What will happen to people who don't believe in Buddhism?

last SG · 2006-01-31T22:47:51+00:00

Buddha would think that one is silly if one can just use a penny to ask the boat people to bring one across the river than use the power to walk across. Kev...

askxyz SG

What will happen to people who don’t believe in Buddhism? Will they go to hell? If not, what will happen to these people?

Xabir SG

As you may have known by now, the difference between Buddhism and Judaist faith is that other than Hell and Heaven, Buddhism also have 4 other realms. Basically there are 6 realms:

3 Higher Realms: Heaven, Human, Asura
3 Lower Realms: Animals, Spirits, Hell

And the Heaven realm itself is divided into 28 kinds, and have 3 kinds: Sensual, Form-jhana, Formless-jhana realms.

The cause of rebirth in Heaven is very rigidly keeping the 5 precepts and practising the 10 Virtuous Deeds. In addition, those who enters into Jhana states in meditation can be reborned in the higher levels - the Jhana realms. However heaven or jhanas are not ultimate. This is because they are still not eternal. (their lifespan can be up to several billions of years according to the different 'levels' of heaven they live in). Our lifespan is comparable to insects in their eyes. Due to their long lifespan, many Brahmas (jhanic celestial realm beings) mistakenly held the view that they live an eternal life, only to find out their impermanence after the Buddha told them. Also See: How the Brahma believed He was God?

The difference between Buddhism and Judaist faith is that we do not believe in an eternal heaven or hell. As I have said earlier, no matter how evil or virtuous you are, your Buddha Nature is unaffected - it is wholly complete, perfect. It follows you to heaven but also to hell. And what does this imply? No matter what happens, in the end, you still become Buddha! No matter you are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or something else, you will become a Buddha - a perfectly enlightened person, eventually. Hell and Heaven is only temporary... but doesn't mean you can start committing evil acts because you wouldn't want to suffer a long time in hell either.

Back to your question: what will happen to those who don't believe in Buddhism... I wld like to say that even non-Buddhists can attain rebirth in Heaven as long as they are virtuous and throughout his life done many many wholesome deeds. On the other hand, if people call themselves Buddhists only by name and commit all sorts of atrocities and evils, they will still have to go to Hell to suffer their karma.

One thing that other religion does not teach, is that other than doing good and avoiding evil, we should purify the mind.. since Mind is the source of all sufferings, afflictions, vexations, Greed, Hatred, Ignorance, etc. Some people interprete this as having only wholesome thoughts and getting rid of the evil thoughts. But this is only "virtuous", and at best will result in his rebirth in heaven. Purifying the mind is in fact reaching No-thoughts, No-mind. Meaning no more Sentient Thoughts and no more Sentient Mind. That is what is meant by 'purification of mind'. That is the difference. That is what no other religions offer - the opportunity for LIBERATION/AWAKENING.... most religions only lead their followers to higher realms but they do not lead them to Liberation from Samsara.

It is very very rare to live in a time where we can learn the Buddhist teachings, practise and attain enlightenment. Very rare. It is also very very rare to even be reborned as Human! You may not believe me, but the number of animals in the world are definitely much more than the number of humans. The number of beings in spirit realm and hell realm are also more than that of humans. Since being a human is most ideal for cultivation, we should make use of this opportunity to practise the dharma. It is a real pity to miss this opportunity... Life is meant for cultivating the dharma, because whatever achievements you have in life, it is only temporarily - can you take them away to the next life after you pass away?

regards,
An Eternal Now

concerned_man SG

Karma will dictate all sentinent beings (regardless of whether they are Buddhist or not) into the corresponding realms.

This Karma may be from this life/many previous lives ago. There is a factor of time.

So it is always good to always generate positive karma at all times and avoid negative ones, inclusive of insignificant ones.

cheers,

marcteng SG

You wont go to hell if you don't believe. What kind of religion is that who says if you do not accept their teachings, you will go to hell. or go to heaven. that is dogmatic and blind faith.

Maybe that kind of teachings can flourish in the past, like 2000 or so years ago, but i believe these kind of teachings will not stand the test of time, especially in this present era where science and technology are advanced and the people are highly educated. But then, there are still people who are not that advanced in their thinking and accept dogmatic teachings without thinking any thought to it and that is blind faith.

Xabir SG

I think your statement needs re-phrasing otherwise may be misunderstood... should be 'You wont go to hell JUST BECAUSE you don't believe'. Yes, hell or not is all according to Karma (cause and effect)... not a supreme being who dictates your fate.

http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no3f.htm

8. Do Buddhists believe in heaven and hell?

There is indeed heaven and hell.

Of course, there is heaven and hell. The sky above us is indeed vast and yet all that we can see are the sun, moon and the stars. However, beyond these there are 28 levels of heavens. We cannot say that they do not exist just because we are not able to see them.

