| What does reincarnation mean? This is an age old | | | | Karma.This means Karma can be considered the total |
| question often discussed, and often considered by | | | | effect of a person's actions and conduct during the |
| the world's greatest minds, and most of the world's | | | | successive phases of that person's existence, |
| religions.The meaning of ReincarnationSimply put, | | | | regarded as determining the person's destiny.Actually, |
| reincarnation means the rebirth of the soul in another | | | | there are three types of karma:Sanchita karma, or |
| (new) body. Reincarnation (from the Latin meaning | | | | the sum total of past karmas yet to be resolved; |
| the taking on of flesh again) is the occupation by the | | | | then prarabdha karma, that portion of sanchita karma |
| immortal soul of a new body after the death of the | | | | that is to be experienced in this life; and kriyamana |
| former body.Reincarnation & HinduismHinduism has | | | | karma, the karma that humans are currently creating |
| reincarnation as a basic tenet of their belief, and | | | | and will bear fruit in the future.Other Religions & |
| espouse that the human spirit returns to this life | | | | ReincarnationThe principle of reincarnation is found in |
| again and again as it strives for perfection.The idea | | | | almost all religions of the world. It was a prominent |
| that the soul reincarnates is intricately linked to the | | | | feature of Christianity until about the 6th century.An |
| principle of karma (see below).Hinduism teaches that | | | | early Church father, Origen was an adherent of |
| individual souls, known as jivaatmas pass from one | | | | reincarnation. Origen taught the pre-existence of the |
| plane of existence to another, and carry with them | | | | soul -- the concept that the human soul existed |
| samskaras (impressions) from former states of | | | | already before birth. "The soul has neither beginning |
| being.These karmic memories (like data on a hard | | | | nor end... [They] come into this world strengthened |
| disc) on the soul are taken to the next life and result | | | | by the victories or weakened by the defeats of their |
| in a causally-determined state of being.In Hinduism | | | | previous lives" (De Principiis). The Bible also still has |
| and other religions, liberation from samsara, or the | | | | many direct references to reincarnation (Mt 11:14 and |
| cycle of death and rebirth, is considered the ultimate | | | | 17:12f and John 9,1 ff, ie.) . Jesus identifies John the |
| goal of our earthly existence. This liberation is known | | | | Baptist as the returning prophet Elijah in Matthews |
| as Moksha, and once reached, the soul ceases to | | | | 11:14. |
| reincarnate.KarmaActivity that has become destiny is | | | | |