h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Gosh Mista. What does it mean if one is in a wheelchair? I must say that I like what the Dalai Lama says but I am stumped on trying to interpret this. Any ideas? Thanks AR1

Hello Also Ran,

Ok, here goes,

According to the laws of karma our past actions determine what we are now. We must have done something good to have a human rebirth, rather than be reborn as an animal or worse. As for an affliction, this could be the result of negative karma. Basically it's cause and effect.

As for our future, it all depends on our mind.
If we have a mind of anger, attachment or ignorance then the outlook is bleak, we will create the causes of negative karma for the long term. In the short term we will be unhappy and never satisfied.

We can transform the mind to be loving, non-grasping and peaceful, in the long term this leads towards nirvana and in the short term gives us happiness.

So we have to be careful about what goes on in our mind and constantly monitor it.

Thanks for asking,
I hope this gives a little clarification.

Hi Mista, thanks so much for taking the time to explain the negative karma to me. In many ways it is the direct opposite to what we in the Catholic Church believe. In fact, to have a disability, and to try to overcome it and not let it be a hindrance to our way of life is a way of showing Our Lord that we can handle the problem with His help. I know that I feel blessed in being able to continue my life and try to remain cheerful and try not to complain even when in a great deal of pain. I know that the Dalai Lama had a meeting in Dublin last year with the Head of a Christian Meditation Group to which I belong. Dom John Freeman, who heads our group had a wonderful exchange of ideas and thoughts with the Dalai Lama and I have read them with interest. The Dalai Lama is certainly a wonderful example of serenity and love when one considers the way that he has had to leave Tibet. Well, my dear friend, thank you again so much for explaining that to me. It is sad that a disability can be regarded as a "punishment" for a previous way of life. It makes the burden doubly hard if that is the way others regard it. I prefer to see it as a challenge and a special sign of Grace to me to show how I can cope with it. With an affectionate the wheelchairbound AR1

Hello AR1
I wouldn't like you to get the idea that any kind of handicap is seen as a punishment. From a Buddhist point of view it's just the unfortunate effect of a misguided previous life. The majority of us are living out lives in ignorance and committing the kind of acts that will cause us to have an unfortunate rebirth.
Buddhists recognise that all sentient beings suffer in one way or another and this suffering is bought about by the three poisons; anger, ignorance and attachment. The wish of a Buddhist is to free all living beings from their suffering as best as they can and ultimately free them from the wheel of Samsara; continuous rebirth.
An important element of Buddhism is the development of compassion, (as well as love for all)this is seen as a very powerful and virtuous driving force. Some people think it's nothing more than pity but pity is not a very motivating emotion and somewhat negative. Compassion is the emotion that makes a person want to do something constructive to help, to take responsibilty.
I realise that I have got rather carried away so I'd better end. I should add that I'm not a follower of His Holiness, just an admirer. To be a spiritual and secular leader of a nation that suffers like the Tibetans makes him a special person.
Long may he live.

Very dear Mista, Not carried away. Just content to share which is surely the point of our encounters with one another. You have given me much food for thought and there is very little which I disagree with in your last posting. I suppose that reincarnation is the basis difference in the approaches of the two religions. I shall now try and get hold of some material about Bhuddism about which I am woefully ignorant.(So much to do; do little time) I think that is why this gathering which has recently been held at Assisi between all the religions of the world was such an important one. I believe that there were the leaders of 45 different religion who were brought together and enabled to meet one another and articulated publicly that religion can never and must never be used as an excuse for violence. If only everyone could see that. But it is no good pointing fingers at anyone I think,. We are all guilty. I find those three concepts of anger, ignorance and attachment most interesting, and I am sure that they can be correlated with our beliefs.I also believe that compassion is the most important gift and if one has that one is well on the way to loving one's neighbour which is one of our basic precepts. I have enjoyed chatting to you and please don't give up on me!!. I shan't bother you often but would enjoy the odd discussion with you. With affection. AR1.By the way how does one spell B(h)uddism?

Hello AR1
Thanks for your reply
I find it very heartening that so many leaders of the religious communities can get together and try and find common ground. I think there is a great need for spiritual awareness in this day and age, what Buddhists call these degenerate times.

It's also heartening to see an effort being made to overcome the suspicion of the religious "other" person and a fostering of tolerance.

There's plenty of information available on the internet for someone who is curious about Buddhism. That's one of the wonderful things about the internet; if you get curious just type a word or two into a search engine and the whole world of information is there.
....and the dross as well
Best wishes.

Dear Mista, Thanks I shall do that and come back when I have (hopefully) some more knowledge of Buddhism.Incidentally there is a good article written on the Assisi get-together entitled "What I saw in Assisi" by Austen Ivereigh in the Feb. 2nd 2002 copy of The Tablet. Bye for the moment AR1