Insects Rebirth

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ShantiM
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Insects Rebirth

Post by ShantiM »

Master Chin Kung told the story of a ant colony that they have been taken ants rebirth since the past 7 Buddhas. Is this true that once you’ve been taken rebirth as such tiny creatures (an ant or insect), then it’s nearly impossible to escape that form? Do bigger animals have more chance to escape their current forms? Thanks!
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

ShantiM wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:54 pm Master Chin Kung told the story of a ant colony that they have been taken ants rebirth since the past 7 Buddhas. Is this true that once you’ve been taken rebirth as such tiny creatures (an ant or insect), then it’s nearly impossible to escape that form? Do bigger animals have more chance to escape their current forms? Thanks!
The Earth didn’t exist even six Buddhas ago.
How could there have been ants then?

But the causes of a favorable human birth are just as rare. That’s true.
EMPTIFUL.
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GrapeLover
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by GrapeLover »

ShantiM wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:54 pm Master Chin Kung told the story of a ant colony that they have been taken ants rebirth since the past 7 Buddhas. Is this true that once you’ve been taken rebirth as such tiny creatures (an ant or insect), then it’s nearly impossible to escape that form? Do bigger animals have more chance to escape their current forms? Thanks!
You have more chance to accumulate some good karma that leads to a better birth if you’re an animal capable of acting out of compassion, kindness etc. For instance, something like an orangutan or an elephant would be well-placed. Contrast this with something like a spider, which basically does very little outside of killing.
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Hazel
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Hazel »

ShantiM wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:54 pm Master Chin Kung told the story of a ant colony that they have been taken ants rebirth since the past 7 Buddhas. Is this true that once you’ve been taken rebirth as such tiny creatures (an ant or insect), then it’s nearly impossible to escape that form? Do bigger animals have more chance to escape their current forms? Thanks!
I imagine it's not about size, it's about being reborn in the animal realm. No animals are able to earnestly practice dharma and very few have copious time to perform meritorious action - service animals being an exception. The size of the animal doesn't matter, there are some violent animals that are pretty big. The vast majority of animals are governed by fear. Mental faculties doesn't matter either.
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Budai
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Budai »

Maybe they like being ants and have found an important mission. There definitely seems to be some sort of attachment there though. The traveling between the end of a lifespan and a new life generates an innocence that gives one a great capacity to become a Buddha anew, if there was some issue in the previous life. Short lifespans also greatly imply innocence, especially lifespans of modern ants. In previous Yugas ants may have been advanced and lived and have been able to meditate for many years, such as in Satya Yuga where the whole Earth is at peace. If these beings existed as ants for the past 7 Buddhas it could mean they have been on different planets and in different Universes, all the while as ants. I say, respect them! But also, take notice how attached you and other humans are to the human form. It’s been venerated even in the Scriptures, and even by our greatest Teachers, including the Buddha for our benefit. But the true form to search for is the form of a Buddha, which is Transcendental to anyone or anything in the Saha world.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Last edited by Budai on Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Malcolm
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Malcolm »

Könchok Chödrak wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:57 pm The traveling between the end of a lifespan and a new life generates an innocence that gives one a great capacity to become a Buddha anew,
Buddhahood only occurs once. No one becomes a buddha anew. Once a buddha, always a buddha. There is no repetition of buddhahood.
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Budai
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Budai »

Malcolm wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:00 pm
Könchok Chödrak wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:57 pm The traveling between the end of a lifespan and a new life generates an innocence that gives one a great capacity to become a Buddha anew,
Buddhahood only occurs once. No one becomes a buddha anew. Once a buddha, always a buddha. There is no repetition of buddhahood.
Yes, by “becoming a Buddha anew” after their previous life I meant that if one hasn’t attained Enlightenment in their past life, in their next life they have the chance to do that anew because it is a new life. That is what I meant. Buddhahood is nonregressive, and that is a strong ray of hope for those who are worried about or are in states of possible regression. There is full stability in the Perfection of Buddhahood. Whatever provisional or Upayic Enlightenments Buddhas come to in any of their lives after full Enlightenment are for the benefit of sentient beings to come to Buddhahood themselves.
Malcolm
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Malcolm »

Könchok Chödrak wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:17 pm Whatever provisional or Upayic Enlightenments Buddhas come to in any of their lives after full Enlightenment are for the benefit of sentient beings to come to Buddhahood themselves.
Buddhas don't come to provisional awakening after buddhahood. Buddhas are buddhas.
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Budai
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Budai »

Malcolm wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:40 pm
Könchok Chödrak wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 7:17 pm Whatever provisional or Upayic Enlightenments Buddhas come to in any of their lives after full Enlightenment are for the benefit of sentient beings to come to Buddhahood themselves.
Buddhas don't come to provisional awakening after buddhahood. Buddhas are buddhas.
In Buddhism it seems that many Awakened Buddhas are still referred to as Bodhisattvas and even they claim they are unenlightened and are still on the Path for the benefit of leading others in a way of Expedient Means, and even meditate in such a way. Though you are correct tot say they are Buddhas, and are Buddhas in every respect, there is still an Upaya at play that we have to respect. I assume these ants on the anthills, for so long, have some Buddhas among them.
Malcolm
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Re: Insects Rebirth

Post by Malcolm »

Könchok Chödrak wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:49 pm I assume these ants on the anthills, for so long, have some Buddhas among them.
Maybe, but one still has to attain a precious human birth with the eighteen freedoms and endowments in order to attain buddhahood.
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