BUDDHISM FOR BEGINNERS – Q&A: QUESTIONS 11–15
BUDDHISM FOR BEGINNERS – Q&A: QUESTIONS 11–15
Question 11: HEARING ABOUT THE EXAMPLES OF KARMA, IT SEEMS LIKE THE LAW OF KARMA OPERATES OVER A VERY LONG TIME. A HUMAN LIFESPAN OF A HUNDRED YEARS SEEMS INSUFFICIENT. HOW CAN THIS BE REASONABLY EXPLAINED?
Answer: There was a time when Jesus spoke to the preceptor Nicodemus about the issue of reincarnation, which surprised Nicodemus, prompting him to ask how a person could be born again from their mother's womb after dying. Jesus confirmed the existence of reincarnation, explaining that what He saw and knew was very abstract, beyond the perception of ordinary humans, much like the invisible wind that comes and goes unseen. Later, missionaries found this concept difficult to understand and reinterpreted Jesus' notion of reincarnation as being reborn into faith in God for easier comprehension. However, initially, Jesus referred to reincarnation in the literal sense, as Nicodemus specifically asked about being born again from the mother's womb.
Indeed, a single human life is too short for the full operation of the Law of Karma. The fair and just Law of Karma requires multiple lifetimes to unfold, necessitating continuous rebirth. Some karma created in this life may take five lifetimes to manifest because the current life does not have enough necessary conditions for its fruition.
Question 12: ACCORDING TO CHRISTIANITY, PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER DEATH. SO IF REINCARNATION TRULY EXISTS, DOES THAT MEAN PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL?
Answer: Heaven and Hell are two of the six realms that beings can go to after death.
The Buddha taught that there are six realms to which beings can be reborn after death: the realm of Heavens, the realm of Demi-Gods, the realm of Humans, the realm of Animals, the realm of Hungry Ghosts, and the realm of Hells.
In the Human and Animal realms, beings must be reborn by entering a mother's womb and starting anew as an embryo. In the other four realms (Heavens, Demi-Gods, Hungry Ghosts, and Hells), the soul transforms and moves to the new existence directly, a process known as spontaneous rebirth.
The realm of Heavens (Deva) is for those who lived very kindly and righteously, with a virtuous and saintly inner morality. In Heaven, Celestial Beings live in happiness, get what they wish for, have long lifespans, and possess clear wisdom, with everything being transparent and just.
The realm of Demi-Gods (Asura) is for those who contributed greatly to life but still have inner anger, competitiveness, and jealousy. In this realm, Divine Beings enjoy many blessings and get what they want, but often experience depression due to frequent quarrels and conflicts.
The realm of Humans (Manusa) is for those with imperfect morality, sometimes good and sometimes bad, with unfinished past obligations and unfulfilled desires. In this realm, beings have vastly different fortunes, with some living in wealth and comfort while others endure hardship and poverty.
The realm of Animals (Tiryak) is for those who lived instinctually, doing whatever they liked without considering right or wrong. They may have been cruel, stubborn, greedy, aggressive, arrogant, dismissive of morality, disrespectful to people, and tend to criticize others.
The realm of Hungry Ghosts (Preta) is for those who lived selfishly, only caring for themselves, wasting food, and indulging in pleasures until their blessings were exhausted. In this realm, beings are constantly tormented by hunger and suffering.
The realm of Hell (Naraka) is for those who have been malicious and obstinate, causing suffering to others, refusing to heed the advice of others, and clinging to their own harmful beliefs. In Hell, beings undergo many painful punishments that seem to last forever, experiencing endless suffering without dying, as they are already dead.
Question 13: ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM, THERE ARE SIX REALMS. IT SEEMS MORE DETAILED AND SPECIFIC. DOES EACH REALM HAVE ANY FURTHER DISTINCTIONS?
Answer: Yes, each realm has countless subtle differences that cannot be fully described in a few words. The Buddhist view of the universe is vast, profound, accurate, and encompasses everything comprehensively.
For example, the Buddha taught that there are 25 different Heavens, varying in levels of merit, virtue, and meditation practice. The Hell realm also has many levels, depending on the sins and inner states of beings. The Human and Animal realms also have numerous variations that we are aware of.
Understanding these visible and invisible realms in this universe helps us comprehend the Law of Karma more deeply.
Question 14: WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF BEINGS IN THE DIFFERENT REALMS?
Answer: Let's first look at the Human realm, where the average human lifespan is about 75 years, though some live longer and some shorter. Illness, accidents, or suicide can cause someone to die prematurely, even if their biological lifespan is not over. Lifespan is also influenced by karma.
For example, someone who contributes to life by planting trees, raising people and animals, healing, or saving lives will have their lifespan extended in this life and future lives. This person will live long and stay healthy in old age, rather than becoming frail.
Conversely, someone who destroys life, such as by deforesting, neglecting the hungry, killing beings, or damaging the Earth's environment, will have their lifespan shortened and may suffer from severe illnesses in their final days.
The lifespan of Celestial Beings varies according to their level in the heavens. In the lower heavens, the lifespan may be a few hundred years, while in the higher heavens, it can span millions of years.
Question 15: WHY DO CELESTIAL BEINGS IN HEAVENS HAVE A LIMITED LIFESPAN? CAN’T THEY STAY THERE FOREVER?
Answer: The Heaven realms are places where Beings enjoy the blissful rewards corresponding to the good karma they have accumulated in the past. However, no good karma can yield infinite results, no blissful reward is endless, so even Celestial Beings in the heavens have a limited lifespan. This is the fairness of the Law of Karma.
Written by:
Janna
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