2 posts tagged “karma”

It's been my experience that the six realms of existence in Samsara, the animal, hell, preta (hungry spirit), sura, and asura realms are not just incarnations occurring after we experience a death, but are states of mind that we can experience at any time. Of course this is standard stalk for Tibetan Buddhists, but what came to my mind today is the fact that I can actually observe my mind passing through these states, and when I understand what is happening in my mind - what negative obstacles I am overcoming as a product of my mind - they dissipate and my mind returns to a calm, rational place. Just tonight I was afraid, for whatever reason, walking in the dark - I've always been afraid but I've never let it get to me since I know it to be an irrational fear. Just the same sometimes when I am alone I get a little perturbed and when this happened to me tonight I realized after a few spine-ridged moments that I had slipped into the animal realm, and regained control of my mind. So funny sometimes how we experience the fruit of the past!

I feel that there is a Buddhist lesson in every experience here in Samsara. We should always respect our precious human birth, and appreciate every moment as the means by which we build patience, wisdom, and compassion for other sentient beings. It is all a matter of perspective, and with the correct view one can best appreciate the realm of experience by which we refine our habits and overcome our obstacles. Thus embracing Shunyata unlocks all the potential for Nirvana and produces in the mind the honest penance necessary to overcome the obstacles of our past karmas.