Rebirth (Buddhism)

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Rebirth ( Pali : Punab bhava ; Sanskrit : punarbhava ; also: re-existence and be back or re-existence ) is in the Buddhist context a term used in Indian philosophy , which is already before the appearance of Gautama Buddha was known. Buddha adopted the term and adapted it to his own knowledge.

Rebirth and not-self

Within Indian philosophy, various philosophical currents oriented towards the Vedas (see Astika and Nastika ) postulated the existence of a "soul" ( Sanskrit : Atmān , Pali : Attā). Buddha, however, denied the existence of an atman and spoke of "not-self" (Sanskrit: Anātman, Pali: Anattā ).

In Buddhism, rebirth is not understood as the progress of a soul to reincarnation as in some other religious traditions , but a new emergence of the process of existence. The Milindapanha says:

“But why, oh Lord, can there be rebirth without a transmigration of souls? Explain this to me.
If, for example, O King, a man lights a lamp on another lamp, would the light from one lamp pass over to the other lamp? "
Not at all, O Lord.
Likewise, O King, one is born again without it something wanders over. "

- Nagasena : Mil. 3.2.5. Rebirth without transmigration of souls

The Anguttara Nikaya explains the influence of karma on rebirth:

"Owners and heirs of their work, O monks, are the beings that have sprung from their work, linked to it, have their work as a refuge, and the good and bad deeds that they perform, they will inherit."

- Anguttara Nikaya X. 205 The way of crawling

The Visuddhimagga distinguishes in the chapter Caused by the karma formations, the consciousness is 19 types of 'karma-working consciousness' (see also Vijnanas ).

One of the oldest types of images in Buddhist painting is the wheel of life (Sanskrit: Bhavachakra ), a representation of the 'painful rebirth cycle' samsara .

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Punabbhava (English)
  2. ↑ palikanon.com: Milindapanha, Part 3 from the Pali translated by Nyanatiloka / Nyanaponika
  3. ↑ palikanon.com: Anguttara Nikaya: X. 178-219
  4. ↑ palikanon.de: Visuddhi Magga XVII (II-III) "Consciousness is conditioned by the karma formations" (sankhāra-paccayā viññānam)