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**Elitiachirl** · 01-19-2011, 04:42 PM

When I first became involved with Tibetan Buddhism (I now practice mainly according to the Theravada Forest Tradition), the first instruction I received before and after Refuge was related to what's called 'the four ways of changing the mind', namely the precious human birth, impermanence and death, karma and its results, and the sufferings of Samsara.

'Impermanence and death' strongly emphasised the after death 'Bardo' state. 'Karma' strongly emphasised rebirth in lower realms as a result of bad actions, and rebirth as a human or in 'heaven' as a result of good action and commitment to Dharma.
'The suffering of Samsara' was taught as a circle of existence rather than a mental state and there was a lot of emphasis on the suffering of the six different realms of existence, including of course Avici hell.

From my Refuge book -
" It is said that the Buddha cannot bear to talk about the terrible misery of the Avici hell, the eighth and worst of the hot hells with a name meaning 'unremitting' suffering, and that when He does so, Bodhisattvas vomit blood and nearly die "

Heavy stuff !

01-19-2011, 04:42 PM	#32
Elitiachirl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 662 Senior Member	When I first became involved with Tibetan Buddhism (I now practice mainly according to the Theravada Forest Tradition), the first instruction I received before and after Refuge was related to what's called 'the four ways of changing the mind', namely the precious human birth, impermanence and death, karma and its results, and the sufferings of Samsara. 'Impermanence and death' strongly emphasised the after death 'Bardo' state. 'Karma' strongly emphasised rebirth in lower realms as a result of bad actions, and rebirth as a human or in 'heaven' as a result of good action and commitment to Dharma. 'The suffering of Samsara' was taught as a circle of existence rather than a mental state and there was a lot of emphasis on the suffering of the six different realms of existence, including of course Avici hell. From my Refuge book - " It is said that the Buddha cannot bear to talk about the terrible misery of the Avici hell, the eighth and worst of the hot hells with a name meaning 'unremitting' suffering, and that when He does so, Bodhisattvas vomit blood and nearly die " Heavy stuff !
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