reinkarnaation

Reincarnation is a 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 non-physical essence is often referred to as a soul, spirit, consciousness, or some other term.

Beliefs in reincarnation are found in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. In these traditions, reincarnation is often seen as a cyclical process, with the soul undergoing multiple lifetimes until it achieves a state of liberation or enlightenment. The concept of karma, the law of cause and effect, often plays a significant role, with actions in one life influencing the circumstances of future lives.

While the core idea of rebirth is shared, specific doctrines vary. For example, in Hinduism, the soul (atman) is believed to transmigrate from one body to another, driven by desires and karmic residue. Buddhism, on the other hand, generally does not posit a permanent, unchanging soul but rather a continuity of consciousness or a stream of mental energy that is reborn.

Reincarnation is also a concept explored in various philosophical schools and spiritual movements outside of major Eastern religions. In Western cultures, it has been a topic of interest in esoteric traditions, New Age spirituality, and some philosophical discussions. Skeptical views typically attribute reported experiences of past lives to psychological phenomena such as cryptomnesia, confabulation, or suggestion. There is no scientific consensus or empirical evidence to support the existence of reincarnation.