Expert: Justin Choo - 4/29/2010

Question
Admittedly, I am a Buddhist, but I am in the process of abandoning Buddhism due to doubts.  I'm hoping that my questions will be answered before I convert myself into an atheist.  I decided to ask my questions here as the website seems non-profitable, unlike many temples I have visitted that have turned themselves into business companies.  Because of the many greed people that cover themselves with yellow robes and call themselves monks, it is extremely difficult to me to find a true monk who will not deflect my questions.  Please keep in mind that my questions are not a game of wit, they are to clarify my doubts.

Question 1:
The Big Bang Theory of origin of the Universe is widely accepted, and it may well be a fact, or an approximate fact.  This means, life is nothing but a pure incident of chemistry.  I'm not asking exactly about life yet, though. What I'm wondering is: there is a time where there was no life at all in the Universe.  Thus, the first lives must not have committed any sin/evilness.  Why were they born then, when they couldn't have had done anything to impure themselves, if the concept of reincarnation dealt with soul impurities?

Question 2:
This is more like a question of life.  All lives (except most plants and some species of other kingdoms) can't live without harming one another; so they commit sins in the process of living.  Why "of all" would this be called sins when life is all about to live and thereby, to seek sustenance?  However, when you commit suicide, you prevent harming other lives; but this is also a sin, that you have to repent it when you are reborn!

Question 3:
Don't you think that we homo sapiens are offered too much previlleges?  On this planet, only this species can talk to god(s) in many other religions, or can reach nirvana. If we evolve into other species, or branch into a few more species, will our nirvana previllege be retained among our descendants?  If other species ever evolve into our level of intelligence, are they given this same previllege?  How about lives on other planets, if they exist?

Question 4:
Again, in cosmological term, the acceleratedly expanding Universe will end up so cold that no life can exist.  This implies that nobody reincarnates.  Does it mean that every soul will be purified and reach nirvana when time arrives?  

Basically, I don't think there are such previlleges as communication with deities or nirvana in the first place.  Life is just life; when you die, then that's it.  You live because you are born, and you don't have any purpose of life.  The phrase "purpose of life" is only an artificial term which exists because humans ask for it!  By saying this, I don't mean that everybody can become immoral as much as they want, but I just don't believe that there will be as a spiritual world, in which you are punished afterlife, nor there will be a next life.

Thank you,
Anton.

Answer
Anton,

Thank you for communicating.

Before I venture to "answer" your questions, may I admit that not all questions can be answered to everyone's complete satisfaction.  I shall try my best to provide answers to all questions, but as I said in my profile, you may not agree with them.  Here we are discussing on matters that all of us cannot see, and cannot even prove correct. So it is up to you to consider the answers; accept them if reasonable; reject them if not agreeable.  No problem whatsoever.  The problem comes when one insists that all answers must be up to one's expectations.  

Comment on your opening remark:
"I'm hoping that my questions will be answered before I convert myself into an atheist."
Actually, in the first place, there is no such thing as "converted" to Buddhism.  So you don't need to "convert" into an atheist from being a Buddhist.  Just be one if it suits you.  Not a problem.   

Comments on Question 1.
" there is a time where there was no life at all in the Universe. "
There is no beginning nor ending in the Universe.  It is a cycle of "formation, evolution, and dissolution."

" Thus, the first lives must not have committed any sin/evilness.  Why were they born then, when they couldn't have had done anything to impure themselves, if the concept of reincarnation dealt with soul impurities?"
There was no such sin in Buddhism.  It is just a phenomenon that life exists.   


Comments on Question 2.
"Why "of all" would this be called sins when life is all about to live and thereby, to seek sustenance?"

Again, Buddhists never consider them as sins.  Buddhists consider them as "dukkha" meaning "unsatisfactory" and "much suffering."


"However, when you commit suicide, you prevent harming other lives; but this is also a sin, that you have to repent it when you are reborn!"
Buddhists never said that.  

Comment on Question 3:
The Buddhist concept of different planes of existence has reference.


Comment on Question 4:
"the acceleratedly expanding Universe will end up so cold that no life can exist."
There will always be life existing in other far away planets in other galaxies.  The whole Universe will not end up cold.  In the vastness of the Universe, it is most appropriate that we call it "Space."  As I said above, the scenario of "formation, evolution and dissolution" takes place in the vastness of space.  When certain stars are dissolving, others are in the process of formation, while others are evolving.


My comment to your conclusion:
"You live because you are born, and you don't have any purpose of life.  The phrase "purpose of life" is only an artificial term which exists because humans ask for it!"
I totally agree with you.

Just a passing comment:
The essence of the Buddha's teachings is actually very simple.  He reminded us that if we want to live in peace and contentment, we need to do just three things:
1. Reduce greed
2. Reduce hatred
3. Reduce ignorance of existence

Take care, my friend.

Justin Choo