When are we born

Raphael

This may seem like a pretty stupid question, but let me explain

I have an avid intrest in buddhism and often use it for answers. but earlier today, my girlfriend asked me

when are you born for the first ime?

By buddhism as per my understanding, when you die you reincarnate, this continues till you achieve perfection and reach nirvana

but what starts the ball rolling?

would apreciate your feedback on this as i was completly stumped and i'd like to give her an answer

Cheers!

Raph

Yoda

We don't know, I guess. I've never heard this question before.

If I had to say what the Buddhist perspective would be, superficially, I guess a being would choose to be embodied in Samsara in order to explore and learn what there is to be learned there. But thinking more on this (and still off the top of my head) it begs the question a little, because our "selves" are aggregates of properties of various kinds, and ....

Well, it gets deep and complex from there, and at the end of the day, knowing the answer doesn't necessarily remove any impediments to Enlightenment, so it doesn't much matter.

Raphael

Oh good, im not the only one thats completly stumped.

Guess I'll have to concede this one to the girlfriend. Feck

Thanks anyway

ur mentor

Surely this is the root of the difference between Eastern and Western philospohies and their associated religions. I might be wrong of course as I am no expert.
Eastern philosopy reckons that something cannot come from nothing. It (including Universe etc,) has always been
In western philosophy there is a tendency to believe that God created something (Universe and the like) from nothing.
As a result tin Eastern philosophy/religion here is no birth per se. you have ALWAYS BEEN in some form, perhaps it was just matter at start of big bang and will be just energy before next big bang.
thats my 2 cent anyway

Raphael

Ah yes, but by my understanding, you do not continue reincarnating indefinetly, you reach nirvana after a period.

So if what you say is true, and what i say is true, then the amount of, what word suits...il say souls, in the universe is decreasing

would that be correct, or is there a flaw in my reasoning?

Yoda

It begs the question as to whether there is or is not a finite number of "souls", never mind whether the English word "soul" applies in a Buddhist context.

And knowing aye or nay avails thee nothing.

Practice. Remove impediments to Enlightenment. That's useful. You'll know when you get there. Or you won't! And it doesn't matter either way.

Raphael

By soul i meant life essence, the force that drives us, what lives on and reincarnates when our body has died

I knew soul was a bad choice of word, sorry

Yoda

Have you read any of the books in the sticky? What the Buddha Taught is comprehensive. The facts.

Raphael

Im afraid i havent, i'm broke atm, so i cant buy them

Might look for them in the library though......

*potters off*

Yoda

Make an Amazon wishlist and tell your friends and family. And consider the price of a pint....

Raphael

Actually i dont drink. I just spent 460 euro on a plane ticket recently......

Yoda

Well, it's only 10 euros plus shipping for a nice book to read on your trip. then.

Raphael

Hmmmm, cant argue with your logic there.

So What the buddha taught is a comprehensive book?

[edit: taught, not thought....man im tired]

Yoda

I think so. Read the description of it at Amazon.co.uk.

Catsmokinpot

i think from what i can understand in my own head we have always been

Originally posted by ur mentor
Eastern philosopy reckons that something cannot come from nothing. It (including Universe etc,) has always been
In western philosophy there is a tendency to believe that God created something (Universe and the like) from nothing.

try to comprehend nothing ill think youll find you cant because in order for their to be nothing their has to be something

eg. space, yes it is a vaccum with nothing in it but it does take up an area.

i think we are and have always been. why try to explain how we got here, because their is no valid explanation for it.

i think that with buddhism we learn why we got here which i think is more important

Yoda

Buddhism teaches that we inhabit a universe which is subject to the laws of conditioned arising. We are self-conscious, unlike many other residents of the universe. Buddhism doesn't try to go into detail about the chain of events that puts us here. It focusses rather on what we do while here.

Emboss

Dolphins Barn....

"pride of the coombe"