hilitehead

“In the traditional literature, it is understood that this profound recognition of all sentient beings as being like one’s mother is based upon the notion of successive lifetimes, so the whole question of rebirth and past lives comes into the picture here. The Buddhist teachings emphasize the need to understand the possibility of rebirth on the basis of understanding the nature of consciousness. The point is made that consciousness is a phenomenon that arises due only to a previous moment of consciousness. Matter cannot become consciousness. As regards the connection between mind and matter generally, one can contribute towards the causation of the other, but in terms of an individual continuum, consciousness must be caused by a preceding moment of consciousness.”