rebirth. one life? or many lives? rebirth one life? or many lives?

Rebirth

Rebirth

One life?

or

Many lives?

Rebirth

One life?

or

Many lives?

Rebirth

Different concepts of the Universe

Rebirth

Different concepts of the Universe

• Linear universe

• Cyclical universe

Rebirth

Different concepts of the Universe

• Linear universe

• Cyclical universe

Linear concept of the Universe

Creation Existence Ending

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of the Universe

Creation Existence Ending

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of the Universe

Creation Existence Ending

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of the Universe

Creation Existence Ending

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Linear concept of Existence

Birth Life Death leading to :

End of existence - Nihilism orEternal life- Eternalism

Eternity Eternity

Cyclical concept ofthe Universe

Arising Arising

Dissolution

Dissolution

Existence

Existence

Cyclical concept ofthe Universe

Arising Arising

Dissolution

Dissolution

Existence

Existence

Cyclical concept ofthe Universe

Arising Arising

Dissolution

Dissolution

Existence

Existence

Cyclical concept ofthe Universe

Arising Arising

Dissolution

Dissolution

Existence

Existence

Cyclical concept ofthe Universe

Arising Arising

Dissolution

Dissolution

Existence

Existence

Cyclical theory ofthe Universe

Big Bang Big Bang

Big Crunch

Big Crunch

Expansion/Contraction

Expansion/Contraction

Cyclical theory ofthe Universe

Big Bang Big Bang

Big Crunch

Big Crunch

Expansion/Contraction

Expansion/Contraction

Cyclical theory ofthe Universe

Big Bang Big Bang

Big Crunch

Big Crunch

Expansion/Contraction

Expansion/Contraction

Cyclical theory ofthe Universe

Big Bang Big Bang

Big Crunch

Big Crunch

Expansion/Contraction

Cyclical theory ofthe Universe

Big Bang Big Bang

Big Crunch

Big Crunch

Expansion/Contraction

Expansion/Contraction

Does the universe repeat once every trillion years?

How did the universe begin? Did it have a beginning at all?

These questions may have been the subject of speculation and debate for millennia, but they have not been widely discussed for the past forty years. Ever since the discovery of the cosmic background radiation in 1965, the overwhelmingly predominant view has been that our universe began about 14 billion years ago in a cosmic fireball known as the “big bang” and that it has been expanding, cooling, and evolving ever since.

Recently, though, a small but growing number of theorists have begun to challenge this conventional belief and to pursue a radical new history of the universe. According to this new idea, there was a big bang, but this was not the beginning of space and time. In fact, in the version proposed by Neil Turok and myself, the big bang has occurred myriad times in our universe’s past, repeating at regular intervals during which galaxies, stars, planets, and life form anew.

The result is a “cyclic universe” in which cycles extend far into the past and into the future—and perhaps forever.

02 July 2007 http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/a_cyclic_universe/

Cyclical concept ofExistence

Birth Birth

Death

Death

Life

Life

Cyclical concept ofExistence

Birth Birth

Death

Death

Life

Life

Cyclical concept ofExistence

Birth Birth

Death

Death

Life

Life

Cyclical concept ofExistence

Birth Birth

Death

Death

Life

Life

Cyclical concept ofExistence

Birth Birth

Death

Death

Life

Life

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Brahmanism / Hinduism

According to Hinduism, the soul (atman) is immortal, while the body is subject to birth and death. The Bhagavad Gita states that:

Worn-out garments are shed by the body; Worn-out bodies are shed by the dweller within the body. New bodies are donned by the dweller, like garments.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Brahmanism / Hinduism

According to Hinduism, the soul (atman) is immortal, while the body is subject to birth and death. The Bhagavad Gita states that:

Worn-out garments are shed by the body; Worn-out bodies are shed by the dweller within the body. New bodies are donned by the dweller, like garments.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Taoism

The Chuang Tzu states: Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity

without a starting-point. Existence without limitation is Space. Continuity without

a starting point is Time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there

is entering in.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Taoism

The Chuang Tzu states: Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity

without a starting-point. Existence without limitation is Space. Continuity without

a starting point is Time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there

is entering in.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Taoism

The Chuang Tzu states: Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity

without a starting-point. Existence without limitation is Space. Continuity without

a starting point is Time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there

is entering in.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Taoism

The Chuang Tzu states: Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity

without a starting-point. Existence without limitation is Space. Continuity without

a starting point is Time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there

is entering in.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Greek Philosophers

Pythagoras claimed he could remember his past lives.

Socrates, prior to his death, stated; "I am confident that there truly is such a thing as living again, and that the living spring from the dead.

Plato presented detailed accounts of reincarnation in his major works.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Greek Philosophers

Pythagoras claimed he could remember his past lives.

Socrates, prior to his death, stated; "I am confident that there truly is such a thing as living again, and that the living spring from the dead.

Plato presented detailed accounts of reincarnation in his major works.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Greek Philosophers

Pythagoras claimed he could remember his past lives.

Socrates, prior to his death, stated; "I am confident that there truly is such a thing as living again, and that the living spring from the dead.

