AboutJustin Choo Expertise When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition, and have been studying Buddhism for more than 40 years. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than a thousand questions since joining this category. You are welcome to try me.
Experience I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 30 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple.
My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @
http://www.ksridhammananda.com
Organizations I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.
Publications YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/
Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)
Question Dear Justin Choo,
Do you believe that an animal such as a dragonfly can obtain merit in order to be reborn into the human realm? If so, does this imply that dragonflies have free will and moral consciousness? Is this question unimportant in the greater scheme of practicing Buddhism? Also, do you consider the animal realms in the Pali Canon to be metaphorical or literal?
Thank you very much.
Answer Hi Tracy,
Our never-ending existence implies a very long time span. During this long time-span a life would have been through countless rebirths into all sorts of beings. When the bad vipakha (the effects of kamma)is exhausted the being would have the chance to reborn into higher life-forms. When a being is in the lower realms, in this case the dragon fly, it is more of depleting the bad vipakha than accumulating good kamma. It is like serving out a jail sentence.
<<Is this question unimportant in the greater scheme of practicing Buddhism?>>
It is indeed unimportant in the greater scheme of practising Buddhism.
Do we know for sure how exactly kamma works? But we can know for sure that reducing greed, hatred and delusion are beneficial to our well-being.
<<Also, do you consider the animal realms in the Pali Canon to be metaphorical or literal?>>
It is literally the animal realm that we see.
