Reincarnation of Buddhas
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Can Buddhas be reincarnated? Under what circumstances will Buddhas be reincarnated? How and when?
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Actually it is not right to say that the Buddha is re-incarnated, because the Buddha is completely freed from the cycle of rebirth.Originally posted by askxyz:Can Buddhas be reincarnated? Under what circumstances will Buddhas be reincarnated? How and when?
Buddha nature is Unborn. No matter who you are, how evil or good you are, your Buddha Nature is Perfect and Complete. Because of this, each of us definitely have the chance to be Awakened, and WILL be awakened. Buddha Nature is all pervading like space and eternal, yet sentient beings have forgotten about it for uncountable aeons in the cycle of rebirth... Therefore the Buddha appears in his Nirmanakaya form with 32 major marks and 80 minor marks in order to expound the dharma to sentient beings who are able to receive them.
Therefore it is not because the Buddha is still under the cycle of reincarnation but appears in samsara due to his vows/compassion for sentient beings. The Buddhas will be reincarnated when he observes that the Cause and Conditions for him to turn the dharma wheel is ripe. Below are the conditions that Shakyamuni Buddha observed before deciding his birth:
http://www.saigon.com/~anson/ebud/ebdha165.htm#[01]Our Bodhisatta (1) was born in Tusita Heaven (2) as a Deva (3) by the name of Svetaketu. The Devas in Tusita Heaven were happy. The time had come for the Bodhisatta to be born in the world for the last time. The Devas invited the Bodhisatta to be born on earth.
Lastly, I shall paste below a portion of the Avatamsaka Sutra, this verse is found in the Daily Buddhist Verses:
The Bodhisatta looked down at the world to make sure that the five requirements necessary for His final birth in the world were met. These five requirements are as follows:
1. The right time - The life span of human beings at a time a Buddha is born is between 100 and 100,000 years. If the life span is very short, human beings want to enjoy their short life to the fullest and tend to be very fond of material things. If the life span is very long, they tend to forget the impermanence of life. At this time the Bodhisatta found that the life span was one hundred and twenty years.
2. The right continent - All Buddhas are born in India (known as Jumbudipa at the time of the Buddha). This is because the people of India are spiritually more advanced than people in other countries, and so are more ready for a Buddha.
3. The right area - The city of Kapilavatthu was chosen as the city of the future Buddha, as there was a just and good king and many righteous people living there.
4. The right caste - A Buddha is always born in a high caste - Either a royal caste or a priestly caste. This is necessary, as often persons born in a low caste are not accepted by society.
5. The right mother - The mother of a Buddha has to be very pure. She is a person who has resolved to be a mother of a Buddha and observed the five precepts for many countless past lives. The chosen mother was Queen Mahaa Maayaa, wife of King Suddhodana of Kapilavatthu.
The Bodhisatta saw that the five requirements were met.
Buddha's body is always apparent,
Filling the entire cosmos,
Always intoning far-reaching sound
Shaking all lands in all quarters.
Buddha manifests bodily everywhere,
Entering into all worlds,
Revealing occult spiritual power
According to the inclinations of beings.
Buddha appears before all beings
In accordance with their minds;
What the sentient beings see
Is the Buddha's mystic power.
His radiance has no bounds
And his teaching too is infinite;
Buddha children enter and observe
According to their knowledge.
The Buddha's body has no birth
Yet can appear to be born.
The nature of reality is like space:
Therein do the Buddhas dwell.
No abiding, yet no departing:
Everywhere the Buddha's seen;
His light reaches everywhere,
His fame is heard afar.
No substance, no abode,
And no origin that can be found;
No signs, no form:
What appears is like reflections.
- Avatamsaka Sutra p. 164-165 -
Has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated? How many times has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated?
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Shakyamuni Buddha, although appearing to enter into Parinirvana, it is stated in Lotus Sutra chapter on Lifespan of the Tathagatha that he has in fact not entered into parinirvana. It is also said that he attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas already. He is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System", meaning he is probably teaching in another planet right now. He will be taken over only when the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, attains Buddhahood.Originally posted by askxyz:Has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated? How many times has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated? -
yes. read that He reincarnated a number of time, led quite a number of good and bad karma, before his last being as siddartha.Originally posted by askxyz:Has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated? How many times has Siddartha Gautama re-incarnated?
but keep in mind that sidhartha has not reached Enlightenment yet before he became Buddha.
as far as i know, Buddha attained Nirvana and hence, end the birth and life cycle. -
Yes, that is right. Before the Buddha attained enlightenment, he is just like one of us, still ignorant and lost in samsara and had to undergo cyclic rebirths.Originally posted by 798:yes. read that He reincarnated a number of time, led quite a number of good and bad karma, before his last being as siddartha.
but keep in mind that sidhartha has not reached Enlightenment yet before he became Buddha.
as far as i know, Buddha attained Nirvana and hence, end the birth and life cycle. -
Did he tell anybody about this? If not, how did anybody knows about this?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Shakyamuni Buddha, although entering into Parinirvana, it is stated in Lotus Sutra chapter on Lifespan of the Tathagatha that he has in fact not entered into parinirvana. It is also said that he attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas already. He is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System", meaning he is probably teaching in another planet right now. He will be taken over only when the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, attains Buddhahood.
