Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 11/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: According to Buddhist teaching re-birth is instantaneous.  I suppose this means that when a person dies the stream of consciousness instantly passes into another body, fetus or realm.  I have also read that there are 31 realms and that an entity (separate stream of consciousness, no I) can only enter a particular realm according to its physic development.  Neither higher or lower, only what is appropriate.          

Thousands upon thousands of people die each hour.  It is hard to fathom that the right conditions, body and realm would be instantly available for each and every entity at the moment of death.  Especially in the case of sudden accidents where for many entities, only the human realm would be the appropriate realm to enter.

It would make more sense to me if the entity’s stream of consciousness where held in suspension until the right conditions and body manifested itself, but as far as I know Buddhist teaching does not teach this.

Please help me understand.


ANSWER: Dear Simon,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

According to Buddhist teachings, rebirth is instantaneous. It occurs at the speed of thought. However, the only thing that you might have misunderstood is that we don't necessarily have to be reborn as a human. We can reborn as an animal, human, spirit- in heaven or hell realms), spirit in the hungry ghost realm and more. There are many place at which we can and will be instantaneously reborn.

In addition, body and realm don't have to "be available." Body is created by mother and fathers procreating. There is no "body" waiting. In fact, it is more of the opposite. Once the mother and father procreates and the egg fuses with the sperm, there is an opportunity for a ready and able spirit to being a new reincarnation. The spirit is not "held" in suspension, but merely living out its previous reincarnation.

It is just like a student who leaves school with a new degree. Some get jobs immediately. Some get stuck in "limbo" and others take a long time to get jobs. Once a job is available, and they are qualified for it, they will get it. If not, they wait and continue to live out their lives.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

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

QUESTION: Yes I do understand that one does not have to be born into the human realm, but like I said an entity can only enter a particular realm according to its psychic development at the time of death.  Or maybe I am misunderstanding this.  Can an entity enter either a lower or higher realm even though it is not appropriate, and then live out that life in that realm until a more appropriate life realm becomes available?


ANSWER: Dear Simon,

Allow me to clarify,

We do not "enter" this realm or that. In actuality, we choose to go here and there.

Human beings and all living things (spiritual or physical) have perceptions and viewpoints as a basis of being. We are made up of viewpoints ("I" exists, things can belong to us, "right or wrong", justice, goodness, evil). These viewpoints cause us to THINK a certain way.

Depending on how we think, that decides where we go AND how long we spend there.

For example, lets say person A kills someone. Person B was walking by and saw everything. Person A gets sentenced to life in prison by the judge. In the courtroom, the judge asks person B if he/she had anything to do with the murder. Person B, not fully understanding the question/circumstance answers "I'm not sure." What do you think the judge will do? The judge will put person B with Person A. How long will person A stay in jail? As long as is fitting with his crime. How long will person B stay in jail? Until he/she realizes that she/he had nothing to do with the murder and explains it to the judge.

Just so, someone who does evil, feels it and knows it in their heart (sum of perceptions), therefore, they are reborn in an unpleasant state. Those who have confusion of their faults and actions are also reborn in an unpleasant place but can leave when they clear up their confusion. Those who do good, feel it and are reborn in a pleasant state. There is no one who decides for us who goes where. No one tells us how long to stay. We decide.

For example, if someone kills themselves, Buddhist teachings say they will kill themselves 500 times. Why? Because they have the mindset that killing themselves is the best way to avoid a problem. So, every life, they will encounter a problem and then kill themselves. How long will they be subject to this "hell"? Until they decide or realize that their perception of "suicide is the best way to avoid a problem" is wrong and that there are BETTER ways to avoid a problem. Then they will stop.

So, now, with this backstop, I can appropriately answer your question:

"Can an entity enter either a lower or higher realm even though it is not appropriate, and then live out that life in that realm until a more appropriate life realm becomes available? "

They can enter a lower or higher realm based on their current "mind state." A happy mind state will lead to a pleasant realm, a suffering mind state will lead to a unpleasant realm. However, if it is merely a temporary feeling, they will only temporarily get to stay. However, it the feeling is based on a lifetime of good/bad works, they will stay longer.

Once they run out of that feeling, they will more on to the next feeling. (sad==>happy==>sad==>depressed==>repentant==>...)

After a certain amount of wandering and visits to the different realms, we sometimes desire a physical birth (just like how sometimes people WANT to fix things, or WANT to try to help others).

