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From: mayne@nu.cs.fsu.edu ( Bill Mayne)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: KE for Q. on Karma and Rebirth
Message-ID: <2108@sun13.scri.fsu.edu>
Date: 6 Feb 91 20:48:43 GMT
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kde@heawk1.gsfc.nasa.gov ( Keith Evans) writes:

>[Someone wrote:]
>
>>>Even *** Buddhas are reborn *** endlessly throughtout the universe. In the
>>>Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni says that he has always been in the world
>>>(since he attained enlightenment, many, amny aeons ago) to lead the
>>>people towards enlightenment.   
>
>>words to discover the buddha nature by himself.  This is not the same as 
>>the final enlightenment which involves complete permanent detachment from
>>the mental defilements to attain a mind free from greed,hatred and delusions. 
>
>Freedom from "mental defilements" does NOT mean not to be born again.
>The Buddha is as human as we are.

Mr. Evans may be correctly stating the doctrine of his sect
(Nicheren Shoshu, I believe). This would certainly not be the
only instance in which his beliefs and those of his sect are at
variance with those of most other schools of Buddhism, and some
other devotees of the Lotus Sutra.

The vast majority of Buddhists believe just the opposite on the
first part, i.e. that Buddhas, having achieved freedom from mental
defilements are not reborn.  Mahayanists may believe that
Bodhisattvas have achieved freedom from defilements but voluntarily
take rebirth for the benefit of others. But most would agree (correct
me if I am wrong) with Theravadins that Buddhas, at least, are not
reborn. As for the second assertion, that "The Buddha is as human as
we are", the orthodox position would agree that the Buddha was as
human as we are. This is not to say that his wisdom and virtue were
not extra-ordinary, nor that he was reborn as those of us who do
not attain nirvana in this life may be. The good news in this
is that we can aspire to the same attainments as he accomplished,
however far away from them we may be or think we are at present.

I do not mean by any of this to be taking the position of a
doctinaire Theravadin, nor making much of the difference
between Theravada and Mahayana. Actually, at the level of lay
practice and most matters of understanding the differences
between Theravadins and most Mahayanists is not that great, IMO.
The big differences are between a few sects like Nicheren Shoshu
and everybody else. They are entitled to their beliefs, and being
in the minority by no means indicates their doctrines are wrong.
I just present some of the other side lest readers get rather
distorted and idiosyncratic ideas about Buddhism from statements
like Mr. Evans.

To illustrate the orthodox position that Buddhas are not reborn
and hopefully contribute something more than personal opinion
to the discussion, I close with the following from the Dhammapada,
verses 153 and 154. The translation is by Ven. Narada, who also
added the footnotes shown in brackets [], except the first
(showing the Pali) which I have added. This is represented
to be a paean of joy uttered by the Buddha at dawn on the day
of his enlightenment. It is poetic and not as explicit as some
other passages, or the combination of many with which few Buddhists
outside Nicheren Shoshu and related sects would argue. But the
meaning is clear.

*** QUOTE - Dhammapada 153, 154 ***
Thro' many a birth in existence [Pali "Samsara"] wandered I,
Seeking, but not finding, the builder of this house.
Sorrowful is repeated birth.

O housebuilder [I.e., Craving (tanha).], thou art seen,
Thou shalt build no house [Body.] again.
All thy rafters [Passions (kilesa)] are broken.
Thy ridgepole [Ignorance (avijja).] is shattered.
Mind attains the Unconditioned. [Nibbana (Skt. Nirvana)]
Achieved is the End of Craving.
*** END QUOTE ***

Bill Mayne
Florida State University
mayne@nu.cs.fsu.edu