What does Buddhism teach about life after death?
In Buddhism, belief in rebirthThe belief that some part of a person (perhaps their energy) passes into a new life form after death. is based on the tradition that the BuddhaThe founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, after his enlightenment. It is a title which means the enlightened or awakened one. remembered his past lives when he reached enlightenmentThe realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth..
The belief is that:
- all life is in a cycle of death and rebirth called samsaraIn Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth.
- this cycle is something to escape from
- when someone dies their energy passes into another form
Buddhist teaching includes the concept of karma/kammaActions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. or 'intentional action'.
Buddhists hope to either gain enlightenmentThe realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth. or to ensure a better future for themselves through good actions, such as ethical conduct, and by developing concentration and wisdom. These good actions are set out in the Eightfold PathThe teachings of the Buddha that can lead to the end of suffering: 1 - Right Views; 2 - Right Thinking; 3 - Right Speech; 4 - Right Action; 5 - Right Livelihood; 6 - Right Effort; 7 - Right Mindfulness; 8 - Right Meditation., which includes right speech, right livelihood, and right concentration. The belief is that good actions will result in a better rebirth, while bad actions will have the opposite effect.
Buddhism teaches that depending on the actions performed in previous lives, rebirth could be as a human or animal or even ghosts, demi-gods, or gods. Being born as a human is seen by Buddhists as a rare opportunity to work towards escaping this cycle of samsara. The escape from samsara is called Nirvana (also spelt Nibbana)An indescribable state, held by Buddhists to be the ultimate goal of religious practice, involving breaking free from the cycle of samsara.or enlightenment.
Once Nirvana is achieved, and the enlightened individual physically dies, the belief is that they will no longer be reborn.
The BuddhaThe founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, after his enlightenment. It is a title which means the enlightened or awakened one. taught that when Nirvana is achieved, Buddhists are able to see the world as it really is. Nirvana means realising and accepting the Four Noble TruthsThe truths discovered by the Buddha during his enlightenment. and being awake to reality.
Some Buddhists believe that enlightened individuals can choose to be reborn in order to help others become enlightened. Others believe that, when Nirvana is achieved, the cycle of samsara, all suffering and further existence for that individual itself ends.
Why don't Buddhists believe in souls or an eternal creator God?
Anicca - Buddhism teaches that nothing is permanent. Everything changes. So this means that things like everlasting souls or eternal gods cannot exist. Buddhism, unlike other religions, does not believe in a creator God or an eternal or everlasting soul.
Anatta - Buddhism teaches that there is no permanent self or soul. Because there is no unchanging permanent essence or soul, Buddhists sometimes talk about energy being reborn, rather than souls.
