Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 9/3/2010

Question
QUESTION: Dear sir,

  I have 4 questions

1. I read and heard story of buddha.

In buddha story, he encountered lots of troubles from outside like devadhatta's till his nirvana. Acutally it says buddha has some bad past karmas during that time to pay back ???

  For instance, devadhatta rolled down a rock and it jus cut buddha's feet .
 And buddha jus happended to have poisoned food from a follower and accepted the death.

2. Is englightented interconnected with karma ?

  You wont get englightenment until you are free of karma.


3. I have team at work.i must talk to and mingle with other friends. but i found someother friends were not following dharma properly as much as possible. they behave so badly. i told to stop but htey didnot care and say 'this is time we enjoy totally" ?  now i wont talk to them, is it because of the aversion towards them?

4. Family members in our family were known to each other in pastllives ?         



ANSWER: Dear Udayan,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

"1. I read and heard story of buddha.

In buddha story, he encountered lots of troubles from outside like devadhatta's till his nirvana. Acutally it says buddha has some bad past karmas during that time to pay back ???

 For instance, devadhatta rolled down a rock and it jus cut buddha's feet .
And buddha jus happended to have poisoned food from a follower and accepted the death."

In the Buddha's past lives, he was not known as the "Buddha". He was known as the Bodhisatva, or one who will eventually become the Buddha. While as the Bodhisatva, he was not fully pure nor perfect. The Bodhisatva's path is a long, tiring and painful journey. The Bodhisatva must make every mistake there is, live as every animal there is, see and experience everything...BEFORE becoming the Buddha. Why? So that he can teach the rest of us the truths about life.

In the many lives that the Buddha was a Bodhisatva (millions and millions) Devadatta was also born around the Bodhisatva. They were family members in some lives and friends or enemies in others. In those many lives, Devadatta did good and bad to and for the Bodhisatva. However, no one other than the Buddha is perfect, so that means the Bodhisatva was not perfect. Therefore he still makes mistakes. And in those lives, the Bodhisatva also did bad karma to Devadatta.

So in this life, the final life of the bodhisatva - in which he became the Buddha - he still had to receive the results of his actions when he was NOT the Buddha but was merely a fallible Bodhisatva.

"2. Is englightented interconnected with karma ?

 You wont get englightenment until you are free of karma."

Yes, but in the way most people think it is. Karma is the results of us doing what we want. As long as we do what we want (which we almost ALWAYS do), our karma will be laid out for us according to our actions. In Pali, Karma or Kamma merely means actions. So Karma is our actions, the results of our actions.

The reason we commit these actions are because we THINK in a particular way. We THINK in this particular way because we hold a certain set of VIEWPOINTS or UNDERSTANDINGS or PERCEPTIONS about the world and the things in it. So as long as we hold these perceptions (understandings, viewpoints) we will do what we want and therefore receive the results of our actions.

However, if we can change our viewpoints from the wrong ones (miccha-ditthi) to the right ones (samma-ditthi - first and most important step of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path) then we will not commit these actions. We will be free from karma and therefore enlightened - since karma no longer has a hold on our souls - merely our bodies (for as long as we live - since we are not going to be reborn - it is only a temporary hold)

So the correct phrase should be, "We won't be free from karma UNTIL we get enlightened (by changing wrongly held viewpoints to right viewpoints.)

"3. I have team at work.i must talk to and mingle with other friends. but i found someother friends were not following dharma properly as much as possible. they behave so badly. i told to stop but htey didnot care and say 'this is time we enjoy totally" ?  now i wont talk to them, is it because of the aversion towards them?"

Just like my answer to #2, your actions rely on a wrong viewpoint. You hold the viewpoint that everyone should "follow the dharma properly" and "as much as possible." This is not a true viewpoint. This is a wish , a desire.

The Buddha said, "Yampichan na labhati tampi Dukkham" - When you desire one thing and do not get it - you will suffer.

You are desiring something that is not possible.

We cannot get trees to fly - rocks to sing - water to be dry - dogs to speak ...these things are not possible. If anyone were to desire it, they will spend their lives suffering since they cannot get what they want. Just so, when we desire that "other people should be like this" "other people should be like that" - this is merely our opinion, our desire.