Just curious.
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Yes, he did mention this.Originally posted by askxyz:Did he tell anybody about this? If not, how did anybody knows about this?
Just curious.
http://www.quangduc.com/English/Maha/Lotus16.html
......At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:
Since I attained Buddhahood
the number of kalpas that have passed
is an immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands,
millions, trillions, asamkhyas.
Constantly I have preached the Law, teaching, converting
countless millions of living beings,
causing them to enter the Buddha way,
all this for immeasurable kalpas.... -
your link is great and useful.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes, he did mention this.
http://www.quangduc.com/English/Maha/Lotus16.html
......At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:
Since I attained Buddhahood
the number of kalpas that have passed
is an immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands,
millions, trillions, asamkhyas.
Constantly I have preached the Law, teaching, converting
countless millions of living beings,
causing them to enter the Buddha way,
all this for immeasurable kalpas.
actually i find how will one feel like if he can remember his past as hare? -
Do you mean "i wonder how will one feel"?Originally posted by 798:your link is great and useful.
actually i find how will one feel like if he can remember his past as hare?
Best is not to even think or feel (if you can remember your past life..). What is past is past.... focus on your present Our moderator namelessness, who has not logged in for some time now due to his busy schedule, also have remembered some of his past life. He seemed to be bothered by it but eventually learnt to let it go... If I say who he was in his past life, maybe you all won't believe... so I better not say -
What is kalpas ?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes, he did mention this.
http://www.quangduc.com/English/Maha/Lotus16.html
......At that time the World-Honored One, wishing to state his meaning once more, spoke in verse form, saying:
Since I attained Buddhahood
the number of kalpas that have passed
is an immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands,
millions, trillions, asamkhyas.
Constantly I have preached the Law, teaching, converting
countless millions of living beings,
causing them to enter the Buddha way,
all this for immeasurable kalpas....
You mean Siddartha Gautama after attaining Buddhahood, know what he is going to be in charge and so he told everybody about it? How to know who has attained Buddhahood?
You said "He is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System", meaning he is probably teaching in another planet right now. He will be taken over only when the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, attains Buddhahood.", but how you all know that he is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System"? He already knew it before he passed away?
Sorry for asking so many questions. -
listen and forget.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Do you mean "i wonder how will one feel"?
Best is not to even think or feel (if you can remember your past life..). What is past is past.... focus on your present Our moderator namelessness, who has not logged in for some time now due to his busy schedule, also have remembered some of his past life. He seemed to be bothered by it but eventually learnt to let it go... If I say who he was in his past life, maybe you all won't believe... so I better not say
think the most important thing is try to build good karma this present life. -
Kalpas is an Indian time unit since ancient time... There are different types of kalpas. 1 small kalpa = 16.8 million years; 1 medium kalpa = 336 million years; 1 greatOriginally posted by askxyz:What is kalpas ?
You mean Siddartha Gautama after attaining Buddhahood, know what he is going to be in charge and so he tell everybody about it? How to know who has attained Buddhahood?
You said "He is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System", meaning he is probably teaching in another planet right now. He will be taken over only when the next Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, attains Buddhahood.", but how you all know that he is currently in charge of the "Three Types of Thousand World System"? He already knows it before he passed away?
Sorry for asking so many questions.
kalpa = 1.344 billion years
Shakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas, so its really really long.
The part about the 'three types of thousand world system' is mentioned by Shakyamuni Buddha. There will be 1000 Buddhas before this great kalpa ends.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol8no4a.htm
In the Kalpa of Virtue, there are 1,000 Buddhas born. The first Buddha was Krakucchanda Buddha, the second, Kanakamuni Buddha, and the third, Kasyapa Buddha. The fourth Buddha is our present Sakyamuni Buddha. The fifth Buddha will be Maitreya Buddha.
Will be glad to answer your enquiries -
Not only build good karma. Basically we should 1) Do good 2) Avoid evil 3) Purify one's mind. The third concerns our liberation and is especially important in Buddhism. Otherwise it would just be like any other religions, whereby the highest achievement is rebirth in Heavens... but that is also impermanent.Originally posted by 798:think the most important thing is try to build good karma this present life. -
Did you mean that before Siddartha Gautama, there are also many other Buddhas?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Kalpas is an Indian time unit since ancient time... There are different types of kalpas. 1 small kalpa = 16.8 million years; 1 medium kalpa = 336 million years; 1 great
kalpa = 1.344 billion years
Shakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas, so its really really long.
