Q & A
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Haha! Well, Buddhism talks about hell. But I'm investigating on this theory of mine. I think hell exist in our minds. So many people are never happy with wat they have. They are never contented. Always miserable. They suffer the stress of desiring more, and all the vices that come with it. It is a mental hell they have to go thru.Originally posted by zacken99:do u believe the existing of hell?
So yes I believe in hell. -
"fo fa wu bian, shi shi wu chang"
u believe? -
My chinese not so good. But I think I understand wat it means. This is part of the teachings in Buddhism. Everything is impermanent.Originally posted by zacken99:"fo fa wu bian, shi shi wu chang"
u believe? -
u believe?Originally posted by Origami:My chinese not so good. But I think I understand wat it means. This is part of the teachings in Buddhism. Everything is impermanent. -
Yes, I do believeOriginally posted by zacken99:u believe? -
am i disturbing u?Originally posted by Origami:Yes, I do believe -
Hahahahaha!Originally posted by zacken99:am i disturbing u? -
do u believe in fate?
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YesOriginally posted by zacken99:do u believe in fate?
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wat is the word destiny to u?Originally posted by Origami:Yes -
Originally posted by zacken99:
Karma
wat is the word [b]destiny to u?[/b] -
do u think there r ways to fortell destiny?Originally posted by Origami:Karma -
Yes. There's also ways to see ur past lives.Originally posted by zacken99:do u think there r ways to fortell destiny? -
is it possible to alter destiny?Originally posted by Origami:Yes. There's also ways to see ur past lives. -
Yes. Only 2 types of person can alter. One who does lots of evil and one who does lots of good and purifications.Originally posted by zacken99:is it possible to alter destiny? -
did u ever find any "grey" areas in buddha teachings?Originally posted by Origami:Yes. Only 2 types of person can alter. One who does lots of evil and one who does lots of good and purifications. -
Interestingly no. Always get a qualified teacher to guide u. Ask him any questions or whenever in doubt. A qualified teacher will be able to answer all ur questions.Originally posted by zacken99:did u ever find any "grey" areas in buddha teachings?
Gonna sleep now. I'll try to answer u tomorrow.
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"fo fa wu bian, shi shi wu chang"
fo fa wu2 bian1 (boundless) or wu2 bian4 (no-change)? -
fo fa wu2 bian1
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In that case, Fo Fa Wu Bian, Shi Shi Wu Chang, actually it's not a matter of whether you believe.
But whether you experienced. If you experienced, of course you will believe.
I do not know what it means, but my guess is that the ultimate Dharma is unlimited, infinite, because it's not sentient, not bounded or limited by our dualistic thoughts.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Shi Shi Wu Chang --> Have you seen anything that lasted forever? Everything that has a start, has an end. This is not really whether you believe in it, or not. -
Question: Buddhist believe in Ghost or not?
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Yes.
You can take a look at my post "different realms and existences".. on the 31 types of existences. It lists all the different types existences in our universe.
I personally have seen a ghost, I'm not imagining or on drugs or something, I'm sure what I saw was true. Ok.. but I won't go into ghost-story telling here. -
What is Ghost in Buddhism? Human die become Ghost? What happen to the Ghost then? Ghost die become what?Originally posted by Xabir:Yes.
You can take a look at my post "different realms and existences".. on the 31 types of existences. It lists all the different types existences in our universe.
I personally have seen a ghost, I'm not imagining or on drugs or something, I'm sure what I saw was true. Ok.. but I won't go into ghost-story telling here. -
The Ghost is one out of the 3 Lower Realms (Animals, Ghosts, Hell), while the 3 Higher Realms consist of Ashuras (jealous gods, demi-gods), Humans, Devas (heavenly beings)
The Ghost have many types. Just like an Animal have many types... many species. There are tens, or hundreds, of different types of ghosts, but here I'll only speak of the most commonly focused 2 types.
The most common one is called "Hungry Ghost". The "Hungry Ghost festival" have some links with this type of ghosts... But then, there is a great common misconception. Firstly, 7th month is NOT a festival! How can the sufferings of ghosts be celebrated? It is a folly of chinese tradition. The 7th month originated from Buddhism 2,500 years ago, it's about the liberation of petas (ghosts), the practice of merits in order to save these pitiful beings.
Please read this article for full details on the origins of the Ullabana: http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1a.htm
In Singapore, many people think that the Hell gates will open at the 7th Month. This is untrue! Some people deviate the original Buddha's teachings and mislead people. Or, they will burn hell notes for these deceased and think that they will gain all the material wealths.
Actually, you cannot bring material wealth to the ghosts in this manner, neither do the ghosts need money to live in the ghost realm. Have Buddha advised anyone to burn paper money for the ghosts?
The other type of ghosts is the "Ghost-Gods", called "Gui-Shen" in Chinese. This type of gods or spirits are commonly worshipped or asked for divination and answers. Or, sometimes in temples, they summon the spirit-gods to possess the person and dance
. I've yet to see one of those shows, my friend went and told me it's really horrible because the ghost cut up the body it possesed... I'm sure not all of them are like that, but anyway, I don't think I'll go and see one 
Buddhism does not teach us to be superstitious about ghosts. We are advised not create yuan with these type of beings.
The ghosts are very attached beings, this is one of the cause that led them to become a ghost.
Those "chosen" people were possessed by some other spirits who claimed that they were the Tua ya bei, Ji gong and so on, all these spirits were those human beings who were very superstitious when they were alive and like going to all these superstitious places to learn these kind of teachings & practice them. However, they have good karma, and turn into "ghost-gods" and are worshipped by humans.
These spirits would get angry & develop hatred easily when their wishes were not fulfilled. They would punish those "chosen" people, making them sick or worsen their living. There are dark consequences to those who practice superstitiously... So I always advise people to stay away from superstitions that have to do with the ghosts, but instead, cultivate in accordance to the Buddhadharma, teaching of bliss & wisdom. -
There are countless different types of attachments and bad karma that leads one to reborn in the ghost realm.
As to what ghosts become after they die, they can reborn in the 6 realms as spoken earlier in accordance to their karma. As to how long they will live, i don't know, but there are those who live thousands of years...
Update: Not all humans become ghosts. People who observe the 5 precepts* can maintain a human rebirth. People with bad karma fall into lower realms. People who are jealous and angry easily become asuras. People who attained Jhanas and practiced the 10 Virtuous Deeds* and Generosity attain rebirth in the Heavens. The most fortunate ones, or rather, cultivated ones, reborn in Pure Land* or simply enters into Nirvana*.
*5 Precepts: No killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconducts (incest, unnatural sex, sex with animals etc), intoxicants (alcohol & drugs)
*10 Virtuous Deeds: Refrain from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, frivolous and meaningless talk, tale bearing, abusive speech, covetousness, ill-will and perverted views.
*Nirvana: Having escaped Samsara*; freedom from desire and thus suffering
*Samsara: World of Sufferings, the Triple World is part of Samsara.