BuddhismSutra-obooko-mind0029

modern buddhism
to them. In this way, we can eliminate the main obstacle to pure
Dharma practice.
THE DANGERS OF LOWER REBIRTH
The purpose of this explanation is to encourage us to prepare
protection from the dangers of lower rebirth. If we do not do
this now, while we have a human life with its freedoms and
endowments and we have the opportunity to do so, it will be
too late once we have taken any of the three lower rebirths; and
it will be extremely difficult to obtain such a precious human
life again. It is said to be easier for human beings to attain
enlightenment than it is for beings such as animals to attain a
precious human rebirth. Understanding this will encourage us
to abandon non-virtue, to practise virtue and to seek refuge in
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (the supreme spiritual friends);
this is our actual protection.
Performing non-virtuous actions is the main cause of taking
lower rebirth, whereas practising virtue and seeking refuge in
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are the main causes of taking
a precious human rebirth – a rebirth in which we have the
opportunity to attain permanent liberation from all suffering.
Heavy non-virtuous actions are the main cause of rebirth as a
hell being, middling non-virtuous actions are the main cause
of rebirth as a hungry ghost, and lesser non-virtuous actions
are the main cause of rebirth as an animal. There are many
examples given in Buddhist scriptures of how non-virtuous
actions lead to rebirth in the three lower realms.
There was once a hunter whose wife came from a family
of animal farmers. After he died he took rebirth as a cow
belonging to his wife’s family. A butcher then bought this cow,
slaughtered it and sold the meat. The hunter was reborn seven
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