Expert: Joe McSorley - 1/1/2006

Question
Hi Joe.
thanks for the answer, and it seems to me, it is a counter logic that you are proposing.

I cannot disagree with your argument, in fact, that makes sense to me as I am also for the counter logic myself.

well, but to make the question more succinct, to me, for the countless rebirths that buddhism expounds, I have difficulty understanding how our previous lives starts. To put it simply, if my current life now is a karmic consequence of my previous life, when did my life actually start in the beginning? And if I do have a beginning of life, then how does it concur with the Karmic cycle of previous life affecting the current, simply because, it is the first instance of my existence, and i do not have a previous life to experience the karmic consequence.

That is the mental block which i am currently experiencing. I cannot seem to answer that. Do you think you have an answer to that?

Pardon me, for this is not a question to put buddhism as a philosophy down, but rather one that helps to clarify my train of thoughts.

I look forward to hear from you.

Thanks,
Jason

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Followup To
Question -
Hi.
My question is, if we are subject to numerous rebirths, within the karmic cycle, owing to our merits or demerits in our previous lives, how is it possible to have accumulate any karma in our First instance, or the First Birth at the beginning of our numerous previous lives. Surely our existence is not infinite. As such, Creationism does make sense?
Answer -
Dear Jason,


I think reincarnation has as many problems as creationism does and neither make a lot of sense to me.  I don't know what dwelling on either one does to help the individual in the here and now.  Creationism posits that all must be created by a creator, however, the creator itself does not have to have a creator.  This is very problematic thinking.  In Jesuit philosophy there is a first cause for everything and that first cause is the creator, however, there is no first cause for the creator, it's excused from this immutable law.  It is very circular logic.  If the creator doesn't need a first cause then neither does nature.  I personally wonder why a creative designer would put wisdom teeth in us when they generally cause pain and suffering; not a very wise design.
 Reincarnation has the problem of humans falling from perfection as well as other problems.  Even if we are reincarnated, what does that do to help us in the here and now?  I think it is more of a hindrance then a help.
 I hope this helped you. Take care,
         Joe


Answer
Hi Jason,  
You have exactly pinpointed the problem with the idea of reincarnation and that is the beginning.  It can't be answered with any real sound reasoning.  I have posed this exact question to leaders of Buddhist sects who gave me no answer at all.  Reliance on faith or tenents of any religion does not answer the question of who we are in a real and existential sense. Only deep personal inquiry will answer this.
  Now to get to the root of the matter, you; when did you become you? Forget about theory and face the actuality of the question. This is really the problem.  Who is the ‘you' that is living, or better still, living/dying?  The core of Zen is to answer this question and it cannot be answered cognitively or by another, it can only be answered by you.  So Jason, when did YOU come into being?  Since you ‘are', you know that you are and you know that one day you will not be, who is it that is?   If this is a mental block then grasp it with all of your being, night, day, walking, sitting and sleeping until this block breaks.  Only you can do this.  Don't speculate or theorize, just face the question when did I become me/alive?
  It's good your inquiry brought you to this place.  Keep going.
         Joe