Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!samsung!rex!ukma!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eagle!data.nas.nasa.gov!news
From: kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Reincarnation
Message-ID: <1990Dec14.033958.2045@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 14 Dec 90 03:39:58 GMT
References: <1990Dec10.030247.15986@nas.nasa.gov>
Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov
Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Lines: 42
Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov


 >I have another question about reincarnation.

Hi Hugh,

  >Presumably our rebirth consciousness, soul, or whatever,
  >exists outside and apart from the material universe. This
  >means that it is not subject to the natural laws of space
  >and time.

Preseumably according to whom or what? Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
doctrine says that our life is one with the universe and that when
we die (actually die is a bad word for life is eternal, when our life
becomes latent, it is manifest now), our life merges with the life of
the universe until the conception of our next life.

 >Therefore, is there any reason why I could not be reincarnated
  >in the _past_ (i.e. the past according to the current direction
  >of time in the universe). Or, weirder still, could I be
  >reincarnated in my own _present_.

The laws of Buddhism do not violate the laws of the universe for they
are not separate as is already assumed in your question.

  >This may sound a bit silly, but surely it is an interesting
  >question which deserves an answer (and I am interested in the answer
  >for other reasons than pure curiosity, but I won't go into that here).

You've said that before. Are you writing a book?

  >Why do I have to be reincarnated in the future?

Buddhism is based on cause and effect. If the effect is to be born
before the cause that would violate causality. The cause one makes
in this life (and in all previous lifes) determine ones next life(s).
Being reincarnated in the past again violates causality.


--
   Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
            Respectfully,
  	         Keith Evans		kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov