The Importance of Rebirth
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends,
I thought this is a helpful and short extract from Dr. Berzin that might benefit your thoughts and dharma practice. This is reproduced here for strictly educational purposes. Thank you so much.
There are many areas in the Dharma teachings that are not quite completely transferred to the west. Even Great Enlightened Teachers would avoid going into details on some of these subjects when transferring Dharma to the west as yet. The reason is that ‘Newbies’ in Buddhism are not quite ready to understand and accept these teachings that were also given by the Buddha.
This article is a bold step taken by DR. ALEXANDER BERZIN to bridge the gap between the Teachings that are usually avoided and the presently taught Teachings suited to the limited scepticism of ‘Newbies’. Most of us know Dr. Alexander as one of the most leading authorities in introducing Dharma to the west.
May you always be well.
Tsem Rinpoche
“DHARMA-LITE” versus “THE REAL THING” DHARMA
by Dr Alexander Berzin
The Importance of Rebirth
Tibetan Buddhism follows the Indian tradition and all Indian traditions take for granted belief in rebirth. Even if traditional Buddhist seekers do not have a deep understanding of what takes rebirth or how rebirth works, still they have grown up with the idea of rebirth as a cultural given. They need merely to have their understandings refined, but do not need to become convinced in the existence of rebirth. Therefore, texts on the graded stages of the path (lam-rim) do not even mention the topic of gaining conviction in the existence of rebirth.
Without rebirth, the discussion of mind having no beginning and no end becomes meaningless. Without beginningless and endless mind, the entire presentation of karma falls apart. This is because the karmic results of our actions most frequently do not ripen in the same lifetime in which we commit the actions. Without the presentation of karmic cause and effect over the span of many lifetimes, the discussion of the voidness of cause and effect and of dependent arising likewise falls apart.
Moreover, in terms of the three scopes of lam-rim motivation, how can we sincerely aim for benefiting future lives without belief in the existence of future lives? How can we sincerely aim for gaining liberation from uncontrollably recurring rebirth (samsara) without belief in rebirth? How can we sincerely aim for enlightenment and the ability to help others gain liberation from rebirth without belief that rebirth is a fact?
In terms of bodhichitta meditation, how can we sincerely recognize all beings as having been our mothers in previous lives without believing in previous lives? In terms of anuttarayoga tantra, how can we sincerely meditate in analogy with death, bardo, and rebirth to purify ourselves of uncontrollably experiencing them if we do not believe that bardo and rebirth occur?
Thus, it is clearly evident that rebirth is a cornerstone for a large and crucial portion of the Dharma teachings.
“Dharma-Lite” and “The Real Thing” Dharma
Most Westerners come to Dharma without prior belief in rebirth. Many approach the study and practice of Dharma as a method for improving the quality of this lifetime, especially in terms of overcoming psychological and emotional problems. This attitude reduces Dharma to an Asian form of psychotherapy.
I have coined the term Dharma-Lite for this approach to Buddhist Dharma, analogous to “CocaCola-Lite.” It is a weakened version, not as strong as “The Real Thing.” The traditional approach to Dharma – which includes not only discussion of rebirth, but also the presentation of the hells and the rest of the six realms of existence – I have termed The Real Thing Dharma.
Two Ways to Practice Dharma-Lite
There are two ways to practice Dharma-Lite:
- We may practice it with acknowledgment of the importance of rebirth in Buddhism and the sincere intention to study the accurate teachings on it. Thus, we aim to improve this lifetime with the Dharma methods merely as a steppingstone on the way to working to improve our future rebirths and to gain liberation and enlightenment. Thus, Dharma-Lite becomes a preliminary step on the graded path to enlightenment, a step prior to the initial scope. Such an approach is completely fair to the Buddhist tradition. It does not call Dharma-Lite “The Real Thing.”
- We may practice it with the recognition that Dharma-Lite is not only the actual Dharma, but also the most appropriate and skillful form for Western Buddhism to take. Such an approach shortchanges and is grossly unfair to the Buddhist tradition. It easily leads to an attitude of cultural arrogance.
Therefore, we need to proceed with great care if we find that, at our present level of spiritual development and understanding, Dharma-Lite is the drink for us.
