"Rebirth" - Will I be reborn a rat?

 

A samurai once asked Zen Master where he would go after he died.

He answered "How am I supposed to know?"

"How do you not know? You're a Zen master!" exclaimed the samurai. 

"Yes, but not a dead one," He answered.

According to Zen, Karma and Rebirth are an essential part of life. However, we shouldn't be too attached to the idea of an afterlife. The Buddha constantly reiterated that awareness in the here-and-now is much more important than speculation on the afterlife.

Zen advises people to live each moment as though it were their last, which leads us to live a life of greater awareness of our actions; and that causes less suffering for us and those around us. In this way, we will live a healthier spiritual life to where any concerns or fears about a possible afterlife will naturally fade away.

"Will I be reborn a rat?"

"I don't know. I am not yet dead!"

--