[zzarratusstra]

Hello everyone, my name is Adam, nice to meet you all and join this community.

I very recently have gotten into Buddhism. The more I read about it, the more I want to read more. Everything about it agrees with the way I see everything, and im surprised that I hadn’t come across it earlier in life. Im currently reading “Path to Englightenment” by the Dalai Lama, as well I have done a good amount of reading from Buddhanet.net.

I have a few questions that come to mind while ive been learning the basics. (as im sure many beginners do lol). If you guys have some answers and can share your insight, experience, knowledge, etc. that would be greatly appreciated! (also, if ive misunderstood or misinterpreted some of the things ive read, please correct me!)

1) There is a lot of mentioning on breaking free from the cycle of rebirth, yet I have not really read anything about what happens to “you” after you do? Do you/your conciousness carry on in some way in another plane? Do you simply cease to exist since there really is no “you”?
1.5) if based on 1, the answer you “cease to exist”, do all of us really want to achieve this goal? I look around the world and I do see much suffering. People and animals living in dire conditions, warding off starvation, illness, etc. But, my life personally has been filled with more good than bad. Obviously I have had sad moments and parts of suffering. But I have the luxury of living in Canada, where I never have to worry about starving, a roof over my head, etc. And if ceasing to exist or being reborn again are my choices, I would say I would like to be reborn again… Even if in a less-fortunate life-style. Perhaps is this me being ‘blind’/selfish/emotional clinging to ‘myself’?

2) If one can ascend beyond the effects of Karma, and/or make up for previous bad actions… Could someone with completely evil intentions not just adopt many Buddhist paths, go around being evil and committing evil actions intentionally, and then directly try to ‘make up’ for them afterwards, and/or put themselves out of the reach of Karma? (or, in order to truly be above karma’s effects, one has to be selfless and altruistic?)

3) What will bring about bad Karma? Does it have to be actions, or can thoughts merely bring about it? Basically, what im asking is, lets say im in a public place, and have some ‘bad thoughts’ on a stranger who walks by, and I think to myself “wow that person is really ugly looking”, but I do not say it… Would I still receive some small amount of bad Karma for the thoughts? Or would I have to actually act upon them and say to the person “you are ugly”, thus actually inflicting pain upon them, in order to receive bad karma? (can we truly avoid natural bad thoughts? If we acknowledge bad thoughts as they come to us, and tell ourselves that they are bad and we should not think that way, is that a reasonable response? Should one of our goals during meditation/practice try to become truly “pure hearted” where we never think bad thoughts? Is that possible?)

4) ive read things about “hell beings” “ghosts” and “gods”. Does this mean there are other planes/realms/parallel universes where these ‘beings’ exist? Or are they assumed to exist in our current universe, but out of our human senses?
4.5) if these things and other ‘realms’ do exist, do we have any evidence or reason to believe so? Many things ive read about Buddhism seem to suggest logical reasoning or evidence to support the beliefs… Is there either for believing in those beings/realms?

I will stop there for now, and perhaps ask some more questions later on as they come to mind. Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks guys