Schematic Summary of Dharma-Lite
Buddhism becomes Dharma-Lite when
- the aim is to improve only in this life;
- the student has little or no understanding of the Buddhist teachings on rebirth;
- consequently, the student has neither belief nor interest in future lives;
- even if the student believes in rebirth, he or she does not accept the existence of the six realms of rebirth;
- the Dharma teacher avoids discussion of rebirth or, even if he or she discusses rebirth, avoids discussion of the hells. The teacher reduces the six realms to human psychological experiences.
Schematic Summary of The Real Thing Dharma
The Real Thing Dharma is the authentic traditional practice of Buddhism, in which
- the student at least acknowledges the importance of rebirth on the spiritual path and has the sincere wish to gain a correct understanding of it;
- the student aims either for liberation from uncontrollably recurring rebirth or for enlightenment and the ability to help all others gain liberation;
- even if the student aims for improving future lives, this is merely as a provisional step on the path to gaining liberation or enlightenment;
- even if the student aims for improving this life, this is merely as a provisional step on the path to improving future lives and gaining liberation or enlightenment.
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A good and short sharing from Dr. Berzin that might be beneficial to our thoughts and dharma practice. Rebirth in Buddhism is one of the foundational doctrines of Buddhism. It’s a religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being starts a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. Some how there is still many who do not believe in rebirth. I do definitely believe in karma and rebirth. Different people view rebirth differently, some has little understanding of the teachings on rebirth while some do not believe at all and could not accept the existence of the six realms of rebirth. Its good to know the importance of rebirth on the spiritual path as a Buddhist every one of us Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Thank you Guru for provide us endless Dharma teachings to all sentient beings from all of the world..Its good to know better whats about death and rebirth
Our spiritual learning is important to prepare us to meet the unexpected and preparation for our future lives. It may sound scary for some people that always avoid talking or even thinking of death but this post is wake us up to face the reality.
Thanks for the good article..
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Yes, it is difficult for “newbies” to believe in rebirth. Especially for people who never came across it before. Most of the Asian, especially Chinese grow up hearing about rebirth. Even can know it from the Hong Kong series / movies which most of us got influenced from. But for the Western countries, and their culture, is totally opposite. Thus, Dharma-Lite is suitable to introduce Dharma for them. I believe in karma and rebirth. There are even a few cases happened in the west that proved rebirth. There was a boy in England, solved his own previous life murder in this life through the imprint he still have in this life. These are the miracle things that proved that is rebirth. But as a start, Dharma-Lite is definitely in used. Just like many Dummies books in the market. Everything must have a simple beginning, then only drill in to detail. Dr Berzin is smart, as he out this detail in concern. So that, many people who are interested in Buddhism, won’t get scared when they hear about rebirth. Thank you Rinpoche _/\_
Thank you Dr Berzin.
I would personally choose to adhere to the Real Thing Dharma, rather than a mere belief that this life is the be-all and end-all.
Believing only in this life,as in Dharma-Lite , is so superficial and so myopic in vision. Not believing in future lives nor in the existence of the six realms, bounds us to a complete focus on this life as the reason for our existence. Then it makes us revolve around our this-life existence only. There is the frenzy to get the most out of this life. Most unrealistic, for as we hasten to our end, we will definitely become disillusioned , if we are perceptive people. We don’t even pay attention to the consequences of our actions, and become irresponsible and callous.
When we believe in the Real Thing Dharma, and realize the truth of rebirth and future lives, we will then be concerned about our actions and about not harming others, as we will have to bear the karmic consequences in our future lives.
We will focus on our evolution, through many lifetimes, toward full liberation and enlightenment so as to be able to help others gain their own liberation and enlightenment. What a magnificent vision!
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche……very interesting and informative for all of us .Its good to know better whats about death and rebirth.Whats goes around ,comes around…i do believe in karma and believe the existence of rebirth.Have a strong faith and practice Dharma sincerely.Its a good explanation and good teachings about “Dharma-Lite” and “The Real Thing” Dharma.
Thanks again Rinpoche a good teachings .
