Reincarnation Question.

[Jason]

if the conditions for its existence persist indefinitely

This happens not at all. You are basing your word-play on impossibilities.

Says who?

As far as I'm aware, it's never explicitly stated by the Buddha or posited in Theravada that the conditions for a given phenomenon's existence will necessarily cease, only that they can if the requisite conditions for its cessation are present. In the case of literal rebirth, there's no guarantee that those requisite conditions will be met — i.e., that all sentient beings will be liberated — so I'm not sure how one can say with any real conviction that this is an impossibility or "happens not at all." In fact, it's logically possible that "when this is [indefinitely], that is [indefinitely]."

[Sobeh]

Anicca.

[appicchato]

As far as I'm aware, it's never explicitly stated by the Buddha or posited in Theravada that the conditions for a given phenomenon's existence will necessarily cease, only that they can if the requisite conditions for its cessation are present.

Semantics...one can say that a given phenomenon's existence will (indeed) necessarily (by necessity) cease, if the requisite conditions for its cessation are present...

[Jason]

Anicca.

That doesn't negate anything I've said.

Anicca simply means inconstant, and in terms of compounded phenomena, it implies change and lack of self (because whatever is inconstant and subject to change isn't fit to be called "me" or "mine"). The process of rebirth is a process of continual change, one that lacks a permanent, unchanging self. Nevertheless, the literal process of rebirth can be said to be infinite as long as the conditions for it's continuation are present, and finite if and when those conditions cease. So again, as far as I can see, it's logically possible that "when this is [indefinitely], that is [indefinitely]."

[appicchato]

Anicca simply means inconstant...

Again...not quite there...anicca means (in every dictionary I've seen) impermanence...not inconstancy...

[Jason]

Anicca simply means inconstant...

Again...not quite there...anicca means (in every dictionary I've seen) impermanence...not inconstancy...

Anicca is the negative of nicca, which means constant or dependable.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Jason,

Anicca is the negative of nicca, which means constant or dependable.

Chances are you've seen this, but Nanavira Thera gives a thought-provoking analysis on the problem with interpreting aniccata as flux...

http://www.nanavira.110mb.com/sn-patic.htm#nc

Metta,
Retro.

[Jason]

Greetings Jason,

Anicca is the negative of nicca, which means constant or dependable.

Chances are you've seen this, but Nanavira Thera gives a thought-provoking analysis on the problem with interpreting aniccata as flux...

http://www.nanavira.110mb.com/sn-patic.htm#nc

Metta,
Retro.

Interesting. Thanks.