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The Buddhist doctrine of reincarnation

by Dr. Senaka Ranasinghe

At the time of the Buddha, there were two schools of thought regarding rebirth. One school of thought was that at the time of death, there is transmigration of a permanent soul, self or a spirit from the present life to the next life.

The second school of thought was that at the time of death, the self disappears and there is no connection or communication at all between the present life and the next life. i.e. in the next life, it is a totally different self.

The Buddha's teaching was a combination of the above two theories, i.e. there is neither transmigration of the same self nor it is a totally different self that is reborn. To understand this concept of reincarnation, it is necessary to have a basic idea about matter (called "rupa" in Buddhism) and field-forces (called "nama" in Buddhism).

Matter ("Rupa")

According to Buddhism, the whole material Universe is made-up of four inseparable but ever-changing energies and an associated field-force. (See Diagram 1) All matter in the Universe (Sub-atomic particles, atoms, cells, plants, animals, human beings, The Earth, The Sun, The moon, planets, stars galaxies etc.) is made-up of these four inseparable energies and the associated field-force.

The four energies are Patavi energy, Apo energy, Tejo energy and Vayo energy. Patavi energy supports other three energies. Excess in Patavi energy gives rise to solid state of matter.

Apo energy binds other three energies together. Excess in Apo energy gives rise to liquid state of matter.

Tejo energy causes maturation of other three energies. Excess in Tejo energy gives rise to plasma state of matter.

Vayo energy causes all the movements of other three energies. Excess in Vayo energy gives rise to gaseous state of matter.

Inseparable

Though these four energies are inseparable, they undergo moment to moment change due to the continuous actions of Apo, Tejo and Vayo energies resulting in formation, maturation and decay of matter respectively. In a continually changing (Impermanent) material body, there cannot exist a permanent self, soul or a spirit.

The Patavi energy gives rise to the structure (Anatomy) of matter whereas Apo, Tejo and Vayo energies give rise to the function (Physiology) of matter. Since these four energies are inseparable, the structure and function of matter (Anatomy and physiology) are inseparable i.e. The structure of matter itself is functional. Apart from these internal inseparable, ever-changing functional energies, there are no other additional, external forces acting on matter which gives rise to formation, maturation and decay of matter. Since all matter in the Universe is made-up of these four energies, all matter in the Universe is qualitatively similar. (Diagram 1). There is only a quantitive difference between each matter due to relative proportions of the four energies.

e.g. 1. Both, the material human body and the World are made-up of the same four energies. Hence qualitatively, material human body and the World are exactly similar. The material human body undergoes formation, maturation and decay within about a period of 120 years due to the actions of Apo, Tejo and Vayo energies respectively.

Similarly, the Earth undergoes formation, maturation and decay within millions of years due to the actions of Apo, Tejo and Vayo energies respectively.

2. A surgeon analyses the formation, maturation and decay (Rupture) of an abcess in the human body where-as a Geologist may analyse the formation, maturation and decay of a volcano but both the Surgeon and the Geologist analyses the activities of the same four energies.

3. A doctor may analyse the formation, maturation and decay of a red blood cell which takes 120 days or the respiratory cycle of formation (Beginning of inspiration) maturation (maximal end of inspiration) and decay (Expiration) which takes few seconds, or the cardiac cycle of formation (Beginning of contraction of the heart) maturation (Maximal contraction of the heart) and decay (Relaxation of the heart) which occurs about 72 times per minute;

Whereas a cosmologist may analyze the formation, maturation and decay of a galaxy which takes billions of years but ultimately the doctor and the cosmologist, both analyse the activities of the same four energies.

Field-forces ("Nama")

The field-force that associate matter is a product of matter which in-turn causes movement of matter. (See diagram 2) This is the force that moves the whole Universe. With the help of these field-forces, all matter in the Universe is interdependent and interconnected. Everything is affecting everything else in the Universe.

This field-force has been incompletely identified by the western scientists as a combination of electrical force, magnetic force and the gravitational force. All matter in the Universe (e.g. an atom, a cell, the human body, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, a planet or a star is concerned), has its own field-force.

1. The electrical field force that associates the human body is made use of when we do an electrocardiogram (E.C.G. - to detect the activity of the heart) or when we do an electroencephalogram (to detect the activity of the brain)

2. The magnetic field force that associates the human body is made use of when we do a magnetic resonance imaging (M.R.I. Scan to detect the structure of the brain, spinal cord etc.)

3. Since the material human body has a mass (M), it is associated with a gravitational field force as well.

These electrical, magnetic and gravitational field forces that associate the human body are exactly similar to those forces that associate the Earth, the Sun, moon or an atom or any material object in the Universe. With the help of these field-forces, the whole material Universe is interconnected and interdependent.

The field-force that associates the material human body is called the Subconscious force or the Karmic force. With the help of these subconscious force (Karmic force), the individual is in communication with the whole Universe. Since these subconscious forces are also in a continuous dynamic process of change, there is no permanent self, soul or a spirit in association with this subconscious field force (Karmic force). This dynamic subconscious forces give rise to the individual's Self image' which is actually made-up of ever-changing field-forces.

The individual's attitudes, habits, fears, talents or in-short the individual's long term memory is stored in this dynamic subconscious force.

The individual's actions which are performed by thoughts, deeds and words due to greed, hatred and delusion result in formation of new field-forces (new karmic forces). The newly formed subconscious force (Karmic force) will contain the "image" of the performed action similar to a radio wave which carries the image of the same voice.

Since this Subconscious force is in communication with the whole Universe, the new field-force (Karmic force) will attract similar events from the Universe, and will result in realization (Actualization) of field-force (Karmic force). i.e.

The field-force will act as a blue-print of the individual's future and it will materialize as the individual's future. This theory is called the law of karma.

Virtuous actions done by thoughts, words or deeds will produce similar karmic forces which will in-tern manifest as similar, pleasant results.

Evil actions done by thoughts, words or deeds will produce similar karmic forces which will in-turn manifest as similar, unpleasant results.

Reincarnation

At the time of death, the field-forces (Subconscious force, karmic force) leaves the material human body with an imprint of the individual's self image. This is similar to a radio wave which only carries the 'sound image.' (A radio wave carries neither the same voice nor a different voice except a 'voice image').

These field-forces (Karmic forces) exist in the environment. When a potentially suitable embryo is found, these field-forces are attracted to it, similar to a radio wave that is attracted to a radio which has been tuned to the 'same frequency'.

When the radio wave is attracted to a radio which is tuned to the same frequency, this results in manifestation of the sound image which is neither the same original voice nor a different voice. Similarly when these dynamic karmic forces are being attracted to a fetus of similar potential, there is manifestation or materialization of these karmic forces.

The radio wave does not carry the voice except the 'voice image'. Similarly, the subconscious force carries only a 'self image'. i.e. neither the same self, nor a different self.

So it is very clear that there is no permanent acting and thinking self inside this ever-changing (Impermanent) material human body. Also it is very clear that there is no permanent acting and thinking self, soul or a spirit in association with the material body or in association with the subconscious field-forces. This phenomena is called the selflessness.

Instead there exists only an ever-changing (Impermanent) "self-image" in association with the subconscious field-forces. At the time of death, this ever-changing subconscious field-forces with the "self-image" is transmitted to the next life which is the Buddhist doctrine of reincarnation.

From the author's book The Science and the Art of Buddhism published by the Buddhist Cultural Centre, Nedimala, Dehiwala.

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