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Do you have to act out your karma in hell too get rid of it?

AstralProjecteeAstralProjectee
edited April 2012 in Buddhism Basics
Do you have to act out your karma in hell too get rid of it? Thanks.

Comments

  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    Pretty much. The Hell realms are not a permanent phenomena like the other 5 realms. Beings who take rebirth there remain until they have exhausted such negativity that caused their rebirth in such an unfortunate state.
  • WallyBWallyB
    edited April 2012
    imo, when the hellish result of certain karma (action) is experienced with clear insight, the opportunity arises to foresake (give up; abandon) doing that karma ever again. therefore, experiencing the hellish result of certain karma need only last for one moment. buddha taught:
    He who having been heedless is heedless no more, illuminates this world like the moon freed from clouds.

    He, who by good deeds covers the evil he has done, illuminates this world like the moon freed from clouds.

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.13.budd.html
  • DazzleDazzle
    Well spoken, WallyB !

    I've also heard Buddhist teachers saying offline that the 'realms' can be interpreted as mental states in the present lifetime.

    :)
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    edited April 2012
    If you mean do you have to be reborn in the hell realms to work off your karma, no. You're working off the fruits of negative actions in this lifetime all the time. When you realize that your suffering in this lifetime is the process of working off your "bad karma", then you come to see your suffering in a different light. You can see the positive side of it. It's a purification process.

    Answering the "hell" question all depends on how you define "hell", which is the subject of great debate.
  • zenffzenff Veteran
    edited April 2012
    Do you have to act out your karma in hell too get rid of it? Thanks.
    No. Don’t scare yourself.

    I once asked a Catholic abbot / Zen-teacher whether he believed in hell. He said yes, but he didn’t believe anyone was in it.

    Trust your life; trust where it’s going. Find some real confidence here and now. Wake up.
    Don’t cling to fearful superstitious beliefs.
    Imo
    :cool:
  • DakiniDakini Veteran

    No. Don’t scare yourself. Don’t cling to fearful superstitious beliefs. :cool:
    A-P, you're worrying yourself silly about hell and karma. You'll be ok. Be kind to people. Make the best of the life you have. That's the important thing.
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