And another rather interesting discussion took place in the 'comments' area of the previous post. Oh of course, reincarnation, heaven and hell... all these can be a never-ending discussion topic, and if words are not appropriately used, will evoke some ugly episodes and hurt some people in the process, eh?!
From all the things I've learnt about heaven and hell... one seemed like a perfect place that everyone would kill for, the latter a place of suffering and torment. But who painted the picture of these two word? How do you know if there really is a God, and like the Christian believers say - when you die you either go to one of these two places?? Is there anything such as reincarnation?
I've always avoided getting into these topics... because I haven't had a stand of my own yet. I mean, yes, right now I favor the idea of reincarnation and most of the Buddhist teachings; I practise the joss stick stuff and all the deity-worshiping ceremonies. But that's because I've been doing this since I knew how to hold a stick hence it felt natural doing it. Then again.. it doesnt mean I believe what I'm practising. So I go on questioning, and like what rocky said, I gave the other religion the benefit of doubt and seek its possibilities too.
So have I found my answers yet? Hmm.. I'd have to say no. Not yet. You see. This 'light-searching' process made me realize, that ultimately it's what you WANT to believe in that determines your answers. There never will be any one ultimate truth for everyone - there never is. There's only truth for each and every individual self, and that's what they choose to believe. Every little event can be a 'sign' for you, if you want to see it in that way. Or, if you refuse to, you can brush it off ever so easily like brushing an eyelash off your face.
Faith and beliefs, they are very powerful forces. Dont you think? Sometimes, they can be the only thing one's got that makes all the difference.
9 comments:
hihi ;)
I am starting to be patron here.
Cool, personally i think there's heaven and hell, and of course the reason why ppl are there are naturally due to their good/bad deeds. Sounds rationale, yea.
I remembered while i was small i went fishing with my uncle, and had fond memories as great outings. As i grew up, i realised that fishes too, like us, strive on a daily basis to feed themselves, to look for shelter, to care for their offsprings. They too, have needs like us, but quite sadly, due to their beings as animal, are always not capable of better lives.
Of course, the bad deeds i've committed(taking the lives of fishes) does not discriminate just because i'm a kid. Just like the hot irons, when touched either by old man or a small kid like me, will burn. Right now i really regret my childish and harmful doings and pray for these fishes. And nowadays i treat animals esp my puppies real good ;) (ALbeit some scoldings in between)
If there's heaven and hell, who decides where you'll be ending up when its time for you to go (to leave the human flesh)? Aint it quite subjective for the person(s) to decide? are there a panel of judges there too? (like in the mini series "Angels in America") or do u have to hit a certain point target to go up there?? what if u're like half a point to go... tht's be like... shit,man! ;)
btw.. just curious, rocky, u said bad deed u've committed included taking the lives of fishes.. So do you not eat fish nowadays? And what bout other animals? Have u gone veg'n? oh my... hmm. wow!! salute u if u are! n if u're not, does tht mean we're all bad bad people who wont stand a chance to go up?
*pondering*
Jesus said I am the truth, the way and the life?
Jesus said He is the son of God.
There is only 3 possibility. He is mad, He is a lier or He is truly what He said He is.
He also said No one can go to the Father in heaven but through Him.
Doing good deeds is good but it does not buy our way to heaven except through the blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sin.
None of us is righteous, not one.
Nickie,
Yea you can certainly think of it as panels of judges. ;) But buddhism does point out that one's rebirth in these fortunate/unfortunate realms is not eternal. Just like we, as existence in this human realm, is likely to be temporary. Higher realms (heaven) of course have little suffering, hell being the opposite. When one's bad deeds has been exhausted in hell after going through year(s) of suffering/torture, one will be reborn to a higher realm, etc.
To be reborn into human is really rare, and we will endure sufferings and happiness at the same time. From my own experience, i felt that my suffering prevails happiness. Also, individuals differ due to their karmic endowment. It's really hard to generalise.
Of course i would like to be a vegetarian, but it's quite impossible for me to adopt a vege diet(due to too many reasons....). And once i stumbled upon a buddhist guru in a temple, and he told me that it is fine if i can not adopt a new diet right away. He even enlighten me that these meats that we bought from the market are already without existence/life, and there's no need to feel terribly guilty.
Just my 2 cents + exp.
Rocky,
Noooo... to be reborn into human is really rare?? u sure? then what will be born into? cat? dog? centipede? cockroach? if i were to reincarnate, i'd very much prefer to be human still! ;)
ahh.. good, so we arent all tht bad to eat meat eh! at least now when i eat meat i wont feel so guilty..
thx for ur 2 cents! am enlightened! =)
I am glad I do not believe in reincarnation. I do not have to rebirth into any other things. Dogs? Cats, Croakcoaches? what a shame.
Life is full of suffering, I am glad I do not have to rebirth into another human being, going through another suffering again.
Dont't get me wrong, I am actually quite blessed by God, have a good job, a big house and drive a big car. I also have a close knit family, and well liked by most of my friends.
I just think that this is not a very good world to come back to.
I am glad I am going to Heaven to meet my God who love me so much that He gave His only son to die for my sin.
I know no matter how hard I try, I will never be righteous enough, good enough to meet God's standard of a perfect world, so I accepted His forgiveness to cleanse away my sin and continue to guide me till the day I meet him in Heaven.
The monk I met in a temple is actually a caucasian from Australia.
Rocky you reminded me of him. I didn't talk much to him cause he couldn't understand me well. -_-
Warner,
just wondering. does rocky remind you of the monk? or are u trying to say tht rocky, like the monk, couldnt understand you well?
Ppl in the temple are the happiest ppl i've known. lol
;)
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