On rebirth or reincarnation

A friend once asked about the Buddhist view on reincarnation (or rebirth). Specifically, what is it that pass from this life to the next? "It's karma", I replied. Perhaps, it's a poor answer, I should have elaborated more. In modern times, the concept of a permanent soul is so prevalent that to deny that there is anything permanent, everlasting and eternal is difficult for many non-Buddhists to grasp. But this concept of a permanent, everlasting and eternal Self/Soul/Atman is equally alien to many orthodox Buddhists. This is another attempt to better elucidate a Buddhist's position on the subject. I appreciate any corrections if I've gotten anything wrong.

 

The five khandas or clinging aggregates (that which makes up a living person in Buddhism) fall apart at the point of death. But consciousness is said to latch on to a new existence (or body) as a result of craving (for sensual pleasures or becoming). This results in rebirth. Whether rebirth happens immediately or after a period (a so-called in-between state between death and rebirth) is something of an ongoing debate.

 

At this point, a reader may then say, "A-ha! See, you Buddhists called this consciousness but we referred to it as soul/atman/spirit. It's just different names for that same eternal and everlasting thing". No, the Buddha categorically denied that consciousness is non-changing, eternal and everlasting. Yes, there is consciousness after death that arises from clinging (to sensual pleasures, to heavenly bliss, to becoming, to "what's next" and so on). Past karma will shape the new consciousness as it arises together with perception, feelings and mental formations. And with these comes new experiences which are very different from what we experience when alive. "One has to pass on, leaving everything behind". It's not just the physical stuff that is left behind, all the memories, emotions, feelings, sensory sensations, habits, values, likes and dislikes, aspirations and so on are all left behind too.

 

When we experience new things while alive, we have our memories, emotions, feelings, likes and dislikes, values, habits and so on to compare, evaluate, match, guide and relate the new experiences to. This is what gives a sense of continuity. It's what gives us the assurance that it is us that is experiencing reality right now and not someone else. Imagine what it is like to have none of these to fall back on when experiencing (after death). But the strange thing is that the consciousness (after death) is not concerned (or possibly aware) about the fact there's no continuity or the story-line just changed suddenly; it will just keep craving for more experiences.

 

Perhaps, this is best illustrated by Theseus' paradox. If everything that makes up the original ship had been replaced with something else, is it still the same ship? One Buddhist analogy on rebirth is the lighting of another candle just before the previous candle extinguishes. Is it still the same flame (consciousness)? Nothing in the flame is ever exactly the same in each and every moment. The oxygen molecules, wax and the part of the candle wick being burnt constantly changes. But the illusion that the flame flickering now is the same as that from the previous candle still persists. Just as we believe that it is the same us at 7 years old as at 70 years old. But look at what is happening at the cellular level or the brainwaves (through a CAT scan) or our values/aspirations/tastes. Even the brain neurons had vastly different synapses. Although, this illusion (or delusion) is not something substantiated by reality but for all intent and purpose, that subjective/emotive part of us don't give a damn. It needs/craves for that comfort and continuity that comes from "it's still the same thing".

 

A new consciousness with different feelings/perception/mental formations is experiencing, influenced and shaped at the same time by past karmic forces that manifested. This is in line with the Buddha's teaching that our karma follows us like a shadow in this life, into death and beyond. Some karmic forces that manifest is benign such as babies born with different personalities, some are curious and inquisitive, others are shy and cries a lot. Some are born with black hair, some with blond hair, some with dark skin and others with fair skin. Other karmic manifestations are more serious, like congenital birth defects. Our desires create new karma and our experiencing (pleasant, unpleasant or neutral) are in turn influenced by both our current choices/desires and by old karmic forces, it's that same old process of change yet again. But it is desire or the ending of desire that the Buddha declared as the key to ending this never-ending process of change. In physics, an object in motion tends to stay in motion because there was an initial force on the object. Karma arising from ignorance (which give rise to cravings and delusions) is the force that act and drive our rebirth. Can our desires/cravings direct where our rebirth take place e.g. rebirth in heaven? Yes, but only if our past karmic forces are permissive. When bad karmic forces manifest, all the choices are equally bad.

 

Consciousness as an all-encompassing term can be quite misleading and be associated with a non-changing, eternal self. Buddhism is one religion that tries very hard to differentiate consciousness and shows the possible changes that can happen to it. There is a realm where beings don't have consciousness (asaññasatta) and a realm where beings have very, very expansive consciousness (viññanañcayatanupaga deva). If we hold the view that consciousness is eternal (therefore, the endless cycle of death and rebirth in samsara is nothing to worry about), we may find this so called "eternal consciousness (or soul/atman/self)" really pointless when we end up as a mosquito or a being in avici.