An In-depth Discussion of Reincarnation
Some interesting comparisons between Buddhist, Hindu, New Age and Pagan ideas on reincarnation.
Reincarnation, literally “to be made flesh again”, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that some essential part of a living being (or in some variations, only human beings) can survive death in some form, with its integrity partly or wholly retained, to be reborn in a new body. This part is often referred to as the Spirit or Soul, the ‘Higher or True Self’, ‘Divine Spark’, ‘I’.
In such beliefs, a new personality is developed during each life in the physical world, based upon past integrated experience and new acquired experiences, but some part of the being remains constantly present throughout these successive lives as well. It is usually believed that there is interaction between predeterminism of certain experiences, or lessons intended to happen during the physical life, and the free-will action of the individual as they live that life.
This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religious traditions such as Yoga, Vaishnavism and Shaivism (from Hinduism), and also Jainism and Sikhism. It was common belief among the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans[citation needed]. Many modern Pagans also believe in reincarnation as do some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, practitioners of certain African traditions, and students of esoteric philosophies. The Buddhist concept of Rebirth although often referred to as reincarnation differs significantly from the Vedic based traditions and New Age movements in that the “self” (or soul) does not reincarnate (see below).
