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**jhfsdhf** · 10-06-2010, 10:21 PM

How can one be Buddhist and not work with karma and rebirth?

Hi KoolAid,

I think that to follow what the historical Buddha taught not necessarily set us into the speculative realm of Karma and Rebirth. So, how do you practice with Karma and rebirth? I think the way of doing that is through the Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Noble Path, the Brahma Vijaras, the practice and understanding of the Mahaniddana Sutta, meditation and mindfulness all in the here and now. IMO the best way to practice Karma and rebirth is to practice what the historical Buddha taught, to practice focused in the here and now and not to get entangled with those concepts.

Lets think you are a result of eons of past lives... well... is that really important, mostly when you have arrived to the teachings of the historical Buddha mostly when you do not have any other important moment for practice than the here and now...?

Lets think you are a believer of Karma and rebirth... do you really know how, where and whom you will be in a next life? Do you think that all your past Karma has been burned now and awake as a Buddha in your next life? What about a very negative Karma waiting for certain conditions to rippen in your next life? So, I think this is a very speculative field... and with no profit keeping your mind in that way because drives you away from the here and now and the great chance for mindfulness is, as always, lost.

I have never met any traditional Buddhist of any type, that I know of, who did not give karma and rebirth a place....

Maybe I am considering wrongly but Tibetan traditions give a big importance to karma and rebirth. Others do not. Most of Soto Zen schools do not give such importance to Karma and Rebirth and as far as I have understand here, the Theravada tradition (the Forest Tradition) practice is focused in the here and now abstaining from useless entanglements with such concepts.

Is this a new Western style/understanding of Buddhism?

No. I think is the most direct way to reach the teachings of the historical Buddha so to overcome suffering through taming the mind from ignorance, hate and greed.

So, practice just because... and leave the rest to work by itself...

10-06-2010, 10:21 PM	#17
jhfsdhf Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 415 Senior Member	How can one be Buddhist and not work with karma and rebirth? Hi KoolAid, I think that to follow what the historical Buddha taught not necessarily set us into the speculative realm of Karma and Rebirth. So, how do you practice with Karma and rebirth? I think the way of doing that is through the Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Noble Path, the Brahma Vijaras, the practice and understanding of the Mahaniddana Sutta, meditation and mindfulness all in the here and now. IMO the best way to practice Karma and rebirth is to practice what the historical Buddha taught, to practice focused in the here and now and not to get entangled with those concepts. Lets think you are a result of eons of past lives... well... is that really important, mostly when you have arrived to the teachings of the historical Buddha mostly when you do not have any other important moment for practice than the here and now...? Lets think you are a believer of Karma and rebirth... do you really know how, where and whom you will be in a next life? Do you think that all your past Karma has been burned now and awake as a Buddha in your next life? What about a very negative Karma waiting for certain conditions to rippen in your next life? So, I think this is a very speculative field... and with no profit keeping your mind in that way because drives you away from the here and now and the great chance for mindfulness is, as always, lost. I have never met any traditional Buddhist of any type, that I know of, who did not give karma and rebirth a place.... Maybe I am considering wrongly but Tibetan traditions give a big importance to karma and rebirth. Others do not. Most of Soto Zen schools do not give such importance to Karma and Rebirth and as far as I have understand here, the Theravada tradition (the Forest Tradition) practice is focused in the here and now abstaining from useless entanglements with such concepts. Is this a new Western style/understanding of Buddhism? No. I think is the most direct way to reach the teachings of the historical Buddha so to overcome suffering through taming the mind from ignorance, hate and greed. So, practice just because... and leave the rest to work by itself...
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