Reincarnation
Reincarnation, also known as rebirth, transmigration, or metempsychosis, is a philosophical or religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new life in a different physical form. It is a central tenet of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and is also found in various forms in many other religious and philosophical traditions. The belief in reincarnation refers to the idea that an aspect of every human being (or all living beings in some cultures) continues to exist after death and is reborn in an interconnected cycle of existence. Reincarnation is widely accepted by major Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, and has a history in ancient Greek philosophy. However, it is not a belief in the major monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which conceive of time linearly and do not support the idea of reincarnation.
In the original forms of reincarnation, it was believed that souls transform from life to life in never-ending cycles, and it was even thought possible to reincarnate into the form of an animal or plant. However, most modern, popular versions of reincarnation limit this never-ending process to the transmigration of the soul into human bodies. The belief in karma, the law of cause and effect, is often associated with reincarnation, stating that what one does in this present life will have its effect in the next life.
In summary, reincarnation is a concept deeply rooted in various religious and philosophical traditions, particularly in Indian religions, and it revolves around the idea of the non-physical essence of a living being beginning a new life in a different physical form after death. While widely accepted in some traditions, it is not a belief in major monotheistic religions.
