|
giza


Registered: 08/25/09
Posts: 2,089
|
Moral based on reincarnation
#14079192 - 03/07/11 12:45 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
This just occurred to me. I already believe animals should be treated as humans I just couldn't think of a decent reason why, so here it is.
This is if you believe in reincarnation,
Now if a man were to reincarnate into a bird, shouldn't that bird be given the same respect as it had when it was a man?
So doesn't this mean we should treat animals as our equals?(Not just because it could have been a human in the past)
Edited by giza (03/07/11 12:51 AM)
|
deCypher



Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: giza]
#14079572 - 03/07/11 03:22 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
But if you follow this mindset to its logical conclusion, shouldn't we treat every living organism as our equal? Seems pretty hard to do so with such things as the common cold bacteria or mosquitoes...
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
 
|
TeamAmerica



Registered: 12/02/08
Posts: 2,954
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: deCypher]
#14079729 - 03/07/11 06:22 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
deCypher said: But if you follow this mindset to its logical conclusion, shouldn't we treat every living organism as our equal? Seems pretty hard to do so with such things as the common cold bacteria or mosquitoes...
Those are both micro parasitic entities... Imagine what kind of people would be reincarnated into a mosquito....
I think reincarnation make sense 
Our essence can be reincarnated into any creature...Because all creatures are conscious, its not that all creatures are "equal" with humans..
I think it is at least a semi-probable way of looking at the "after-life" in that your soul does not wander into oblivion, or it does not float up to a "Heavenly" realm...Our consciousness...Our energy returns to our cradle of life in this corner of the galaxy...
|
c0sm0nautt

Registered: 05/19/08
Posts: 10,303
Loc: The Astral Realm
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: deCypher] 1
#14080258 - 03/07/11 09:59 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
deCypher said: But if you follow this mindset to its logical conclusion, shouldn't we treat every living organism as our equal? Seems pretty hard to do so with such things as the common cold bacteria or mosquitoes...
Ken Wilber has this idea of depth in holons. Essentially, living organisms can be placed on a scale based on how far they have come in evolutionary terms. Humans and animals would have the most depth. Because there are so little of the higher-depth creatures, they should be valued more.
|
ThemBones
Psychonaught


Registered: 12/09/10
Posts: 76
Loc: New England
Last seen: 11 years, 2 months
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: c0sm0nautt]
#14080352 - 03/07/11 10:41 AM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
In evolutionary terms, the most advanced creatures are marine single-celled creatures (diatomes, etc). They outnumber other life forms by an inconceivable ratio. They have proven, over billions of years, to be able to adapt to a wide-ranging change in ecosystems, changes which would obliterate any land animal and most sea animals - the hallmark of evolutionary success. Without them, life as we know it would cease within a decade (uncontrolled oxygen consumption, food shortages, that whole mess).
In terms of complexity, humans and other animals do of course take the cake. Complexity would probably fit better into Wilber's definition, as evolutionary success implies a whole different order.
I'll have to ponder the OP's original post a bit longer though. It's a very interesting idea.
|
giza


Registered: 08/25/09
Posts: 2,089
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: ThemBones]
#14080801 - 03/07/11 12:32 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
Yes I do believe we should have respect for all life even plants.. But the respect for plants should be more so to plant as much as you take or more. A plant can be replaced, but even an animal cannot be replaced.
If a family has a dog for so many years and grows attached to that dog and the dog dies, they cannot bring that same dog back to life, they either buy a new one or they don't.
With the bugs that do 'harm' to us, take this example. If someone is trying to kill you or your people you become hostile towards them.. I think that maybe why bugs bite. I mean people's main reaction to a bug is to kill it, so wouldn't they treat us as being hostile towards them and their race?
As with the cold bacteria, you could take it as a positive too, rather than it gets you sick. Maybe there's a different reason for it infecting people. It tests your immune system, now if you had a weak immune system this bacteria will identify that your system is weak, which would make you go to the doctor and find ways to strengthen it.
I just believe any other living thing that can 'move'(said that because of plants) should not be taken advantage of, it's like preying on the weak. Would you be outraged if people collected children when they were young only to have them work at a factory for the rest of their lives?(kind of extreme, I know, but so is how we treat certain animals.)
|
giza


Registered: 08/25/09
Posts: 2,089
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: giza]
#14080859 - 03/07/11 12:41 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
I just started reading into buddhism, I started the tripitaka, and working on the book of the heavier one(can't think of the name at the moment).
This also occured to me, By the way of buddhism it seems as if a buddha would be completely content with reincarnating into an animal, based on their 'way'. It's like buddhism is the way of an animal based on their beliefs and morals.
|
JohnnyZampano
Registered: 11/03/10
Posts: 325
|
Re: Moral based on reincarnation [Re: giza]
#14081427 - 03/07/11 02:28 PM (12 years, 10 months ago) |
|
|
According to Buddhism: If one reaches buddhahood that person will no longer be reborn in any form, thus stepping off the wheel.
|
deff
just love everyone



Registered: 05/01/04
Posts: 9,406
Loc: clarity
Last seen: 8 hours, 7 minutes
|
|
well in the mahayana, buddhas can emanate out countless forms to aid sentient beings, both animate and inanimate, including the appearance of human/animal incarnations (but they've ended uncontrolled karmic rebirth entirely, their action is now wisdom-driven)
--------------------
|
|