Why does Buddhism believe in life after death?
Buddhism teaches that there is life after death because the Buddha taught that human beings are each born an infinite number of times, unless they achieve Nirvana. In the DhammapadaThe most famous of the Buddhist scriptures in the West, with 423 verses in the Pali canon. the Buddha states:
Long is the cycle of birth and death to the fool who does not know the true path.
The Dhammapada contains many other teachings about samsara, enlightenment, and Nirvana:
One road leads to wealth; another road leads to nirvana. Let the mendicant, the disciple of Buddha, learn this and not strive for honour but seek wisdom
The Buddha taught his discipleA person who follows and learns from someone else. not to fear death. This has been interpreted by Buddhists as suggesting that if they live well, their rebirth will be good.
After his enlightenment, the Buddha could remember his previous lives. Some of these previous lives are recorded in the Buddhist scripture, the Jakata.
In Tibetan BuddhismBuddhism originating in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. there are many writings about life after death including the 'Tibetan Book of the DeadA book read by Tibetan Buddhists to a recently dead person, believed to guide them through the bardo states.'. This is a guide telling the dying person how to react and try to ensure a positive outcome of the experiences. It includes descriptions of the bardo stateThe state immediately after death until rebirth, as described in Tibetan tradition. It means the "in-between state". Theravada Buddhists do not think that there is such a gap between death and rebirth.. These are states between dying and being reborn.
Mahayana BuddhismOne of the major schools of Buddhism, it includes Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. also uses images to teach about life after death. The Wheel of Existence shows the different realms Buddhists can be reborn into.
Belief in life after death may be influenced by the meaning and purpose it gives to the lives of Buddhists.
