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I say, it's not up to us.
I am not my own handiwork. I did not put 'me' in this body.
Someone else is in control.
I'm curious - what is it that suggests a "one" to you about the situation? By this I mean that you are suggesting a personified intelligence, rather than something like an impersonal process. Is there anything specific that suggests a personified intelligence to you?Someone else is in control.
I'm curious - what is it that suggests a "one" to you about the situation? By this I mean that you are suggesting a personified intelligence, rather than something like an impersonal process. Is there anything specific that suggests a personified intelligence to you?
I just don't feel a need to see some personified entity making "choices". It's perfectly comfortable as a natural process as far as I am concerned.So...working the question otherwise.....
If no one else is in control....then you are in that body by your will?
Did you choose the body you have?
If the choice was yours...are you content?
When you die...do you get to pick again?
Will you choose better?
If the control was ever yours....try affirming it....as you look in the mirror.
Two points - I personally support rebirth, rather than reincarnation, although that doesn't really matter for this discussion.I believe the body to be a teaching device.
You are here, in this life, to learn all that you can before you die.
Your five senses expose you to this reality.
Your linear existence makes you unique.
Reincarnation could serve only one purpose.
Destroy the previous person, and relocate the life force...soul...into another body.
But that leans to approval...some standard...of a Creator.
So...working the question otherwise.....
If no one else is in control....then you are in that body by your will?
Did you choose the body you have?
If the choice was yours...are you content?
When you die...do you get to pick again?
Will you choose better?
If the control was ever yours....try affirming it....as you look in the mirror.
It was desire or rather my craving as a person with desires which lead to this birth, rather than my will. My will should follow my intuition, but it would much rather chase women, food and avoid anything which distracts from pleasure.
This life is different, as it is through this life I get to "play again". I can choose in a sense if to live again, as I know right from wrong. Wrong will distract me and keep me reincarnating. That is really why it is wrong, after all it wasn't wrong for my previous lives, but there was as much discomfort as pleasure and I have learnt that lesson and seen it more clearly in this life.
I didn't choose this body, but this body allows me to fulfill the desires I still desired on leaving the last body. How do I know that? Because I have changed during this life and what I desired before is not what I desire now.
My previous questions indicated a sense of awareness between incarnations.
And with that awareness, the ability to make decisions.
Would that be you?
And if wrong doing inhibits the joining of spirit and body...
Then wrong doing should be a thing of the past by now.
Hi
Let me try more briefly.
What causes reincarnation is desire, the thought at the time of death can determine our next birth, according to Srimad Bhagavatam, a Sanatana Dharma Puranic Scripture and the Bhagavad Gita.
Awareness is consciousness. We are aware through being a body-mind (Jiva).
As to awareness in between incarnations, the scriptures indicate a heaven or a lokha (world) in which one may temporarily reside until the next body is taken. I am not too clear on this and do to subscribe to this too much. It doesn't imply a choice in my opinion. The choice comes through living this life and how we deal with desire etc during this life.
"wrong" depends then on acting under impulsions of desire, as that will cause us to reincarnate. Logically it is not wrong if you don't mind reincarnation. It is this life which is the chance to change our destiny - we can break free from the cycle of reincarnation - samsara. How to become free is what Dharmic paths and religions intend to teach us (the jiva).
Hope that is a better reply.
Hi Thief
Yes, when we no longer submit to desire (or anger and other qualities) we can stop reincarnation. To do this we must submit or sacrifice our ego, which is ultimately what makes us think we need something and that we will benefit from our desire. With that sacrifice of ego comes realisation and peace.
In your example, the evil person will be reincarnated, however he will not be reincarnated in a better position. His next life will be harder, he is in fact `punished´ by his rebirth, but his chance is still there (in this life).
The evil person acts on his ego, on his desires, angers, fears etc. That is why he is wrong.
So his choice of return IS controlled.
And by being here, it can be argued...we are all sinners.
Yes, although one is not called a "sinner" because desire is not wrong unless you wish to step out samsara/renicarnation. Desire is only wrong if it causes you misery. If you are happy with the ups and downs that desire and life brings and accept that you will be born again based on your action in this life then so be it.
"God" created desire and vice through His prakriti (maya). God is omnipotent and omniscient. During this life we have fresh opportunity; this human life is auspicious, advise the scriptures We however have nothing to fear as such, as we approach "God" we find shelter, love and bliss with Him/Her/It.
I am writing from a Sanatana Dharma perspective. Not Buddhist.
HiI would have said, desire is only wrong when it harms another.
I suppose you could do evil unto yourself.
Does this earn you a fresh start?
Evil unto someone else earns you a fresh start?
Evil unto many..as a dictator would do...earns a fresh start for every one?
What I'm pointing out is the question....
When does it end?
When does God decide?...'Enough!....let there be peace!'
Then the angels draw sword.