_trshn[=a]_; P[=a]l[=i],
tanh[=a]) for things that belong to the state of personal existence in
the material world. This unquenched thirst for physical existence
(_bh[=a]va_) is a force, and has a creative power in itself so strong
that it draws the being back into mundane life.

134. Q. _Are our rebirths in any way affected by the nature of our
unsatisfied desires?_

A. Yes, and by our individual merits or demerits.

135. Q. _Does our merit or demerit control the state, condition or
form in which we shall be re-born?_

A. It does. The broad rule is that if we have an excess of merit we
shall be well and happily born the next time; if an excess of demerit,
our next birth will be wretched and full of suffering.

136. Q. _One chief pillar of Buddhistic doctrine is, then, the idea
that every effect is the result of an actual cause, is it not?_

A. It is; of a cause either immediate or remote.

137. Q. _What do we call this causation?_

A. Applied to individuals, it is Karma, that is, action. It means
that our own actions or deeds bring upon us whatever of joy or misery
we experience.

138. Q. _Can a bad man escape from the outworkings of his Karma?_

A. The _Dhammapada_ says: "There exists no spot on the earth, or in
the sky, or in the sea, neither is there any in the mountain-clefts,
where an (evil) deed does not bring trouble (to the doer)."

139. Q. _Can a good man escape?_

A. As the result of deeds of peculiar merit, a man may attain certain
advantages of place, body, environment and teaching in his next stage
of progress, which ward off the effects of bad Karma and help his
higher evolution.

140. _What are they called?_

A. _Gati Sampatti_, _Up[=a]dhi Sampatti_, _K[=a]la Sampatti_ and
_Payoga Sampatti_.

141. Q. _Is that consistent or inconsistent with common sense and the
teachings of modern science?_

A. Perfectly consistent: there can be no doubt of it.

142. Q. _May all men become Buddhas?_

A. It is not in the nature of every man to become a Buddha; for a
Buddha is developed only at long intervals of time, and seemingly, when
the state of humanity absolutely requires such a teacher to show it the
forgotten Path to Nirv[=a]na. But every being may equally reach
Nirv[=a]na, by conquering Ignorance and gaining Wisdom.

143. Q. _Does Buddhism teach that man is reborn only upon our earth?_

A. As a general rule that would be the case, until he had evolved
be