In ‘Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?’ by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert, the newly deceased Batman says, ‘I don’t… actually… believe in an afterlife. You know that? I don’t believe there’s a place you go if you’re good, when you’re done. I’ve tried to believe, but I can’t…’ The vision of his late Mother replies, ‘… Do you know the only reward you get for being Batman? You get to be Batman.’ It’s most praiseworthy that Batman was all along good for goodness’ sake; and not altruistic for any rewards – in this life or the afterlife. Ironically in a good way, this creates more karmic rewards – whether he believes in karma or not. Not that his Mother is right, especially since she might be an apparition from his own mind, Batman could do well to see the logic of the Four Assurances listed in the Kalama Sutta:
When, Kalamas, this noble disciple has thus made his mind free
of enmity, free of ill will, uncorrupted and pure,
he has won four assurances in this very life.“The first assurance he has won is this:
‘If there is another world,
and if good and bad deeds bear fruit and yield results,
it is possible that with the breakup of this body, after death,
I shall arise in a good destination, in a heavenly world.’“The second assurance he has won is this:
‘If there is no other world,
and if good and bad deeds do not bear fruit and yield results,
still right here, in this very life,
I live happily, free of enmity and ill will.’“The third assurance he has won is this:
‘Suppose evil befalls the evil-doer.
Then, as I do not intend evil for anyone,
how can suffering afflict me, one who does no evil deed?’“The fourth assurance he has won is this:
‘Suppose evil does not befall the evil-doer.
Then, right here I see myself purified in both respects.’ “
– Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: An Anthology of Suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya
(Translated & Edited by Nyanaponika Thera & Bhikkhu Bodhi)
[ad#batman1]