23 Taiwan Ghost Research Chapter 22—Chinese Ghost Spirit and the Concept of Rein

赫生童子

	Taiwan Ghost Research Chapter 22—Chinese Ghost Spirit and the Concept of Reincarnation Author :Chang Kai-Chi      張開基 translation:北展昭 (You are welcomed to share or reprint but please indicate the source and author) When we focus on the topic of "ghosts"; first of all, we must first clarify the relationship between "ghosts" and "people", especially the relationship between the cause and the effect. So ghost first or human first? I have said it more than once; the ancient Chinese thought that "human beings passed away then become the ghosts!" It is not said that "ghosts" will reincarnate as human beings, or that people are "ghosts" transformed or "ghosts re-alive then turn into human beings". The reincarnation was a concept that was slowly scattered after Buddhism was introduced to China because this concept was very easy to answer and satisfy people’s doubts about the impermanence and destiny of the people and complement the traditional Chinese concept of life and death in the war time. Plus the knowledge about the after-death was far insufficient so it became very popular soon. Moreover, in the turbulent times of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, in the state of social impermanence in which life and death and the rich and the poor changed rapidly, many emperors often extended their Buddhist beliefs based on their own preferences and political purposes (same purpose from the Indian caste system). Settling the minds of the people, the lecturing from the monks and nuns were ten times more than ever. Therefore, Buddhism karma and reincarnation as well as the concept of hell after death, gradually flourished the Chinese original concepts.  At the same time, China's original view of life and death in the field of native Taoism existed only for a short time. On the one hand, It is the inclusive nature of Chinese cultures so to compromise Buddhist views and classics about the Underworld. Therefore, it mixed with the Indian flavor which has become the life-and-death theory of Chinese-style packaging but Indian taste. However, dishes that meet the tastes of the general public may not necessarily be healthy and the theory accepted by the public may not be absolute truth or fact. Then, in the end, it is a "ghost" to reincarnate to be a human being? Or after a person dies, there is flesh portion that can get continued to survive in this form of "ghosts"? Exploring a question or studying theory, the most taboo is the preconceived, without understanding the theory but jump into conclusion already. For example, a childish self-examination that is most often heard: If a person is reincarnation after the death of "soul", then the global population may have only a few million in ancient times, and now it has more than 6 billion. What are the extra "souls" from? Such people are so self-confident in their own understanding (because they have not looked into the "revolving world" that Buddhism says, it is an interactive reincarnation of six beings) the answer as it is not only limited to the "souls" from  the ancestors. Don't misunderstand my view of supporting Buddhism; However, if the ability to think is already "knotted" and stubborn in this self-questioning self-answer, it is really not suitable to continue to reason so as to avoid unnecessary explorations------------------------------------- Why should we first think about it; 1. If the "soul" is a product of nature, it will exist naturally before the beginning and there is no reason; then there was only one thing before the soul: the person appeared in the later stage. (Some people condense the history of the earth into 24 hours. The analogy; then human beings appeared on Earth for less than a minute)-----So, if the soul is innate, there is no reason to evolve with the species. We can’t say that the spirit of the ancient times was like the lower biological intelligence, it evolved into human beings and the spiritual intelligence was followed by ascension. If so, the so-called "spirituality" becomes dispensable and meaningless. 2. If the spirit itself has long been full, it is only because the reincarnation is temporarily lost in different species. It is limited by the evolution of the brain of the species and has the same intelligence. For example, if the fetus is a cow and a sheep, only cattle and sheep will be born. The intellectual performance, the birth of a chimpanzee has a slightly higher intelligence, if the birth of a jellyfish, then only the jellyfish's intelligence (even without the brain), only the birth of a talented person's intelligence -------- No, because human beings have evolved from the primitive era to the present, the intelligence has greatly increased by many times. Is it true that the human beings who reincarnate 10,000 years ago and the human beings who are born in today, the "spirits" must be limited by the level of physical intelligence? Do you have different performances and perceptions? This is said to be; there is a great contradiction in the preconditions of perfection without a beginning. 3. Besides, if all the "spirits" are perfect without flaw, why bother to reincarnate into different physical life and then experience? For example, it is already a smooth and transparent crystal ball. Do you need to machine what is engraved on it or what kind of gem is inlaid? Or look at the ceiling fan that rotates smoothly and does not shake. Do you still have to add "lead sheets" on each leaf to correct the deviation? (Note: The balance of the large ceiling fan is very important. If the rotation is unbalanced, noise may be dangerous. However, it is impossible to guarantee that each blade is equal in weight when it is produced, so the workers will be slightly adjust in the installation test. A small lead piece of different weight is attached to the end of the light blade to achieve the balance of the overall rotation.) 4. If you follow the Buddhism "karma", as long as you reincarnate into one of the six categories , you will always inevitably create a bad faith then will receive immediate effects.  In order to pay off your debts, you must continue to revert to the past. This seems in the rogue casino, if you lose, you have to work hard to pay off your debts. If you win, you are not allowed to leave. You have to lose all the money you have won in the casino so could leave. Instead of doing this, why did you have to enter this casino at the beginning? (originally human’s spirits were supposed to be perfect and no flaw, per Buddhism) This simply doesn't make sense? ? ? P.S Moreover, this is the mechanism and fate that everyone (and possibly other six beings) can't refuse. Every life is unconsciously automatically getting into this "savagely overbearing" casino", the original Wealth (satisfaction and wisdom) are all reset to zero. Everyone will re-gamble, and then they can enjoy the "Happy Life" for a short time then return to the table immediately after the short enjoyment. Then loser is kicked into the "hell, hungry ghost" road. If you don't lose or win, you can only continue to gamble. Then all the sentient beings will owe the gambling debts that are still in the end. There are debt collection companies with collectors would reluctantly to entangle the unpaid debts-------- As for the practice of meditation, want to become a Buddha, Bodhisattva, Alohan so could waive of gambling table also be but still be observer.  For nearly 2,600 years, only Sakyamuni himself claimed to get enlightened as a Buddha--it was like playing a " slot machine"-- after pulling it for 2,600 years, he was the only one who hit the hot prize and the chances were so low.  Whole game just like a robbery there is no winner.