Rebirth in Essence

 

Rebirth in Essence

Abhidhamma Explanation

Kamma Nimitta

Depends on the Individual.

Buddha and Arhants, with no remaining Kamma, ends up with no Rebirth.

Ananthariya Kamma that invariably produce results, such as hurting Buddha by Devadhatta would result in almost unrecoverable bad effect or Kamma Vipaka.

Others fall in between have many degrees of Janaka Kamma that may result in higher (Devas) to the lower (animal kingdom) to the humans.

Human birth is very rare.

Gati Nimitta is the ability to foresee the impending birth in a momentary, flash like instance.

Janaka Kamma

The mind or the Vinnana having tremendous speed far exceeding that of speed of light, in a moment to moment of its expression is inherently unpredictable. 

It is far better to forget about the time frame in human reference which is a human construction of an arbitrary value (it is a kind of concept). In physics time is not a substantial entity of nature but is comparatively relative to the solar system one inhabits.

In a moment of time, many, many mind instances occur, in high frequency, so an analogy, is impossible. 

The life span of a Citta is termed, in the Abhidhamma, a mind moment (Cittakkhaṇa). 

This is a temporal unit of such brief duration that, according to the commentators, in the time that it takes for lightning to flash or the eyes to blink, billions of mind moments pass by. What it means is that the frequency of Citthais tremendously fast and one cannot hold onto any one instance since one fades into another, instantly.             

In Abhidhamma, if my memory stands correct,  it states in a mind moment, there are 17 to 18 (I am puzzled how it was calculated) thought moments exist.              

In my opinion, it is an arbitrary figure which cannot be counted as such.

These thought moments have the Chethana base as a component and they are continuous and spontaneous and one cannot grab and hold onto one instance by will power.

In other words Rebirth is instantaneous and holder of the Kamma (unless one is an Arhant) has no control over the next birth.

In that sense the term Antharbhava  is superfluous and has no meaning. 

I am stating it as a man with a good understanding of physics.

 

Chethnaham Bhikkuve Kammam Vadhami.

 

Gathi Nimittha

So the last Chethana or Kamma Nimitta (Nimitta means impending event that has not yet come to being/fruition) of this life would take us to the next birth instantaneously.

Chuti Cittha

Chuti Citthais the last mental formation in any life form.

Patisandhi Cittha

Patisandhi Citthais the re-linking mental formation

Chuti Cittha (ending of one life) gives way to  the Patisandhi Cittha (beginning of next life) of the immediately following life, a natural process.

Gathi Nimittha is the momentary flash of seeing what is coming next and is not an event of any significance in Rebirth Phenomenon.

These Pali words unlike Sinhala or English have subtle but not precise meanings.  

So knowing the Pali meaning is NOT knowing the Dhamma in essence. 

Dhamma has much bigger and subtle meaning which I have not yet understood. 

That is the bottom line and it is not an academic exercise.

 

Mahayana Buddhism is Antithetical to Deliverance

In my opinion, of Mahayana Buddhism is that,  it is the degeneration of Original Buddhist Concepts into regional cultural practices.

Mahayana has added many regional philosophical contents into Buddhist practice outside the main realm. It is actually the Hindu mysticism that has degenerated the Original Buddhist Concepts. Anything that prolongs Samara or the recurring Birth Cycle is antithetical to Buddhist Thinking.

Theravada has one path

1.Ekayana Maggo

Satara Sathipattanais its goal.

2.Uppamado Amata Padan.

Strive hard with diligence on the path of deliverance.

One is truly one's own protector and saviour.

Do not delay the goal i.e; the emancipation.

One might not get another chance.

Human life is extremely rare.

Whereas, Mahavansa willfully delay emancipation by aspiring to become a Bodhisattva.       

It is trying to take many paths, mostly rituals, reciting stanzas and asceticism instead of the real meditation or the concentration on the path of deliverance.

One common thread should be meditation for the ultimate emancipation. They are willfully meditating to delay the emancipation or escape from Rebirth Cycle.

It is an antithesis to Uppamado Amata Padan.

Strive hard as, if there is no second chance is the true wayfarer's goal.

Dhammapada Verse 21 is Appamada Vagga

Appamado amata padam

pamado maccuno padam

appamatta na meeyanthi

ye pamatta yatha mata

Appamada is “ without delay” and pamada is being delayed.

Mata is death, and amata is deathless.

Nibbana is so called because those who attain it are freed from the cycle of repeated birth and death. Maccuno is also dead and so is meeyanthi.

Appamatta is not delayed, pamatta is one who is delayed. Yatha is “the true status”.

Heedfullness is the path to the deathless, heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die, the heedless are already dead.