Does reincarnation make life meaningless?

[Chakra]

So in truth, you only want to hear what you want to hear, mmm, interesting.

No. If you want to bash reincarnation, then you could always make another thread about it (especially in the debates section). As said previously, I am not interested in proving reincarnation to you, because I know that science can't really prove this, and if it did, it would take decades before the modern scientific community accepted it.

 

[George-ananda]

Probably when the full story is known it could change everything, but I don't have any beliefs in an after life, there is only One life. When the body dies, the life continues, but not as we want it to. Our personality is forever gone, who really wants that anyway, its gone so let it go. The only thing left is our pure Essence, and that Essence is pure, its not contaminated by our so called life.

What are your beliefs based on? Mine are based on the best parapsychological researchers and the teachings of the great sages/saints of the eastern/Vedic tradition.

 

[psychoslice]

No. If you want to bash reincarnation, then you could always make another thread about it (especially in the debates section). As said previously, I am not interested in proving reincarnation to you, because I know that science can't really prove this, and if it did, it would take decades before the modern scientific community accepted it.

Yes that maybe, but why get so excited about it, does it mean a lot you ?.

 

[psychoslice]

What are your beliefs based on? Mine are based on the best parapsychological researchers and the teachings of the great sages/saints of the eastern/Vedic tradition.

My so called beliefs, which are not beliefs, is based on my own inner experience, and that's that.

 

[George-ananda]

My so called beliefs, which are not beliefs, is based on my own inner experience, and that's that.

OK, but you shouldn't expect that to mean much to others without evidence.

 

[psychoslice]

OK, but you shouldn't expect that to mean much to others without evidence.

No no, I want you to think for yourself, not copy me or anyone else, not to copy a Buddha, a Christ or who ever, you are already there,. why copy anyone ?.

 

[Glaurung]

It's that you have a soul that DOES remember each life. And you will return to that soul after spending time in a temporary heaven-like state between lives.

I guess that works if we assume the existence of atman, but aren't there schools of thought within Dharmic religion that reject an underlying eternal self?

 

[LuisDantas]

If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

Reincarnation is indeed a dangerous belief, at least by itself. It is very difficult to make constructive use of it except when it is balanced with better teachings that complement it. Or, perhaps - and to me personally that is a very big maybe indeed - as a momentary ward against despair.

Plenty of people who believe in some sort of reincarnation do turn to self-indulgence and abusive behavior, exactly because they feel so enabled by that belief. I have seen it happen firsthand and it is very ugly indeed.

 

[YmirGF]

If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

If you are living a life that you do not like, it is incumbent on you to try to make your life better. The only thing pain and sadness should teach you is not to go through pain and sadness. Well, don't get hung up on them at least. Ask yourself what you are contributing to your life that is furthering that sense of misery. Are you doing anything to change your condition, as it were? Have you tried to change your life circumstances?

Suicide is not always a bad thing, but it should be a very last option after all other avenues have been exhausted. There are always choices that can be made. At the very least you may find happiness incrementally... one bit at a time.... At times, you may feel you are getting nowhere, but it's at those times that you should sit back and ponder what you could be doing more effectively. Is an attitude change in order? Is it time to move or get a new job? Is it time to cash in your girl friend or significant other? Etc...


But.... the real beauty of reincarnation is that you do not have to believe in it. It DOES NOT MATTER if you believe in it or not. Your belief does not affect any reality save your own. The thing is don't get too hung up on the models of reincarnation that are available on the bookshelf. They are quite simply put, incorrect. Karma simply is not a part of the equation and though actions do have consequences, it is impossible to trace what action precipitated what result. The only guideline is your sense of well-being and a sustained sense of happiness. The route to unbreakable happiness is through value fulfillment. Value fulfillment is the art of expending energy in a particular area and seeing the fruits of your efforts. Moderate your expectations and you should be OK.

The thing is reincarnation is a much larger, much looser system of activity than is normally imagined. It is a system that has very few rules and is meant to demonstrate to the individual how their thoughts and beliefs literally mold the world they experience. If your life is crap, check your beliefs, thoughts and expectations.

 

[YmirGF]

Reincarnation is indeed a dangerous belief, at least by itself. It is very difficult to make constructive use of it except when it is balanced with better teachings that complement it. Or, perhaps - and to me personally that is a very big maybe indeed - as a momentary ward against despair.

