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Expert: Bodhicitta - 12/29/2008


Question
where the concept of reincarnation originated?

Answer
hi ari
thanks for your question.

i am sure the reincarnation is a very old concept in human thought.
it would seem that many ancient religions have this idea. the egyptians
had the idea and RA the Sun God  disappearing and being reborn
every day was a metaphor for the reincarnation of a person.

Perhaps nature presents us with many metaphors for reincarnation.
This makes me think that reincarnation would have been present
from the earliest religious ideas.

In India Hinduism has reincarnation as a central axiom, and then this
was continued into Buddhism - which was  a reform of Hindu ideas

Bodhicitta

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JUST TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION: I ONLY ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATING TO PEOPLE'S PERSONAL PRACTICE OF BUDDHISM AND MEDITATION. I DO NOT ANSWER ACADEMIC QUESTIONS OR HOMEWORK QUESTIONS. THERE ARE MANY OTHER RESOURCES FOR THESE THINGS. HOPEFULLY YOU STILL HAVE AN INTERESTING QUESTION OR PERSPECTIVE TO SHARE. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTION...

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25 years of studying, practise and training.
I have taught and practised Buddhism, and Meditation for many years. I am always happy to give a helping hand to other seekers of truth.

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I am a life long Buddhist. I have followed a number of schools of Buddhism including Zen, Tibetan Buddhist and Theravada. I also have a post-graduate degree in Buddhism and am a Psychologist. I have taught and practised Buddhism, and Meditation for many years. I am always happy to give a helping hand to other seekers of truth.

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