DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - If there is no afterlife, there is almost no point.

**gluckmeea** · 12-06-2011, 08:24 AM

First of all I don't think you have a very good understanding of the "traditional" Buddhist view of rebirth. Though I don't fully understand it myself. I've never heard of a "subtle body." The Buddha taught that consciousness was dependent on physical conditions. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the Buddha taught that when you attain enlightenment the cycle of samsara stopped. No more rebirth. You would not be reborn into anything.

I don't believe in an afterlife. Though I'm not completely adverse to the idea either. The purpose of practice for me is to become the best person I can and to help others do the same. I think that is an extremely meaningful purpose and doesn't depend on an afterlife. If when I die my consciousness is gone completely then that's not bad at all. No more suffering. No more pleasure and happiness but no more pain or suffering. It will simply be like before I was born. Complete nothingness.

12-06-2011, 08:24 AM	#2
gluckmeea Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	First of all I don't think you have a very good understanding of the "traditional" Buddhist view of rebirth. Though I don't fully understand it myself. I've never heard of a "subtle body." The Buddha taught that consciousness was dependent on physical conditions. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the Buddha taught that when you attain enlightenment the cycle of samsara stopped. No more rebirth. You would not be reborn into anything. I don't believe in an afterlife. Though I'm not completely adverse to the idea either. The purpose of practice for me is to become the best person I can and to help others do the same. I think that is an extremely meaningful purpose and doesn't depend on an afterlife. If when I die my consciousness is gone completely then that's not bad at all. No more suffering. No more pleasure and happiness but no more pain or suffering. It will simply be like before I was born. Complete nothingness.
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