the Human Realm from the Wheel of Life |
Monday, September 11, 2017
Contemplating the suffering of human beings
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Contemplating the suffering of asuras (demi-gods)
Realm of Asuras from the Wheel of Life |
As Master Genshin explained, the realm of
Asuras is divided into two parts: 1. “the
creatures of this realm which are fundamentally superior live at the bottom of
the great sea north of Mount Sumeru”, and 2. “the inferior creatures of this realm dwell among the rocks of the high
mountains which lie between the four great continents”.
Although they experience various pleasures and abundance
which are far superior to those of humans, and even rival those of the gods,
they are constantly tormented by anger, jealousy, quarreling and fighting.
Beings in the human realm who are more spiritually advanced than others, but
who strongly manifest these characteristics will be born among the Asuras.
In their own realm, Asuras divide themselves in various
groups and territories and fight never ending wars, while also, because they
envy the pleasures of the lower realms of the gods, start useless conflicts
with them, which they eventually lose.
Bodhisattva Nagarjuna said:
"Also, the
demigods, by their very nature, experience great
mental suffering
Because of their
hatred of the splendor of the deities.
Though they are
intelligent, they do not see the truth
Because of the mental
obscurations characteristic of this realm
of rebirth."[1]
In some texts, the realm of Asuras is counted among the
lower gods, because of the pleasures found there, or among the lower realms,
together with hells, animals, and pretas, because of the pain they inflict to
themselves.
In conclusion, life as an Asura is a pitiful one – filled as
it is with joys and pleasures more than a human can imagine, but not being
capable to enjoy it due to envy and conflicts.
[1] Letter to a Friend, as quoted in The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path
to Enlightenment, volume I, by Tsong-kha-pa, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca , New York ,
p. 292-293
Friday, September 1, 2017
Contemplating the suffering of animals
Animal realm from the Wheel of Life |
updated and revised on 25th August 2020
Bodhisattva
Vasubandhu states:
“As for
the animals, they have three places, the land, the water, and the air. Their
principal place is the Great Ocean; the animals that are elsewhere
are the surplus of the animals”[1].
Master Genshin also explains:
“The
realm of animals is divided into two parts. The chief place is in the great
sea, and branches are interspersed in the realms of humans and heavenly beings” .
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Contemplating the suffering of hungry ghosts (pretas)
the preta realm from the Wheel of Life |
updated and revised on 24th August 2020
The realms of the pretas are to be found in
two places: one is bellow Jambudvipa (our realm of human beings[1]),
which is their main place of existence and is ruled by King Yama, and the other
is between the realm of humans and the realms of the gods. Master Vasubandhu
explains:
“The
king of the pretas is called Yama; his residence, which is the principal dwelling
of the pretas, is located under Jambudvipa. The pretas that are found elsewhere
are the surplus of the pretas. The pretas differ much one from
another; certain of them possess supernatural powers and enjoy a glory
similar to that of the gods”.[2]
Beside those with supernatural powers and a
better situation or the various differences between them, there are some
general characteristics which often appear in the description of pretas. They
are ugly, naked or dressed in rags or covered by their own hair which sometimes
is just hair or hair in the form of needles, swords or spears[3].
Preta spirits have a foul smell, are weakened by hunger, dried by thirst, with
visible ribs and veins, always unhappy and living on the offerings done by
others.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Contemplating the suffering of hell beings
There
are eight hot hells and eight cold hells. According to
Shakyamuni, and various Buddhist masters who explained them, these eight hells
have their own adjacent or neighboring hells (utsadas[1]):
“There are eight hells
there that I have revealed, difficult to get out of, full of cruel beings, each
having sixteen utsadas; they have four walls and four gates; they are as high
as they are wide; they are encircled by walls of fire; their ceiling is fire;
their sun is burning, sparkling fire; and they are filled with flames hundreds
of yojanas high.”[2]
Friday, August 25, 2017
3. Karma - the law of cause and effect
updated and revised August 21, 2020
(this article is the 3rd part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma)
(this article is the 3rd part of The Four Profound Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward the Dharma)
“Not in the heaven, not in the middle of the ocean, not
in the mountain caves: there is no place in this world were you can hide from
the consequences of your deeds.”[1]
I
will divide this section in two: a) general teaching on karma and b) karma and
the salvation offered by Amida Buddha
a) General teaching on karma
Karma
is the law of cause and effect. The term “karma” comes from the Sanskrit word
“karman” which means action - acting with thought, deed and word. There are
three types of karma: 1) the karma of thought, 2) karma of speech and 3) karma
of action or body. All that we think, speak or do will affect our personal history.
What we are now is the result of what we thought, said or did in the past, in
another lifetime or in the present life; and what we think, speak and do in the
present will create us in the future. We are the result of our own
karma. The Buddha said:
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