where does the idea of reincarnation come from?

Question

and how on earth could it make any sense?

Answer 1

Reincarnation is a componant part of Vedic understanding, the only way to understand it, is to understand your real identity as an eternal spirit soul, rather then the material body. Vedic understanding must be learned in its entirity to gain knowledge of the science of reincarnation and release from the cycle of the repetition of birth and death.

With this in mind, there is no question that reincarnation is a reality, we, as individual spirit souls are reincarnating within these very bodies, the material body is composed of gross molecules and atomic particles,that are constantly changing, every seven years each cell is completely replaced, so the body we had seven years ago is different to the body we have now, this is reincarnation, even within this life.

At the end of this life when the gross material body is no longer operational, being simply a temporary biological machine, then the subtle material mind replays the events of one's life, those events in one's life that are most prominant propel the spirit soul, the real self, to the next destination, the basis for this to happen is by the activities that we perform and the desires that are most prominant, man proposes and God disposes.

If we live a spiritual life, with activities and desires to please the Supreme, then the original spiritual body is revived and we can return home, back to Godhead, however if the desires are more worldly then we will attain another material body perfectly suited to the mentality that we have developed whilst being in the human form of life, therefore the knowledge of the science of reincarnation is of paramount importance to understand.

The early Christian church also taught reincarnation, up untill the 6th century A.D., in 553 A D when the Roman empire started to collapse, the emperor Justinian at the 5th Ecumenical council at Constantinople removed and altered the teachings of Jesus to gain more social control over the uneducated masses, by establishing the "scare tactic" of a singular life, as anyone who opposed these types of alterations was considered a heretic, it is not difficult to understand how these gross misconceptions came to be accepted.

Fortunately we are now able to discuss real knowledge openly, without fear of an inquisition, aside from a shrinking group of "text book" fundamentalists, the science of reincarnation is being accepted unopposed by many intelligent people.

To discuss further:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 2

The idea of reincarnation comes from personal experience. The reincarnation is just a description of the feeling (poetical expression). It is a synonym for a state of finding oneself in a new situation (of enhanced perception ) where even a personal body looks different, almost new.
Such experience belongs to ordinary as well as to awakened and enlightened people. Due to their hormone count changed after a certain practical and intellectual experience (glands function upon the new stimulations) they feel they are bodily different. From outside they are for ordinary people the same as before but their energy, their life’s potential (due to raised awareness caused by increased sensitivity) flow the different way. Innocent children and sensitive persons can perceive them, sometimes, as lightening bodies.

Answer 3

Reincarnation or Principal of Eternal existence of Soul is explained in details in Bhagavad Gita.

Our Father God is eternal, so we his children are also eternal. This is confirmed in Bhagavad Gita.

But we see in out present life that people take birth, grow, become old and eventually die.
But it is explained that We(the soul) are different from the Body we live in.
After the end of this body, the soul takes up another body just as it did this time.
There are mention in different Religion that after death a person may go to Heaven or Hell or be judged by God.. This clearly proves that Soul still lives after the death of the Body... Hence the soul is different from the body.... what is the difficulty in understanding this ?
If you go to Heaven you get heavenly body, if you go to hell you get hellish body. All these body are not at all same as our earthly
body, some may have same form...

For details you can read Bhagavad Gita As It Is, specially 2nd chapter..
http://www.bhagavadgitaasitis.com/en

Answer 4

People are imaginative. If you believe you have a soul, and that soul can never die, then reincarnation is very possible as your soul will just enter another body upon it's release from it's old one.

Some think it's random which body one will enter, but I happen to believe it's controlled.

The rain falls from the clouds, enters the earth, then rises again to the clouds.. only to fall back down.

Answer 5

I believe it comes originally from the Hindu religion and was adopted by Buddhist. Don't tell them it makes no sense, they think that Christianity, Islam and Judaism make no sense and are actually harmful to the soul. A belief makes sense to the person that believes.

Answer 6

Probably people having deja vu or "knowing" things that they normally wouldn't, or even just being wise. People started wondering if people like that had been around the wheel before. The idea has been around for a looooong time.

And how on earth can ANY religious idea make any sense?

Answer 7

Actually, there are sometimes I think that reincarnation makes more sense than going to Heaven or Hell and staying there for all eternity.

Answer 8

I think it is an eastern religious teaching . I don't completely understand it. But I know enough to find it disturbing.
I mean, can you imagine talking to a grieving mother, who just lost an infant, and telling her that God took her child an doh look, ther eit is over there, coming up as a new baby plant of potato?? Or as a baby chicken that the family will EAT later?? I mean,how cruel is THAT???

To me that ranks right up there with the wretched CRUELTY of saying to a grieving mother that her loving god, who already has MYRIADS of them, TOOK her infant baby AWAY from her loving arms, to make another angel. I mean, where is the horrible sense in that? God doesn't DO stuff like that. HE doesn't kill people. Satan does.God just doesn't play like that. HE doesn't kill people to make angels. IF he wants another angel, he creates one specially. He never does ANYTHING that would cause someone grief or pain or sadness. He is a god of love, not evil or vindictiveness. People are so blinded by satan and his demons who want people to turn against god . Its so sad.

Its nice to know that the end is coming soon and that Jesus Christ is ruling in Heaven even as we speak and soon Armeggedon will put an end to Satan's rule over this world. Then peace will be here and there will be nore more death or sickness or pain. What a good time will be had by all then!

Answer 9

Steven G's reply is profound.
at an individual level , Nothing has to make sense -
As regards reincarnation - its a matter of faith and conviction.

Answer 10

Almost all prechristian religions belevied in some form of reincarnation. the Egyptians , Celts,budisits, Jews,Muslims,Hindus,Mayans,
It is the return of a soul to relearn,correct past mistakes or learn new lessions in a existance of constant change.