Rebirth and reincarnation
Rebirth
Buddhism goes on to say that the effect of Karma works not only within our life, but across our lives too, because it believes in re-birth. When you die, the flow of energy that is you just keeps on going and takes another birth, and this happens again and again. This is called Samsara. A rebirth is not the birth of the SAME person, because the person has changed, but it's not a DIFFERENT person either. The best way to think of it is with an analogy! So here are two different mental pictures!
 |
Reincarnation: The Cup of Tea! Hindus believe in reincarnation. They believe that a body is like a cup, and the soul or Atman is like the tea in the cup. If you smash the cup, the tea runs out, it can be mopped up and squeezed into another cup. It is the same tea. Another way to think of it is a driver and the vehicle. The drive changes their car, but it is the same driver. |
 |
Rebirth: A Line of Candles! The Buddhist believes in rebirth. Imagine a series of candles. The one on the left is lit, and the two on the right are not lit. The candle on the left is running down, but just before it expires it is used to light the candle next to it on its right. That candle is not lit, and after several hours it runs down, but before it dies out, it is used to light the candle on its right. Is the flame of the candle on the right the same as the flame as the candle that was on the left? It is not the same flame, but it is not a different flame either, because without that flame the candle on the right would not be alive! Another analogy to use is that of a river. |
To
test yourself on this section