Theoretically, people SHOULD follow the Dhamma. But truthly not everyone does. IN FACT, not many people actually do. IN FACT, even we have not ALWAYS followed the Dhamma properly. I can imagine there are times in your life that you might have failed to properly follow the Dhamma. In those times, we forgive ourselves and allow ourselves to make excuses for our mistakes. The Dhamma says we should be fair. Are you being fair? You allow yourself room to grow, to make mistakes - are you allowing them room to grow, to make mistakes? People learn through suffering and by encountering problems. You will learn from this as will they.

"4. Family members in our family were known to each other in pastllives ?"

Most likely yes. Only the Buddha can know for sure. However, we were not always in the same positions. Last life your mom might have been your daughter/sister/father/brother/uncle/cousin or friend.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo


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

QUESTION: Hi sir,

Thanks for your good answers.

i have some doubts. before that i ll explain about myself
I m udayan from india , i am a hindhu but very much interested in buddhism and our hero Buddha. i am practicing vipassana for 1 or 2 years , not frequently.
1. What is bodhisatva ? am i bodhisatva ?
2. The Bodhisatva's path is a long, tiring and painful journey . Why is it painful ?
3. Do you say Old past karmas can never be erased?
4. If my life has only 30 or 40 years only to pay back for past karmas and i die (since i dont know what i did in past lives),when do you think i get enlightenment ? sir
5. If i try to stop others from doing wrong doing or thoughts, does it mean 'desire' or 'care' towards ?

Thank you sir

ANSWER: Dear Udayan,

"1. What is bodhisatva? am i bodhisatva?"

A Bodhisatva is a person who has dedicated themselves to become a Buddha. They desire to walk the long path and sacrifice the many lives to become a Buddha. Then they can help many people free themselves from suffering.

There is no way I can tell you. Being a Bodhisatva requires a personal aspiration AND an actual prediction from a real Buddha. Only you can know that. But a Bodhisatva will have certain qualities...such as..always a man, usually in high status, lots of people surrounding them. Usually the leader of a large group. Usually tries to dedicate their lives to doing good.

Such people who might be Bodhisatvas are the King of Thailand, Jesus Christ, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa...and many others...

"2. The Bodhisatva's path is a long, tiring and painful journey. Why is it painful?"

Well, each life that we are born, we encounter so much loss, heartache and pain...a Bodhisatva will be born more times than us...many many many millions more times. The more lives, the more pain. Also, the Bodhisatva will have to commit every crime, every bad action and also feel all the different pains there are in the world...so that they can teach others.

"3. Do you say Old past karmas can never be erased?"

Some can and some can't. However, old karma's will usually lead to committing new karma's. New karma's can be stopped. Like Angulimala (the murderer) who stopped killing and then became a monk. He repaid his old karmas and did not commit more. Thus, no new karmas.

"4. If my life has only 30 or 40 years only to pay back for past karmas and i die (since i dont know what i did in past lives),when do you think i get enlightenment? sir"

You will get enlightenment whenever you cultivate enough right viewpoints and perceptions. Once you realize fully that your body and all physical belongs DON'T and CAN'T actually belong to anyone, especially US....you will have become a Sotapanna - the first of four level of enlightenment.

You don't just pay back old karmas and die. You pay back old karmas and continuously make new karma. That is why we have to keep being reborn - become we never stop making new karma.

"5. If i try to stop others from doing wrong doing or thoughts, does it mean 'desire' or 'care' towards?"

Yes, you desire to control others. You desire to force the world to be a certain way. No one has that power. Everyone who tries - fails. Everyone who wants this - is disappointed.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

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

QUESTION: Sir Really thanks for your answers and kindness.

1. You said ', the Bodhisatva will have to commit every crime, every bad action and also feel all the different pains there are in the world...so that they can teach others.
'
 I dont get, while practicing buddhism i think no one really commits bad action. how bodhisatva is caused to make bad action like (sorry to mention ..deceiving, murdering ,stealing..). please give me an example.

3. You said old karmas leads to new karmas. please say what i am saying is right or wrong
 if i see a flower (this is caused by old karma)
 and i fall in love with the flower with attachment (new karma is created)

New question

I am a 27 years old youngester, how can i be acting in right view and right perception in some situation like listening music, getting together with friends outside , watching cinemas and travelling to landscapes. These are making us to like more and more in pleasant way that is a pleasure thing. we cant live without that after that. How can i act? Or youngsters are exceptions in abstaining from pleasures ?