Once, there was a Japanese General who did not believe in heaven and hell. One day, he visited a Buddhist temple and met a young novice monk. Seeing the little novice adorable as he was, the General asked him, "My little one, how long have you been a monk?" The little monk replied arrogantly, "For a long time." He was taken aback by the manner he answered the question despite his tender age, the General continued, "Then, tell me what is heaven and what is hell?" The little novice replied, "What qualifications do you have to ask such a question?"

Although the General did not feel offended, the rebuttal agitated the accompanying officials and the guards. They felt that the little monk was insulting the General so they tied him up and brought him back to the General's residence. There, he was hung up in the back yard.

Soon after, the General came and asked him, "Now, do you know what is heaven and hell?" The little monk shouted, "I am in hell now. I am being tied up here and suffering; suffering is hell." The General's wife took pity on the young boy and released him. She kindly bathed him and gave him a change of new clothes. Thereafter, he was happy and playing about the General's house.

When the General returned, he asked him, "Now, do you really know what is heaven and what is hell?" The little monk answered happily, "Of course I know. I am in heaven right now!" As a person of his stature, the General felt ashamed for being ignorant about heaven and hell, and having to ask a little novice monk.

Therefore, we cannot say that heaven and hell do not exist. If your family is happy and blissful, all of you are in fact in heaven. If you are heavily indebted and repeatedly committing evil, then you are no different from being in hell. Performing good deeds enable one to go to heaven, and evil deeds to hell. This is for sure and there are no two ways about it. Thus, we should not assume that heaven and hell do not exist just because we do not see them.

askxyz SG

Originally posted by Xabir:
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no3f.htm

8. Do Buddhists believe in heaven and hell?

There is indeed heaven and hell.

Of course, there is heaven and hell. The sky above us is indeed vast and yet all that we can see are the sun, moon and the stars. However, beyond these there are 28 levels of heavens. We cannot say that they do not exist just because we are not able to see them.

Once, there was a Japanese General who did not believe in heaven and hell. One day, he visited a Buddhist temple and met a young novice monk. Seeing the little novice adorable as he was, the General asked him, "My little one, how long have you been a monk?" The little monk replied arrogantly, "For a long time." He was taken aback by the manner he answered the question despite his tender age, the General continued, "Then, tell me what is heaven and what is hell?" The little novice replied, "What qualifications do you have to ask such a question?"

Although the General did not feel offended, the rebuttal agitated the accompanying officials and the guards. They felt that the little monk was insulting the General so they tied him up and brought him back to the General's residence. There, he was hung up in the back yard.

Soon after, the General came and asked him, "Now, do you know what is heaven and hell?" The little monk shouted, "I am in hell now. I am being tied up here and suffering; suffering is hell." The General's wife took pity on the young boy and released him. She kindly bathed him and gave him a change of new clothes. Thereafter, he was happy and playing about the General's house.

When the General returned, he asked him, "Now, do you really know what is heaven and what is hell?" The little monk answered happily, "Of course I know. I am in heaven right now!" As a person of his stature, the General felt ashamed for being ignorant about heaven and hell, and having to ask a little novice monk.

Therefore, we cannot say that heaven and hell do not exist. If your family is happy and blissful, all of you are in fact in heaven. If you are heavily indebted and repeatedly committing evil, then you are no different from being in hell. Performing good deeds enable one to go to heaven, and evil deeds to hell. This is for sure and there are no two ways about it. Thus, we should not assume that heaven and hell do not exist just because we do not see them.

The story above seems to me that being in hell and heaven can change anytime and any place? Unpredictable? Am I correct?

Xabir SG

There really is hell and heaven in the afterlife... but what the article is saying is that even in our lives hell and heaven is not so distant.

laurence82 SG

I dont think Buddhists will go around condemning others to hell and heck if they dont believe.

Laughing

bohiruci SG

wrong. heaven and hell or the 6 realm of existence all exist in your state of mind,

if you are full of wrath and anger , you are in hell
if you are very serene and calm ,you are in formless heaven
if you basically eating voraciously ,you are in the state of mind of an animal

mind is the deciding factor in this zen story

sinweiy SG

like concerned_man said, it depend on one's karma (ye4 li4).

As i learn from MCK, i find it interesting when ye4 as in chinese character meaning shi4 ye4. ye4 as in business/carreer.
karma in layman term is force of habit-formation (i know we offen use action/volition, but this is my realisation). it's this force of habit-formation that bind as to the enduring cycle of samsara(6 realms). it's also this habituos force that relink our end of life to the next life.

so karma or habit can be either good habit or bad habit, good and bad habit, and neither good nor bad habit. So good habit will lead you to upper realms. bad habit lead you to lower realms. but it is neither good nor bad habit (aka Pure habit) that will lead one to escape the enduring cycle of samsara(6 realms).

so can a addictive habit be cure. yes and no. see how determine are you. by stop doing more habit(attachment).

