Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Assorted Questions of a Beginner
Hi, all. I'm very new to Buddhism, only having read a few essays, some sites, and a book. I have a few questions.
First off, I live on the island of Puerto Rico and currently we're facing an invasion of lionfish. They have no natural predators, and destroy coral reefs as well as local economies that depend on fishing. I've been working to relieve the problem by educating the populace but also fishing them out myself. And that means I have to take their lives.
I'm not very comfortable with this, but so far I have reasoned that if it protects other life, it's somewhat justified. I'm not really satisfied with that answer, though. It's a confusing dilemma for me, and I'd greatly appreciate input.
Secondly, I don't feel that I'm mean person, but sometimes I can be rude, sarcastic, or mean. I'm easily annoyed by comments that I feel are "stupid." I've been getting better, but it's still a problem. Does anyone have any advice on how to be... nicer?
Lastly, and I'm sure this has been asked time and time again on here, but I'm curious as to how belief in reincarnation is not a leap of faith whereas, for example, belief in a deity is. How can it be logically reasoned that the process occurs?
Well, that's it for now, I suppose. I'm sorry if I've asked things that have been asked thousands of times on here in some fashion or another.
First off, I live on the island of Puerto Rico and currently we're facing an invasion of lionfish. They have no natural predators, and destroy coral reefs as well as local economies that depend on fishing. I've been working to relieve the problem by educating the populace but also fishing them out myself. And that means I have to take their lives.
I'm not very comfortable with this, but so far I have reasoned that if it protects other life, it's somewhat justified. I'm not really satisfied with that answer, though. It's a confusing dilemma for me, and I'd greatly appreciate input.
Secondly, I don't feel that I'm mean person, but sometimes I can be rude, sarcastic, or mean. I'm easily annoyed by comments that I feel are "stupid." I've been getting better, but it's still a problem. Does anyone have any advice on how to be... nicer?
Lastly, and I'm sure this has been asked time and time again on here, but I'm curious as to how belief in reincarnation is not a leap of faith whereas, for example, belief in a deity is. How can it be logically reasoned that the process occurs?
Well, that's it for now, I suppose. I'm sorry if I've asked things that have been asked thousands of times on here in some fashion or another.
0
Comments
One of the basic precepts of Buddhism is not to kill. However I'm not sure how I would deal with the situation you describe.
As far as being nicer is concerned, perhaps it would be beneficial for you to do the loving kindness meditation explained at this link, as well as read the other information there:
http://www.buddhanet.net/metta.htm
Don't worry too much about rebirth/ reincarnation. What you do in the present is a lot more important than speculating about the future or the past !
with kind wishes,
Dazzle
.
1) Just try not to kill unnecessarily. We just had a thread on being vegan and how it's almost impossible to avoid the death on animals (they are used in oil, tires, etc. Not just food)
2) Try metta meditation
3) Subscribing to reincarnation is not a requirement to many Buddhist traditions. I for one do not believe in it. I also believe reincarnation belongs with matters of faith.
My input is this: you have positive intention to others but karma law of cause-and-effect will never fail. Which means, you will receive the benefits of your positive intention to others, but by killing, you will also receive its negative results... such as experiencing much negative karma such as having short life, being imprisoned and killed, poor health,many sickness, much physical suffering etc.
You should do purification practices... I cut and paste my advice from another thread for you.
There is a website http://www.mahakaruna.com/akshobhya.html set up by the late Chagdud Tulku where one can commission for prayers to be done to purify misdeeds both for the living or deceased. If one feels that one has done a lot of negative deeds, and can't help it, then one can commission these prayers to be done. it is not very expensive and definitely very powerful for purification.
As karma ripens anytime and anyday, it is important to try one's best to purify. Rather than feeling all kinds of negative emotions, it is better to take some definite actions to save the situation and uplift oneself.
Patience is not easy. I have to catch myself quite often to be patient with others too... you have to see things from other peoples' perspective not only your own... sometimes, we jump to conclusions too quickly too. It is good if you can learn to develop more mindfulness. Find a good teacher and learn to meditate. For the time being, you can start by reciting mantras like OM MANI PADMAY HUNG... it helps to develop kindness and compassion.
I think frequently if we have been shown kindness, we are more liable to appreciate it and show it to others...
Belief in reincarnation need not be logically reasoned, but if you wish, i can try to explain briefly.
Our present moment of consciousness has a cause, which is the previous instant of consciousness. The cause of a phenomenon has to be of the same nature as the result... meaning, a physical object can't be the cause of consciousness...they have different natures...only a previous instant of consciousness can be the cause of present instant of consciousness. If we trace this back to right at birth, we have to say that the consciousness at birth can't simply appear without a cause.. it has to have a previous instant of consciousness, which has to be from pre-birth. If we deduce like that, we can say that there are previous lives. And induce accordingly forward in time, and we have future lives.
Practically speaking, there is much evidence of reincarnation. Also, if one goes into deep meditative states one is able to re-experience past memories of past-lives. This is quite definite.
Some videos for you to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF3KqGpxXvo<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EWwzFwUOxA<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdmMEKPFDTY&feature=related<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZiU9eATbY8&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI3sL01ytbo&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JSseLczR9M&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKspwdBWtCU&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoCnaL62NRc&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p>
http://www.godwin-home-page.net/Short-Pieces/Rebirth/Rebirth.htm<o:p></o:p>