Reinkarnaatio

Reinkarnaatio, also known as reincarnation or transmigration, is the philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death. This essence is often described as a soul, spirit, consciousness, or vital energy.

The concept of reinkarnaatio is a central tenet in many major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In these traditions, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is often referred to as Samsara. The nature of reinkarnaatio and the process by which it occurs vary significantly among these religions. For example, in Hinduism, the quality of a person's karma, or actions and their consequences, influences the form and circumstances of their next life. Buddhist teachings emphasize that it is not a permanent soul that transmigrates but rather a continuity of consciousness, driven by craving and ignorance.

Beyond these Eastern religions, belief in reinkarnaatio has appeared in various other cultures and philosophies throughout history, including some ancient Greek thought, certain indigenous beliefs, and some modern New Age movements. Skepticism regarding reinkarnaatio is also widespread, with scientific and materialist viewpoints typically attributing experiences or memories that some might associate with past lives to psychological phenomena such as cryptomnesia, confabulation, or suggestion. The empirical verification of reinkarnaatio remains a subject of debate and is not scientifically demonstrable.