Will I Always Be A Buddhist

[buddhayogi]

If i start out a Buddhist in this life will i be one in the next? Have i always been a Buddhist in my past lifes. How do i know? What if i am a Christian in my next life does that mean i wont reach Nirvana?

[MidnightSun]

Very good question.

[locomotive]

I think the whole buddha thing is blown up.

[locomotive]

I agree but I meant the whole the thing has become a religion.

[buddhayogi]

Yeah well buddhism has in a way become a religion and im not sure if that is a bad thing or a good thing. I think everyone should just follow the teachings of buddha's teachings.

[deepakgang]

You dont belong to Christanity or Bhuddhism. or any other religion. You yourself decide what you should be in your next life. You might have been a Christian. Then you want to know and learn what it is to be like Buddhist. If you dont know nirvana in your life- it never means that you will never reach it. You are learning with all your births.

[sahyo]

eveyone achieves buhhda mind



"achieves" is believed
if *imagining someone-noone which can achieve,
and something-nothing which to achieve*

[locomotive]

you rub it on your third eye? what does that do?

[Venus]

I agree with deepakgang. Lol locomotive...

[VossistArts]

rubbing sand in your eye just seems counterintuitive. Unless you want to agitate it heh.

As for being a Buddhist or Christian or whatever in last lives, present and next ones: We could really use a good something new. How about being determined and committed to finding a really great way yourself and then you can turn people on to it!

As fond of Buddhism as I am, I still cant see how Buddhist practitioners can justify sitting like the Buddha, pondering the things the Buddha talked about, following the Buddha. The part of the Buddhas life that lead him home was where he followed no one but himself. ( jesus said," repeat after me: I am the Way") Even when it comes to the teachings he spoke after attaining it. It wasnt by following or observing those teachings that were the key, it was living life through himself that allowed his thoughts or teachings to crystalize. In my view of it, and ive said it here before I bet, the only real way to be a Buddhist is by not being a Buddhist. Buddha wasnt. He was himself. We all have to be ourselves to get to somewhere Maybe like where he got. I mean, how many Buddhas has Buddhism produced since the historical Buddha became Buddha? Im not aware of any, which isnt to say there hasnt been any. Still I feel sure that in each and every case where a person becomes full, becomes what Buddhists call Buddha, the person will not be seen to have been affiliated with someone elses practice and experience as a way, or is it means for their arrival.

[Ryker]

I mean, how many Buddhas has Buddhism produced since the historical Buddha became Buddha? Im not aware of any, which isnt to say there hasnt been any. Still I feel sure that in each and every case where a person becomes full, becomes what Buddhists call Buddha, the person will not be seen to have been affiliated with someone elses practice and experience as a way, or is it means for their arrival.Actually, I believe the Buddha said himself after attaining Enlightenment that he was not the first & would not be the last to attain an Enlightened mind.

As far as knowing what you'll be in your next life I would say that it doesn't really matter. Just as a boy matures into a man, so does your spirit grow & learn. No matter how much you may desire to be the same in the next life, you cannot. Your spirit grows along with the many vessels it is put into. Knowing that, one can say that you will never be who you are now, because it is influenced by your past, but you will never be who you once were because you are changed here in the now. To use an awful metaphor, think of it as a sporadic heart monitor with millions of waves. The pattern is always different no matter where you look. Such is your spirit; it will continue to move on.

The Buddha assures us that we can attain Enlightenment & thus end our suffering in our present life should we choose to do so. If you believe that perhaps you will not be given an opportunity to practice a liberating path in your next life, then it may be wise for you to begin trying to attain Enlightenment for yourself.

[VossistArts]

I have to agree with all of that yep. Im just not sure trying to do it the way someone else did it is the right way to go. Maybe its right for some and not for others eh. peace

[Ryker]

I have to agree with all of that yep. Im just not sure trying to do it the way someone else did it is the right way to go. Maybe its right for some and not for others eh. peaceOh, yes, I agree. I didn't mean that one should copy another. Those who are spiritually "more mature" than others can be viewed as examples. Since everyone is different, what they have done may or may not work for you, but it can't help to try. :P In the end, it must be you through your own efforts that saves you.