Reïncarnatie

Reïncarnatie is the belief that the consciousness, soul, or basic identity of a person is reborn in a new body after death. In many traditions, this process forms part of a larger cycle of birth, death and rebirth known as samsara, through which the soul evolves over multiple lifetimes. The term is Dutch for reincarnation, from Latin reincarnatio and French réincarnation, with the Dutch spelling reïncarnatie using a diaeresis to indicate the two syllables.

In Hinduism, the atman is eternal and transmigrates into successive bodies according to karma. In Buddhism, there is no permanent self; rather a stream of consciousness and mental aggregates that give rise to new rebirths, with liberation achieved by extinguishing craving and attaining enlightenment. Jainism presents a strict theory of rebirth where jiva is bound by karma and purifies through ethical living, ascetic practices, and knowledge. Sikhism teaches the soul's rebirth until it is united with the divine through grace and devotion. East Asian traditions often describe rebirth within a broader cosmology of hells, heavens, and intermediate realms, influenced by karmic law.

In Western esotericism and certain modern spiritual movements, reïncarnatie is framed as the soul's learning mission across lifetimes, sometimes with emphasis on memory, spiritual evolution, or guided by spiritual teachers. Contemporary attitudes range from literal acceptance to metaphorical interpretations, with ongoing philosophical debates about personal identity and the nature of consciousness.