Plato presented detailed accounts of reincarnation in his major works.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Christianity

Mainstream Christianity rejects reincarnation and consider the theory against their basic beliefs.

However, based on certain Bible texts and church fathers (especially Origen), the early Christians did believe in reincarnation and that the reincarnation proofs had been destroyed by the church later on.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Christianity

Mainstream Christianity rejects reincarnation and consider the theory against their basic beliefs.

However, based on certain Bible texts and church fathers (especially Origen), the early Christians did believe in reincarnation and that the reincarnation proofs had been destroyed by the church later on.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Christianity

The 3rd century church father Origen had been an adherent of reincarnation. Origen stood for the pre-existence of the soul -- the concept that the human soul existed already before birth.

"The soul has neither beginning nor end... [They] come into this world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of their previous lives“.

Early beliefs of the cyclical concept ofExistence – Reincarnation / Rebirth

Christianity

The 3rd century church father Origen had been an adherent of reincarnation. Origen stood for the pre-existence of the soul -- the concept that the human soul existed already before birth.

"The soul has neither beginning nor end... [They] come into this world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of their previous lives“.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Ian Stevenson

Former head of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia.

He devoted 40 years to the scientific documentation of past life memories of children from all over the world and has over 3000 cases in his files.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Ian Stevenson

Former head of the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia.

He devoted 40 years to the scientific documentation of past life memories of children from all over the world and has over 3000 cases in his files.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Jim B. Tucker M.D.

Medical director of the Child and Family Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Virginia.

His book - Life Before Life - presents accounts of young children who have verifiable accounts of past life experiences, and is based on more than 2,500 cases that are registered in the files of the Division of Personality Studies at the University of Virginia.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Jim B. Tucker M.D.

Medical director of the Child and Family Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Virginia.

His book - Life Before Life - presents accounts of young children who have verifiable accounts of past life experiences, and is based on more than 2,500 cases that are registered in the files of the Division of Personality Studies at the University of Virginia.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Carol Bowman, M.S.

Internationally known author, lecturer, counselor, past life regression therapist, and pioneer in reincarnation studies. 

Her first two books, Children’s Past Lives (Bantam, 1997) and Return from Heaven (HarperCollins, 2001) are now classics in the reincarnation field, and have been published and read around the world in 16 foreign editions.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Carol Bowman, M.S.

Internationally known author, lecturer, counselor, past life regression therapist, and pioneer in reincarnation studies. 

Her first two books, Children’s Past Lives (Bantam, 1997) and Return from Heaven (Harper Collins, 2001) are now classics in the reincarnation field, and have been published and read around the world in 16 foreign editions.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Brian L. Weiss M.D.

Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami.

One of the first doctors to explore the past lives of his patients as a means of therapy. Has numerous case histories which illustrate the healing potential of past life regression therapy, and it provides several techniques for eliciting past life recall.

Scientific Research and Evidence

Dr. Brian L. Weiss M.D.

Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami.

One of the first doctors to explore the past lives of his patients as a means of therapy. Has numerous case histories which illustrate the healing potential of past life regression therapy, and it provides several techniques for eliciting past life recall.

Quotations on Rebirth

Albert SchweitzerGerman philosopher, physician

"Reincarnation contains a most comforting explanation of reality by means of which Indian thought surmounts difficulties which baffle the thinkers of Europe.“

Quotations on Rebirth

Jack LondonAmerican novelist, journalist

"I did not begin when I was born, nor when I was conceived. I have been growing, developing, through incalculable myriads of millenniums. All my previous selves have their voices, echoes, promptings in me. Oh, incalculable times again shall I be born.“

Quotations on Rebirth

Arthur SchopenhauerGerman psychologist, metaphysicist

"Were an Asiatic to ask me for a definition of Europe, I should be forced to answer him: It is that part of the world which is haunted by the incredible delusion that man was created out of nothing,and that his present birth is his first entrance into life.“

Quotations on Rebirth

Henry FordAmerican inventor, industrialist

"I adopted the theory of reincarnation when I was 26. Genius is experience. Some think to seem that it is a gift or talent, but it is the fruit of long experience in many lives".

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Rebirth

The Buddha taught that the consciousness of a person, upon death, becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new person.

The consciousness arising in the new person is neither identical to, nor entirely different from, the old consciousness, but forms part of a causal continuum, or stream, with it.

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Rebirth

The Buddha taught that the consciousness of a person, upon death, becomes one of the contributing causes for the arising of a new person.

The consciousness arising in the new person is neither identical to, nor entirely different from, the old consciousness, but forms part of a causal continuum, or stream, with it.

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Reincarnation versus Rebirth

Reincarnation – a permanent identity or eternal soul that survives the body after death and reincarnates into another body.

Rebirth – the stream of consciousness arising in a new being after death, taking with it only its kammic potential.

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Reincarnation versus Rebirth

Reincarnation – a permanent identity or eternal soul that survives the body after death and reincarnates into another body.

Rebirth – the stream of consciousness arising in a new being after death, taking with it only its kammic potential.

