Expert: John Willemsens aka Advayavadananda - 12/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: Just curious, Buddhist believe that one can be reborn into higher and lower realms, Western religions believe so as well, but, some claim that negative spirits and hurt the living and further believe that belief in God and prayer, etc,, grants a degree of protection.  Two questions, do Buddhist believe that lower or negative spirits can hurt the living and if so, what do Buddhist believe offer protection.

ANSWER: Hello Marc,
I cannot help you because in Advayavada Buddhism we do not believe in rebirth nor in the imaginary beings you mention.
Kind regards,
Advayavadananda.

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

QUESTION: I thought all Buddhism belived in rfebirth, can you please clarrify where I am mistakene?  THanks you, Marc

Answer
Hello Marc,

In most forms of Buddhism the adherents indeed believe in some form of rebirth.

This is not the case in Advayavada Buddhism - see the following site for our views on the subject:

http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/qanda3.htm

You might also want to read Buddhism Without Beliefs, by Stephen Batchelor.

There is a lot on the Internet about this controversial book.

Kind regards,
Advayavadananda.