yinyangkoi wrote: ↑Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:54 am
Kova wrote: ↑Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:10 am
In my humble opinion I find no contradiction in thinking that they are both states of mind and real kingdoms at the same time. If i die in angry state of mind i rebirth in hell. And if i die happy i rebirth in kingdom of devas. They are at the same time states of mind and real kingdoms
But there is no way to know for sure these kingdoms are real... We can only speculate and believe on blind faith. Of course it's possible, but there is no way to know
Likewise, there is really no need to know for sure.
As a friend of mine used to say, “what will you do with the information?”
Knowing whether the other realms are “real” or not doesn’t have to be the motivation for one’s practice. And it probably shouldn’t be, although obviously millions of people practice Buddhism in one way or another out of some fear of being reborn in a lower realm.
But (even more importantly, in my opinion) what matters is asking oneself
why needing to know is so important. And I think that ultimately it is because of self-grasping. So, that’s one thing to consider.
And again, when we talk about other things being “real” we are comparing that reality to our own experiences of what we think of as reality. For example, you would say that the animal realm is real, because we can see that animals have flesh and blood and they eat and poop, just as humans do. So, they are “real” in the same sense, the same way, that humans are “real”. So, one will say “that dog is real, just as I am real”.
But on the other hand, Buddha teaches to examine further to see what that self-reality is really composed of. Who is the “I” that says “I am real”? and ultimately one finds that this “I” has no reality to it either. It is an entirely made-up experience.
So, you can determine that yes, the other realms are definitely as real as you are,
because they are no more real than you are, or than the “I” that you imagine yourself to be, no more “real” than the mental projection you or I have of this world.
They are no more real than you are.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.