CHAPTER 5

THE REBIRTH.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.

Karma can be understood as cause and effect, very similar to the way that physicists understand that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For physics, what kind of force of reaction will occur is always unpredictable, but sometimes we can anticipate the reaction and can do something to minimize the consequences. Science is now using many ways to clean up the polluted environment, and more scientists are trying to prevent more serious pollution. In the same way, our future lives are determined by our present behaviors as well as those of our nearest and past lives. Dharma practice is to lighten the results of our karmic actions and prevent any further pollution due to negative thoughts and behaviors. Those negative thoughts and behaviors push us into a rebirth of tremendous suffering. Sooner or later we will die, and so sooner or later we will have to be reborn again. The realms of life in which we can be reborn are limited to two categories: favorable realms and unfavorable realms. Where we are reborn depends on our own karma. The realms of life in which we can be reborn are limited to two categories: favorable realms and unfavorable realms. Where we are reborn depends on our own karma. The realms of life in which we can be reborn are limited to two categories: favorable realms and unfavorable realms. Where we are reborn depends on our own karma.

Karma is created by an agent, a human being, a living being. Beings are none other than the ego, assuming on the continuum of consciousness. The nature of consciousness is radiance and clarity. It is an agent of insight, which was before a moment of the mind as the cause for it. If we understand that the continuity of the mind cannot be destroyed in one life, we will realize that there is a logical argument for being able to have life after death. If we are not convinced of the continuity of the mind, we at least know that there is no evidence that can refute the theory of life after death. We cannot prove it, but we cannot refute it. There are many instances of people vividly recalling their previous lives. It is not a phenomenon limited to Buddhists. There are many people with such memories but their parents do not believe in life after death or past lives. I know there are three cases where children can vividly recall their previous lives. In one case, the memory of a previous life is so vivid that even though parents did not believe in life after death, because of their child's clear memory, they are now convinced. The child not only remembers clearly once living in a nearby village that he recognized, but also has the ability to identify his or her previous parents, whom he had no chance to know. . If there's no life after death, there's no previous life, and we'll find another explanation for these memories. There are also many cases where parents have two children raised in the same way, in the same society, with the same background, but one is more successful than the other. We recognize that the reason for such differences is due to differences in the actions of our past karma.

Death is nothing more than the separation of consciousness from the physical body. If you do not accept this phenomenon called consciousness, then I think it is very difficult to explain exactly what life is. When the mind is associated with the body and their relationship continues, we call it life, and when the mind terminates its relationship with a particular body, we call that fact. is death. Although our body is a collection of chemical and physical components, it has a pure brilliance (clear light) as a subtle agent that constitutes the lives of living things. Because it is not physical, we cannot measure it, but that does not mean it does not exist. We have spent so much time, energy, and research in exploring the outside world,

According to the Buddhist explanation, the mind is said to be unobstructed, it is not physical, and it is from the effects of this mind that every emotion, every delusion, and every defect of people arise. However, it is also because of the intrinsic nature of this mind that one can remove all these defects and delusions and create lasting peace and happiness. Because consciousness is the basis for many existences in samsara and for Enlightenment itself, there are many extensive works on this issue.

From our own experience, we know that the mind or the mind depend on change, that is, the mind depends on the causes and conditions, they transform, transform and affect the mind: that are the conditions and environments of our life. The mind must have a physical cause like the nature of the mind itself in order for it to arise. Without a prior moment of the mind (precondition) there cannot be any consciousness. It does not originate from nothing, and it cannot turn into nothing. Matter cannot be transformed into consciousness. Therefore, we must be able to trace back to the causal chain of consciousness moments in time. The Buddhist scriptures speak of hundreds of billions of world systems, countless world systems, and minds existing from time immemorial. I believe there are other worlds existing. Advanced cosmology also says there are many types of world systems. Although life is not observed on other planets, it is concluded that life is only possible on this planet - a planet dependent on this solar system - and not on planets. otherwise, is not logical. The Buddhist scriptures refer to having life on other world systems as well as on different types of solar systems and in the infinite universe.

Today, if scientists are asked how the universe was made, they can give many answers. But if they asked why this evolution happened, they could not respond. In general, they do not explain that it is a creation of God, because as objective observers, they are inclined to believe in the physical universe. Some people say that it happened just by accident. Now that very point of view is not logical, because if anything exists by chance it is like saying that things do not have any cause. But from our daily life, we see that everything has a cause: the clouds make rain, the wind blows away the seeds that make new plants grow. Nothing exists without reason. You can accept that the universe was created by God, then in that case there will be many contradictions, such as the necessity that suffering and evil must also be created by God. Another option explains that there are countless sentient beings whose energy created by their karma creates the whole world as an environment for them. The universe we live in is made up of our own desires and actions. That's why we are here. At least this is logical.

