Expert: Justin Choo - 10/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mr. Justin Choo

Have my questions been accepted and answered?
Perhaps I will rewrite my question if my questions in that time are not accepted.
        In Majjhima Nikaya, I had read the four ways of rebirths of beings given by The Lord Buddha's own self. They are
1. Opapatika yoni, Beings reborn spontaneously e.g. Deva, peta, hell beings. etc.
2. Andajayoni, Beings reborn from eggs e.g. fish, birds, etc.
3. Jalabujayoni, Beings reborn from womb e.g. human, mammals, etc.
4. Samsedajayoni, Beings reborn from moisture, e.g.????
 I have read in some articles that quoted Majjhima Nikaya above or in Majjhima Nikaya that samsedajayoni is one of way where beings were reborn from moisture especially from putrid water, putrid dough, putrid tract, rotten corpse. My questions are
1. Can you give me some examples (please more than three) for this beings reborn from moisture (samsedajayoni)? please! I ask this question because I have not found the examples exactly.
2. It is said that from moisture like rotten corpse and putrid things where beings were reborn, I precisely think of bacteria that become beings in moisture in samsedajayoni. I want to ask, Are bacteria is included in this beings reborn from moisture (samsedaja)?
3. If bacteria is included in samsedajayoni. It means that bacteria is included in Punnabhava process. All this time, I have ever been studying in science and so that I always hear, think of bacteria. So bacteria, is always recalled in my mind. So if bacteria is living beings in samsedajayoni, it means that I have harmed beings of bacteria and i conduct a bad Kamma because of the presence of my intention or volition (cetana). So, I must troubleshoot my problem about this. Whereas bacteria is invisble. What should I do?
4. I have read that bacteria are one of konds of living beings that don't have consciousness based on pancakhandha. I want to ask that From where you know it, Mr. Justin Choo? please explain me how can it be because i still don't understand?
  Please answer and response my question. I do hope Mr. Justin Choo's help. I am looking forward to hear the reply and answers. Thank you very much if my question can be answered and responsed.
         Sincerely yours,


         Andry


ANSWER: Hi Andry,

I think it may mean "moisture aided".  This is what I would take it to mean.  Then many insect species will fall under this category.

As for bacteria, I would say that they are not "conscious beings", which means they are not "living beings".  This is from what I learned from Buddhist speakers.  From my own reasoning I would conclude that bacteria are simply "living organisms" without consciousness, just like other micro organisms.

Regards,

Justin Choo

[I like to invite you to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/

[And this blog by Rev. Dhammika:]
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mr.Justin Choo,
Thank you from your answers. Sorry, But I am still get doubt May i ask Once again that is still the same problem?please!
1. May I know who is the Buddhist speakers that You have learnt with?
2. I had read last time in one of many ShowThreads that In Mahayana Buddhism, there are two excerpts state one of them states that The Lord Buddha had said "There is a 'life' in a bowl of water with infinite living beings (84.000)". If I don't make mistake, It is from Avatamsaka Sutra. The another state I forget. I want to ask How about this? is this state right?
         faithfully yours,
         
         Andry


ANSWER: Hi Andry,

1. If you are confused, please read this book first before you go to other sources:

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/whatbelieve.pdf
"What Buddhist Believe" by Ven. K Sri Dhammananda. This book explains the Buddhist perspective on life's general questions. This Rev was my revered taecher.

2.  Please read the above first, then you will resolve this question by yourself.  By the way, many Mahayana suttras are not found in the Theravada Tipitaka.

Take care.

Justin Choo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Justin Choo,
Forgive me, perhaps you forgot give me what page that excerpts  ven Dhammananda's sayings about bacteria are not living beings, Mr. Justin Choo. Please give me what page?
Thank you for all your helps very much.


Answer
Andry,

Actually I recommended you to read that book to know what Buddhism is all about.  

As for "bacteria", it is my own reasoning that bacteria do not have consciousness.  Maybe it's in the scriptures somewhere, but I am comfortable enough to interprete as such based on my own common sense without the need to refer to any scripture.

Take care.

justin Choo