What's the point...

[plwk]

Of it all, if we are going to die anyway?

As a Buddhist, how would your response be? 

Maitri 

[Joey]

since you're gonna die why not make something useful out of your life? or do you wanna be like Tabby there who just lives to eat, sleep and mate?

[waybackhome83]

But we're not going to die.  Well, "we" in our "current" existence will pass away, but our essence/soul/mind/Buddha nature, whatever you want to label it...it moves on.  As the Dalai Lama puts it, we're shedding one set of clothes for a new set.

You didn't specify what "the point" is, but I presume you meant practicing, being kind, compassionate, serving others etc.  If that's the case, then from the Buddhist point of view, to develop these qualities and virtues is to go some way to securing a better rebirth in order to benefit ourselves in terms of further spiritual practice, and to be in a better position to benefit more beings.

So, loosely speaking, if we just give up and don't bother checking our actions, our minds, our speech and how all that affects others, then we continuously repeat the cycle of rebirth, having no control whatsoever in what that might be, whether we're reborn as a giraffe with questionable co-ordination, or Casper the hungry ghost

Friends of mine who aren't spiritual at all have asked me what's the point of what I'm doing.  But instead of arguing my case for hours, I quickly get to the point where I say to them it's fine if they're not spiritual - that's their choice to make - but at the very least, all people should work towards being kind and considerate. 

Kind regards,
Sandy

[sharonsaw]

This is THE most crucial question we have to consider. What is the point of it all if we are going to die?

The whole point is that... where do you want to go AFTER you die? Do you have any control over where you're going? At our current state of mind, we have no control and it will be our karma which propels us to our next life. And our karma is really like a roulette wheel.. are we going to leave it up to the spin of the wheel whether we are going to be animal, spirit, hell, human, god, demi god?

We have a precious human life right now and the likelihood of this precious human life as is said in the lam rim is like a blind turtle who comes to the surface of a vast ocean once every 500 years and that one time, he manages to stick his head through a golden yoke which is being tossed on the waves of a limitless ocean.

translation: it's VERY difficult.

So since we have achieved almost the impossible of getting a precious human rebirth, what we do with this human state is crucial because it will lead to what we become in our next life.

A lot of people may say - how can it be so impossible, there are so many people... yes you're right, there are a lot of people, but not compared to the number of sentient beings.... humans are a mere fraction of a fraction.

By having Dharma, we will learn how to improve our karma so when we do die at the end of it all, the likelihood of being reborn as a human to continue our spiritual journey is better. If we have the opportunity to learn special prayers and empowerments to control our rebirths is even better.

Everything is possible but we have to want to to do it... so the choice is always ours - whether to waste it away doing samsara with a passion then go to the roulette wheel at the end of it all, or do we want to be able to control our rebirth.

Interesting question?

oh re whether we should explain to our friends what we are doing - i think if we are compassionate, we should. After all, they are in blissful ignorance that their ass is going to be on fire... however, HOW we explain to our friends is skilful means. We really need to be smart about it so we don't put them off. I'm afraid i have often let my passion for Dharma take me over when talking to people, so instead of persuading them, their eyes glaze over and i lose them. It's because of my ego and desperation to let them into the 'secret' and i forget to focus on how to reach out to them on a level that they will be attracted to Dharma.

Work in progress. *sigh*

[Joey]

I think Rinpoche mentioned before that if you're practicing the Dharma correctly (aka being a good spokesperson) your friends would automatically be attracted and follow your path. Very little convincing is needed in reality.

Something as simple as "oh i help out at the local temple because it gives more meaning than just having to work for me" can provoke some questions....rather than endless debates.

[studyreligions]

I think Rinpoche mentioned before that if you're practicing the Dharma correctly (aka being a good spokesperson) your friends would automatically be attracted and follow your path. Very little convincing is needed in reality.

Something as simple as "oh i help out at the local temple because it gives more meaning than just having to work for me" can provoke some questions....rather than endless debates.

I like that. I too have also found that by talking too much about the Dharma doesn't help when people don't ask for it. Instead, I've found that when I'm holding my vows cleanly, I feel more peaceful, calm, grounded, and I do positive actions instead of negative actions. That way when people ask what I'm doing, I can say I'm going to a Dharma teaching, or that I will be doing an animal liberation or, giving food to a homeless person and I can then invite them to come along for any of these positive actions. That way, we can share in a positive action instead of me telling the other person that this is what they should do and what they should believe.

Any positive and compassionate action one can do with someone who doesn't care for the Dharma may spark them to examine and transform their mind and that is what the Dharma is really all about (from my very very limited understanding of it  ).

[Joey]

I think Rinpoche mentioned before that if you're practicing the Dharma correctly (aka being a good spokesperson) your friends would automatically be attracted and follow your path. Very little convincing is needed in reality.

Something as simple as "oh i help out at the local temple because it gives more meaning than just having to work for me" can provoke some questions....rather than endless debates.

I like that. I too have also found that by talking too much about the Dharma doesn't help when people don't ask for it. Instead, I've found that when I'm holding my vows cleanly, I feel more peaceful, calm, grounded, and I do positive actions instead of negative actions. That way when people ask what I'm doing, I can say I'm going to a Dharma teaching, or that I will be doing an animal liberation or, giving food to a homeless person and I can then invite them to come along for any of these positive actions. That way, we can share in a positive action instead of me telling the other person that this is what they should do and what they should believe.

Any positive and compassionate action one can do with someone who doesn't care for the Dharma may spark them to examine and transform their mind and that is what the Dharma is really all about (from my very very limited understanding of it  ).

sometimes its also the decisions that you make in life and them seeing you make it, and they will learn...

[Kaivalyananda]

How may I serve to benefit all other beings? By being completely present to the action of this moment. When the question is asked, the answer is created. If one feels frustrations when helping others, then one is not being present. Instead, one is likely thinking something like, "Others would be better served if the present was not like it is."

I hear folks claim not to have anything to share with others, yet I know from experience that we all have something to share with others. The bigger question is, why do you think you don't have something to share? The guilt comes from the knowledge that we have something to share but instead choose to spend our money (or resources) on something other than sharing. For instance, a one bedroom apartment can house 5 people or more; however, our privacy is more important to us than asking a homeless person to come stay with us. So, seeing a homeless person triggers within us the thought that, "I have a home. He does not. I could offer to share my space with him, but then I would have to give up something. I don't want to give up something so I will not offer." This consideration goes against our natural essence of brotherhood and love. Therefore we feel stress. So we make up stories to try to help ourselves feel better.

A recipe for happiness: Look within to find what makes you truly happy - continually do more of that. How to tell if what you are doing is making you truly happy -as opposed to a temporary happiness: think, if I did this to excess, would everyone concerned benefit? In this way, one knows that drugs doesn't make one truly happy. But smiling at the cashier, does. Giving food to someone who is hungry, does. Helping a homeless person find a home, does. Introducing another to the Dharma, does. Meditating, does. Drinking alcohol, doesn't.

It is my belief that everyone already knows how to become a Buddha. However, "Who wants to do THAT? I'd have to give up THIS." So we choose the "bliss" of ignorance and instead of "just doing it", we practice, hoping that we will grow strong enough to give ourselves up for the benefit of others...and that it'll be worth it!

As Yoda said, "No try. Do."    May these words be of benefit.