We can't all ordain...right?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
dagon
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Re: We can't all ordain...right?

Post by dagon »

kilanta wrote:
arijitmitter wrote:As far as continuation of human race goes there will have to be some sex for procreational purpose.
After giving some thought about this I fail to find any reason why continuation of human race would be something that necessarily should be endorsed from theravadan point of view. I'm not knowledgeable about the scripture at all, but isn't it so that this would actually just mean there is no craving at all as people simply have found a way to let go of this life and thus, at some point, the last one gives up and produces no future generations?
You may find this link useful - while i do not support many of the ideas in the thread; arijitmiter is right to identify the need for the continuation of the human existence as it provides the best situation for the development toward the ultimate goal of Theravada Buddhism.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... /loka.html

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paul
arijitmitter
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Re: We can't all ordain...right?

Post by arijitmitter »

kilanta wrote:
arijitmitter wrote:As far as continuation of human race goes there will have to be some sex for procreational purpose.
After giving some thought about this I fail to find any reason why continuation of human race would be something that necessarily should be endorsed from theravadan point of view. I'm not knowledgeable about the scripture at all, but isn't it so that this would actually just mean there is no craving at all as people simply have found a way to let go of this life and thus, at some point, the last one gives up and produces no future generations?
Extremely complex question. Not only from Theravadin point of view but of all of philosophy - does human race have the responsibility to continue itself ?

If there were no humans, then without us what will be role of God / Kamma / Fate (assuming we are the only planet with intelligent beings weak enough to be susceptible to Kamma).

If a 6 mile wide asteroid crashed into the earth next year and wiped us all out will Kamma be rendered null and void. If there is fate what will be it's role then.
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DNS
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Re: We can't all ordain...right?

Post by DNS »

arijitmitter wrote: If there were no humans, then without us what will be role of God / Kamma / Fate (assuming we are the only planet with intelligent beings weak enough to be susceptible to Kamma).

If a 6 mile wide asteroid crashed into the earth next year and wiped us all out will Kamma be rendered null and void. If there is fate what will be it's role then.
There are other world systems. Scientists have identified about 1,000 planets. Not all will have the right environment to support life, but surely at least a few will have the right conditions, like earth.

When a world system perishes (as all do eventually), rebirth will be to another world system, for those who have not made it to the higher planes, such as the suddhāvāsa.

As one perishes another eventually reconstitutes and is formed, according to Brahmajala Sutta and science:

arijitmitter
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Re: We can't all ordain...right?

Post by arijitmitter »

David N. Snyder wrote: There are other world systems. Scientists have identified about 1,000 planets. Not all will have the right environment to support life, but surely at least a few will have the right conditions, like earth.
There are many millions of solar systems probably able to sustain life "otherwise it is an awful waste of space" (from Carl Sagan's Contact)

But the question is - does human race have an obligation to continue itself. If in a particular situation human race can take action and survive but does not and perishes, how will philosophy look at that (this is not shared as a Theravadin / Buddhist question but a general philosophical question).

Such as a virus appears which attacks female ovaries and makes it non functional. The virus is painless and a hard nut to crack. It will require all major governments to set aside a large percent of their GDP (say 3%) to develop a complete cure in a decade. But that never happens. Human race perishes in 200 years.

Was there an obligation on part of the governments to set aside resources from other tasks to fight this virus ? Do we have any obligation to survive as a species (since we are the only species which has some control over it's survival)

Question arises because philosophers have been strangely silent for last 30 years about problems of global warming, deforestation, species extinction and so on.

I realize this is completely off the Forum topic
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