At the time of death, we are attracted to the power of our own karmic actions. The consequence of bad karma actions is the rebirth in the lower realms. To prevent ourselves from committing negative actions, we must endeavor to imagine if we can bear the sufferings of the lower realms. When we see happiness as a result of positive actions, we will rejoice in the accumulation of virtue. When you consider the experience of others as important as your own, you will be able to develop intense compassion. This is because you will understand that their sufferings are no different from your own and they wish to attain liberation. It is very necessary to meditate on the suffering of the animal and hell realms. If we don't make spiritual progress, our negative behaviors will lead us there. And if we feel unable to withstand the suffering of burning or freezing or the suffering of being unable to satisfy hunger, our motivation for our practice will grow indefinitely. Right now, this human life gives us the opportunities and conditions for us to rescue ourselves.

Reincarnation in the lower realms is the rebirth as an animal, hungry demon, or being in hell. According to the Sutras, hell is defined at some distance directly under Bodh Gaya, a place in India where Buddha attained enlightenment. But if you have really overcome that distance, you will end up in the middle of America. Therefore these teachings should not be taken literally. They are mentioned in accordance with the convention of time, or popular belief. Buddha's purpose in appearing in this world was not to measure the circumference of the world and the distance between the earth and the moon, but rather to teach the Dharma to liberate sentient beings and save sentient beings. from their suffering. If we do not understand the basic approach of Buddhism, We can imagine that sometimes Buddha preached in a way that was contradictory and misleading. But each of the different philosophical views he taught has a purpose, and each view benefits different types of beings. When talking about the hells, he must pay attention to many types of popular conventions and beliefs with the special purpose of making listeners practice the Dharma.

I believe that states like different types of hot and cold hell actually exist. If the highest states, such as nirvana and omniscience, exist, then why is their antagonism the most extreme state of suffering, the most unconcerned mind not existing? Even in human life there are two different types of people: some enjoy life and have more happiness, some suffer more. Therefore, all these differences in experience occur as a result of differences in causes - actions, or karma. If we go further and compare humanity with the different forms of animal life, then we realize that the moods of the animals are not much more subdued and the misery and confusion of them even more obvious. They still have a natural tendency to desire happiness and avoid suffering. Some animals are very wise: if we try to catch them by feeding them, they are very careful. As soon as they eat, they try to escape, but if we feed them with sincerity and patience, they can become completely confident in us. Even animals like dogs and cats feel the value of kindness; they are acutely aware of the value of sincerity and love. Even animals like dogs and cats feel the value of kindness; they are acutely aware of the value of sincerity and love. Even animals like dogs and cats feel the value of kindness; they are acutely aware of the value of sincerity and love.

If there are different levels of spiritual attainment based on how the mind has become subdued, there are also different levels of untrained consciousness. Worse than the animal realms are states like the realm of hunger, they cannot satisfy desire. Hell realms are states of reincarnation where extreme sufferings make it difficult for sentient beings to maintain any ability to judge or understand. Suffering in hell due to intense heat and intense cold. The proof that these realms exist, is beyond our normal logic. But we can conclude that they exist because we know that the Buddha proved very valid, logical, and included many other important issues, such as impermanence and cause and effect, are what we can attest to is logical. Therefore, we can deduce that what he said about the different levels of rebirth is also true. The motivation when the Buddha presented the hell realms was due to compassion, and his desire was to teach what benefits sentient beings to free them from the cycle of rebirth. Because He has no reason to lie, these mysteries must also be true.

The different levels of suffering in samsara in the lower realms are explained in many types of scriptures. Some of the intense suffering is beyond our comprehension. If you were reborn in any of these lower realms, how would you be able to withstand them? Consider whether you have created causes and conditions for rebirth in such lower samsara realms. As long as we remain under the oppression of delusions, powerful forces of resentment and lust, we will still be forced to resist the will of indulging in our negative actions, they will truly be the cause of our own perversion. If this really happens, then we ourselves will suffer. If you don't want to suffer like that, or you feel you will never be able to endure such intense sufferings, then you must refrain from your body, speech, and mind not to indulge in actions that will accumulate energy that will cause you to fall into such states. so. Negatives that have been accumulated must be completely purified according to appropriate practices. And because everything is impermanent, there is no akusala that cannot be purified.

The more you contemplate these sufferings and the more strongly you feel that they cannot stand it, the more destructive power of negative actions will become. When meditating on these sufferings, you must endeavor to imagine yourself being reborn in these samsara and experiencing your own sufferings. For example, when you reflect on the sufferings of hot hells, you have to imagine your body being burned, and when you reflect on the sufferings of the cold hells, you should think that your body is suffering from cold. For the suffering of animals, it is also necessary to imagine the same. You are advised to go to some isolated places and try to integrate the whole experience of such sentient beings, trying to imagine that you are suffering for them. The more strongly you feel that you cannot bear suffering, the more you will feel fear of the lower realms. That leads to an understanding of the destructive power of the negative actions and the suffering they cause. Later, when you meditate on compassion, this practice will help you to develop your love for others who are engrossed in very serious negative actions. Right now, if you can develop a fear of suffering as a human being, then you have the potential, ability, and opportunity to prevent the causes of your own perversion. We can purify the negative and accumulate great store of merit. We can increase the accumulation of merit we already have, and we will be able to dedicate the merit so that it is not destroyed by anger.END=NAM MO SHAKYAUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.25/5/2020.