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Hypothetical Question (For those who like these type of questions)

ShoshinShoshin No one in particularNowhere Special Veteran
edited November 2014 in General Banter

On "Rebirth" (A bit of light relief :D )

If you had a choice, what positive aspects of your personality/character would you like(if you could) to take over and develop in the next life ?

Or if not take over, then what negative aspects would you like to leave behind ?

( I'm taking the liberty and assuming you won't be enlightened in this life...but I could be wrong and if this is the case just give yourself an A+ and skip this question ) :D

bookwormrohit

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    You misunderstand rebirth if you believe "aspects of character" are reborn.

    VastmindKundo
  • SarahTSarahT Time ... space ... joy South Coast, UK Veteran
    edited November 2014

    I can see the words "if you had a choice". So, I guess I would like to keep:

    • my passion
    • my compassion
    • my trust in others

    but would leave behind:

    • my pedantry
    • my feelings of worthlessness
    • my lack of self care
    • my nicotine addiction.

    How about you, @Shoshin? Not fair to post the question and not put your own response! :o

    VastmindShoshinsilver
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    edited November 2014

    Not fair to post the question and put your own response!

    Yes, but it's ever so much more protected and in-control and 'grown-up.' :smile:

    SarahT
  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited November 2014

    @SarahT said:
    I can see the words "if you had a choice". So, I guess I would like to keep:

    • my passion
    • my compassion
    • my trust in others

    but would leave behind:

    • my pedantry
    • my feelings of worthlessness
    • my lack of self care
    • my nicotine addiction.

    How about you, Shoshin? Not fair to post the question and not put your own response! :o

    @SarahT,

    "If I had a choice, what positive aspects of the _karmic imprint of the mind would I like(if I could) to take over and develop in the next life ?"_

    I would like my compassion to be developed and to leave behind my ignorance :)

    BTW Thanks @SarahT, for getting the gist of the question, however as you can see I've now made it more Buddhisty sounding so as not to confuse or disturb others....

    SarahT
  • KundoKundo Sydney, Australia Veteran

    You might want to leave your sarcasm behind then too @Shoshin‌ ..........

    federicaShoshin
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Yeah, you might find it more ... Buddhist.....

  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited November 2014

    @dhammachick said:
    You might want to leave your sarcasm behind then too Shoshin‌ ..........

    If it will make others happy @dhammachick, then consider it done :D

    BTW what would you leave behind or continue in the next life ?

  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited November 2014

    @federica said:
    Yeah, you might find it more ... Buddhist.....

    If I was anymore Buddhist I would be a Buddha :D

  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @Shoshin said:
    If I was anymore Buddhist I would be a Buddha :D

    Remember about Sarcasm?

    ToshSarahT
  • NirvanaNirvana aka BUBBA   `     `   South Carolina, USA Veteran

    Forget about the next life!

    I wish we'd all write more about our ideas and keep the ad hominem remarks to ourselves more.

    ShoshinKundoDavidperson
  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited November 2014

    <3 .

  • SarahTSarahT Time ... space ... joy South Coast, UK Veteran

    @Nirvana said:

    I wish we'd all write more about our ideas and keep the ad hominem remarks to ourselves more.

    Seemed to me to be an idea? What I value about myself and want to nurture and what I identify as a shortcoming and would like to remove. Just because the hypothetical question was phrased in terms of rebirth doesn't mean I can't be "reborn" in this life. That's what enlightenment is all about to me.

    Hope this doesn't qualify as ad hominem. Had to look that up ... found:

    An attack upon an opponent in order to discredit their arguement or opinion. Ad hominems are used by immature and/or unintelligent people because they are unable to counter their opponent using logic and intelligence.
    Person A: I think we should spend more money on environmental protection.
    Person B: You just think that because you’re a stupid tree-hugger.

    Person A: It is crucial that we facilitate adequate means to prevent degradation that would jeopardize the project.
    Person B: You think that just because you use big words makes you sound smart? Shut up you loser; you don't know what you're talking about.

    urbandictionary.com

    OK ... so I'm a loser/tree hugger ;)

    Shoshin
  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited November 2014

    @Chaz said:

    "If I was anymore Buddhist I would be a Buddha"

    @Chaz, we are all Buddhas in training-we all have Buddha Nature...Just stating a common 'belief', no sarcasm intended :)

    BTW what would you leave behind or continue in the next life ?

  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @Shoshin said:
    BTW what would you leave behind or continue in the next life ?

    There's a Trungpa Rinpoche story where a student asked what is reborn. He responded,

    "Our bad habits."

    In that light, what do you think?

    It's like that utterly ridiculous book "In His Steps" - where the phrase, "What would Jesus do?" came from - as if any of us cold know the mind of a man 2000 years dead.

    And Buddha Nature doesn't meaan we're Buddhas in trainning, either. You might consider reading up on your 3rd Turning literature.

    ShoshinJeffrey
  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran

    @Chaz said:

    Trungpa Rinpoche simple answer sounds right on the mark :D

    @Chaz, the "Buddhas in training" is just another way to call oneself a "Buddhist" ...
    What is a Buddhist if not a Buddha in training ?

    Thanks for your response..... :)

  • If you meet the Buddha on the path, kill him.

  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @pineblossom said:
    If you meet the Buddha on the path, kill him.

    That's right up there with that perrenial favorite, "Who's asking the question?".

    Jeffrey
  • ChazChaz The Remarkable Chaz Anywhere, Everywhere & Nowhere Veteran

    @Shoshin said:
    @Chaz, the "Buddhas in training" is just another way to call oneself a "Buddhist" ...

    But simply calling oneself a Buddhist a bit less pretentious.

  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran

    I would like to be an eagle and soar through the sky. :p

    Shoshin
  • BuddhadragonBuddhadragon Ehipassiko & Carpe Diem Samsara Veteran
    Would you be a vegetarian eagle, then, @SpinyNorman?
    Shoshin
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    Well, if we're shooting for the moon, I will take all suffering and leave the path.

    Or do I have that backwards?

    Hold on here...
    SarahTShoshin
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    @ourself said:
    Well, if we're shooting for the moon, I will take all suffering and leave the path.

    Or do I have that backwards?

    Hold on here...

    >

    Is that a hypothetical question?

    SarahT
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    Not sure but I answered wrong anyways. I should limit my posts when I've been up for that long.
  • NirvanaNirvana aka BUBBA   `     `   South Carolina, USA Veteran

    Seriously, the thing I'd like most to take with me is more youthfulness and develop it most artfully. I guess a better word for that might be Freedom.

    I'd want to leave all gravity and worry behind and just be free from all calculation, doubt, and fear.

    Shoshin
  • I want to be able to fly, absorb sunlight instead of food, and immortal.

    And keep whatever bit of wisdom and compassion.

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