Question asked by Luna
Hello to you! I have some questions!
FIRST QUESTION: How can I explain the fact rhat our sufferings trace back to us? Even if I say "karma" they find it absurd. And if looking through a non-Buddhist perspective it definitely does seem absurd. For example, if I said the reason why you got bullied is because of YOU, you created the karma for that. That would most definitely come off as weird and absurd! How could I possibky explain it in more secular terms?? SECOND QUESTION: What is equanimity in the Buddhist sense? THIRD QUESTION: Sri Lankan/Sinhalese Buddhists see certain gods as Buddhas. So I was then wondering whether it'll be okay to prostrate to it without the fear of it being a worldly god? Same with just having a picture of it and so on. FOURTH QUESTION: Some argue that Setrap is unenlightened, are they wrong? Or does Setrap just manifest differently for the sake of fitting in different schools of Buddhism FIFTH QUESTION: Can divination be done by anyone?
Dear Luna,
In regards to karma, it’s hard to explain this to people who are secular. But you can try to explain it like gravity. You cannot see gravity, but you can feel the affects of it. For example if you throw a ball into the air, you know for certain that gravity will pull down. Similarly, everything in existence is governed by the law of cause and effect. Even science acknowledges this, but the Buddhist sense goes further because we believe in previous lives to. Karma and the belief in previous lives are joined together, so if a person does not believe in previous lives, karma will seem absurd to them.
There are different types of equanimity in Buddhism, for example there is the type of equanimity you can gain in mediation, where you mind is calm and not disturbed by either good or bad emotions, there the is the type of equanimity between viewing all beings as being equal, and there is the type of equanimity of viewing all experiences as neither being good or bad. The list goes on, so the definition of what equanimity really means depends on a particular teaching that you need to realise.
In regards to certain gods and goddesses as being Buddhas in the Sri Lankan tradition, you need to make very sure that they actually view these deities as Buddhas. If they really do, then prostrating to them will be fine as long as they are fully enlightened.
Setrap is definitely an enlightened being. He is an emanation of Amitabha, so how can he not be enlightened. Setrap is the protector a Gaden Shartse Monastery, which was established by Lama Tsongkhapa himself. Some people may say that he is unenlightened, but perhaps they have some particular motive.
Divination cannot be done by anyone, there is a whole procedure to make a person qualified enough to do divination. You can watch/read more about it here:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/tibetan-divination-a-complete-explanation.html
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugdens-dice-divination.html