Buddhism

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)

54. Here' the short, easy answer

Mon Nov 26, 2012, 09:50 AM

Nov 2012

imagine you are an atom. Matter gets reused. You live. You die for awhile. And then your atom gets reintegrated with other atoms in a new life form through natural processes. It will probably take gazillions of years, far longer than the life of the earth, so long there's no reason to worry or obssess over it. But eventually the universe will reanimate you on some other planet. You'll never know it's "you" but it will be and that's "reincarnation."

That's the short, non scientific answer. Others may be able to offer ideas that might explain the biological processes that could get you there.

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Is atheism compatible with Buddhism? [View all] truebrit71 Aug 2012 OP

Good question libodem Aug 2012 #1

Thought... sansatman Aug 2012 #2

Buddhism is something you do and not something you believe. The myriad of images, both wrathful byeya Aug 2012 #3

Reincarnation is very important in Mahayana Buddhism, and reincarnation requires faith. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #36

totally is, if you're not traditional Ted Meissner Aug 2012 #4

Welcome to DU! ellisonz Aug 2012 #20

I'd suggest reading a bit of Tibetan history. Neoma Aug 2012 #5

The barrister Christmas Humphries started The Buddhist Society in England in the 1920s. byeya Aug 2012 #6

I'm not an expert but I like some of the "American Zen" practitioners CJCRANE Aug 2012 #7

I'm not Buddhist but I don't see how reincarnation can be reconciled with atheism. rug Aug 2012 #8

#rug I'm not Buddhist but I don't see how reincarnation can be reconciled with atheism. iamnotyou Aug 2012 #11

Then what would happen to the notion of Karma and Enlightenment? rug Aug 2012 #13

Neither karma nor rebirth are necessary. You ask what if there is no rebirth? white_wolf Aug 2012 #14

Then, what of Nirvana? rug Aug 2012 #15

Nirvana is attained in this life. white_wolf Aug 2012 #16

I never heard that. rug Aug 2012 #17

Here is the link to the Sutta I mentioned where Buddha addresses the issue of death after Nirvana. white_wolf Aug 2012 #18

Thanks. I'll read up on it. rug Aug 2012 #19

Welcome to DU! ellisonz Aug 2012 #22

iamnotyou Aug 2012 #12

I am a non practicing buddhist atheist Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #25

Is the rearrangement subject to karma? rug Aug 2012 #26

of course, being a totally natural process, Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #28

I think physics would govern that, not karma. rug Aug 2012 #29

So what you're saying I think, is that while Buddhism is probably atheistic... GliderGuider Aug 2012 #34

Not quite. rug Aug 2012 #35

Buddhist karma tama Sep 2012 #52

Only those beliefs and practices that you can verify YankeyMCC Sep 2012 #53

Reincarnation does not require gods, so atheism and reincarnation can be compatible. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #37

I keep coming back to this one thing. rug Aug 2012 #43

I don't know. I consider reincarnation to be a supernatural concept, ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #44

You can see the energy radiated from the sun and stars, the very same nightscanner59 Aug 2012 #45

"This is very, very difficult to put into words," ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #46

My only honest answer to both questions is: I don't know. nightscanner59 Sep 2012 #47

self reply... train of "experience" best I can recall in a timeline nightscanner59 Sep 2012 #48

Here' the short, easy answer Shankapotomus Nov 2012 #54

I'm a practicing Zen student and remain atheist YankeyMCC Aug 2012 #9

yes. marasinghe Aug 2012 #10

Correct IMHO ellisonz Aug 2012 #21

Buddhism is compatible with atheism, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. bananas Aug 2012 #23

Not really, no it isn't. white_wolf Aug 2012 #24

In my experience, Buddhism is not compatible with an omnipotent being who is except from the laws byeya Aug 2012 #30

Yes. Manifestor_of_Light Aug 2012 #27

"Don't make gods" - Zen Master Seung Sahn. Fozzledick Aug 2012 #31

Please read my post a few above. Don't try to explain it, just read. nightscanner59 Sep 2012 #49

Red Pine's translation of the Heart Sutra declares all characteristics as empty. white_wolf Sep 2012 #51

Read "Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist" by Stephen Bachelor. Odin2005 Aug 2012 #32

hmmmm libodem Aug 2012 #33

I think so. I really like Buddhism, but since I do not believe in any of the supernatural aspects ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #38

Oooo....Dogen would not like you calling it Philosophy ;) YankeyMCC Aug 2012 #39

Dogen could use my post as an opportunity to learn patience. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #40

Just having a little fun YankeyMCC Aug 2012 #41

I know you were just being silly, but I love to argue, and I took the opportunity to do so. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #42

Sometimes I'm afraid to shut off the computer and go to bed nightscanner59 Sep 2012 #50

I just wanted to come back and say a big thank you to all those that took the time to answer... truebrit71 Dec 2012 #55

Old Ch'an saying: When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing byeya Dec 2012 #56

There is no top! Odin2005 Dec 2012 #57

Buddhism is not Compatible with Atheism or any religion. rabid_byter Feb 2013 #58