Plenty of people who believe in some sort of reincarnation do turn to self-indulgence and abusive behavior, exactly because they feel so enabled by that belief. I have seen it happen firsthand and it is very ugly indeed.

My guess is that such individuals turn that way because they really don't have the foggiest idea of what reincarnation is really all about. The "all about" part is largely non-dual so expressing it in normal verbal terms can be daunting.

 

[illykitty]

No as I believe each incarnations are for learning something. Each life you live is to experience and learn from it. So no, I think it makes it meaningful, I wouldn't want to ruin this chance nor say, take my life, simply because I am here for a reason and want to experience that reason.

 

[George-ananda]

I guess that works if we assume the existence of atman, but aren't there schools of thought within Dharmic religion that reject an underlying eternal self?

I don't think there are many schools that reject an underlying eternal soul but there are particularly Buddhist schools that would say such things should not be conjectured about as it us unknowable and the subject left alone. In my school, Advaita, this underlying eternal self, Brahman, is all that's really real.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I do wonder what the functional difference between reincarnation and eternal unconsciousness is, if at every new life I lose all memory of past incarnations.

You know, I've always wondered the same thing.

And to add to it - if consciousness is produced by the same exact function for every person (whether it be soul, brain, etc) wouldn't that mean all consciousness is the same? And therefore my consciousness is continued after death simply because consciousness in general continues after death. The lack of consciousness would essentially lead to consciousness existing elsewhere in spacetime.

 

[George-ananda]

And to add to it - if consciousness is produced by the same exact function for every person (whether it be soul, brain, etc) wouldn't that mean all consciousness is the same? .

Actually all consciousness is the same BUT as it shines through uniquely different souls, astral bodies and physical bodies it has the illusion of being different.

 

[George-ananda]

No no, I want you to think for yourself, not copy me or anyone else, not to copy a Buddha, a Christ or who ever, you are already there,. why copy anyone ?.

I do think for myself. There's a difference between 'copying' and 'intelligently considering' the teachings of a person who may be beyond me in understanding. I believe there are more advanced souls that can teach me from their wisdom,

 

[Chakra]

I do think for myself. There's a difference between 'copying' and 'intelligently considering' the teachings of a person who may be beyond me in understanding. I believe there are more advanced souls that can teach me from their wisdom,

Yes, exactly. If someone is to say that 100,000 spritual teachers are all wrong (and they came to exact same conclusion on this even though they vehemently differed on other points) then I don't think there's any point in talking to them.

 

[Vinayaka]

If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

In Hinduism, reincarnation is intricately tied to karma. So much so, that what you say has the opposite effect. Self-indulgence would just accrue negative karma to be worked on in future lives. Therefore, the person instead becomes charitable, kind, loving, etc., fully knowing all actions will return. (karma)

But yes, is you isolate it from karma, I can see it as believing you have a second chance, so there's no point trying this time. Same goes for the belief that moksha is inevitable. But all this denies the inherent growth of the soul, one way or another.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram prabhu ji's

If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

yes by all means re start if you can leave this life without leaving any negative reactions , ...without causing any suffering to any other , ...

Tibetan monks do this by the sheer strength of their meditation practice , but they do not do it untill they have done everything there is for them to do in this life , untill they have fulfilled every responcibility .

if we any one of us were to plan our own death now simply because we are unhappy with this life then there is every possibility that the subsequent Birth will be more unfortunate than this one !

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

the majority of people who belive in reincarnation understand it to be a part of a developmental process , therefore if you were to belive in reincarnation then there is every chance that these understandings would accompany the beleif in reincarnation .

one of the first thoughts that comes with the understanding of Rebirth and Karma is that of gratitude for this fortunate human birth and that it is not something to waste , ....

 

[Willamena]

If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

Because each moment is what's ultimately important, and whether you're going to die or live again anyway, why not make each moment count?

What are you doing right now?* Does it count? I'm guessing it does.

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

Because "health" is now. Why not want to feel your best now? Every now.

*Rhetorical questions.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram

It doesn't mention suicide. It says:

"O Garuda, a person becomes a ghost and undergoes the sufferings thereof, if he dies an accidental or untimely death or if his body is not cremated properly"

to clarify the point on suicide in this instance it would be considered an untimely death ,