The concept of rebirth is a logical piece that is coherent with Karma and explain our existence in this samsaric world, where there is lots of inequality in conditions we are born and succumbs to. As we exist in this world is to exhaust our Karma, we aspire to be able to “jump out” of this cyclic effect. However, most common detractors are that we can feel this world, we can see this world, we can touch this world, we can taste this world NOW. But we cannot remember the past currently and in future too, so the “NOW” looks more “real”. This is the part that faith & belief takes precedence in determining our action is aligning to what we say we have faith and belief in. An analogy is credit card, we know we have to pay at some point of time, but the enticing marketing for the latest gadgets, latest fashion, latest lifestyle may blind us to overspend without one making the right decision for the future if one can pay off the “debt”, so we need to stay motivated on the goal at the end of the day, not to sway. Rinpoche, Thanks for sharing this article
Rebirth does play a prominent role for providing the context for understanding the meaning and purpose of the four noble truths. It is quite logical, we tend to act recklessly when we do not see repercussions and tend to be more cautious when informed of risks. It further emphasizes the principle that actions really do have results and if we focus directly on the actions within the mind that cause suffering those actions can be abandoned which in turn brings the suffering to an end.
In addition, considering the complexity of the law of karma (especially where the results of good and bad actions do not always appear in the here-and-now), Lord Buddha found it necessary to disclose his knowledge that there are lives after death and he had to include the perspective not just of one lifetime after death, but of many. Thus, inclined to think that the inclusion of the full perspective of lives after death is to drive home the true understanding of the consequences of actions. And that is why Buddha used this perspective when trying to induce a sense of heedfulness in others, so that they would be motivated to practice Dharma. The challenge lies with not just treating this as information but rather to take its significance to form the strong conviction to practice Dharma accordingly.
Thank you Rinpoche for always teaching about the “Real Thing”.
Karma brings us ever back to rebirth, binds us to the wheel of births and deaths. Good Karma drags us back as relentlessly as bad, and the chain which is wrought out of our virtues holds as firmly and as closely as that forged from our vices.Thank you Rinpoche for the article…
Rebirth is an interesting topic that Western Culture and Easter Culture discusses about. Either you believe it or not, it exist.
Many people view rebirth differently, as those who are new to Buddhism takes rebirth as a way to improve this current life, to heal their emotion, depression and life.
Yet, to understand the whole concept of Dharma, you need to take rebirth seriously because the mind, karma and rebirth is interlink, without Rebirth, there will not be mind/ consciousness exist, without the mind Karma does not exist.
What ever obstacles or Karma that we face in this life, stems from the cause that we have created in the past, maybe not this life, but our previous lifes, the karma does not ripen immediately, but carries over from life to life. We may take rebirth as human, or animal, or we might take rebirth as Devas or we become hungry ghost. The sentient being of the 6 realms exist, and where which realms we take rebirth in depend on our current human life.
Dharma help us realize that taking rebirth in the 6 realms of samsara only brings suffering and no pleasures, as we constantly create the karma conciously or unconciously to suffer.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting post
Sincerely,
Frederick Law
Very interesting and informative article. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
It is true that most Asians would have quite a solid view that rebirth or reincarnation is the natural course of life and death. While some religions that may not believe in reincarnation would believe that the deceased is in a better place, I come from a background that involve ancestral worshipping… and before Dharma, I have always wondered, why do we always assume the worst that our deceased ancestors are either in hell or became a ghost lol! Because every year, my grandmother would burn ‘hell money’ as offerings to our ancestors. And I found that very strange. For some reasons.
1) Even if the deceased is in hell, how does burning hell money works? Can they bribe the ‘hell guards’ so that they can have some break time?
2) And what is the point of burning this hell money? Can our deceased ancestors ‘buy’ their way out with this hell money? And if they cannot, then what’s the point of burning them?
With these few questions that no one can answer me at that time, made me not want to be involved with ancestral worshipping lol. I’m not saying its wrong or right, just that it wasn’t the thing for me.
Of course, these were questions I had prior to knowing a little Dharma. I wish I knew Dharma earlier, then I could have made offerings to the Buddhas and dedicate the merits to my deceased ancestors for their swift rebirth or may they meet the Dharma if they have taken rebirth in a fortunate human body.
What’s my point of saying this? As Alexander Berzin mentioned that rebirth is accepted as a cultural given, the concept, idea and understanding is not there, for most who have not met the Dharma. And sometimes being born in such dogma can be quite a challenge to break the perception causing many to fall into practising the Dharma-Lite version.
