Karma & Rebirth by Brian Ruhe - Part 4 of 8

This was recorded in class five of the Buddhist Philosophy and Meditation course in adult Ed. at the Vancouver School Board in BC, Canada in November, 2008. Brian Ruhe is a former Buddhist monk, author of the book, "Freeing the Buddha," published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, in India, and Brian has been teaching Buddhism for 12 years.
This topic is not being taught enough in a direct way by Buddhist monks and lay teachers in the West so Brian is posting this on You Tube to spread these teachings, which are good. For more info go:

http://www.theravada.ca

Brian's new book, "A SHORT WALK ON AN ANCIENT PATH - A Buddhist Exploration of Meditation, Karma and Rebirth", is available on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&fiel...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• karma
• rebirth
• Theravada
• Buddhism
• meditation
• death
• afterlife
• Vancouver
• School
• Board
• Brian
• Ruhe
• Ajahn
• Sona
• Brahm

[BrianRuhe]

Hi Hairysuit,

I must thank you for being a voice of dhamma here on my website. Well done! You have handled Barbara well. I had many postings with her before. I agree with what you have been writing. I agree with your last post too but I would add that for people who are not able to reach samadhi and deep insight, then it is justified for them to rely upon the suttas as the reference point of truth in a sustained act of faith, or saddha- reasoned conviction, while they develop their meditation.

[BrianRuhe]

Thank you Zenstudent105,

You are right about how some people react, particularly within Zen as well, since they emphasize being in the here now and not thinking about the future. You are correct, some people don't want to face the law of karma because it is a law, and they don't want to hear it. Much metta, Brian Ruhe

[BrianRuhe]

I have stated that the Buddha taught that we shouldn't ponder upon karma too much because it can make one crazy as it is too complex but we should be concerned about our unwholesome acts. But this is not about worrying. It's about recognizing a mistake, and then leaving the past in the past without dwelling in regrets. There is no need to worry about stepping on an ant; that is not karma. Unintentionally stepping on an ant is not the intention of killing. No worries!

With metta,

Brian Ruhe

[BarbarraBay]

The causes of the happiness & suffering we experience in our lives is found in the here & now. Our happiness & suffering are related to our mindfulness & wisdom.

If we believe otherwise, we become stuck in a philosophy of inaction. The Buddha taught these things in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61), which can be read on the internet.

Pondering kamma will only make one crazy if worrying about the little things we do. For example, I step on & kill an ant & I ponder: "What is going to happen to me?"

[BrianRuhe]

Hi Barbarra Bay, You are the first person ever to comment on my You Tube video, thanks! In reply, in the Tittha sutta the Buddha does not teach a philosophy of inaction and he is criticizing other sects that do. I am following the Buddha on this. The causes of our happiness & suffering are in the past and the present. That's what causes are- things we did which have a result on how we feel now. How we act in the present can be skillful or unskilful so wisdom and mindfulness is important, yes.

[jbearden]

@SriSatchitananda You should explore this question.

[qwyzl]

guess when it's time for me to die i'll have to go some where terribly exciting and wonderful be cause for damn sure i do NOT want to be re born in the town in which i now live!!!! or may be i should move to some warm, tropical island.... with any luck a coconut will fall on my head and kill me, and then i'll get to be re born on some paradise-like island!!!! or i could move to new orleans may be.... ANY where but THIS town!!!!!

[destructicon500]

How is this description of karma any different from "blaming the victim?" 

[SriSatchitananda]

Buddha spoke out against the idea that one's consciousness or "mind stream" flits about after death.

[SriSatchitananda]

What is the difference between this "mind stream" you postulate and an Atman? Corn flakes are corn flakes even if you call them pine cones.

[RanjanLekhy]

But some others have the experience! What do you say? But I am so much surprized, that why people talk about only rebirth? Buddha's teaching is to cultivate our mind or karma in present!

[BarbarraBay]

Your reasoning is false here Brian plus self-deception. However, that two fools concur is normal. For it is you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight. Thus your convoluted false view has condemned yourself. Why post a series of lectures on superstition when you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight? Following your line of reasoning, your lectures are not the voice of dhamma beause you yourself have not reached samadhi and deep insight.

[BarbarraBay]

You have spoken correctly here Hairy Suit. Our own experience is the authority. You have not experienced rebirth therefore you should not talk about it. However, the meaning of 'past lives' or "past dwellings' is explained in the Khajjaniya Sutta. It is each time the mind in the past clung to one of the five aggregates as "I" and "mine". This is easy for those who have experienced emptiness to comprehend. This is our spiritual authority.

[BarbarraBay]

Brian. Hairy is not the voice of Dhamma but the voice of unliberated superstition. Buddha taught to levels of teachings. Those mundane teachings are not the core of Buddhism. Buddha advised in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61) what teachings are his core.

[BarbarraBay]

it is your mind that is preconceiving Hairy. Out of fear & craving, your mind is clinging to life, wishing to reborn. A mind with hindrances cannot discern the Buddha-Dhamma.