Dharma Wheel

Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

Its confusing to imagine an human being, full of conscience and much more clairy than a bug, to reborn as a bug.

I mean, it wouldnt be hard to imagine a downwards spiral, like: human, then reborn as a monk, then as a rat, then a bug; but directly from human to an insect...

Have you ever tought on that?

i think you can be born as a tiny bacteria inside a dogs belly.

i once saw a dream of space and it was the energy of lama yeshe and lama zopa rinpoche revealing to me that most unimaginable rebirths are possible. there is nothing limiting your potential to be.

Nosta wrote:Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

Its confusing to imagine an human being, full of conscience and much more clairy than a bug, to reborn as a bug.

I mean, it wouldnt be hard to imagine a downwards spiral, like: human, then reborn as a monk, then as a rat, then a bug; but directly from human to an insect...

Have you ever tought on that?

A monk is a lower rebirth than a human?? I think this secularism thing is going too far.

I can think of humans who, in my non-omniscient opinion, are likely to be born much lower than a bug.

Om mani padme hum
Keith

Nosta wrote:Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

Its confusing to imagine an human being, full of conscience and much more clairy than a bug, to reborn as a bug.

I mean, it wouldnt be hard to imagine a downwards spiral, like: human, then reborn as a monk, then as a rat, then a bug; but directly from human to an insect...

Have you ever tought on that?

That depends on whether one believes that "consciousness" or "mind" is related to the size of ones brain and/or body.

Gassho
Seishin

Hitler's gotta go somewhere.

Being human is not the same as being better, I know that. But my question come to me when thinking in the conscience of a bug and the conscience of a human being. Bad or not, one is fully aware of things, more inteligent, etc; and then its hard to imagine how such a being can go directly from something like that (inteligent, aware of things, clear mind) to something so cloudy as the mind of a bug.

And remember, my point here is more about the clarity of mind and not about being good or bad. I know very well that many human beings are thousands of time worst than demons. Hitler is a good example.

Check out the "is space conscious" thread here: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... ead#unread

I think the question posed here is a complete misunderstanding of what it means to be human as well as what "rebirth" means.

I think the question posed here is a complete misunderstanding of what it means to be human as well as what "rebirth" means.

The lamas from Tibet that I've met would think the question posed here was spot-on. Only westerners have a problem with it.

Having said that, I remember Chime R. saying to the effect that humans tend to have karmic momentum (or something like that) and tend to be reborn human--but not always!

Nosta wrote:And remember, my point here is more about the clarity of mind and not about being good or bad.

"Clarity of mind" is a very temporary thing. Have you ever drunk alcohol or taken drugs? (Rhetorical question - you don't have to answer. ) Ever had a concussion or passed out? Ever been asleep?

Clarity of mind is so fleeting that it is amazing we have as much of it as we do. It is easy to lose it.

Om mani padme hum
Keith

smcj wrote:I remember Chime R. saying to the effect that humans tend to have karmic momentum (or something like that) and tend to be reborn human--but not always!

Whatever happened to the tortoise-and-rubber-ring analogy ? It would make sense if the 'sangha jury' were still 'out' on such matters _ _

undefineable wrote:

smcj wrote:I remember Chime R. saying to the effect that humans tend to have karmic momentum (or something like that) and tend to be reborn human--but not always!

Whatever happened to the tortoise-and-rubber-ring analogy ? It would make sense if the 'sangha jury' were still 'out' on such matters _ _

The tortoise-and-rubber-ring analogy isn't for just any human rebirth. It is for a human rebirth where one has both the opportunity and inclination to practice Dharma, hence the precious human rebirth. If weighed against all the trillions of ants, fish, and such, the way the rarity is expressed seems statistically pretty accurate.

A footnote to that idea: If the teaching on PHR is understood and believed, it negates 80%+ of current western culture. Most of our modern culture is based on the assumption that there is no thing such as "Ultimate Truth", and if there is, it is not accessible to humans. That teaching says, "No, it is possible, only it is very rare." The rarity of the opportunity is why we have concluded it does not exist--wrong!

Thanks for the answers so far.

KeithBC, good point! I didnt tought on that about clarity, thanks for clarifying my mind

How did rebirth work before humans? Humans have been on the scene for such a brief amount of time Earth-wise and cosmically. We will be extinct too in short order.

As the thread suggests, you can be reborn as anything, and not just beings with a physical form. There are ethereal beings also.

Gassho,
Seishin

AlphaOmega wrote:How did rebirth work before humans? Humans have been on the scene for such a brief amount of time Earth-wise and cosmically. We will be extinct too in short order.

It took a long time to get past the karma of being dinosaurs.

lol, funny answer

Nosta wrote:Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

No.

You might be taught this as part of Hindu influenced ignorance. It should be regarded as particular to forms of a buddhism that are perpetuated by those without a comprehensive education.
I have been 'taught' this in a Buddhist context. Some children in America are being 'taught' intelligent design as a form of 'science'.
I think we have to use a little of our post insect brain in all forms of 'teaching', otherwise the bugs might take over the earth . . .

lobster wrote:

Nosta wrote:Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

No.

You might be taught this as part of Hindu influenced ignorance. It should be regarded as particular to forms of a buddhism that are perpetuated by those without a comprehensive education.
I have been 'taught' this in a Buddhist context. Some children in America are being 'taught' intelligent design as a form of 'science'.
I think we have to use a little of our post insect brain in all forms of 'teaching', otherwise the bugs might take over the earth . . .

This is satire, right?

tomamundsen wrote:

lobster wrote:

Nosta wrote:Can you reborn as a bug? Like a spider, an ant, etc?

No.

You might be taught this as part of Hindu influenced ignorance. It should be regarded as particular to forms of a buddhism that are perpetuated by those without a comprehensive education.
I have been 'taught' this in a Buddhist context. Some children in America are being 'taught' intelligent design as a form of 'science'.
I think we have to use a little of our post insect brain in all forms of 'teaching', otherwise the bugs might take over the earth . . .

This is satire, right?

I hope so, otherwise it is incredibly rude