martian wrote:If what we know as "I" is just a product of the continuous interaction of the 5 Aggregates and the "I" that is reborn is really a different "I" produced again, by the continuous interaction of the aggregates,
then why would the present "I" be concerned about the condition the new "I" will be born into? A typical explanation about rebirth is a flame being transferred from one lamp to another. Even in this example the flame from the first lamp have no connection with the flame that will be produced next. The brightness or dullness of the first flame with not affect the quality of the next flame. If this is the case, then is there any need to be concerned about kamma beyond the present life and furthermore, rebirth? Hoping for some clarity. Thanks.
memories.are.transferred,and.if.the.suttas.are.to.be.believed,
not.only.memories.of.the.previous.life,but.also.memories.of.lives
lived.before.that.one,going.back.through.immeasureable.time.
the.problem.is.
we.just.cant.currently.remember.our.previous.lives;
aiui.they.are.stored.deep.in.the.mind,but.we.cant.currently
.access.those.
memories.(doesnt.mean.theyre.not.there,though)...and.so,most.of.us.folks
identify.inordinately.with.
this.body/mind.as."who.we.are",
not.able.to.see.how.mind.and.body.changed.from.life.to.life.
if.one.day.we.gain.the.sufficient.level.of.virtue.and.meditative.ability
to.be.able.to.recall.as.many.of.those.past.lives.as.we.care.to.examine,
im.guessing.we.will.be.recalling.having.done.all.sorts.of.things.over
countless.previous.lives,and.having.experienced.all.manner.of.births,
pleasures,pains,deaths,etc.
the.next.step.aiui.would.involve.perceiving.how.wholesome.actions.led
to.favourable.results,and.unwholesome.actions.to.unfavourable.results.
but.by.then,one.would.have.a.much.wider.view.of.things,and.would.see.how
it.really.does.matter.what.beings.do,because.of.the.results.of.kamma.
imagine.someone.experiencing.the.painful.life.of.an.intensively.farmed
animal...that.being.would.not.recall.the.unwholesome.actions.that.led
to.his/her.current.misery,but
.thats.merely.an.issue.of.deficient.memory;
it.doesnt.change.
the.law.of.causality,which.is.operating.whether
or.not.we.
know.about.it.
theres.a.place.in.the.suttas.where.the.Buddha.is.quoted.as.having.said,
that.if.beings.only.knew.like.
He.knew.(having.directly.seen.kamma.and
the.results.of.kamma),they.would.
never.kill,lie,steal,take.intoxicants,
or.engage.in.illicit.sex.(He.then.turns.it.around.to.the.positive;if.beings
only.knew.of.the.results.of.kindness,truthfulness,generousity.etc,they
would.surely.practice.those.wholesome.things).Our.problem,as.always,
seems.to.be.
ignorance!...simply,"not.knowing".
(i.hope.i.got.that.all.right,but.thats.my.current.understanding).
metta