Ep. 13 - Sméagol's Ring, Dinosaur Pee, Soda Cans and Other Tales from the Six Realms of Reincarnation

The World Through Zen Eyes Podcast

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Have you ever considered that the water you drink might contain molecules that once passed through a dinosaur? Or that the aluminum can in your recycling bin could become part of a building's siding? These everyday examples reveal a profound truth that lies at the heart of Buddhist philosophy: nothing truly dies—everything simply changes form.
The World Through Zen Eyes Podcast takes a deep dive into the concept of reincarnation, exploring it not as a mystical belief system but as an observable principle that surrounds us daily. From the cyclical nature of our weekly routines to the constant transformation of physical matter, hosts MyongAhn Sunim and Dr. Ruben Lambert illuminate how rebirth manifests in ways both mundane and profound.
The discussion travels through Buddhism's six realms of existence—heavenly beings, asuras (divine-but-conflicted entities), humans, animals, hungry ghosts consumed by insatiable desire, and hell beings experiencing intense suffering. Each realm represents different states of consciousness and karmic conditions that souls may experience across lifetimes. The hosts explain how our habitual patterns create magnetic pulls toward certain experiences, similar to how someone might unconsciously seek out the same types of relationships despite previous painful outcomes.
Perhaps most striking is their exploration of human existence's extraordinary rarity. Using the metaphor of a blind turtle surfacing once every thousand years and somehow putting its head through a single hole in wood floating on a vast ocean, they illustrate just how statistically miraculous each human birth truly is. This perspective offers a profound appreciation for our current form and the unique opportunity it provides for spiritual growth and transformation.
The conversation concludes with the fascinating observation that we experience forms of reincarnation within our own lifetimes—from amphibious-like beings in the womb to completely different bodies every decade of life. This accessible example provides a tangible way to understand the broader concept of rebirth across lifetimes.
Subscribe to The World Through Zen Eyes Podcast, check out their bonus track episodes for additional insights, and join this enlightening conversation that will transform how you view yourself and the cycles of existence that connect us all.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

Chapters

1. Ep. 13 - Sméagol's Ring, Dinosaur Pee, Soda Cans and Other Tales from the Six Realms of Reincarnation (00:00:00)

2. Introducing the Bonus Track (00:00:15)

3. Reincarnation, Recycling, and Change (00:03:34)

4. The Six Realms of Existence (00:08:23)

5. Hungry Ghosts and Insatiable Desires (00:17:46)

6. The Incredible Rarity of Human Life (00:28:10)

7. Reincarnation Within a Single Lifetime (00:43:24)