Answer
Dear Udayan,

" 1. You said ', the Bodhisatva will have to commit every crime, every bad action and also feel all the different pains there are in the world...so that they can teach others.
'
I dont get, while practicing buddhism i think no one really commits bad action. how bodhisatva is caused to make bad action like (sorry to mention ..deceiving, murdering ,stealing..). please give me an example."

Whether one practices Buddhism or not, everyone commits bad actions. That is will life has so much suffering. We live in a world filled by bad actions. We only experience happiness when each feeling of suffering subsides. This is not negative thinking..this is the way the world really is. For example, when we are hungry, we feel pain in our stomachs..after we eat (chew, cut, clean) we are full and feel happy. We are only happy since we suffered (hungry). If there was no "hungry", there would be no "happy".

The Bodhisatva is still just a fallible person, just like us. The only difference is that he/she has a goal - to become a Buddha. In the many lives the Bodhisatva lives, he/she will have to encounter many problems and try to overcome them. In addition, since the Bodhisatva is not a Buddha yet, he will still make mistakes. He will still get angry, be greedy, have ego and feel desire. Therefore, he will still commit bad actions (stealing, killing, adultery)...however, he/she will also dedicate their lives to doing great actions (saving lives, helping people, teaching people).

Also, the Bodhisatva will not always be a human being. They might become an animal. In those lives, they will still have to kill to eat.

This doesn't mean a Bodhisatva is evil or bad...it just means that he/she is still on their path. While walking a path, there will be rocks and dust.

"3. You said old karmas leads to new karmas. please say what i am saying is right or wrong
if i see a flower (this is caused by old karma)
and i fall in love with the flower with attachment (new karma is created) "

The fact that you are born this life is due to past karma, the fact that this particular flower is there is also due to past karma..what that karma is exactly? Only a Buddha can know...... However, how you are inclined to feel about it is due to past karma. The actual feelings/actions/thoughts you have now are NEW karma.

For example, for many lives a certain woman was used to contemplating Death. Every life, she would contemplate on death. So, if she saw the flower, she would have the tendency to think about death - since this is her mindset. However, she still has a choice. If she tries hard enough, she can see the flower as lively and beautiful. Most likely, she will see it as in the process of death. But there is a chance. Whichever way she thinks, is new karma. If she thinks of death, she would have added new "death" karma to her old "death karma." If she thinks "life" she has started new karma onto a "life" karma.

Another example, if someone has been stealing for a long time and they see someone drop a 100 dollar bill. They will have the tendency to just take it. This is due to the mental and physical training stealing has imparted on him/her. However, he/she has the choice to either return the money, leave it be or steal it. Whatever choice he/she makes is the creation of new karma. Their inclination to steal is old karma.

"I am a 27 years old youngester, how can i be acting in right view and right perception in some situation like listening music, getting together with friends outside , watching cinemas and travelling to landscapes. These are making us to like more and more in pleasant way that is a pleasure thing. we cant live without that after that. How can i act? Or youngsters are exceptions in abstaining from pleasures ?"

I'm sorry to tell you that no one is exempt. The laws of the world are the laws for every human, animal and spirit in this world. What laws? The Law of Suffering, the Law of Change, and the Law of Not Self.

Nothing in the world is free from suffering. Everything in the world changes. Nothing can be controlled and therefore cannot contain an ego.

As of now, since you are a "youngster", you think that music and friends will lead to more "fun". However, as you get older, you will realize that music is a type of addiction - distraction. Friends will also change. Some will stay loyal, some will defect, others will drift apart. The same "fun" that you had, will also cause you suffering. When you are away from the music, you are unhappy - why? Because YOU have CHOSEN to create an ATTACHMENT to music - because you think it will lead to happiness....it does lead to happiness, but it also leads to suffering. The more you love something, the more hurt you are when it is gone.

We are not telling you to drop everything and live alone in a forest. That would make no sense right now. Why? Because the desire and the attachment is inside you. Even if you went to the forest, you would become attached to trees, and leaves and flowers. The best way is to stay where you are and learn about the things around you. Contemplate the music, contemplate the truth about friends...do they only bring happiness....is it reliable?...is there any suffering involved?...if you can solve your problems now...no matter where you go, you won't have these problems. But if you can't and run away...unfortunately your problems will follow. It is just like how no matter how you try, you can't run away from your own shadow.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo