Children of Myanmar Who Behave like Japanese Soldiers:

simpo_ SG

Past life research ...

http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_19_2_stevenson.pdf

alize SG

If we each have a past life, then how does the world's population grow so rapidly?

An Eternal Now SG

Thanks simpo.

Alize, there are uncountable universes out there, and thus uncountable sentient beings. Even in this world we are in the numbers of sentient beings cannot be counted - when you consider that there is not only one realm but six realms of samsara: hell, animal, ghost, human, asura, gods/deva. Buddhists strive to escape the wheel of karmic birth in these six realms.

Dharmadhatu SG

If we each have a past life, then how does the world's population grow so rapidly?

Actually, according to a teacher, many of the newer borns nowadays came from the animal realm. Especially with the unprecedented level of slaughtering of animals nowadays for meat compared to the past.

Believe or not, it's up to individual. But i believe.

Jacky Woo SG

Japanese soldiers that committed acts of atrocities during WII can be reborned as a human being?

An Eternal Now SG

Japanese soldiers that committed acts of atrocities during WII can be reborned as a human being?

In the suttas, many people with bad karma even reborn in heaven before falling into hell. And there are good people who reborn in hell for a while before being reborn in heaven. This is because we have many karma from different lifetimes, they ripen in different times.

The only safe way to avoid lower realm births is to become a stream enterer.

Dharmadhatu SG

Japanese soldiers that committed acts of atrocities during WII can be reborned as a human being?

Not all Japanese soldiers committed acts of atrocities. You can't really generalise. Karma depends also on the mind-state. One of the effect of killing is a short life, so if these children had been soldiers who killed in the past, they may have short lives in this present life etc. Karma is not easy to know unless by the omniscient Buddha.

Jacky Woo SG

The only safe way to avoid lower realm births is to become a stream enterer.

oic. like Buddha chief disciple, Maudgalyayana, who died at the hands of bandit even though he has great psychic powers? in his past lives, it was said he killed his parents in the forest and he was reborn in hell for many eons?

how to be a stream enterer?

An Eternal Now SG

Yes.

To attain stream entry, you need

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/into_the_stream.html

You have to have right view, right understanding of the dharma, then practice according to it, and practice meditation. Practice right mindfulness.

If you have not started meditating, read Bhante Gunaratana's mindfulness in plain english.

Jacky Woo SG

Yes.

To attain stream entry, you need

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/into_the_stream.html

You have to have right view, right understanding of the dharma, then practice according to it, and practice meditation. Practice right mindfulness.

If you have not started meditating, read Bhante Gunaratana's mindfulness in plain english.

thats difficult. what about other people of other faiths, can they attain stream entry?

An Eternal Now SG

thats difficult. what about other people of other faiths, can they attain stream entry?

This is what the Buddha said:

"In whatever Dhamma and Discipline the Noble Eightfold Path is not found, no ascetic is found of the first, the second, the third, or the fourth grade. But such ascetics can be found, of the first, second, third or fourth grade in a Dhamma and Discipline where the Noble Eightfold Path is found. Now, Subhadda, in this Dhamma and Discipline the Noble Eightfold Path is found, and in it are to be found ascetics of the first, second, third or fourth grade. Those other schools are devoid of [true] ascetics; but if in this one the monks were to live the life to perfection, the world would not lack for Arahants

Jacky Woo SG

This is what the Buddha said:

I have problems understanding the languages used in the ancient past. what about u? some more it is translated into english.

An Eternal Now SG

I have problems understanding the languages used in the ancient past. what about u? some more it is translated into english.

It means wherever Eightfold Path is not taught, no sotapanna, sakadagami, anagami or arahant can be found. But wherever Eightfold Path is taught and practiced, there sotapanna, sakadagami, anagami and arahant can be found.

He further states that in the Buddhist community, the Eightfold Path is taught and practiced, therefore sotapanna, sakadagami, anagami and arahant can be found. Those other schools, philosophies, religions, do not teach eightfold path, therefore they do not have sotapannas up to arahants.