How should I take the concept of 'identical being'?
Upvote:0
I believe what Narada Thera is saying is the karmic seeds we planted and the karmic effects experienced will result in the identity we possess. It is this karmic process that give rise to our identity. There is no intrinsic or independent identity within this process. The example he gave is how our identity arises from our thought process. A person who habitually inclined to impatience and irritability and respond with anger to unfavourable events (a process) is a “hot-tempered” person (an identity). Likewise, anyone can possess a “hot-tempered” identity by participating in a similar process.
This means that there can never be two identical beings as it is impossible for two persons to have the exact same karma. However, two beings can generate very similar identities by participating in very similar karmic causes. So, I can look, behave, speak and even think like you (e.g. twins). Likewise the me now maybe very similar to the me a day, week or month ago. But we are not identical because the karmic seeds planted and effect experienced then and now will never be exactly the same i.e. the specific us that existed in a specific time in our life is unique and will never be encountered again. This also means that we should treasure each moment of ourselves. With Metta.
Upvote:2
By "identical being" he means someone who is exactly the same today and tomorrow. Obviously, that's impossible and yet most people think their identity stays the same over time, and that's what he calls "identity in process" - if you steal something last year and they catch you next year, you are still responsible even though you have changed.
In jurisprudence this is called "a legal successor". Even though you may not be the same entity, you inherit the karma of your last year self.
More post
- 📝 Downfall of the Buddhist religion?
- 📝 What is known about enlightenment before the lifetime of the Buddha? Are there any claims that he was the first?
- 📝 What is Buddhism’s beliefs on humans living with the environment ?
- 📝 Science, the largest current religion, is it truth or does one follow actually on blind faith?
- 📝 Publication of written texts involving the dhamma
- 📝 Is finding a teacher necessary to practise dhamma?
- 📝 Does the Buddha like dogs?
- 📝 Buddhism is practiced in many countries by many different peoples. How do Buddhists in America differ in their beliefs, values
- 📝 Does an Arahant accumulate kamma in his/her life?
- 📝 Nagarjuna and the Schools
- 📝 How do Buddhists that think of karma figuratively do so about rebirth?
- 📝 Two arrows in the domain of vedana
- 📝 How come movies/video games decrease the motivation to do buddhist practises?
- 📝 On what basis does the 'right' in Buddhism come from?
- 📝 Ambitions - Are they Real or just an Illusion
- 📝 What are the cause(s) of a biased or sticky mind?
- 📝 What are Ekabiji?
- 📝 What is the meaning of Gatha #140 of the Parayanavagga?
- 📝 Is really that "Breath Stops when Thought Stops"
- 📝 Where can I do a long retreat?
- 📝 Evil Buddha, anyone?
- 📝 Is it useful to practice intoxicated?
- 📝 Compulsion to repeat afflictions and Buddhism
- 📝 Calming the mind
- 📝 Do meditation or chanting make one less agitated?
- 📝 Ways of Controlling Anger
- 📝 Jainism vs Buddhism: did Buddhism borrow from Jainism?
- 📝 How to distinguish dukkha ñanas from the arising of psychological issues?
- 📝 In which suttas did Lord Buddha teach nihilism is better than eternalism?
- 📝 What are the differences between meritorious acts and wholesome acts?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How should I take the concept of 'non-entity'?
- 📝 How should I take the concept of 'identical being'?
- 📝 How should I take the concept of the following sentence?
- 📝 How concerned should Buddhists be with the actions of others?
- 📝 How is the Concept of Consciousness in Psychology Related to the parallel Buddhism concepts?
- 📝 How much should one eat when following the not-eating-after-noon precept?
- 📝 How do you help or take on the sufferings of others?
- 📝 How should one teach the Dhamma to others?
- 📝 How should a theravada centre approach the lay people for support?
- 📝 What are the guides for lay followers, as to how far they should go to be compassionate?
- 📝 How worried should one be about the lay precepts?
- 📝 Has the Buddha taught anything about how one should approach fixing society?
- 📝 How can the concept of Anicca be linked to Sunyata?
- 📝 meditation - How obvious should the touch of the breath be?
- 📝 How not to kill the mouse in my house?
- 📝 How to determine the end of a meditation session without a clock?
- 📝 How can I assess the quality of a local Buddhist group?
- 📝 How should Buddhists handle prayer requests?
- 📝 How do you tell a 4-year-old who the Buddha was?
- 📝 How is sexual misconduct explained in regards to the five precepts?
- 📝 How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
- 📝 If I start doing Vipassana now, how long will it take me to achieve Nirvana?
- 📝 How do I slow down and start living according to my values? How do I change the direction of my life?
- 📝 How compatible are the beliefs of atheists and Buddhism?
- 📝 How was the Buddha Jayanti edition of the Tripitaka derived?
- 📝 What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity?
- 📝 How sacrosanct is the "source material" of Buddhism?
- 📝 How does one explain consistency within phenomena if the mind generates phenomena?
- 📝 Meditation, compassion: How to handle people who dominate you in the office?
- 📝 How and when should a child be introduced to Buddhism?