+1 vote
by (130 points)
" It is said that rebirth is due to the unfulfilled desire or karma. I accept this but then a question arises. Suppose I took birth for millions of years because of my karma or desire, but before my very first birth there was no body, mind, karma or nothing of me existed, then why and how the very first birth came into existence? "

I found this interesting question on YouTube asked by a meditator to a spiritual guru. But the answer was not comprehensible to me. Request you to kindly answer this question.

Thank you!
by (8.5k points)
Sorry. This is not accurate. Mind is momentary like all other phenomena. There are moments of mind. The mind that starts reading this sentence is not the same mind that finishes reading it. Desire, aversion, and delusion are all impermanent mind moments.
by (130 points)
Firstly thanks for your response. I agree with point from above comment that each mind moment is not the same, as each moment arise and passes away before the next one. And if we consider the mind exists infinitely then it leads to idea of existence of self which contradicts core teaching of Buddha which is no-self or Anatta.
Reference: Unravelling the mysteries of mind and body through Abhidhamma.
by (1.9k points)
Mind exists infinitely but it is not constant therefore Buddha taught non-self.

2 Answers

0 votes
by (18.8k points)
This question assumes that there was a first birth. It is the same as assuming that there was a first universe. It is similar to assuming that the universe has a boundary. Mathematically speaking, it's similar to assuming that positive infinity and negative infinity are actual numbers or fixed values.

The omniscient  Buddha himself said that a beginning point of Samsara cannot be seen. So the answer to these kind of questions that are based on groundless assumptions is that the question itself is baseless.
0 votes
by (1.9k points)
Mind did not had a birth and mind cannot die. Mind is a form of energy, energy can neither be created nor be destryed. Currently your mind is in delusion & ignorance falling for attachment and hate hence trapped in Samsara and redeeming continuous suffering. When your mind exits samsara it will be leberation. Coming to the answer: your mind was still there before falling for suffering & continue to exist even after nibbana.
by (8.5k points)
Sorry. This is not accurate. Mind is momentary like all other phenomena. There are moments of mind. The mind that starts reading this sentence is not the same mind that finishes reading it. Desire, aversion, and delusion are all impermanent mind moments.
by (130 points)
Firstly thanks for your response. I agree with point from above comment that each mind moment is not the same, as each moment arise and passes away before the next one. And if we consider the mind exists infinitely then it leads to idea of existence of self which contradicts core teaching of Buddha which is no-self or Anatta.
Reference: Unravelling the mysteries of mind and body through Abhidhamma.
by (1.9k points)
Mind exists infinitely but it is not constant therefore Buddha taught non-self.
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