Human rebirth?

[Jamie Hoey]

Hi,

Recently I've been in a real state of conflict which has been quite painful. Basically I am in a relationship of 7 years with a non Buddhist. I stayed in a Buddhist community's or a month recently and found my practice took off in a a really good way and was much easier.

when I came back to our home I've been really grouchy, quit intolerant of clutter and technology and with the our lifestyle. I found practice way harder And found myself slipping back loads, and basically question things

Also I've notice though that i think I've become too serious.... I have being wondering why this is and I think I have it

I have this really strong urge to live a dharma life completely but it can seem a bit tight at times

Basically when ever I reflect on the four reminders particulars that all I own is my karma, and by reflecting on death and thinking about the preciousness of human life. This reflection have quite an impact on me

I find that this can actually be a lot of pressure to take, as the other day I thought to myself what would my attitude be like if I believed I would be reborn as a human in my next life, as before I was thinking unlikely it would be to be reborn as a human giving the number of beings there are on the planet.


So playing with the idea that I am likely to be reborn as a human I actually found it to be a huge huge relief and just relaxed loads as a result, and I felt I could stop taking life sooooo seriously

I've heard from Tibetan teaching that the chance of being born a human again is like the chances of a blind turtle who sleeps at the bottom of the ocean and surfaces every 100 years and there is a small yoke or hoop floating around on the surface amongst all the oceans. And the chances of being reborn a human is the same as this turtle sticking his heard through the yoke.

Now taking into consideration all of the insects and living creatures there are you can see how this might be true, and how unlikely it is to come in touch with the dharma etc etc

However what a crazily heavy thought all that is too carry on your shoulders no? It could nearly be likened to the catholic fear of hell no?

However I'm still not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, as I can well imagine that in order to become a monk you would probably need that urgency

But on the other hand it can seem quite harsh, and tha dharma I think needs to be a lot more gentle right?

I think I am really susceptible to this line of thinking and becomes to heavy for me....

But is that good...bad... Who knows? (Excuse the paraphrasing)

[Bhikkhu Sunyo]

Hi Jamie,

Be grateful for the human life you have now, including the ability to practice dhamma. If you practice dhamma well, especially keeping the five precepts decently and doing meditation, then you will have a very big chance of being reborn as a human again, or even as a higher heavenly being. There is then no need to worry, because you are pure within yourself. Rebirth is not a random process, whatever actions we do in our life determine where we are reborn. And if you do good stuff, you will have a good rebirth. Keeping the precepts in itself has this power of overcoming all this worry about rebirth, especially if you have been keeping them for a long time.

With kindness,

Sunyo

[Dheerayupa Sukonthapanthu]

Dear Venerable,

May I have your permission of posting your answer on my Facebook?

Many people, including the poorest of the poor, are worried about death because we don't know what's gonna happen after death.

Thank you for this beautiful reminder.

With much respect,

Dheerayupa
(Ping-Pong)

[Jerrod Lopes]

Just a kindly suggestion....

It may be good and eye opening for some to really put some emphasis on looking into anatta. I find that an understanding of anatta leads to simultaneous relief from worry of death and also spurs one to great motvation to practice in this life, esecially when coupled with a strong sense of compassion. Just a suggestion, of course. Please be well, content and peaceful, one and all.

[Jamie Hoey]

Hi Jamie,

Be grateful for the human life you have now, including the ability to practice dhamma. If you practice dhamma well, especially keeping the five precepts decently and doing meditation, then you will have a very big chance of being reborn as a human again, or even as a higher heavenly being. There is then no need to worry, because you are pure within yourself. Rebirth is not a random process, whatever actions we do in our life determine where we are reborn. And if you do good stuff, you will have a good rebirth. Keeping the precepts in itself has this power of overcoming all this worry about rebirth, especially if you have been keeping them for a long time.

With kindness,

Sunyo

Thanks very much for this I really appreciate it

[Bhikkhu Sunyo]

Dear Venerable,

May I have your permission of posting your answer on my Facebook?

Many people, including the poorest of the poor, are worried about death because we don't know what's gonna happen after death.

Thank you for this beautiful reminder.

With much respect,

Dheerayupa
(Ping-Pong)

Hi Dheerayupa,

Feel free. And thanks.

With metta!

[Bhikkhu Sunyo]

Just a kindly suggestion....

It may be good and eye opening for some to really put some emphasis on looking into anatta. I find that an understanding of anatta leads to simultaneous relief from worry of death and also spurs one to great motvation to practice in this life, esecially when coupled with a strong sense of compassion. Just a suggestion, of course. Please be well, content and peaceful, one and all.

If we'd have "LIKE" buttons then I'd press it.

[Bhikkhu Sunyo]

Thanks very much for this I really appreciate it

Welcome Jamie. Take care!