Expert: Stuart Resnick - 12/29/2008

Question
where does the concept of reincarnation originated?

Answer
In Buddhist teaching, everything points to your experience of this very moment. What are you doing right now?

Sometimes, people suffer from worrying about the past or future. So we teach that everything in the universe is clear cause and effect. If you want to understand the past, all you need to do is attend to just now, because this moment is the effect of everything you've done in the past. If you want to understand the future, all you need to do is attend to just now, because what you do in this moment is the cause of what you'll get in the future.

So the concept of reincarnation originated as a tool, or a medicine, to help us put down thoughts of the past and future, so we can connect with this moment with a clear and compassionate mind.