Your views on the Afterlife.

[Avanti]

I've wondered this question for a long time. My mum has always believed in the buddhist version of an afterlife, and after my grandma died she was told by her aunt that unless she paid a monk thousands of dollars to chant, grandma will go to hell automatically. Now I have no idea what the beliefs of buddhists are, so I'm only saying that's what my aunt believed. I for one was very upset and tried to tell my mum that the idea of my angelic grandma going to hell was ridiculous. So she asks me, well how do you know? How do you know what the afterlife is like?

I guess I wanted to say that I read about NDEs of people who were christian and claimed to have met angels and even jesus. I stopped short though because there are so many other non-christian versions of the afterlife out there.

So for those of you who believe in an afterlife, do you think it's unique for everyone, or do you think we might have a universal one for all humanity? Do we see what we choose to believe when we die?

I know some people only believe in reincarnation. Some don't believe full stop (period), and I respect those views. After all I don't know what it is on the other side.

I'll like to hear your theories:)

[SoulHealer]

I believe your after life is created by your own thoughts -so if you believe you will burn in hell you will if you believe you are going to merrily with the birds and the bees then you will but as with life sometimes stuff will happen outside of your control to make you think twice about things

[Shaw]

I believe that monk to be a con. Real Buddist Monks are against monatary gain. Save me from what I want, I think is the motto. Besides buddists don't believe in hell the same as christians. More like low reincarnation.

[dragoncrone]

I'm shaking my head trying to figure out what scam this guy was running. He may have been a 'monk' but he was no Buddhist. In ancient times Buddhist monks begged for alms in public, but since they conducted prayers at the temple, it was considered money well spent. What this sounds like is kind of spiritual extortion, and no follower of Buddha would commit such a transgression.

[Shanti]

I believe we are all on differant paths with differant destinies.

And I agree with the others, that is not Buddhist way at all.

[Agaliha]

Uh, yeah that is not Buddhist-- what that "Monk" did or said. I just spent some time reading and learning about Buddhism...It's not their practice and beliefs to do things like that.

Here are some links explaining their beliefs:
http://dying.about.com/cs/religiousviews/a/BuddhistBeliefs.htm (http://dying.about.com/cs/religiousviews/a/BuddhistBeliefs.htm)
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/buddha/Teachings/040-afterlife.htm (http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/buddha/Teachings/040-afterlife.htm)
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/buddha/Teachings/030-rebirth.htm (http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/buddha/Teachings/030-rebirth.htm)
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism04.html (http://www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism04.html)
http://www.near-death.com/buddhism.html (http://www.near-death.com/buddhism.html)

Here is my view of afterlife and reincarnation-- from another thread:
Well in my POV we get reborn/reincarnated because our soul has to learn/overcome/understand/experience something.
If it is not understood or overcome then that lesson may be repeated.
So if in one a child was lost and the lesson was not learned (say in that life you became a drunk and killed yourself-- just an example) than you might have missed the whole point of that life and that experience and event.
It may happen in many lifes-- over and over and over-- until that is learned and overcame.
I also believe we are reincarnated with family-- that for some reason our souls are linked. The dynamics and relationships may be different-- my father might have been my daughter for example-- but we are connected. I also read that those we have stong hate and attraction to were part of ourpast lives in some form of the other.
I don't see reincarnation as a punishment, rather it is a place where we learn, grow and experience life.
When we have learned our purpose-- it could be as little as 5 lifetimes or as many as 300+-- then I believe we are released from the cycle and become part of the Source (the pure energy and light that is part of all and all are connected to).
So basically to answer you're question, like I said, it is because you have not learned the lesson and reached that goal yet.
This is what I grew to leaning and believing-- out of all my beliefs, these (reincarnation/rebirth and souls) are constantly steadfast no matter how much I change.

[Avanti]

Thanks for the links, my mum should read these.

That's a very interesting view on reincarnation. The link within the family is something that i've never considered.



I'm shaking my head trying to figure out what scam this guy was running. He may have been a 'monk' but he was no Buddhist. In ancient times Buddhist monks begged for alms in public, but since they conducted prayers at the temple, it was considered money well spent. What this sounds like is kind of spiritual extortion, and no follower of Buddha would commit such a transgression.

Have you heard how some monks in China are now taking courses in universities to learn skills in managing their temples in order to generate more wealth? I go to buddhist temples and all they want is money, and trying to sell you rubbish half the time. In Hong Kong, one temple actually had an auction for who had the privilege of putting the first stick of incense on New Year's day. It was auctioned for thousands of dollars, I can't remember the exact number.

There are so MANY monks in China, who go to funerals weddings, etc to chant for 10 minutes and charge thousands of dollars. It goes against everything that monks should be doing. It is absolutely ridiculous to say the least. ok, don't get me started on this, I could go on forever.


I believe your after life is created by your own thoughts -so if you believe you will burn in hell you will if you believe you are going to merrily with the birds and the bees then you will but as with life sometimes stuff will happen outside of your control to make you think twice about things

That's what I believe. But then I run into trouble when I think how different my beliefs are to my relatives...will that mean we go to a separate afterlife?

