Reincarnation_Res
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RESURRECTION AND REINCARNATION<br />
M.M.NINAN<br />
ugly and beautiful, those lacking influence and the powerful, the poor and the rich,<br />
the low-born and the high-born, and the ignorant and the wise?"<br />
Buddha replied: "All living beings have actions (Karma) as their own, their<br />
inheritance, their congenital cause, their kinsman, their refuge. It is Karma that<br />
differentiates beings into low and high states."<br />
Atthasalini, a commentary on the Abhidharma, states:<br />
"Depending on this difference in Karma appears the differences in the birth of<br />
beings, high and low, base and exalted, happy and miserable. Depending on the<br />
difference in Karma appears the difference in the individual features of beings as<br />
beautiful and ugly, high-born or low born, well-built or deformed. Depending on the<br />
difference in Karma appears the difference in worldly conditions of beings, such as<br />
gain and loss, and disgrace, blame and praise, happiness and misery."<br />
The most important factor, but not the only one, influencing where we will be the next<br />
moment and what sort of life we shall have, is kamma. Kamma is the Pali word<br />
which in Sanskrit is called Karma. The word kamma means 'action'. .Kamma is<br />
intentional action, a deed done deliberately through body, speech or mind. It refers<br />
to our intentional mental actions.This is what changes the inherited Karma. This is<br />
based on the free will of the person. Karma can be good and bad volition (kusala<br />
Akusala Centana). What we are is determined by how we have thought and acted<br />
in the past. Likewise, how we think and act now will influence how we will be in the<br />
future. This is what produce the rebirth and what form and where this rebirth will be.<br />
According to Buddhism, there are five orders or processes (niyama) which operate in<br />
the physical and mental realms. They are natural laws and does not assume a<br />
Spiritual Supernatural God.<br />
They are:<br />
In the Physical Realm:<br />
1. Utu Niyama - physical inorganic order All physical material world are part of<br />
this order.<br />
2. Bija Niyama - order of germs and seeds (physical organic order)<br />
3. Karma Niyama - order of act and result.<br />
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