Expert: Joe McSorley - 3/2/2007

Question
Hello,

I'm something of a student of Theravada and Zen in that I've studied more Theravada literature and listened to more teachers from this tradition, but I feel that my interpertations have always been more Zen-oriented, and wanted to get some of your oppinions on my oppinions, if you wouldn't mind.  

I've read some of your answers already and really like alot of what you've had to say, and was surprised to learn that Zen doesn't believe in rebirth (I think the other questions used the term reincarnation, so I'm assuming they've been used interchangeably for the most part).  Theravada maintains that rebirth is different in that only Karma (attached to consciousness/mind) is passed between lives to shape the next sort of link in the chain of lives and that is how it is different from reincarnation, but I've always took it a little further.  I see rebirth as not an actual process of individual lives leading to one another, but more metaphorically, and understand the true concept of rebirth to be one that is meant to simply lead to and understanding that our existence is part of everything that has come before us and has potential to positively/negatively shape all that comes after out time given the impact we wish/strive to make.  Am I way out there with this idea? (I hope I've explained it clearly enough.)

Along with this is my interpertation of Karma as not (as it is unfortunately understood in the West and the East as well sometimes) some sort of insurance policy where you do good to win a happy next life (especially since you don't actually get a next life), but as a process whereby doing acts of love and generosity grant us in return certain spiritual benifits like happiness and peace with ourselves that allow us to develope into more loving and generous peole overtime.  Because of this developement it then may seem like we have more good things happen to us, but in reality the case is really that because we are at peace, negative things no longer effect us like they once may have and we take greater joy in simple and good things.  (Of course, if we were to do evil, the reverse would occur, leading us to develope into people who focused on negatives and become increasingly unhappy.) Is this also way out there?  Are these interpertation in line with Buddhism and Zen or am I starting a new religion?!

Answer
Hello Jacob,
  As far as rebirth goes I suppose your point could be argued but the point is really; who/what is reborn and what dies?  Like the idea of afterlife it is putting the cart before the horse if you don’t know who it is that is asking the question.  So your synopsis might have some weight but it doesn’t address who the self is and that is most crucial. There is a strong contradiction in Buddhism that it clearly states that the self is ultimately empty yet many try to work a reincarnating self into it.  You can call it aggregates or whatever but it is still a self that is hidden in the words. To realize the illusion of the self is to be freed from birth and death.  I think you are right that our birth is a culmination of everything that has come before us but more immediately it is the effect of the interpenetration of all things right here and now that bring us to this moment.  All things are expressed in the moment, the entire Universe is here and now.
  I think your understanding of karma is compatible with a lot of Buddhist ideals.  To see reality is to become compassionate and be freed of our biases as to what will and will not make us happy.
When you are freed from what you want the world to be and see the world as it is there is joy in every moment.
         Take care,
            Joe