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Five Aggregates or Khandas

1. Form or Rupa

2. Consciousness or Vinnana

3. Feelings or Vedana

4. Perception or Sanna

5. Mental states or Sankhara

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Five Aggregates or Khandas

1. Form or Rupa

2. Consciousness or Vinnana

3. Feelings or Vedana

4. Perception or Sanna

5. Mental states or Sankhara

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Five Aggregates or Khandas

1. Form or Rupa

2. Consciousness or Vinnana

3. Feelings or Vedana

4. Perception or Sanna

5. Mental states or Sankhara

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Five Aggregates or Khandas

1. Form or Rupa

2. Consciousness or Vinnana

3. Feelings or Vedana

4. Perception or Sanna

5. Mental states or Sankhara

The concept of Rebirth in Buddhism

Five Aggregates or Khandas

1. Form or Rupa

2. Consciousness or Vinnana

3. Feelings or Vedana

4. Perception or Sanna

5. Mental states or Sankhara

Rebirth

• All the 5 aggregates are in a state of continual flux, therefore there is no eternal soul or self.

• We are changing every second, physically and mentally.

• Like a flame of one candle lighting another candle, the new flame is neither the same nor different from the original flame.

• Similarly, a person in his 40’s is not the entirely the same nor entirely different when he was a child or when he becomes an old man.

• Therefore the new being is not the entirely the same nor entirely different from the previous being.

Rebirth

• All the 5 aggregates are in a state of continual flux, therefore there is no eternal soul or self.

• We are changing every second, physically and mentally.

• Like a flame of one candle lighting another candle, the new flame is neither the same nor different from the original flame.

• Similarly, a person in his 40’s is not the entirely the same nor entirely different when he was a child or when he becomes an old man.

• Therefore the new being is not the entirely the same nor entirely different from the previous being.

Rebirth

• All the 5 aggregates are in a state of continual flux, therefore there is no eternal soul or self.

• We are changing every second, physically and mentally.

• Like a flame of one candle lighting another candle, the new flame is neither the same nor different from the original flame.

• Similarly, a person in his 40’s is not the entirely the same nor entirely different when he was a child or when he becomes an old man.

• Therefore the new being is not the entirely the same nor entirely different from the previous being.

Rebirth

• All the 5 aggregates are in a state of continual flux, therefore there is no eternal soul or self.

• We are changing every second, physically and mentally.

• Like a flame of one candle lighting another candle, the new flame is neither the same nor different from the original flame.

• Similarly, a person in his 40’s is not the entirely the same nor entirely different when he was a child or when he becomes an old man.

• Therefore the new being is not the entirely the same nor entirely different from the previous being.

Rebirth

• All the 5 aggregates are in a state of continual flux, therefore there is no eternal soul or self.

• We are changing every second, physically and mentally.

• Like a flame of one candle lighting another candle, the new flame is neither the same nor different from the original flame.

• Similarly, a person in his 40’s is not the entirely the same nor entirely different when he was a child or when he becomes an old man.

• Therefore the new being is not the entirely the same nor entirely different from the previous being.

Causes of Rebirth

• Craving and clinging

• Ignorance or delusion

Dependent Origination

Causes of Rebirth

• Craving and clinging

• Ignorance or delusion

Dependent Origination

Causes of Rebirth

• Craving and clinging

• Ignorance or delusion

Dependent Origination

Process of Rebirth

Conception – three conditions are necessary :

1. There has to be a union of the father and mother, the father to provide the sperm, the mother to provide the egg.

2. It must be the mother's proper season. If the mother isn't fertile, conception won't take place.

3. There must be a stream of consciousness of the deceased person, the flow of mind that is ready and prepared to take rebirth.

Process of Rebirth

Conception – three conditions are necessary :

1. There has to be a union of the father and mother, the father to provide the sperm, the mother to provide the egg.

2. It must be the mother's proper season. If the mother isn't fertile, conception won't take place.

3. There must be a stream of consciousness of the deceased person, the flow of mind that is ready and prepared to take rebirth.

Process of Rebirth

Conception – three conditions are necessary :

1. There has to be a union of the father and mother, the father to provide the sperm, the mother to provide the egg.

2. It must be the mother's proper season. If the mother isn't fertile, conception won't take place.

3. There must be a stream of consciousness of the deceased person, the flow of mind that is ready and prepared to take rebirth.

Process of Rebirth

Conception – three conditions are necessary :

1. There has to be a union of the father and mother, the father to provide the sperm, the mother to provide the egg.

2. It must be the mother's proper season. If the mother isn't fertile, conception won't take place.

3. There must be a stream of consciousness of the deceased person, the flow of mind that is ready and prepared to take rebirth.

Factors in Rebirth

• The next destination

• Conditions of the next existence

Kamma

Factors in Rebirth

• The next destination

• Conditions of the next existence

Kamma

Factors in Rebirth

• The next destination

• Conditions of the next existence

Kamma

Factors in Rebirth

• The next destination

• Conditions of the next existence

Kamma

Prepared by T Y Lee

www.justbegood.net