On "Rebirth" (A bit of light relief )
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 )
Comments
You misunderstand rebirth if you believe "aspects of character" are reborn.
I can see the words "if you had a choice". So, I guess I would like to keep:
but would leave behind:
How about you, @Shoshin? Not fair to post the question and not put your own response!
Yes, but it's ever so much more protected and in-control and 'grown-up.'
@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....
You might want to leave your sarcasm behind then too @Shoshin ..........
Yeah, you might find it more ... Buddhist.....
If it will make others happy @dhammachick, then consider it done
BTW what would you leave behind or continue in the next life ?
If I was anymore Buddhist I would be a Buddha
Remember about Sarcasm?
Forget about the next life!
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:
urbandictionary.com
OK ... so I'm a loser/tree hugger
"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 ?
It's not what I'd leave behind, but what I'd like to bring with me. Which would be the patience I've acquired since being sick. It's not a big deal to a lot of people but it's a huge step for me.
_ /|\ _
It is amazing how sickness/illness brings patience to us, isn't it? My bad heart has taught me to move slower and with care, and to be non-impatient with my states at the time.
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.
Trungpa Rinpoche simple answer sounds right on the mark
@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.
That's right up there with that perrenial favorite, "Who's asking the question?".
But simply calling oneself a Buddhist a bit less pretentious.
I would like to be an eagle and soar through the sky.
Maybe I could swoop down and pinch quorn fillets off unsuspecting picnickers.
Or do I have that backwards?
Hold on here...
>
Is that a hypothetical question?
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.
I want to be able to fly, absorb sunlight instead of food, and immortal.
And keep whatever bit of wisdom and compassion.