REBIRTH

A Buddhist Concept

by Sayadaw U Thittila & Venerable Pandit P. Sri Pemaratana Nayaka Thero

ISBN 983-9439-29-4

IJ031/99

Size: 5.5” X 8.4”

Pages: 21 pages

Again and again is seed in furrow sown,

Again and again the cloud-king sends down rain,

Again and again the farmers plough the fields,

Again and again comes corn into the realm,

Again and again do generous donors give,

Again and again when many gifts are given,

Again and again the donors find their heaven,

Again and again the dairy-folk draw milk,

Again and again the calf its mother seeks,

Again and again we tire and toil anew,

Again and again the slow wits seek rebirth,

Again and again comes birth and dying,

Again and again men bear us to the grave,

But when once the man of wisdom that Path

Which brings no new becoming doth attain,

Then he is no more born again and again.

by BUDDHA, SAMYUTTA NIKAYA

Death is not the end of life; for again and again we are reborn. This booklet explains the nature of death and rebirth — how our kamma and last thought-moment can condition our next birth. Rebirth, however, is not something to be desired. It is but a recycle of suffering. It is better, therefore, to end craving which is the cause of rebirth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sayadaw U Thittila was one of the greatest Burmese scholar monks and missionaries of this century.

Venerable Pundit P. Sri Pemaratana Nyaka Thero was the respected late abbot of the Mahindarama Buddhist temple, Penang.