[Buddha-l] rebirth

[Joy Vriens]

Franz Metcalf wrote:

> I was interviewing him for 
> my dissertation on various subjects and he was talking about his work 
> with the homeless and hungry and all of a sudden it dawned on me that 
> these were "hungry ghosts," pretas. I was simultaneously abashed at my 
> narrow-mindedness at never realizing this before, and grateful and 
> fearful for this new perspective and the responsibility toward these 
> beings it implied.

Hi Franz,

In the introduction of the first Bhavanakrama, Richard refered to, 
Kamalashila stresses the importance of universal karuna. This universal 
karuna is developped by focussing on the various types of suffering. 
Through showing that these types of suffering are (also) experienced by 
humans, it is clear for me that this spiritual exercise aims to develop 
a greater awareness of suffering and the omnipresence thereof, by 
focussing on the different types of suffering rather than on different 
typs of beings. To include these types of suffering, that are 
traditionally attributed to different realms, in our human experience, 
they become more real and recognisable. It is also a way of recognising 
the suffering of humans, that otherwise could risk dissapearing into 
thin air in comparison with the "greater" suffering of the lower realms. 
I am not sure anything is gained by seeing other humans as hell beings, 
hungry ghosts or animals (btw I am sure that is not what you intended to 
say).

Kamalashila wrote a series of gradual spiritual exercises (the title). 
The word coming back regularly is bsgom (bhavana). He is not describing 
a reality but spiritual exercises that in this case are meant to develop 
universal karuna. He is not "teaching the six realms".

Joy