/\

bohiruci SG

It is a matter of whether u have affinity with Buddhism

dont believe mean no affinity lor , no body is going to force you Laughing

An Eternal Now SG

Hi, I wld appreciate if you reply my PM.. thnx

An Eternal Now SG

To the original question...

In short, those who do not practise will not be able to escape the neverending cycle of samsara... and will remain lost in the sea of sufferings... until an Awakened One leads him on the right path.

neutral_onliner SG

Although we may not agree with certain religious points of view they hold, if they are sincere in their efforts to serve humanity and uplift it, we must respect them for it. There are noble people in every religion. The Buddha did not advise his disciples to go and convert people who would otherwise go to hell. Rather he advised them to show the world what is right and what is wrong and to be good and to do good, to encourage men to come and see for themselves the truth that he taught.

He and his followers do not condemn the followers of other religionists as sinners who are doomed to spend an eternity in hell. According to Buddhists, even those who have no religion but who live in dignity, with compassion and goodwill can go to heaven, that is, experience happiness.

When we are happy and contented we are in heaven. When we suffer physically or mentally we are in hell. There is no need to wait to die to experience either of these states.

Without blaming anybody else, Buddhism also teaches that man is responsible for his own action. Man should face the facts of life, and shoulder the responsibilities of life by fulfilling his duties and obligations to himself as well as to others. His pain and pleasure are created by himself and he has the ability to get rid of his sufferings and maintain peace and happiness by under-standing his weaknesses and using his own effort to overcome them. Mans untrained mind is responsible for all the troubles, calamities, disturbances, unfavourable circumstances and even the changes of elements and matter. Conversely mans mind can change unfortunate situations in the world and also can make it a peaceful, prosperous and happy place for all to live.

may all hav peace & happiness Laughing

An Eternal Now SG

Nicely said...

Welcome to ~ Buddhism: Wisdom Bliss ~ Very Happy

[email protected] SG

very well explained and very clear and concise. Mr. Green

Ito_^ SG

so what dictates karma?

An Eternal Now SG

Karma is not dictated...

Karma is formed by Intention. There are three kinds of karma: Mind karma, Speech karma, and Action karma. With Intentions, we create all kinds of Mind, Speech, Action karma.

From Daily Buddhist Verses thread:

Posted on 15 January 2006 · 11:42 PM

Chapter I: Twin Pairs - Yamaka

ORIGIN
Intention always comes first
Intention is of all states the primer
By intention are all things initiated
By thought of mind are all phenomena formed
So - if with good intention one thinks, speak or act
Joy surely follows one like the never-leaving shadow
However !!!
- if with evil intention one thinks, speak or act
Pain certainly follows one like the wheel follows the car.
Dhammapada 1+2

Ito_^ SG

the fact of the seperation between good and bad is a dictation of what we must do, if karma is not ditacted than at the very least it must be guiding and setting the rules of what goes up and what goes down. if the wheel must turn, and it must turn in a single direction, why can't it turn the other way?

An Eternal Now SG

It is not dictated.

http://web.singnet.com.sg/~cswoon/karma.html

Karma means action. It refers to the intentional deeds we do with our body, speech and mind through action, talking and thinking. Karma is the law that every willed deed, given the conditions, produces a certain effect. How does Karma Work?

All deeds leave imprints or seeds on our consciousness, which ripen into our experiences when the appropriate conditions come together. For example, if we help someone with a kind heart, this action leaves an imprint on our mindstream. When conditions are suitable, this imprint will ripen in our receiving of help when we need it.

Karmic seeds continue with us from lifetime to lifetime. However, if we do not create the cause or Karma for something, we won't experience that result. If one doesn't plant a certain seed, that plant will not grow.

According to the seed that is sown, So is the fruit you reap. The doer of good will gather good result, The doer of evil reaps evil result. If you plant a good seed well, Then you will enjoy the good fruits.

Different kinds of Karma

If an action brings pain and misery in the long term for oneself and others, it is unwholesome or negative Karma. And if it brings happiness, it is wholesome or positive Karma. Actions aren't inherently good or bad - they are only so according to the results they bring. Whatever happiness and fortune we experience in our lives comes from our own positive actions, while our problems result from our own negative actions.

You are responsible for everything. There is no one that decides the "rewards and punishments" for what we do. We create the causes of our actions, and we experience their results. We are responsible for our own experience. The Buddha discovered the law of Karma- He did not create it. By teaching us the law of Karma, the Buddha shows us how to work within the functioning of cause and effect in order to experience happiness and avoid pain.

Therefore if you have a lot of seeds of anger and hatred, in the next life you will fall into the Asura realm, where they all fight and all that. That is your Karma. Intentions is the forerunner of all states.