Mahayana Buddhism teaches that there are countless world systems with countless sentient being, and when Buddhists are explaining how rebirth and population growth fit together, they sometimes mention that it’s possible that beings from other planets have been reborn on Earth. But, are there really scriptures which talk about sentient beings taking rebirth on various planets? I’ve read sutras in which bodhisattvas travel to other world systems, but as of now I’ve never heard about that happening with ordinary people through rebirth. I’ve only heard stories about Earthlings being reborn on Earth.
Maybe I’m unaware of these scriptures because I’m not well read. Can anyone direct be to Buddhist texts which talk about ordinary beings taking rebirth on new planets? Or, do these texts not exist? Are sentient beings trapped on their home planets until they attain enlightenment?
Are sentient beings trapped on their home planet?
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Schrödinger’s Yidam
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Re: Are sentient beings trapped on their home planet?
Nope. If we blow this place up we will have to go somewhere else.Are sentient beings trapped on their home planets until they attain enlightenment?
If so I really hope we don’t have to do the equivalent of that interminable dinosaur thing again. That took forever and was a total drag. It would be nice to end up someplace where we have the capacity to practice Dharma straight away.
1.The problem isn’t ‘ignorance’. The problem is the mind you have right now. (H.H. Karmapa XVII @NYC 2/4/18)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
2. I support Mingyur R and HHDL in their positions against lama abuse.
3. Student: Lama, I thought I might die but then I realized that the 3 Jewels would protect me.
Lama: Even If you had died the 3 Jewels would still have protected you. (DW post by Fortyeightvows)
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Könchok Thrinley
- Former staff member
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- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:18 am
- Location: He/Him from EU
Re: Are sentient beings trapped on their home planet?
Imagine landing somewhere where statues of strange looking Buddhas and of "our" Buddha Shakyamuni would already be present, because the beings there had contact with dharma.smcj wrote: ↑Sat Oct 20, 2018 4:21 amNope. If we blow this place up we will have to go somewhere else.Are sentient beings trapped on their home planets until they attain enlightenment?
If so I really hope we don’t have to do the equivalent of that interminable dinosaur thing again. That took forever and was a total drag. It would be nice to end up someplace where we have the capacity to practice Dharma straight away.
“Observing samaya involves to remain inseparable from the union of wisdom and compassion at all times, to sustain mindfulness, and to put into practice the guru’s instructions”. Garchen Rinpoche
For those who do virtuous actions,
goodness is what comes to pass.
For those who do non-virtuous actions,
that becomes suffering indeed.
- Arya Sanghata Sutra
For those who do virtuous actions,
goodness is what comes to pass.
For those who do non-virtuous actions,
that becomes suffering indeed.
- Arya Sanghata Sutra
Re: Are sentient beings trapped on their home planet?
It goes without saying that this happens. There is an infinite number of beings in an infinite number of worlds, and also in different realms of existence that are not in a physical universe like this one. Cases of transmigration to another universe are mentioned all the time actually, as often it is said in sutras that someone did a good deed and then became a chakravartin in their next life. As a chakravartin is a ruler of an entire universe, obviously it is a different universe than this one.Boomerang wrote: ↑Sat Oct 20, 2018 3:30 am Mahayana Buddhism teaches that there are countless world systems with countless sentient being, and when Buddhists are explaining how rebirth and population growth fit together, they sometimes mention that it’s possible that beings from other planets have been reborn on Earth. But, are there really scriptures which talk about sentient beings taking rebirth on various planets? I’ve read sutras in which bodhisattvas travel to other world systems, but as of now I’ve never heard about that happening with ordinary people through rebirth. I’ve only heard stories about Earthlings being reborn on Earth.
Maybe I’m unaware of these scriptures because I’m not well read. Can anyone direct be to Buddhist texts which talk about ordinary beings taking rebirth on new planets? Or, do these texts not exist? Are sentient beings trapped on their home planets until they attain enlightenment?