So, basically, what determines our births is Karma - which more easily explained is the collection and collective mind states (viewpoints/perceptions) that we cultivate and perpetuate in every moment.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,
Phra Anandapanyo

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

QUESTION: Hello Phra:

I am going to try and interpret some of your statements.  I want to know if we are on the same page.  Please correct me if I am wrong.  

We do not "enter" this realm or that.  In actuality, we choose to go here and there.

Would it be correct to say that one enters a realm according to the choices one makes in their present life time?  Thus we actually choose our next realm by the choices we make in the present.

e.g. We have no control over our thoughts, feelings, desires or emotions that arise from within, but we do have control over our actions.  We can choose not to act on them.  We can choose to cut off that thought.  We can choose whether to take the high road or the low road.  We always have a choice.  

Those who have confusion of their faults and actions are also reborn in an unpleasant place but can leave when they clear up their confusion.

Delusion is one of the 3 roots of suffering.  I would say that “confusion of ones faults” is a form of delusion and  I would also say using suicide as a way of solving ones problems is also a form of delusion.  When one sees through the delusion one frees oneself from the suffering it creates.  It doesn’t matter how right you think you are, if your thinking and beliefs are based on delusion you will suffer.  Delusion is delusion.  If delusional thinking carries over into the next life I can see how that would continue the suffering.   

They can enter a lower or higher realm based on their current "mind state." A happy mind state will lead to a pleasant realm, a suffering mind state will lead to a unpleasant realm. However, if it is merely a temporary feeling, they will only temporarily get to stay. However, if the feeling is based on a lifetime of good/bad works, they will stay longer.

I am having difficulty understanding this.  What is your definition of a happy mind state?  Is it possible for one to die in a happy mind state if one has accumulated a lot of karmic debt? Would this not go against the karmic law of cause and effect even if it is only temporary?  Please elaborate.

I want you to know that I appreciate your patience.  Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.  

Simon


Answer
Dear Simon,

"Would it be correct to say that one enters a realm according to the choices one makes in their present life time?  Thus we actually choose our next realm by the choices we make in the present.

e.g. We have no control over our thoughts, feelings, desires or emotions that arise from within, but we do have control over our actions.  We can choose not to act on them.  We can choose to cut off that thought.  We can choose whether to take the high road or the low road.  We always have a choice.  "

Our choices come from our perceptions. Our actions (that are based on our perceptions) serve to reinforce our perceptions. We only choose our thoughts, speech, action and livelihood. However, our perceptions are passively formed by us. They can be changed, but it is hard to do. We don't actively "choose" our next realm, but through our perceptions, thoughts, speech and actions our next realm is determined. If we hold wrong perceptions - we will have wrong thoughts - we will speak wrongly, action wrongly and live wrongly. From those wrong actions, speech and livelihood, we create negative karma and reinforce our wrong perceptions. At the point of death, our mind reflects on what we have done and if it encounters a bad action/speech, we feel guilty and that determines what "realm" we go to.

So, in a way, our "choices" lead us to what realm we go to.

"Those who have confusion of their faults and actions are also reborn in an unpleasant place but can leave when they clear up their confusion.

Delusion is one of the 3 roots of suffering.  I would say that “confusion of ones faults” is a form of delusion and  I would also say using suicide as a way of solving ones problems is also a form of delusion.  When one sees through the delusion one frees oneself from the suffering it creates.  It doesn’t matter how right you think you are, if your thinking and beliefs are based on delusion you will suffer.  Delusion is delusion.  If delusional thinking carries over into the next life I can see how that would continue the suffering."

Delusional thinking carries over into EVERY life.

"I am having difficulty understanding this.  What is your definition of a happy mind state?  Is it possible for one to die in a happy mind state if one has accumulated a lot of karmic debt? "

Just think of this. Even if a mass murderer is about to be executed. If at the last second, he thinks of some of the "good" he has done, will he smile? How long will be able to smile for? He will be able to smile for as long as he can hold that happy thought. Then he will remember where he is and be reminded of what he has done and what its consequences are.

"Would this not go against the karmic law of cause and effect even if it is only temporary?  Please elaborate."

It does not go against Karmic Law, it goes against what "WE" think is Karmic Law. In fact, this is EXACTLY what karmic law is. Because we have done some "good" we are getting the results of it. Even evil people have done some good, and even good people have done some evil. Therefore, EVERYONE has both good and bad karma to repay. Is it unreasonable that a bad person can receive their good karma first? Or that good people can receive their bad karma first?

I hope this clears things up

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo