How would you resolve the Dilemma of the Bishop, the Bandit, and the Buddhist?

Question

*See the extension to this question for the entire scenario.

There are 3 guys. A Bishop, a bandit, and a Buddhist. The Bishop is good, the bandit is evil, and the Buddhist is a middle-of-the-roader that firmly believes in reincarnation. Each one has a radically different life and belief system, but they have one thing in common: they all plan on having their bodies cryogenically frozen when they die, so that they can be thawed, healed, and revived once the technology is available in the future.

Eventually, they all die, and their bodies are laid out and frozen next to each other, with each man in his own chamber. Their souls disincorporate and move on. The bishop goes to Heaven, the bandit goes to Hell, and the Buddhist is reincarnated into his next body. First he’s a bear, then a goat, then a cat, a dog, an eagle, an elephant, and finally a human baby boy. When he’s 9 years old, something extraordinary happens … the technology arises to revive the properly frozen dead.

The three bodies are revived about 100 years after they were originally frozen. The Bishop’s soul leaves Heaven and resumes his life in his old body, and he says “Oh no, I was so happy in Heaven. I should have never signed up for this cryogenic BS.” When the bandit is revived, he says “Yes! I’m so glad to be out of Hell!” The only real question that I’d ask is: What about the Buddhist? If his soul is now back into his original body, what will happen to the body of the 9 year old boy? Will his soul be dragged out of that one and put back into his original body? Will a new soul take over the 9 year old boy? Would the 9 year old boy’s body just die, or would it be impossible for his soul to return?

This was asked in the Religion section, but I wanted more answers. When people have near death experiences, their soul temporarily disincorporates, but comes back when the medical personnel ‘fixed’ the body (or their link to the physical universe). Wouldn’t 100 years be just a bit longer?

Answer 1

First of all, you can't simulate a scenario based on two opposing beliefs. Just because some characters believed in reincarnation doesn't mean he/she will be reincarnated. Likewise, eventhough someone believes in heaven and hell, it doesn't follow that his/her beliefs will hold.
But in your case, we'll assume reincarnation will happen when someone dies, after all this is the source of the dilemma.

However, there are still two problems with your scenario:
One, assuming that when a person experiences near death, their soul disincorporates temporarily until the physical body is fixed. According to the story, they all died (not nearly dead). I think this should be the end of the story already. Their souls should have left their bodies without the possibility of coming back, since the physical bodies are lifeless.

Two, assuming their bodies were cryogenically frozen before they die and their souls disincorporate temporarily.
I would think their souls would not reincarnate to a different body yet since their original bodies have not died.
Again, assuming their souls can reincarnate eventhough their original bodies have not died yet, then we can say that a different soul will occupy the newly revived body.
If there are no "spare souls" then they'll have a problem.

That makes us question our assumption: Does reincarnation really happen?

If the answer is no, then it'll solve our dilemma, right?

Answer 2

Your hypothetical scenario provides it's own answer.

If each soul follows the path of their own belief (Bishop to heaven, buddhist to reincarnate, etc.), then the path of the soul will continue to do so. As the bishop is likely to believe that heaven is permanent, then his soul would not return to his body. Same with the others - the bandit in hell would stay there because hell is permanent, and the buddhist would fail to return because they beleive reincarnation is a progression, and not a circular path.

Given the rules of this scenario, it would follow that it would be the belief of each individual that would determine what would occupy the revitalized body. Most who believe in heaven and hell would expect the revitalized body to be filled in a manner suitable to God. Most who believe in reincarnation would regard the former body as a open vessel to a new occupant from the karmic ether.

Your example of out-of-body experience falls in line with that model. The temporary expulsion from your body is like you leaving your house to go to work. You're not in occupation, but it's still your home. However, if you surrender titile to that house, and move into a different one, the old house can be re-occupied by another without setting off a cosmic imbalance. Whether that new occupant is placed there by God, or simply occupied by another soul like a hermit crab changing shells, it doesn't matter.

Answer 3

This Buddhist you propose seems to exist in a Tibetan Buddhist universe as only they believe they can transmigrate into a chosen vessel, an ability only attributed to high lamas and not the usual mortals. Also, this sounds more like a hinduist view of the reincarnation mechanism.
Now, I can only visualize an soul-empty man awoken by tech, for the philosophical stances do not include this scenario, be it christian (for resurrection is only available at Judgment Day), Buddhist or hinduist (for the only way out of the wheel is transcendence).
So, there is no way for the last man to return, the law of impermanence -as Buddha has stated- must be complied and his skandas have already moved to the next body: Like the light of a dying flame that in turn serves to light another.

Answer 4

The Buddhists soul in the 9yrs body is incorporated . His old body is available for an unincorporated soul to occupy it.

Answer 5

Oh, my God, this question gave me a headache. I'm glad I did not major in philosophy afterall.

Answer 6

The question is just pure nonsense.

Answer 7

Sorry, but your story is too long and got so boring, I could not finish it.