The Forest Moon in Thumb Butte, AZ (Click to enlarge)
I was recently talking to a friend over dinner and the subject of reincarnation came up. I said there is no reincarnation.
I know, some Buddhists (including the Dalai Lama) believe there is reincarnation. But if the Buddha explained that there is no “self,” who is reincarnating? Hindus believe in reincarnation. And Paramahansa Yogananda, a very respected spiritual master, stressed reincarnation, with proof. But Hindus do stress that only the “Self” exist; everything else is an illusion, a projection–including time and space. So, it would be an “illusion,” reincarnating into a bigger “illusion.” Right? It gets complicated, doesn’t it? I suggest that what we need to do is forget other lives until we master this life, our present challenge. Once we do that everything will be revealed to us, and there will be no more doubts or beliefs. We will know and be free.
This reminds me of an interesting question: Are you enlightened? “I” can’t be enlightened because “I” is the problem. In fact, everybody is enlightened but that “I” pulls the wool over our eyes and doesn’t let us know. If “I” am looking for enlightenment, “I” am missing the point and making enlightenment one more item on my “I want list.” All we need to do is drop that “I” with its incessant jabber and selfish wants, and . . . wake up!
The moon is a symbol of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
Filed under: Tips for the Spirit | Tagged: Buddhism, creativity, culture, Dalai Lama, Enlightenment, Hinduism, Illusion, Paramahansa Yogananda, Reincarnation, religion, spirituality, Travel, vacation |
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