Life, Reincarnation, Karma, and Ethical
What happens after death? The most common theories are eternalism and nihilism. The former
claims a permanent, unchanging soul exists. After this life, the soul would be reborn in heaven, hell,
or other realms. The latter advocates no more existing after death. It would be like burned-out
candles and nothing would be left. However, Buddhism analysis life as five aggregates, twelve
faculties, and eighteen elements, and concludes no permanent unchanged soul exists. On another
hand, nihilism can’t be established under the examination with empirical factors, dependent
origination.
Then what’s the Buddhism answer to this question? Reincarnation. The fundamental difference
from rebirth is soullessness. The previous life, the current life, and the next one are related but not
the same. Just like burning incense. It’s different at each and every point. It would be easier to be
understood as the process of becoming. As Heraclitus says ‘“No man ever steps in the same river
twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” Even though the river looks the same
in one moment, countless water drops have been passing by. At the same time, the person’s physical
and mental also keep changing as well. Guanfo Samadhi Sutra describes Reincarnation as "Sentient
beings in the three realms, reincarnated in the six destinies, are like spinning a wheel of fire." It
shows the true nature of becoming which is suffering and impermanent.
The force behind the circle of life is karma which the is effect of mental or physical actions. Each
action produces a corresponding result. Wholesome thinking and doing create pleasant effects, and
vice versa. When all conditions mature, the effects would present. Like planning a mango seed,
with water, sun, and good soil, the mango seed would sprout, grow, and bear juicy mango. As the
tree reaches its time span, it will die, so does the pleasant/unpleasant karma. Nothing would last
forever. These are cause and effect, and dependent origination, the key factors of life quality.
The quality of life is depending on Karma, so people could be more proactive to accumulate
wholesome karma with moral activities for a better life. There are five principles to follow. 1)
Refrain from taking life: treasure the life including others and self and practice loving kindness. 2)
Refrain from taking what is not given: treasure others' property/belongings like our own. 3) Refrain
from sexual misconduct: avoid engaging in sexual activities that cause harm. 4) Refrain from false
speech: speak truthfully and avoid deceptive or harmful speech including gossip, slander, and
speech that causes disharmony. 5) Refrain from intoxicants: avoid consuming substances that
cloud the mind and lead to heedless behavior. These guidelines don’t only promise merit, but also
reduce the chance for remorse and lead to harmonious relationships.
Rather than surrendering our fate to God’s hand or attributing everything to mere chance, a
profound understanding the life’s truths – its soullessness, impermanent, unsatisfactoriness, cause
and effect empowers us. Guided by moral principles, every decision and action we make would
only lead us toward a future of happiness without suffering. As life's curtain draws close, our
virtuous seeds will guide us beyond the valley of death, open the door to another great becoming.