Besides its definition, Self has its own characteristics.Self is characterised by dynamism. This is called the "no-ego doctrine".Let's exemplify this dynamism:<ul><li>Look back to to when you were 3 years old and remember how you acted, what were your thoughts...</li><li>Now take look to your actual Self and realize how those ways of acting and thinking have changed.</li></ul>See? This is what dynamism of Self is about.

Essential Characteristic of Self

Jōshō precisely defines three concepts key to understand the fundamentals of the ture teachings on Samsara:<ul><li>Being</li><li>Karma</li><li>Rebirth</li></ul>

General Explanations of "Being", "Karma" and "Rebirth"

"A man in his daily life dies and is permanently reborn, according to the changes, tendencies and desires that occur in his mental flow and physical body"

Karma teaches us that we're fully responsible of what we are and what we'll become.We deserve what happens to us even if it is difficult to accept.

Conclusion

Defined as "set of elements brought together at a given time".But... Which set of elements?<ul><li>Ideas</li><li>Sensations</li><li>Feelings</li><li>Thoughts</li><li>And more...</li></ul>

Self

This dynamism/movement is fueled by Desire and Craving.Our desires and cravings shape our personal history and generate karma.

What causes the movement of this whole?

Karma lasts forever and determines our birth in another life.Now we have reached Rebirth.At the moment of death, our personal karma determines the form and vehicle, the body that the mindstream will have in the next birth.

Rebirth

"All that we think, talk or do will affect our personal history"

"Neither in heaven, nor in the midst of the ocean, nor in the caves of the mountains: there is no place in this world where you can hide from the consequences of your deeds"

Karma is the Cause and Effect Law.The term "karma" comes from the Sanskrit word "karman" which means to act with thoughts, deeds and words.In conclusion, there are 3 types of karma:<ul><li>Of thought</li><li>Of word</li><li>Of action/body</li></ul>

What's Karma

The shown ideas are a first insight to the book on its first pages, each of them with more lessons than the previous one. Chapter 1 - Part 1: General explanations of "being", "karma" and "rebirth".

The Dharma is the supreme medicine given by the Buddha, the supreme Doctor, and in receiving it we must have the attitude of humble patients whose health and salvation depend totally upon the Doctor's prescription and proper administration of the medicine. If we are priests or teachers we simply cannot be careless with people's salvation from birth and death, just like a good pharmacist does not give poison to those who come to him looking for the medicine prescribed by their doctor.As long as we ourselves are not Doctors (Enlighted beings/Buddhas) we should also not change the Medicine (the Dharma), but instead act as the good pharmacist and give to others exactly what the Doctor has prescribed. Trully, Amida Dharma is not our property and in dealing with it, we should act only as transmitters, not creators of the teaching. This is exactly what I am trying to do in this book - to show the true teaching about Amida Buddha and His Pure Land, while also counteracting some of the most spread wrong views of our time.

REV JŌSHŌ ADRIAN CÎRLEA

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