[Agaliha]

Wow, I didn't know that about China. That is very un-Buddhist of them! No offense to the Chinese, but I don't think their Buddhism is the Buddhism most know and practice...maybe it's a mix of native traditions and Buddhism? Either way those things you mentioned go against what Buddha taught...I assume like many things it got warped over time. I remember reading though about some form of Buddhism that instead of renouncing everything-- they were materialistic. Maybe those Monks are in that tiny sect? I don't know. It's messed up what they are doing though. People, sheesh.

[Evendusk]

I think a person creates their own afterlife whether they buy into a ready made concept or fashion their own.

I do feel that the afterlife is the next stage of life, that it will be pleasant and that there will be access to all knowledge, just no idea of the form that existence will take.

[Avanti]

I don't think it's just in China. Here it's the same thing. In japan...it's very weird. They have shrines in supermarkets. It is a mix of tradition and superstition also. Alot of people look to religion for the deities and only think about praying for benefits, and ignoring the actual lessons taught. So there is a tendency to exploit this fear of the supernatural and divine when people are most vulnerable. Like my mum's situation. Who likes to be told that their loved ones are going to hell?

And it's not a specific sect, its a religious phenomena. Just look at how much Wicca and the pagan paths have become exploited for monetary gain. This is slightly more insane. I know that monks are supposed to beg for alms, but who in this modern world is going to carry on that tradition? So yeah, the context has changed and it has been warped. It's a common practise all over China, Asia even. I'm surprised that people seemed to not know of this. I assumed those that study buddhism has gone to a temple once in a while and seen for themselves the activities of monks?

[Agaliha]

I don't think it's just in China. Here it's the same thing. In japan...it's very weird. They have shrines in supermarkets. It is a mix of tradition and superstition also. Alot of people look to religion for the deities and only think about praying for benefits, and ignoring the actual lessons taught. So there is a tendency to exploit this fear of the supernatural and divine when people are most vulnerable. Like my mum's situation. Who likes to be told that their loved ones are going to hell?
And it's not a specific sect, its a religious phenomena. Just look at how much Wicca and the pagan paths have become exploited for monetary gain. This is slightly more insane. I know that monks are supposed to beg for alms, but who in this modern world is going to carry on that tradition? So yeah, the context has changed and it has been warped. It's a common practise all over China, Asia even. I'm surprised that people seemed to not know of this. I assumed those that study buddhism has gone to a temple once in a while and seen for themselves the activities of monks?

I think what they are doing is mixing native beliefs with Buddhism, because it's not just Buddhism alone. Shinto does that I think. Maybe even Taoism. That's where the dieties (most of them) and supersitions come from. Then it just blended and became what it is now. I think the Buddhist that are closer to India (where it originated) are more traditional.
I've studied Buddhism and a few weeks, but I've never been to a temple. All the ones in my area are Tibetian...and from what I read...they don't seem to do that sort of thing. But obviously I don't know much. Heh. I've never been to Asia either. My father has-- Vietman. For the Vietman war. He's told me about some of their traditions-- sorta reminds me of what you're talking about. I just think in those areas it's now a "Hybrid" faith...learning more on the native beliefs than the core of Buddhism.
But I am sorry about your Mom, no one should have to hear that! :thumbsdow

[Janus109]

This is sorta a complex kinda topic but I'll try to some up some of my beliefs. I believe in reincarnation and I think that maybe we all have lived maybe " thousands & thousands" of past lives.

I think that we exsist in the non-physical right now as our earthly lives. Maybe what we call "God" is a part of our inner-being or higher self. I am not sure if I would like to reincarnate back to this planet. Hopefully there is something better I hope..i.e a place with no war, violence, hunger etc.

I can't prove any of this..just some of my beliefs.

Rick K :whatmewor

[Janus109]

This is sorta a complex kinda topic but I'll try to some up some of my beliefs. I believe in reincarnation and I think that maybe we all have lived maybe " thousands & thousands" of past lives.

I think that we exsist in the non-physical right now as our earthly lives. Maybe what we call "God" is a part of our inner-being or higher self. I am not sure if I would like to reincarnate back to this planet. Hopefully there is something better I hope..i.e a place with no war, violence, hunger etc.

I can't prove any of this..just some of my beliefs.

Rick K :whatmewor

[Mother Goose]

I agree with Belle Terre's view of the afterlife. And the connections we have with other people stem from our 'circles of soulmates.' Our soulmates are those people who share our lives with us...again & again, helping us through the lessons we're here to learn.

Those people you meet & just 'click' with...they're soulmates...it's not just family. And soulmates can also be people we take an immediate dislike to.... some 'memory' from a past life makes us 'identify' that person as someone we don't like.

But as I said in another thread....between lives I believe we get to go to 'heaven.' A place where we rest up between lives and 'plan' our lessons for the next life. And we stay there until the RIGHT situation comes along and then we're reborn to re-join our soulmates and work to become the people, the spirits we're meant to be.