What is this cycle of birth and death?
How does this cycle of life and death come about?
What determines our improvement or deterioration?
According to Buddhism, it is determined by our karma. Karma is the energy or influence that is left behind by our actions.
Due to our past karma, we are born as human beings in this life. Similarly, the good and evil karma of this life and past lives will also affect our future lives.
Many Buddhists think of ‘karma’ as ‘evil karma’ only. This is not true. The energy that is left behind by our actions or thoughts, be it good or evil, is referred to as ‘karma’. Our future is determined by our karma. Thus, the Buddha Dharma says, "We reap what we sow".
Between our past and present, which bad or good karma, will determine our next life?
There are three situations as stated in the following:
a) Strong karma
When we are at the brink of death, the good and evil karma we have generated in our life will appear in front of our eyes.
Usually we generate a lot of good or bad karma every day. At the moment of our death, if strong good or evil thoughts arise, they will determine our future.
For example, the memory of killing one’s own father is unforgettable. The thought will always be in one’s mind.
At the moment of death, this evil scene (karmic action) will appear in front of one’s eyes.
Similarly, one who is very filial will see their own filiality and good deeds at the moment of their last breath.
This is similar to a debtor. At the end of the year, all creditors will come and chase after the debtor for their money, and the debtor will pay the creditor who applies him the greatest pressure first.
b) Habitual Influence
Some people may have karma that is neither extremely good nor extremely bad. In these circumstances, habitual actions may become the major influence on their fate.
Accumulated minor evil actions will produce an evil result. Accumulated minor good deeds will produce a good result. There is a saying;
"Although a drop of water is tiny, it may gradually fill a big container."
The Buddha also gave us an example: If there is a big tree that is leaning to the east, it will certainly fall towards the east when being axed.
The Chinese always say: "At the time of death, the ghosts that feel injustice will come and ask for one’s life."
Those who killed pigs and goats will see pigs and goats, and those who killed snakes will see snakes. If we see these, we will have great suffering.
We may tremble with intense fear, and lose our minds. In fact, the pigs, goats and other animals that have been killed would have been reborn according to their own karma.
However, those who did the killing will tend to continue to act in an evil way. They will accumulate more evil karma. Thus, at the moment of death the karmic action (cows, snakes, pigs, or goats etc. requesting recompense of life for lives taken) will appear in front of us and we will receive retribution according to our karma.
There is a story about a person who robbed and murdered a rich man in the middle of the night. After the incident, he felt that the rich man was always following him asking for his money and life.
In time the murderer was frightened to death. Later, it was found that the rich man was only injured and was still alive.
This anecdote illustrates that evil ghosts do not come to ask for one’s life. The Buddha’s explanation of karmic action explains the result perfectly.
Those who did evil will see suffering at the last moment before death overtakes them, and those who behaved well will be peaceful and happy at that last moment.
So we should be careful about the habitual karma that we generate daily!
c) The Last Thought
Some people may not have accomplished great things; perpetrated particularly evil deeds; nor established distinct habitual actions. During the last moment of their lives such people may suddenly think of something.
This last thought, whether good or evil, will influence their next rebirth. The Buddha’s teachings encourage those who are seriously ill to remember and to recite the merits of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and the merits of Dana and of following the precepts.
This will help us to have good thoughts. Relying on the energy of these good thoughts, we may have a good rebirth. Some may generate a lot of good karma during normal times, but may be nervous or sad during their last breath.
This may cause evil thoughts to arise and hence result in a poor rebirth. This is analogous to a merchant who has done good business throughout the year but who does not manage his business affairs well during the closing period of the financial year and thus causes the whole year’s effort to be wasted.
When someone is about to die, whether they are young or old, we should try not to cry, as this may affect the dying person’s emotional state and cause them suffering. We should advise the person to let everything go and to think about the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, good acts of Dana, and other meritorious deeds that they may have done.
It is as if our business was not very good during the year, but because of skilful management during the crucial end of year period, we may nevertheless have a happy new year.
However, we should remember that our daily effort is still important. It is not rendered insignificant compared to the last minute’s effort.
If we habitually commit evil deeds it is hardly to be expected that we will have good thoughts at our death. If we habitually accumulate great merits, or have more modest tendency to do good, then with the assistance of others in recalling these merits during the moment of our last breath, we may have a better rebirth.
Read more at http://www.bloomingpost.com/2016/02/have-you-ever-thought-why-good-people.html#qDBpPyS42pec5fe8.99
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