英语版《妙问妙答》(20)
时间:2024-01-20 14:06 来源:未知 作者:达弥卡法师 点击:次
| ‘ There is nothing against a permanently surviving spirit-individuality being in some way given offat death, as a definite wireless message is given off by a sending apparatus working in a particular way. But it must be remembered that the wireless message only becomes a message again when it comes in contact with a new, material structure - the receiver. It ... would never think or feel unless again 'embodied' in some way. Our personalities are so based on body that it is really impossible to think of survival which would be in any true sense personal without a body of sorts ... I can think of something being given off which would bear the same relation to men and women as a wireless message to the transmitting apparatus; but in that case 'the dead' would, so far as one can see, be nothing but disturbances of different patterns wandering through the universe until ... they ... came back to actuality of consciousness by making contact with something which could work as a receiving apparatus for mind.’ Even very practical and down-to-earth people like the American industrialist Henry Ford found the idea or rebirth acceptable. Ford was attracted to the idea because it gives one a second chance to develop oneself. Henry Ford said: ‘I adopted the theory of Reincarnation when I was twenty-six...Religion offered nothing to the point...Even work could not give me complete satisfaction. Work is futile if we cannot utilize the experience we collect in one life in the next. When I discovered Reincarnation it was as if I had found a universal plan. I realized that there was a chance to work out my ideas. Time was no longer limited. I was no longer a slave to the hands of the clock... Genius is experience. Some seem to think that it is a gift or talent, but it is the fruit of long experience in many lives. Some are older souls than others, and so they know more... The discovery of Reincarnation put my mind at ease... If you preserve a record of this conversation, write it so that it puts men's minds at ease. I would like to communicate to others the calmness that the long view of life gives to us.’ So the Buddhist teaching of rebirth does have some scientific basis, it is logically consistent and it goes a long way to answering some important questions about human destiny. But it is also very comforting. According to Buddha, if you failed to attain Nirvana in this life, you will have the opportunity to try again next time. If you have made mistakes in this life, you will be able to correct yourself in the next life. You will truly be able to learn from your mistakes. Things you were unable to do or achieve in this life may well become possible in the next life. What a wonderful teaching! QUESTION: Much of what you have said so far is very intellectually satisfying but I must admit that I am still a bit skeptical about rebirth. ANSWER: That’s okay. Buddhism is not the type of religion you have to sign up to and commit yourself to believing everything it teaches. What is the point of forcing yourself to believe things you just can’t believe? You can still practice those things that you find helpful, accept those ideas that you understand and benefit from them, without believing in rebirth. Who knows! In time you may come to see the truth of rebirth. 6. MEDITATION QUESTION: What is meditation? ANSWER: Meditation is a conscious effort to change how the mind works. The Pali word for meditation is bhavana which means 'to make grow' or 'to develop.' (责任编辑：admin) |
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