Reincarnation is often associated with the teachings of a religion. Some people believe it, but some think the concept is unrealistic.
What does reincarnation actually mean?
Getting to know Reincarnation:
Launching the Encyclopedia Britannica page, reincarnation is the rebirth of an individual aspect, be it consciousness, mind, soul, or some other entity. Depending on the traditions believed, a person can be reincarnated as a human, animal, plant, or other creature.
In many beliefs, the soul is thought to be capable of leaving the body through the mouth or nostrils. The soul is then reborn, for example as a bird, butterfly, or insect.
For example, the belief in Venda, Africa believes that the souls of the dead will stay near the graves for a short time and then seek new resting places in the bodies of other humans, mammals, or reptiles.
The ancient Greeks who were orphic believed that the souls of the dead would be reincarnated in the bodies of humans or other mammals.
The soul receives release from the cycle of birth and death and regains its former pure state. Plato, in the 5th to 4th centuries BC, believed in reincarnated immortal souls.
Religions That Believe in Reincarnation
Reincarnation or rebirth is widely believed by people in East Asia and South Asia, especially those who are Hindu, Jainism, Buddhist, and Sikhism.
These religions share a common doctrine of karma and the law of cause and effect which states that what a person does in this life will have an effect on the next life.
In Hinduism, the process of reincarnation continues until one attains moksha, that is when one realizes that the eternal essence of the individual and absolute reality is one. This Hindu view is the same as the view believed by Sikhism followers.
Meanwhile, Jainism believes that karma is a fine particle substance that settles in the soul according to the actions that a person does. Thus, the burden of old karma is added to the new karma gained during the next life.
The reincarnation process only stops when the soul frees itself with religious discipline and ascends to the top of the universe.
Although Buddhism denies the existence of an unchanging soul or self, it does believe in the transference of karma accumulated by individuals in life.
The karma of the deceased remains and will become vijnana (germ of consciousness) in a mother’s womb. One can be free from karma through discipline and meditation.
In addition to these religions, some Middle Eastern religions, Manichaeism, and Gnosticism, as well as modern religious movements such as Theosophy also believe in reincarnation.