Rebirth and the Western Buddhist - Khamkoo
Rebirth and the Western Buddhist - Khamkoo
Rebirth and the Western Buddhist - Khamkoo
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2 Buddha Taught <strong>Rebirth</strong><br />
Throughout <strong>the</strong> recorded teachings of <strong>the</strong> Lord Buddha,<br />
from his first sermon at Rishi-patana to His passing<br />
away, <strong>the</strong> doctrine of rebirth is constantly reiterated. Let<br />
us take, for example, his account of <strong>the</strong> meditation under<br />
<strong>the</strong> bodhi tree which led to his enlightenment. According<br />
to <strong>the</strong> Lalitavistara, in <strong>the</strong> first watch of <strong>the</strong> night, having<br />
passed progressively through <strong>the</strong> four dhyiinas, <strong>the</strong><br />
Bodhisattva directed his mind to <strong>the</strong> wisdom-knowledge<br />
of <strong>the</strong> divine eye (divya-cakshus), which perceives <strong>the</strong><br />
passing away <strong>and</strong> rebirth of sentient beings.<br />
With His divine eye, perfectly pure <strong>and</strong> surpassing<br />
<strong>the</strong> human, <strong>the</strong> Bodhisattva saw sentient<br />
beings passing away <strong>and</strong> being reborn, in good<br />
castes <strong>and</strong> bad castes, good destinies <strong>and</strong> ill<br />
destinies, low <strong>and</strong> high. He distinguished sentient<br />
beings migrating according to <strong>the</strong>ir karma:<br />
"Alas! These sentient beings have misconduct<br />
of body, <strong>the</strong>y have misconduct of speech<br />
<strong>and</strong> mind, <strong>the</strong>y belittle <strong>the</strong> Aryas <strong>and</strong> hold<br />
perverse views. Because of incurring karma<br />
with perverse views, when <strong>the</strong>ir bodies are<br />
destroyed, after death, <strong>the</strong>y are reborn in loss,<br />
ill destiny <strong>and</strong> ruin, in <strong>the</strong> hells. But <strong>the</strong>se<br />
sentient beings have good conduct of body,<br />
have good conduct of speech <strong>and</strong> mind, do not<br />
belittle <strong>the</strong> Aryas, <strong>and</strong> hold right view. Because<br />
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