Ultimately, I think it is up to the individual. Whether one is born into a culture that supports reincarnation or not, has no advantage over the other. Only learning will benefit them.
Thank you Rinpoche for this blog post on rebirth.
It is true, many Asians including myself grew up with a natural acceptance of rebirth. Concepts like rebirth and karma are as natural and, in some ways, taken for granted as the sun rises in the east and sets on the west.
However, with study that opens our minds to more knowledge about rebirth, we can begin to identify the signs of it in our daily lives and with the people we interact with. There are phenomena in life that can only be explained with previous lives and rebirth.
The acknowledgement of rebirth and previous lives are also gaining support from men of science like Dr Brian Weiss and Dr. Ian Stevenson who dedicate their life work to shedding light on this topic with logic, reason and scientific study.
May more people have the courage to be direct and up front about rebirth because the global citizen of the 21st century is an informed one and sincere, honest and substantiated presentation can win much support.
Just as described in the post that it’s important to believe the existence of rebirth else the entire logic of karma or cause and effect will be hard to explain.
Personally for me just knowing about rebirth is just like reading a story from a book. What important is not just acknowledge but what is the action after realising it. What are we going to do now to make a positive change for our future rebirth?
We can take a step at a time to make a change but we must start now because knowing there is a rebirth we should also realise we can die anytime due to our karma for taking rebirth.
Our spiritual learning and practice is important to prepare us to meet the unexpected and preparation for our future lives.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post. It may sound scary for some people that always avoid talking or even thinking of death but this post is a alarm clock to wake us up to face the reality.
In this article on “Dharma-lite” and “The Real Thing Dharma”, DR. ALEXANDER BERZIN astutely “bridges the gap between the Teachings that are usually avoided and the presently taught Teachings suited to the limited scepticism of ‘Newbie
Having read and reflected on the 2 approaches, I feel strongly about the need to be engaged in “The Real Thing Dharma”.A firm conviction in Karma and Rebirth must form the basis of our path of Dharma practice so that we can attain complete Liberation from Suffering and uncontrolled rebirth and Ultimate Peace and Enlightenment. Without the presentation of karmic cause and effect over the span of many lifetimes and rebirths, it will be difficult to see how karma works out and develop a conviction about it. If we practice Dharma without this conviction about karma and rebirth, it becomes merely “ a method for improving the quality of this lifetime, especially in terms of overcoming psychological and emotional problems”.
Again,”(h)ow can we sincerely aim for enlightenment and the ability to help others gain liberation from rebirth without belief that rebirth is a fact?
This ‘Dharma-lite’ approach , unless it is seen as “a stepping-stone on the way to working to improve our future rebirths and to gain liberation and enlightenment”, is an approach that short changes for the ultimate supreme goal that we seek, and gives us instead something so short-term and temporal as just to help us cope better with this life.
感谢仁波切的分享 ！
佛法~~是非常奇妙的，它可以融入和用在任何事情状况，人际关系，教学，任何人无论在于他或她信不信佛教等等。。。
仁波切以上谈到Dharma-lite一群，虽然他们有些不相信因果或相信因果但不相信轮回，或相信因果轮回但不想提及地狱，但佛法依然可以在心灵上的心识转化，为他们解决事物上·人际上和感情上帮得上忙！还有，很多人还大多数以“无事不登三宝殿”的心态才接触佛法，遇到困难，才寻找佛法为他们解决问题。虽然这样的事情时常发生，但这是一个好的“开始”，第一次的接触，就有机会让他们继续了解佛法，直到证得更高的成就！
我是非常的幸运，可以遇见上师您，还有这含有丰富佛法教育和知识的部落格，让我从中学习佛法 ！
感恩 合十
YEO KWAI GIN
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing Dr Berzin’s article.
As a Buddhist it is very important to believe the existance of rebirth. Without rebirth then there will be no beginingless, endingless and karma which is being stressed in Buddhism. It is by believing rebirth that we will improve our self, practise dharma and follow the path that leads to enlightenment.
The existance of Dharma-Lite and The Real Thing attitude is due to different level of understanding in Buddhism. Since Dharma-Lite group may not have full understanding of Buddhism hence they practise Dharma with a limit for their ‘convenience’. Their motivation is driven for the benefit of themselves rather that focusing outside to all sentient beings.
