Rebirth and the Western Buddhist - Khamkoo

10 Rebirth and the Western Buddhist
the chain of deaths and births, from transmigration.
As ninety nine per cent of Europeans
do not "believe in reincarnation," considered
as an Asiatic superstition, the question was
closed: the Hindus and Buddhists consecrate
their efforts to liberating themselves from a
servitude which does not exist. 1
If the idea of liberation even for oneself alone is thus
meaningless for Westerners, how much more so is the
Bodhisattva's goal (3) above - full Enlightenment in
order to be able to liberate others. Thus the very essence
of religious practice is a concern wider than for this life
alone.
Buddhists would generally argue that since, without
rebirth, the law of karma and result cannot operate,
everything becomes meaningless for the disbeliever in
rebirth: our present situation becomes a mere accident,
when other beings hurt us it is their fault and not ours,
and there is no basis for the practice of morality. This
argument should not be pressed too far - it is obvious, in
view of the existence of many Christians and others of
exemplary conduct despite their disbelief in rebirth, that
there are other possible bases for moral behaviour; nevertheless,
such examples are rare compared with the confused
and misguided behaviour evident all around us,
which results from ignorance of the facts of rebirth and
karma. Because of this ignorance, the blame for the
world's misery is laid on scapegoats and the methods that
could actually improve matters are neglected.
Therefore a proper understanding of the fundamental
fact of rebirth is necessary as a prerequisite to all Buddhist
practice and to overcoming the misery of the world.
This is not to deny that there are also bad reasons for
fascination with rebirth. Conze writes of certain "rich old
women" whom the doctrine of reincarnation attracts