Expert: Justin Choo - 11/2/2004

Question
Sir

Thank you for answering the first question.

Accepting that everything flows, that nothing is constant, that what could have been called "persona" a moment ago is different from what can be called "persona" at the moment , and, therefore, no continuous "persona" exists --  
How can one accept that upon the seemed disintegration of a "persona" another "persona" invariably comes into existence?  Why not think that upon the seemed disintegration of a "persona" all causes thus called give effect to many existing "personae" and/or , together with effects caused by  others, cause  the coming into being of many "personae"?  

Answer
Hi Dov Har-El,

Thank you once again for coming back.

I think what you are asking is about the concept of rebirth.  If I am wrong, please rephrase your question.  I shall take it that is rebirth that you are commenting, and shall answer in the same vein.  I think it is o.k. even if it is not answering your question, please treat this as something extra that I am sharing with you regarding rebirth.

The Buddha revealed that a physical life form contains 2 main entities: the physical entity and the mind or consciousness. This mind is a stream of consciousness. It is a "stream" in perpetual flux, ever flowing. Just like a stream; we see a stream as a permanent flow of water; but the stream we see now is actually not exactly the same as the one we saw a moment ago. This is because the water that flows is not the same as that was before. It is also like the electric current. The current flows continuously, but the energy of the current is not the same at any point in time. That was why the Buddha described the "rebirth process" as a process that is "not the same, yet not different".

As our stream of consciousness has no physical entity or mass, it can attach itself to any physical entity. It can also exist without a physical entity! This stream of consciousness is also called the evolution current of the mind.  "Evolution" means the current evolves.  It is a continuous stream but along the way it picks up the vibrations of our actions.  These vibrations form the pollutants in the stream.  These pollutants are the results of all our good and bad actions which we generate in our lives; our kammic actions.  The original current was absolutely pure, but throughout its flow it accumulated the polutents.  These pollutants are both the bad and the good ones.  So long as we possess any trace of this pollutants, we will be subject to rebirth.  If bad pollutants overwhelm the current, the rebirth will take place in suffering states.  If good pollutants overshadow the bad, then rebirth takes place in happier abodes.  If the evolution current of the mind is completely pure, then it is free from further rebirth once the final life ends.

This evolution current of the mind is a single "thread".  It does not split into two or more.  Likewise, other "threads" cannot join together to become one.  To each its own.  That is why we have to take charge of ourselves for our own salvation.


I hope this answers your question. As I said earlier, if I have misinterpreted your questions, please rephrase them and come back again.

Smile from justinchoo :-)