Expert: Bodhicitta - 9/18/2006

Question
I don't think i really understand the difference between reincarnation and rebirth. How different are these two concepts, or are they just spliting hairs? I am interested in buddhism, but i have a hard time understanding this particular concept. will you please help? thank you very much.

Answer
Hi Dunham
Reincarnation I guess literally means 'to be made flesh
again'. it is the idea that a soul or divine spark enters
flesh and animates it. This is said to be the doctrine
of many Hindu schools. Buddhism is often to be said to be
about rebirth i.e. there is not a soul that enters into flesh etc.

This is the sort of answer that many text books would give you. I think as you enter deeper and deeper into the mystical aspects of religious practice the distinctions become less defined. I would say that this is clever and clear word play probably is not very helpful. What you
need to do with Buddhism is use meditation to enter into
real experience as to what the world is, what goes from life to life etc. This then is a transcendental experience of insight that is beyond such clever work play.

According to the "mind-only" doctrine of Buddhism.
The world is an illusion, it is like a dream. We think we are in a world and we have various episodes and dramas that make up our life. But just like a dream this world might just disappear and another might just pop from no where and take it's place. So what went from life to life? Nothing there was no life just a dream. So I guess the more interesting question for Buddhists is not what goes from life to life, but what is the experience of life anyways.

Hope this helps a bit
Bodhicitta