AboutAnandapanyo Bhikkhu Expertise I can answer questions about Buddhist practice, Buddhist understanding and how to apply Buddhism to daily life. I can help analyze Buddhist sayings and teachings. In addition, I can help with questions Buddhism stories, fables and Vinaya(rules). I have meditated for over 10 years and can help you start with meditation. In addition, I can help provide insight into what to do when you feel that you have hit a wall with your meditation. My main area of expertise is how to think in accordance with Sammaditthi (the right view - and number 1 in the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. If I cannot answer your question, I have many able teachers with over 20 years experience to help me, so chances are I will be able to find an answer for you.
Experience I have been practicing Buddhism for over 13 years. I started studying under various famous Thai Theravada masters. Finally, I met and studied under Phra Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo who has recently passed away on Nov 11, 2008 and is widely accepted as a great Arahant (fully enlightened) teacher of our time. In addition, I have personally read and studied much of the Buddhist scriptures and popular literature available. I have recently undertaken the ordination vows and have become a Buddhist monk in the theravada forest monk tradition. I reside at a temple with many dedicated practitioners and great teachers. I have been practicing training my mind to be aligned with right view (sammaditthi) for over 10 years. I have also been meditating for over 10 years. In my time spent with Acariya Thoon, I learned many things and was able to incorporate them into my life. In addition to practicing Buddhism within temples and my home, I used to own two restaurants and managed commercial real estate. I had to deal with many different and problems. I learned how to use Buddhism to fix my problems, both externally (my environment) and internally (within me).
Organizations Wat San Fran Dhammaram Temple
KPY - a non-profit religious organization
Publications none
Education/Credentials Electrical Engineering Degree from the University of California Santa Barbara
MBA from San Francisco State
Question what is reborn in the next life? a soul, mind etc?
is nirvana eternal life?
i have catholic friends say that if historical records disproved christ existence christianity thesis will fall? do u buddhists rely on life a buddha as if hsitorical records will be at stake and once buddha's life just in case not historical will it damage buddhism?
Answer Dear Jaya,
Thank you for the opportunity to answer your question.
What is reborn in the next life?
Simply, YOU. Many people immediately assume that the next life is one similar to the one we have now. However, that is not always the case. For some people who have done outstanding merit, they will have a rebirth in one of the levels of heaven depending on their actions and karma. For others, they will be born into one of the levels of hell, depending on their actions and their karma. For others, they will be born into the hungry ghost realm, depending on their actions and their karma. For others still, they will be born into the animal realm. And finally, some, very few, will be born into the human world.
Think of it like this, you work really hard and amass a fortune. In the process, you also have some outstanding debts. Well, when you go to a health spa, what goes? All your belongings? No, just you, not even your clothes get massaged! However, if you do default on your debts and loans, what will happen? You will have to go to jail. What goes to jail? Just you, not your house, belongings or friends. While you are in jail, the government settles up your tab. If when you come out, you have no money left, then you have to start all over. Sometimes you can amass a fortune again, some people can't.
When you go to the next life, where ever it is, only you go, the real you, not your impermanent body. Not the body that was a tiny 5lb mass when you were born, or the body that was soft and had little muscle as you were growing up, not the body that bore sickness and pain with you as you moved through your existence.
The important question is not what is reborn in the next life, but:
1. How can I get the best rebirth possible?
2. If it is so hard to get a preferable rebirth, is there any way to escape it?
Is nirvana eternal life?
This is a question that is often asked and is often debated. Does it exist? How do you know? Can you prove it? As I have not been there yet, I cannot tell you anything about it. However, I can help you infer.
If the world we live in and are reborn in is full of suffering and desires, then let us call a place that has no suffering or desires, Nirvana.
If our life results in unending suffering, would a place that had no suffering be a good place to go?
If our lives require work, pain and toiling, would a place where there was no more work be a good place?
If the world is a place where we are born and reborn, born and reborn, born and ....then nirvana would have to be a place we were are not born, not reborn, not born again, not reborn....
If the world has no true ever-lasting happiness (even when we are happy, we hope and strive that it doesn't leave us, when it does, we are left with more suffering), then would it be reasonable to assume that nirvana has to temporary happiness or suffering?, that is only has permanent happiness?
In our world, suffering comes from wanting and working and striving, then would nirvana be a place where we no longer want, need to work, or strive?
If we do not obtain nirvana (which is the opposite of our rounds of rebirth), then we are continuously born and reborn, born and reborn, born and ....., then if we get to nirvana, doesn't that mean we won't have to be born or reborn ever again? Is that eternal?
If life is suffering (every breath, every hunger pain, every desire and failure to get what you want), would you want an eternal "life." Wouldn't you rather just be eternal, without the life?
"i have catholic friends say that if historical records disproved christ existence christianity thesis will fall? do u buddhists rely on life a buddha as if hsitorical records will be at stake and once buddha's life just in case not historical will it damage buddhism?"
Allow me to paint you a visual image. Imagine a beautiful 6 story sand castle built on the beach. It is beautiful and is a place for all things to come and stay and enjoy. However, since it is built out of sand, when the tide comes in, what happens to the castle?
Now, imagine just sand, all of the sand in the world, no matter how much water comes in, the sand will still exist. No matter if there is an earthquake, fire or even human involvement, the sand would not ever disappear. Even the sand that is taken by the water, still exists in the water.
Even so, with or without the Buddha, the Dhamma (what the Buddha taught) would always exist. Why is this? Because Buddha did not invent it, he did not make it up. What he did was merely tell us what already exists in the world that we have not seen for ourselves (because we never really even knew to look). Buddha taught us from the nature around us, he taught us from the actions we have made and are making, he taught us from the way the world interacts within itself. So, without Buddha, the Dhamma would always exist, it has always existed and will always exist. We just wouldn't know it yet.
For example, say we are all walking in the hot desert, we are HOT and dehydrated, we are all so thirsty, but there is no water left. All we see are these ugly, prickly cacti. We all feel sad and depressed. Some of us pretend to be happy and put on a happy face. However, we all feel the undeniable heat from the sun and the fatigue of walking on the sand. What is someone came and told us that if we cut the cacti open, there would be some water in there? Would we thank him? Would we appreciate it? What would happen if he didn't come along? Would we ever know that the cactus had moisture in there? Maybe, but not likely.
So, it doesn't matter who teaches you the truth, it doesn't matter who's religion you profess, what matters is that what you are doing is the undeniable truth and that it doesn't hurt anyone AND creates benefit for the world and yourself.
