Expert: Justin Choo - 11/12/2007

Question
Hello Justin Choo -

I enjoy reading your answers, and was wondering if you could answer something I have been pondering recently.

- If a modern day teacher was known to be well advanced spiritually, is it a possibility that at his death, he did not experience rebirth as a human, but rather as a spiritual guide?
 - Would this be considered breaking the cycle of rebirth and entering nirvana?
 - Is this a bodhisattva or an arhat?
 - If one is a bodhisattva living in a state of nirvana, how does one continue to help others achieve enlightenment?
- Must the bodhisattva experience rebirth as a human form to help others?
- Is so, should all great teachers be considered bodhisattvas that at their death, will be reborn in human form again as a teacher?  

Thank you!

Thank you,
Sherrie

   


Thank you

Answer
Hi Sherrie,

I am glad you enjoy reading my answers.

<<If a modern day teacher was known to be well advanced spiritually, is it a possibility that at his death, he did not experience rebirth as a human, but rather as a spiritual guide?>>

I take it that "spiritual guide" is not a human.  How then could he guide others if he is not a human?  Maybe you mean, a higher being in a higher plane of existence.

Perhaps my recent comment will suffice:
"As you know, the law of kamma can be described very simply as cause and effect.  However, it is impossible to quantify all our kamma.  How then can we know what effects will come our way in this life and beyond?  Based on this premise, it is not possible to predict accurately what our next life will be.  On a wider spectrum, it is safe to assume that if one were to associate very strongly with a certain lifestyle, then the next life should be closely associated with that lifestyle."

<<  Would this be considered breaking the cycle of rebirth and entering nirvana? >>
Whatever rebirth a person takes, it is still a rebirth within the cycle of births and deaths.  Nirvana is beyond births and deaths.

<<Is this a bodhisattva or an arhat?
- If one is a bodhisattva living in a state of nirvana, how does one continue to help others achieve enlightenment?
- Must the bodhisattva experience rebirth as a human form to help others?
- Is so, should all great teachers be considered bodhisattvas that at their death, will be reborn in human form again as a teacher?>>

There are two versions of Bodhisatta.  In Theravada, a Bodhisatta is a Buddha-to-be.  In Mahayana interpretation, anyone can be a Bodhisatta, and his vow is to save all sentient beings before he becomes a Buddha.  Wikipedia has a good write-up; please click here:     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva

Hope this helps.  Please come back if you need further clarifications.

Smile from justinchoo :-)