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Some cultures believe that souls are reincarnated into another existence—human, animal, or spiritual—after death. This religious philosophy, rooted in the culture of India and widespread in Asia today, is quite ancient and can be traced back to Greek mythology.
Orphic mythology
In the fifth century BC, priests of the Orphic religion believed that the human soul preexisted the body, and that after death, the soul was free to move into another body. They believed humans inherited the guilt of their ancestors, especially the guilt of murder.
The only way to rise from the underworld was to atone for sins and reincarnate—a transmigration of the soul. Greek mythology explains this “bloodguilt” penance through the story of the Titans who had to atone for the inherited guilt of their ancestors for killing Dionysos.
Breaking the cycle of reincarnation
After dying, the Greeks believed they were taken to the underworld to drink from the well of memory—to remember the lessons learned on earth from the last life. Once people atoned on earth, they were granted permission to stay in the underworld with the gods, released from the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The philosopher Plato also believed souls were immortal and could reincarnate over and over and that humans could fall ill because of “some ancient sin.” In Plato’s Republic (Plato, Republic, Bk. II, 365a), he writes about offerings to the gods to pay the penalty.
Hinduism
According to the Hindu religion, the Supreme Soul lives in every living thing and, while we all eventually die, the spirit lives on. We will be justly rewarded or punished in our next life by the good or bad deeds in our current life.
But good deeds do not necessarily erase the bad deeds in previous lives. Hindus believe that only by suffering can we attain a higher level of salvation. Birth and rebirth are perpetual until a person reaches a state of Brahman, or absolute reality.
Our souls are always learning how to remove material distractions and understand our true nature of Brahman. If we die suddenly with many dreams or aspirations unfulfilled, we may remain on earth as ghosts until we find the right conditions for our rebirth on earth.
Buddhism
Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in the cycle of reincarnation. But unlike Hindus, they do not believe in a constant everlasting soul. According to the teachings of Buddha, the soul is more like a combination of senses and feelings, like suffering or pleasure, experienced by all living things.
Fundamentally, Buddhists believe in reincarnation as suffering until we reach a state of enlightenment or nirvana, whereas Hindus believe in rebirth of the soul until our good deeds release us to the Universal Divine Force or Supreme God.
Gathering karma
Hinduism and Buddhism both teach the principle of karma or the law of cause and effect: how we live our present life will have an impact on our next life. If we commit harmful actions in our current life, we could be reborn as a beast later.
Buddhists believe we gather karma over many lifetimes, becoming a compilation of consciousness that continues after death as a seed in a mother’s womb and reborn. Every living thing is a reincarnation of many former beings.
Only with a multitude of experience and personal atonement can we eventually reach a state of higher being, be it the Buddhist Nirvana or the Hindu Universal Divine. We can reach a higher state through meditation and discipline to liberate ourselves from the burden of the human body.
Christianity and redemption
In the Christian religion, the idea of rebirth or resurrection is sacred. While the followers of Jesus do not believe in reincarnation—literally dying and being reborn in another body or lifeform—they do believe we can experience a spiritual death during our lifetime and become “born again” with a new outlook.
Christianity teaches that doing good deeds on earth leads to life everlasting whereas a life of sin leads to eternal damnation. In other words, there are no second chances in this life. We must have faith in God to save ourselves from eternal punishment.
Universal karma
One thing all these religions have in common is the concept of karma—do good deeds in this life and you will be rewarded in the next one or afterlife. If we strive to become a better person after we make mistakes, then we are rewarded. As Maya Angelou famously said, “Do the best until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
The common understanding about the cycle of life, whether it is reincarnation, rebirth, or redemption, is the belief in our ability to change for the good, to save our mortal and spiritual souls.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion
https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation
Reincarnation, Rebirth (hinduismfacts.org)
The Differences Between Buddhism and Hinduism (thebuddhagarden.com)
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