Expert: Joe McSorley - 2/27/2004

Question
Once a person is reincarnated, do they know anything of their past lives?

In the eye of a  Buddhist, could anything be done about the suffering of life while living?


Can I get a little info. on your backround, I'm doing a project for a philosophy class.

-Thanks


Answer
Zen does not believe in reincarnation and admonishes that if it is true then it is of the utmost importance that you awaken in this life due to the fact that you might not be human again.  There is no soul in Buddhism so this too creates a problem.  What then reincarnates?  This is part of the folk religion of Buddhism and not at all a part of Zen.  The Tibetans do have reincarnation but I find it very problematic and somewhat indefensible since the self is supposed to have no substance.
  Please do not waste your time with concepts like this, they accomplish nothing.  What you must deal with is who it is that even asks me this question, who is it that reincarnates, was born and will die.  Answer this and you will have no problem with the idea of past lives and their memories.
  Yes, of course you can do something about suffering in this life.  This is what the entire story of the historical Buddha is about.  He realized that life as we know it is suffering and he sought to over come this.  The first Noble Truth is ‘Life is suffering' and the fourth is ‘ There is a Path to overcome it'.  It is most important that one clears the illusion of human thought to overcome suffering.  So through proper meditation, conduct and living one can overcome suffering.
 I studied religion at Temple University and the later with Dr.Masao Abe of the Kyoto School of Zen.
  Take care,
        Joe