The part about the 'three types of thousand world system' is mentioned by Shakyamuni Buddha. There will be 1000 Buddhas before this great kalpa ends.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol8no4a.htm
In the Kalpa of Virtue, there are 1,000 Buddhas born. The first Buddha was Krakucchanda Buddha, the second, Kanakamuni Buddha, and the third, Kasyapa Buddha. The fourth Buddha is our present Sakyamuni Buddha. The fifth Buddha will be Maitreya Buddha.
Will be glad to answer your enquiries
You part on "Shakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas, so its really really long. ", I still don't understand. When did he know that he had already attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas? -
Yes, before Siddartha Gautama (Shakyamuni Buddha), there had been uncountable Buddhas. In fact everyone of us, as mentioned, will attain Buddhahood because each of us already possessed wholly complete Buddha Nature. Therefore we have to practise.Originally posted by askxyz:Did you mean that before Siddartha Gautama, there are also many other Buddhas?
You part on "Shakyamuni Buddha attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas, so its really really long. ", I still don't understand. When did he know that he had already attained Buddhahood for immeasurable kalpas?
As for your last question, he know that he had attained Buddhahood ever since he attained Buddhahood lor
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I confused. Why was Buddhism founded by Siddartha Gautama and not by the first Buddha or other Buddha(s) before Siddartha Gautama?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Yes, before Siddartha Gautama (Shakyamuni Buddha), there had been uncountable Buddhas. In fact everyone of us, as mentioned, will attain Buddhahood because each of us already possessed wholly complete Buddha Nature. Therefore we have to practise.
As for your last question, he know that he had attained Buddhahood ever since he attained Buddhahood lor
When and who was the first person to attain Buddhahood? -
Yes, all Buddhas have Omniscience and therefore naturally knows what to do according to Yin Yuan (cause and conditions).Originally posted by askxyz:You mean Siddartha Gautama after attaining Buddhahood, know what he is going to be in charge and so he told everybody about it? How to know who has attained Buddhahood?
When you attain enlightenment, naturally you will know that you attain enlightenment, otherwise it wouldn't be enlightenment isn't it? As for how to know who is enlightened, an enlightened person is very different from ordinary beings in various ways. For example he is liberated, fearless, freed from mental defilements and his wisdom is far greater than sentient beings like us. -
Because Buddhism will eventually fade away. Our current Buddha Sassana is prophecised to last for 5000 years. Buddha passed away for 2500 years. After another 2500 years, humanity will have to wait until Maitreya Buddha appears.Originally posted by askxyz:I confused. Why was Buddhism founded by Siddartha Gautama and not by the first Buddha or other Buddha(s) before Siddartha Gautama?
Nothing escapes impermanency except 'Zheng Fa'/'True Dharma'... which is the Dharmakaya. Which is why after Buddhism 'ends', its not really the end, because one day Maitreya Buddha will appear again.
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There is another question I last minute added:Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Because Buddhism will eventually fade away. Our current Buddha Sassana is prophecised to last for 5000 years. Buddha passed away for 2500 years. After another 2500 years, humanity will have to wait until Maitreya Buddha appears.
When and who was the first person to attain Buddhahood? -
This is one difficult question.Originally posted by askxyz:There is another question I last minute added:
When and who was the first person to attain Buddhahood?
I would say... the Primordial Buddha is the FIRST Buddha. In fact Primordial Buddha refers to our innate Buddha Nature itself! -
I don't understand why Buddhism will eventually fade away. Why is that so?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Because Buddhism will eventually fade away. Our current Buddha Sassana is prophecised to last for 5000 years. Buddha passed away for 2500 years. After another 2500 years, humanity will have to wait until Maitreya Buddha appears.
Is Buddha Sassana currently still on Earth? I have a quick search on the net but can't find his photo. Can post his photo?
Also post Maitreya Buddha photo pls.
Oh ya, you said that "Our current Buddha Sassana is prophecised ...", but where did the prophecies come from? And to who? -
But then you said that in Buddhism, there is no beginning and no end. How can we know if there really is a first Buddha? Can there be a first Buddha?Originally posted by An Eternal Now:This is one difficult question.
I would say... the Primordial Buddha is the FIRST Buddha. In fact Primordial Buddha refers to our innate Buddha Nature itself! -
Again, apologised for the many questions. Suddenly curious about the re-incarnation of Buddhas thingy.
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Yes, when there is Birth, there is End.Originally posted by askxyz:But then you said that in Buddhism, there is no beginning and no end. How can we know if there really is a first Buddha? Can there be a first Buddha?
But as mentioned, Buddha Nature is Unborn nature. It is eternal. Primordial Buddha is known as the First Buddha because it is precisely because of Primordial Buddha that all other Buddha arised....
Any Buddhists here pls correct me if I am wrong.