The time of your death was determined before u were born.

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
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AlexanderS
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The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by AlexanderS »

I heard this phrase in association with a buddhist seminar on peaceful dying.

However wouldn't a predetermined time of death more or less negate freedom?

Is it in line with buddhist teachings?
Huseng
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by Huseng »

Buddhism is not determinism.

It is said that karma from past lives affects the lifespan of an individual (the term is āyuḥsaṃskāra in Sanskrit), but their own actions during life can either extend or shorten it.

Confessing all past evil deeds and cultivating virtue is said to increase one's longevity.

However, nothing is pre-determined.
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maybay
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by maybay »

The time of whose death is determined before they are born? The choice is in choosing who you are. We make this choice continually through life. If we make the same choices then it is more predictable. If we choose differently then less. But you have to ask: Who is doing the determining? To sentient beings there is the appearance of freedom. What does the Buddha say?
People will know nothing and everything
Remember nothing and everything
Think nothing and everything
Do nothing and everything
- Machig Labdron
lotwell
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by lotwell »

Yes, death is certain however the time of death is uncertain. Life is very precious and our time is very short.
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Konchog1
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by Konchog1 »

AlexanderS wrote:I heard this phrase in association with a buddhist seminar on peaceful dying.

However wouldn't a predetermined time of death more or less negate freedom?

Is it in line with buddhist teachings?
Yes and no I think. We born with a certain lifespans yes but it can be so easily affected it doesn't matter what it is.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
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Lhug-Pa
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by Lhug-Pa »

The Alexander Berzin website doesn't seem to be up right now, but if you can access the first two links found on this Google search...:


:arrow: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=ps ... 66&bih=673" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Lhug-Pa
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Re: The time of your death was determined before u were born.

Post by Lhug-Pa »

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... inism.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/x/nav ... 54907.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks like its back up.
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