"Rebirth" - Will I be reborn a rat?

 

A samurai once asked Zen Master where he would go after he died.

He answered "How am I supposed to know?"

"How do you not know? You're a Zen master!" exclaimed the samurai. 

"Yes, but not a dead one," He answered.

According to Zen, Karma and Rebirth are an essential part of life. However, we shouldn't be too attached to the idea of an afterlife. The Buddha constantly reiterated that awareness in the here-and-now is much more important than speculation on the afterlife.

Zen advises people to live each moment as though it were their last, which leads us to live a life of greater awareness of our actions; and that causes less suffering for us and those around us. In this way, we will live a healthier spiritual life to where any concerns or fears about a possible afterlife will naturally fade away.

"Will I be reborn a rat?"

"I don't know. I am not yet dead!"

--

Life after Death? Eh?

Do you believe in Life after Death ?... somebody whispered into my ears...

Its a tricky question, I thought. Eh? Why? What? How? I am suppose to think beyond what is considered as end. As such I don't know if any one has a certain answer to this question. But if one is looking for certainty, there are two ways to go.

The first and most reliable way is, going the way. Go Die, then you'll know for sure what is beyond that. Second is knowing the way by believing on somebody. It can be considered as less drastic. A virtual experience of life after death. Go, join some religious group that promises eternal life! Unfortunately or fortunately, this is the promise they cannot prove. So if you have faith, then they will tell you what to believe about life after death. However you'll not get any evidence, reason or proof. Most don't care anyways as long as they are satisfied.

No one can neither empirically prove nor disprove life in any form beyond the grave. Religions that tell you otherwise are asking you to have faith in myths, legends, and wishful thinking. The true philosophy about life never requires such faith. Death is a part of life, or the end of life indeed. So its highly unlikely that you'll have anything to worry about it in the next - if there is one!

We are happier and more productive when we have family and friends to care for and who care for us and give us a context for our lives. It's always been this way, and it probably always will. You're born, you die, and in between you find yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Eat, Pray and Love - it works ! :-)








--@n