) Ever since he became a Buddhist he has tried his best to maintain and uphold the 5 precepts , if there is another life it won't be an unfortunate one as he departs with confidence .
In the end the dying man takes no solace in dancing and singing , only meritorious deeds will you get confidence and this will support the kammic energy in the rebirth . Must know how to handle life , by doing service to others to help release their suffering . Many die with fear and confusion in mind , can't take rebirth in upper realm . Meditation is important to maintain purity . Prince Siddharta when he was born there were 5 astrologers invited to predict his fate, 4 said that he would either grow up to be a sage or monarch . Last one said definitely a sage . When craving and attachment is completely removed , mind is then completely pure .This body is not life . Its a house built by energy and 4 cosmic elements. Unfortunately in the past 2500 years , Buddhists in Asia have introduced a lot of rites and rituals, never introduced by the Buddha.Just keep away from evil by reducing anger, jealousy enmity , try to do meritorious deeds, try to develop the mind through understanding. Try to purify the mind.

If you are cruel hot tempered or stingy try your best to take this out . If you pray to God to take this out do you think God can do that? Buddha can't also , but he can tell you how to do that . War is declared by the human mind, peace also comes from our minds , not from heaven nor from God.
First by understanding without believing , when you develop a right understanding , then you can carry on a religious way of life . When you doubt , you think , investigate, accept or reject . Others say if there is doubt, then God will punish you.


All over the world different schools have sprung up and they follow their own traditions which they have maintained for a long time . Buddha had rejected old traditions , but it was introduced to the primitive narrow minded people . People in Asian countries don't study the dharma.
Next do Good . Reduce the anger and do something to train the mind through
right understanding . Change the mind , through your own experience you can understand right and wrong.
I have been in Malaysia for 53 years , used to have even no room to sleep. The Chinese were the main Buddhists here and through Buddhist societies we made them understand what Buddhism is.
My mind mental and life energy is still active but I am half way dead , you must know how to do this . Although the end of my life is now near , I have no fear. Arahants can disconnect mind from body to experience nibbanic bliss and at that time you cannot tell if they are dead or alive , their bodies are still warm and their complexions will remain ruddy . They can do that for 1 week at the most. Remember there are 4 kinds of happiness: (1)Happiness of Possession - In owing your own property , your house , land , business , bank account. (2)Happiness of Enjoyment - Using what you have earned you can enjoy good food , nice house,nice dress without abusing, bluffing, cheating others. (3)Happiness of Debtlessness - Try best not to borrow from others , spend within your own means, you gain self respect. (4)Happiness of Blamelessness - Try to lead life without doing harm to anybody.

These 4 kinds of happiness must be with you . Don't be lazy do some work , do not neglect what you have earned, maintain and protect what you have earned , then you can decide what to do including adopting a Buddhist way of life up to arahant , know how to adjust your way of life , how to associate with others , who are they ?Associate with good people ,not harmful wicked people .Support your father and mother ,look after your wife and children, don't neglect relatives, help them . Develop your mind to the extent that you are not shaken by the 8 winds of change, praise /blame , fame /shame , gain /loss , pleasure /pain and treat all the same , then at this stage nothing will affect you." All meetings end in partings
That which rises must fall
That which is collected will be dispersed
Birth ends with death

No I, No Self

Question (Unedited)

 

If there is no self at all, who is meditating? your body? your mind? Are we something bigger than just humans? and when we die, who is being reborn?

Thank you!

My comment:
Hi Kt,

Thank you for asking me.

The Buddhist concept of "no self" is not to be literally translated as such. The Pali term is "Anatta". 　What the Buddha meant was that there was no permanent,unchanging self. 　There is no permanent unchanging soul. 　There is no permanent unchanging "I". 　In order to understand this concept, we need to know the Buddha's revelation of what constitute a person. 　A person is comprised of matter (physical body) and mind. 　We know that this physical body will perish one day. 　It is not a permanent entity. 　The mind is also not a permanent unchanging phenomenon. 　The mind is always in a state of flux. 　There are thought moments continuously going on in the mind. 　This is the consciousness or energy that gives the mind its substance. 　　The energy of the mind is just like the electric current flowing continuously, but no two moments are the same.
The existence of a person is the results of the energy of the mind taking existence in this physical body. The nature of life-form that this mind energy affixes to, will depend on the nature of the accumulated "kammic" store-house which the being had generated throughout its numerous life existences. If the kammic storehouse has a greater portion of evil and unwholesome kammic energy, this mental energy will seek a rebirth in the appropriate existence such that the evil and unwholesome energies will actualize in that life, causing agony and suffering for the being. 　Likewise, wholesome kammic energy will seek out a happy rebirth. 　Often, the kammic energy is a mixture of both good and bad strains.

 

 

Never mind

Question : (Unedited)

Could you please tell me how can you explain the self and selflessness? What is mind? Where is it? Inside the brain or outside of it?　

My comment:

Hi S......,

It would help me to better answer you if I know your environmental background.  You see, a person from a Western Christian society will have a very different mind-set compared with an Asian.  It is much easier to explain to an Asian mind-set than a Western one.  

We take this physical body as our possession.  It is natural to believe that this is true.  In reality if this body belongs to me, then I should be able to control it completely.  But the sad truth is that I cannot fully control this body; given time this body will age and disintegrate.  We are all very fearful of death because we believe that this body is ours.  This attitude towards clinging to our body is what we call clinging to "self".  There are actually two distinct components in a living person.  One is the physical body; the other is the mind.  An analogy of the computer system may give a clearer picture.  The physical body is like the computer hardware.  Mind is like the power supplied by electricity to run the computer.  When the hardware has broken down, the electric energy still exists; and if you replace the old computer with a new one, plug it in, the system comes to life again!  The old computer is not important, it is not self.  In that sense it is "selflessness".  Our existence is a continuous process; when one body disintegrates, the life-energy or mind passes on and seeks rebirth in another form. In Buddhist concepts, you will find such terms like mind, consciousness, thought processes, energy and life-force.  We use them in different context, and sometimes synonymously.

Brain:  The piece of grey matter encased in the skull.

Mind:   The invisible consciousness that activates the brain to think.

An analogy by using computer terminology:

Brain: the hardware

Mind: the electrical current

Consciousness: the software (operating system)

Brain + mind + consciousness =  A functioning computer system

Our consciousness or etheric energy through the medium of the brain, enables us to think and feel.  Brain without this consciousness is just like a person in a coma.  Consciousness without a functioning brain means the being is clinically dead.

I must admit that I am just using my knowledge and understanding of Buddhism (whatever much or little I may have) to share my views with you.  This means that there is always the danger of ending up with arguments and disagreements.  So always bear in mind that there should be space for "agreeing to disagree".

Once someone asked, "What is a person?"

Answer: "Body and mind."

"Then what is body?"

Answer: "Without mind."

"And what is mind?"

Answer: "Without body."

"Then 'without mind' plus 'without body' equals 'body and mind'!"

Answer: "Oh! Never mind!!"

What is mind; what is brain?

Question : (Unedited)

Greetings,

Would you kindly give me a 'working definition' of  the difference between the mind and the brain.

Thanking you in advance.

Hi M...,

In simple computer terms, CPU will be the "brain"; while the electric current will be the "mind".  The operating system will be the "storehouse of consciousness" or accumulated past actions (past kamma).  The data input will be the "present actions generated" or fresh kamma.  

The "brain" is that part of visible "gray matter" inside the skull. The thoughts, feelings and perceptions are the invisible consciousness of the mind.

The above are my personal interpretations.  You are therefore free to disagree if need be.

Smile from justinchoo :-)