Part of key topic Buddhist Perspectives on the World
1. “When it comes to what is being reborn [in the metaphor from SN 44.9, The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, p. 52]. What sustains [the flame] is the air of oxygen, but this is still quite vague. Can you elaborate on this> Often when we talk about reincarnation but there is no self this question comes up again and again. So I’d love to hear what is actually reborn?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Rebirth] [Similes] [Not-self] // [Hinduism] [Etymology] [Conditionality] [Habits] [Self-identity view] [Insight meditation] [Knowing itself] [Liberation]
Sutta: DN 9.49: The Buddha asks an inquirer if they existed in the past and future.
Simile: Waves coming into the shore. [Conditionality]
Sutta: SN 1.25: The Buddha uses personal pronouns.
2. “So Luang Por Sumhedo’s talk the other day where he said that our conditioning is still kind of continuous, so it is the habits that are being reborn. And still there is this awareness which knows all of that and is related to freedom. They still need to play out even though that might have been recognized, but the rebirth process could still happen for quite a while even though recognition is there.” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Conditionality] [Habits] [Rebirth] // [Theravāda] [Nibbāna] [Buddha/Biography]
Sutta: Snp 1074-6: Upasīva’s Question: “One who has reached the end has no criterion by which they can be measured.” [Knowing itself] [Death]
Reference: The Pilgrim Kamanita by Karl Gjellerup, p. 119.
3. “When kamma meets this present moment way of handling experience, this synchronic approach, is there some sort of free will there?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Kamma] [Conditionality] [Philosophy]
Reference: The Wings to Awakening by Ajahn Ṭhānissaro, pp. 35-37.
Quote: “The concept of free will is quite European.” [Culture/West]
Reference: “Is God a Taoist?”, Raymond M. Smullyan in The Mind’s ‘I’, edited by Douglas R. Hofstadter and Daniel C. Dennett.
4. “Is it correct that name-and-form and consciousness can’t be separated, contact and feeling can’t be separated, and the same for becoming and birth? Is it correct that those links can’t be interrupted?” Answered by Ajahn Amaro. [Dependent origination] // [Tipiṭaka] [Conditionality] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Direct experience]
Sutta: DN 15: Mahānidāna Sutta.
Reference: “Hetu paccayo...,” Funeral Chanting in Amaravati Chanting Book Volume 2, p. 66.
Sutta: MN 43.9: Feeling, perception, and consciousness are conjoined.