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Would we exist if our parents didn't?
Does this even make sense?
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Or rather, what the 'I' that is that exists.
Experiential data = yes
Prajna wisdom = exist does not apply, but neither does non-existence.
Philosopher's opinion = The question posits a world view and also linear time-space continuity.
Dependent Origination = no because all present effects are arisen due to previous causes/conditions.
Dependent Origination in Dogen's expression = firewood does not turn into ash. firewood abides as itself as the conclusion of all causes/conditions coming together. It is disjointed from ashes. Through memory and thought we chain moments together to create the illusion of linear continuity. Actually it is always one arising and since it is one arising that only self-references there is no "arising". This is the realization of no birth and no death, thus birth, thus death.
Actually everything past, present and future is the cause/condition for our current "existence".
A question I always ask. Causality can be looked at in a narrow way. For instance how many people had to have sex for this genetic body-form to be here now?
And then we can broaden it up more. How many stars had to be made? What if someone decided not to sleep?
Would I be here?
Of course this is all inference, intellectual fluff.
But your life as the infinite manifesting in this very instant is in fact an experiential reality that we don't even have to manufacture.
Thus the zen master says his gift and power is to eat food and gain energy to speak the dharma.
Even so though I suppose our current lives would have taken a different course with different parents so we wouldn't be exactly the same person if we had different parents.
Parenthood is inherited. If your parents never had children, chances are, you won't either.
Click through here to a bigger version, so you can read the tiny writing. http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/what-are-the-odds_50290d9b95578.png
What Are The Odds? infographic by visually.
Rather than being universally stupendously unlikely, it demonstrates how narrow our perception is - the odds presented are nowhere near zero, as the googolplex or Graham's number show.
Are we a miracle? I suppose - like every other miracle.
Certainly the body wouldn't but "you" are not the body. "You" may claim that those are "my" arms, legs, head etc. but the arms, legs, head are not "you"! Look all you want but you will not find yourself - the closest you get is "my body", "my feelings" and "my mind".
As I see it; No.
This particular, unique "you" that you are, right here, right now, in this lifetime, would not be the same, particular unique "you" if born to different parents, in a different place and time.
Even with the partial infusion of past lives (if any) and/or other continuous consciousness factors, who "you" are is still a direct result of DNA, environment and experiences melded into the human being that you are now, today, this minute.
So, Different parents = different DNA, environment, experiences and influences making "you" a whole different person than this 'you' here and now.
O, wait, this is a website chiefly for those interested in Buddhism. :nyah:
What you mean is does the unique persona reincarnate?
As there is no unique persona, that is delusion dependent on circumstantial arisings, including parents - No.
http://buddhism.about.com/od/karmaandrebirth/a/reincarnation.htm
It seemed to me that you wondered whether the OP was beating around the bush about asking whether "the unique persona reincarnates," when that was nowhere indicated, as far as I could tell. In still more words, you are confusing me and shame on you!
The sensing you, is the same as my sensing.
The same as everyone's. It is empty.
It is only the association with parents, upbringing and other individual factors, that creates the idea of a separate unique person.
That unique person is the 'delusion' of persona attachment.
In the process of meditation we become aware of this emptyness of individuality.
That does not make us 'Buddha Borg', rather it makes aware of the nature of parents, ourselves, the confused and the unconfusing . . .
:wave:
And I still don't see your point.
The question for me approaches life in a uniquely Buddhist way and is very interesting. Some people out there in the world say that "souls," if in time they are reborn into other bodies, aspire to reincarnate along with another "soul" or perhaps multiple "souls" (a kind of helper-soulmate theory). I do not think many of us from larger families think, "we've all done this together before," though. But, arguably, there might be times when a "soul," in order to set itself free, might need to be freed from all those former influences for at least one lifetime or so. (I am putting the word soul within quotes for the sake of setting if off, d/t the fact that there is no Buddhist "soul," but other traditions do think in such terms.)
Just because there is a physical world, whose rules we know in crude outline form pretty well, that doesn't mean that there also exists a strict lock between the physical and spiritual worlds, for of the latter we know so very little.
As Buddhists, we just don't know how, when, or why these samskaras/vortexes/entanglements arise and to what extent they define who we really are . But we are not are bodies. Our bodies are merely garments which in time will wear out, disintegrate, and/or die.
And this is the life we're surprised with.
I think in another that he calls himself "That dirty glint that was in his father's eye when he saw his mother naked". I think that that points towards responsibility as in not only should we take responsibility for our actions and feelings, but also for our very being. It's an empowering stance, rather than a weak 'powerless' stance.
And @Joseph, I have no idea what your parents are like, other than what you've written, but this is a Buddhist forum and Buddhism seems to be all about transforming negatives into positives. If you've had a tough upbringing, you've probably learnt much more about life than someone born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
@JosephW,
Some of the most difficult people and undesirable circumstances are our best teachers and learning experiences**
** Paraphrased from - I believe- the DL?