Karma and reincarnation

[samabudhi]

If the Aggregates are based upon desire, which feeds delusion, then does this not mean that {improper?} "free-will" is the "Root Cause?"

Primordial ignorance is the root cause, which is regrettably what we base our free-will on, our decisions. This disempowers us, since we misapprehend the way things are. All efforts to attain happiness are then lost, since they are based on a falsity.

When our actions are based on attachment, hatred and ignorance, we suffer. When on wisdom and compassion, we are happy. Simple cause and effect.

I read the OP, and I read Vaj's response, which was pretty noncommital. So I have this question: Is reincarnation, in the pedestrian sense, a reality?

Ultimately, no. Conventionally (pedestrianly), yes.
Disclaimer: Reincarnation is as real as any incarnation.

Ultimately, there are no sentient beings, no suffering, no Buddhism, no Buddhahood, no self, no aggregates, no life, no death, no desire, no ignorance, no subject-object dichotomy.
Yet all things manifest, and we continue to grasp onto birth, old age, sickness and death.

Your inquiry into the reality of reincarnation is premised on the difference between real and unreal. But when dealing with the Buddha's teaching, even that distinction is called into question.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

Namaste Nick,

thank you for the post.



this is a nuanced distinction, to be sure. frankly, there is little wonder to me why beings can be confused on this point since to really have a firm understanding requires some knowledge of the Buddhadharmas philosophical underpininings.
...

Hi Vajradhara.

Thanks for taking the time to explain all this. It has helped me understand this a bit more.

I don't pretend to be perfectly clear about this and a few other Buddhist concepts, but I try not to worry about it too much!. As an approach to these problems, I incline towards the Soto Zen tradition, where practice is emphasised over intellectual efforts. Surely, a lot of these concepts are unknowable, beyond thought. We can discuss these concepts till we're blue in the face, but they will only ever be concepts when all's said and done. They can only reflect the truth, they never can be the truth.