While The Real Thing attitude will practise dharma for the benefit of others as this is the way that lead to liberation. We here are very fortunate to be given this opportunity to practice the Real Thing with proper guidance in Kechara.
Again thank you Rinpoche for creating this opportunity for us.
With folded hands,
Lin Mun
Thx Rinpoche for sharing. At first I know Buddhism, I’m in Dhama Lite category because what we want is the real and instant result from what we had scarify or contribute.People are more concern this life rather than future lives.Dharma lite is steppingstone for us to become a real dharma practitioner.
Belief in karma is a must in either Dhama lite or Real Thing Dharma to make us create more positive actions.Once the more good cause we created we are in the path to be good rebirth or liberation of rebirth and towards enlightenment path.
Rinpoche blog is the source for me to become a good person(good action), especially in spiritual awaken.
Dear Rinpoche ,
Thank you for sharing this very simple yet spot on article. In this article, the author had mentioned about the two attitude when it comes to practice dharma. Dharma-lite or the real thing.
Dharma-lite is the attitude where the practitioners only wanted to use dharma to improve their current life. They does not believe in rebirth or not informed of the concept of rebirth in Buddhism. In my opinion, most modern days practitioner have this kind of attitude. They just come to the temple or institute to find ways to improve their business, their family relationships, or their current mental state. When they get what they want, they will just do the minimum effort to maintain their current state without having the aspiration to go deeper into Buddhism.
Real thing dharma is where the practitioner will aim to be liberated from samsara to benefit all sentient being by achieving enlightenment. I believe Rinpoche had created Kechara to nurture practitioners with this kind of attitude. Rinpoche always advice us to see far, do more and transform our mind. By transforming our mind, we will be able to move closer towards the goal of enlightenment.
Humbly,
Chris
I think this article points out a very fundamental aspect of the Buddha’s teachings that many casual Buddhist practitioners fail to realize. We do not have sufficient conviction of previous and future lives and that we don’t even have conviction in the other realms of existence. Dharma lite or the real things, it largely depends upon our understand and eventually realization of the teachings.
Some of us may profess to be a Buddhist and is holding the view of the ‘real thing’ but is that reflected in our practice and actions. Do we have conviction that we would transform our lives and the way we think to fit our understanding and realizations and not the other way round… These thoughts come to mind as I was reading the article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the article written by Dr Alexander Berzin. In this article, Dr Alexander Berzin has pointed out a very important key item to me that if one does not have deep understanding of what takes rebirth or how rebirth works, one’s practice will not be sincere and only becomes a worldly concern aiming to improve oneself in this lifetime rather than practicing Dharma to benefit others and gaining self liberation from samsara. Understanding and knowing the importance of rebirth deeply is part of building a strong basic foundation to prepare oneself before moving forward for higher teachings in Dharma. By remembering the rebirth, it also links to the topic of death which is unavoidable and we should not take death for granted before we are running out of time to purify our karma and generating merits while we are still in one piece.
Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness to provide endless Dharma teachings to all sentient beings from every corner of the world.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
Buddhism is truly an omniscient religion, where it can be applied by people of various level of understanding and acceptance. If Buddhism is being practiced accordingly, practitioners will benefit no matter which level one dwells in. At the minimum level, which Dr Alexander Berzin had graciously called it Dharma-lite, one can improve the condition of this life even though one has little or no understanding of Buddhist teachings especially on rebirth. Of course, Dharma-lite cannot represent the true essence of Buddhism because without the understanding or acceptance of rebirth, one will have no belief on the existence of the six realms, hence, unable to apprehend the concept of mind that transcend time. If one has no belief in rebirth, one may not be motivated to be liberated, consequently severely crippled the drive to be a Boddhisattva.
On the other hand, we are really fortunate and I am very thankful that Rinpoche had always emphasizes and teaches us the “Real Thing”. Rinpoche had given profound teachings on Karma, and our Mind on Youtube since many years ago. As a result we are not unfamiliar with the “Real Thing” and able to appreciate the importance of rebirth, karma and the working of our mind. Some of Rinpoche’s teaching on Karma and Mind e.g.
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-mind-and-lama-tsongkhapa.html
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/discovering-yourself-a-teaching-on-karma-mindstream.html
Thank You very much, Rinpoche, for sharing this article for our learning.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang