His Holiness The Dalai Lama made a statement recently on Rebirth/Reincarnation. He stated that he might not be “reborn”. This is excerpt from Reuters:
“The 14th Dalai Lama, in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule, said last September that his title could end when he dies because he felt Tibetans didn’t need a Dalai Lama anymore. “If a weak Dalai Lama comes along, then it will just disgrace the Dalai Lama,” he told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. He also said that even if he were to be reborn, he would not be reincarnated in Tibet if the country is not free and that no one, including the Chinese government, has a right to choose his successor for “political ends,” according to Reuters.”
And this from the AP news service:
China’s Communist Party is officially atheist, but that has not stopped it from making some impassioned claims on the afterlife.
Some of the strongest language at this week’s annual national congress has been reserved for the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader. The fury is over his claim in recent interviews that he may not be reincarnated, ending the Dalai Lama’s seven-century lineage. His comments undercut Beijing’s plans to pick a China-friendly successor to the Dalai Lama after he dies.
China’s stance: The Dalai Lama doesn’t control the next life. We do.
I didn’t realize when I heard this how significant his statement was to me! He has stated in the past that there may be a more “democratic” method of choosing a Dalai Lama but here he seems to imply he may not be reborn. So that’s what I want to talk about. Rebirth/Reincarnation.
First, I don’t have any personal experience with rebirth/reincarnation- at least that I can recall. In the Theravada tradition the word “rebirth” is preferentially used instead of reincarnation. Some use these terms interchangeably, but there is at least a technical difference in the Theravada school. You see, Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) taught that there is no identifiable permanent self or atman (sanskrit). The belief in a permanent “self”/atman or soul, was the standard belief at the time of the Buddha. It was this atman, this self- that was reborn into a future life. Since Buddha taught that the idea of self/atman was a creation of the mind (due to our clinging to form, feelings, perception, mental formations and our sense consciousness), a “self” cannot be reincarnated in a future life. A permanent self cannot be found outside of our attachment to these five “aggregates”.
So what is reborn? The answer is not simple. The results/effects of our karma (intentional/motivation related actions, speech and thoughts) continue after this body dies. It is the continuum of karma that takes residence in a future birth. So “we” aren’t reborn but the results of our actions influences a future birth. Since everything is continually becoming something other than it is, when we die “death consciousness” and karma influence the “birth” consciousness in another life. This is an oversimplification, not a complete explanation and doesn’t include explanation of the differences between Buddhist traditions, but will suffice for this discussion. So there is a form of rebirth but it is not “me” that is reborn. This may not satisfy you but here is where you can notice what “dissatisfaction” feels like from you own direct experience. Buddhist teachings aren’t a belief system so we need not feel obliged to believe all or any of this.
The idea of rebirth may seem strange to us living in a hyper-logical, hyper-scientific world but we should remember that these teachings were the predominant cultural and religious beliefs at the time of the Buddha 2500 years ago. The belief in “reincarnation” was a “given” at that time. It still is predominant in many countries (India, Tibet, and many countries of Asia). Today, in the west we have a different cultural and religious milieu where we are biased toward a belief in heaven and hell. Ask most people! For some people (then and now) the idea of an unpleasant afterlife affects how they live in this life.
Before you pass judgment on the idea of rebirth as an outdated myth and untrue. I hope you will consider the possibility that it could be both a myth and true. When you read the descriptions below consider how we may be reborn into these realms many times during this lifetime, or even many times during a single day! One way is to consider our rebirth into the hell realm of anger followed by our return to our “human” realm where our basic human goodness, compassion, and kindness may cause us to reflect on our actions/speech and make amends. We have moved (been reborn) from “hell realm” to our “human/humanity” realm in a matter of minutes sometimes. Thank goodness!
Let’s begin by considering Buddhist cosmology about rebirth into six different “Realms”. The following is taken from an article by Barbara O’brien published in www.Buddhism.about.com:
“The Six Realms are an allegorical description of conditioned existence, or samsara, into which beings are reborn. The nature of one’s existence is determined by karma. Some realms seem more pleasant than others — heaven sounds preferable to hell — but all are dukkha, meaning they are temporary and imperfect (unsatisfactory).
Please note that in some schools the realms of Devas and Asuras are combined, leaving five realms instead of six.
1. Deva-gati, the Realm of Devas (Gods) and Heavenly Being.s
In Buddhist tradition, the Deva realm is populated by godlike beings that enjoy great power, wealth and long life. They live in splendor and happiness. Yet even the Devas grow old and die. Further, their privilege and exalted status blind them to the suffering of others, so in spite of their long lives they have neither wisdom nor compassion. The privileged Deva will be reborn in another of the Six Realms. Ever seen some of these beings?
2. Asura, the Realm of Asura (Titans) The Jealous Gods.
The Asura are strong and powerful beings who are sometimes depicted as enemies of the Deva. Asura are marked by their fierce envy. The karma of hate and jealousy causes rebirth in the Asura Realm. Chih-i (538-597), a patriarch of the T’ien-t’ai school, described the Asura this way: “Always desiring to be superior to others, having no patience for inferiors and belittling strangers; like a hawk, flying high above and looking down on others, and yet outwardly displaying justice and wisdom.
3. Preta-gati, the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.
Hungry ghosts (preta) are pictured as beings with huge, empty stomachs, but they have pinhole mouths, and their necks are so thin they cannot swallow. A hungry ghost is one who is always looking outside them self for the new thing that will satisfy the craving within. Hungry ghosts are characterized by insatiable hunger and craving. They are also associated with addiction, obsession and compulsion.
4. Naraka-gati, the Hell Realm.
As the name suggests, the Hell Realm is the most terrible of the Six Realms. Hell beings have a short fuse; everything makes them angry. And the only way hell beings deal with things that make them angry is through aggression — attack, attack, attack! They drive away anyone who shows them love and kindness and seek out the company of other hell beings. Unchecked anger and aggression can cause rebirth in the Hell Realm.
5. Tiryagyoni, the Animal Realm.
Animal beings are marked by stupidity, prejudice and complacency. They live sheltered lives, avoiding discomfort or anything unfamiliar. Rebirth in the Animal Realm is conditioned by ignorance. People who are ignorant and content to remain so are likely headed for the Animal Realm, assuming they aren’t there already.
6. Manusya-gati, the Human Realm
The Human Realm is the only realm of the six from which beings may escape samsara (endless rebirth). Enlightenment is at hand in the Human Realm, yet only a few open their eyes and see it. Rebirth into the Human Realm is conditioned by passion, doubt and desire.”
So now that you’ve read about these realms- have you visited any or all of them? Do you recall instances of your “past lives” in these realms?
The Hell Realm of anger, resentment, aggression! Been there?
The Animal Realm of stupidity, prejudice, and complacency? Been here?
The Hungry Ghost Realm of craving, addiction obsession, compulsion. Have you even been addicted to anything? Ever had buyer’s remorse? Did you really need that new toy? Have you ever visited this realm? Even for a brief time?
The Deva Realm where we temporarily live in splendor (or at least we think we do), good health, but lack wisdom and are blind to the suffering of others. Know or seen any of these? On reality TV perhaps?
The Asura- Jealous God realm is marked by envy, hate and jealousy. This is where we desire to be superior to others and have no patience. We want to be “in control”. We look down on others yet outwardly pretend to display justice, wisdom and faith. Do you know anyone like this? Perhaps you’ve been in a relationship with an Asura? Asuras sound a bit narcissistic don’t they??
The Human Realm is where we can manifest our innate humanity, compassion, kindness, and true joy. We also can manifest passion, doubt and desire here as well. It is the presence of both the skillful and unskillful aspects that allows us to wake up. We have just enough pain and suffering that wisdom can arise.
The classic Buddhist teaching is that the human realm is unique and is the only realm from which we can escape the rounds of rebirth into these other realms. It is the only realm where we can realize Nibanna, which is the fading away and complete abandonment of all greed, hatred and delusion. It is where we realize the “unshakeable release of the heart and mind. No more realms- just peace! But we must do the work. There is no free lunch in the human realm.
And why is Nibbana only realized in the human realm? Because it is only when we are in this “realm”- this “frame of mind” that we can receive and have the capacity to understand these precious teachings of Dharma- of what is true!
From the Buddhist Cosmology Perspective, the Dharma is not taught in the other five realms. There are no teaching monks there; there are no teachers; there are no teachings and no Buddhas! That is why we can’t realize freedom from their influence.
From the Modern Psychological Cosmology Perspective, Are you really able to think clearly and appreciate wisdom teachings while in the grips of one of these five “realm”/ mind states? Isn’t it only when we are able to get in touch with our humanity- our humanness- or humaneness which is our “human realm”- that we have enough clarity to understand our predicament and seek a way out? And we have the opportunity to hear these teachings of peace and freedom only when we are receptive enough to understand them?
Buddha taught that when we suffer we seek one of to paths. One path is seeking out pleasure (think of how we use material and sense related objects/experiences in these situations). This is our un-awakened“Mara nature”. The other path is to seek a way out that is not related to sense pleasure. This is our “Buddha nature”. We make the choice. One is based on mindlessness, the other is mindfulness.
So perhaps the Dalai Lama’s statement gives us some flexibility in how we regard “rebirth”. We can be flexible enough to see the truth of “rebirth” in a way that conforms to our 21st century psycho-cosmology as well as also giving us the flexibility to embrace the cosmology of the Buddha’s world view. You may find that they aren’t mutually exclusive at all. You can embrace one, or both, or neither! It’s your choice. Please choose wisely!
May you be well, happy and peaceful.
