Expert: John Willemsens aka Advayavadananda - 10/14/2009

Question
Hello, I wonder if you can help, I am very intrested in buddhism but am a bit confused as I have a son with autism, and not sure if the faith means that because he has a disability it is his own fault as he has done something bad in a past life, could you please help explian this and how buddhas feel about disabilities

Answer
Hello Robert,

Buddhism presupposes traditionally that the human being is composed of some five skandhas or clusters of which the physical rupa skandha disintegrates and dissolves and the non-physical arupa skandhas, including our consciousness, simply cease to occur completely at death. Karma is a continually changing knot of interdependent events in time, including personal choices and responsibility. What is 're-born' is, as taught in Advayavada Buddhism, exclusively the result or outcome of the parents' procreative deed and the karma in which the procreative moment is embedded as an integral part. The genetic and social factors present at the beginning of a so-called new life are the product of that wondrously minute creative occurrence in infinite interdependent overall existence.

In other words, no, karma is not an individual thing, but the here and now result of all things and all time.

Autism is an unfortunate illness that must be treated and alleviated professionally like any other.

With warm regards,
Advayavadananda.