PeterB wrote:What the individual sees as essential is not the issue.
The question becomes what does the Buddha see as essential, and he answers that with the 4NT, and 8FP, not by recourse to punabhava... a concept which is capable of diverse interpretations...a diversity which has led to this thread of inordinate length.
4NT contain ponobhavikā.
"
Now what, friends, is the noble truth of stress? Birth is stressful, aging is stressful, death is stressful; sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair are stressful; not getting what is wanted is stressful.[2] In short, the five clinging-aggregates are stressful."
Please guess what "
not getting what is wanted is stressful" means?
""
And what is the stress of not getting what is wanted? In beings subject to birth, the wish arises, 'O, may we not be subject to birth, and may birth not come to us.' But this is not to be achieved by wanting. ..."
If there was one-life, it would be pointless trying to stop birth and all the dukkha that it will bring again, so this question would not even make sense. How can you stop what will not occur (
if there is only one life)? Also if death will happen only once, then why such a big deal about stopping it which is impossible, if there was one life only?
"
And what is birth? Whatever birth, taking birth, descent, coming-to-be, coming-forth, appearance of aggregates, & acquisition of [sense] spheres of the various beings in this or that group of beings, that is called birth."
[Mara:]
Why don't you approve of birth? Once born, one enjoys sensual pleasures. Who now has persuaded you of this: 'Bhikkhuni, don't approve of birth'?
[Cala:]
For one who is born there is death; Once born, one encounters sufferings — Bondage, murder, affliction — Hence one shouldn't approve of birth. The Buddha has taught the Dhamma, The transcendence of birth; For the abandoning of all suffering He has settled me in the truth.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .bodh.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
""
And what is death? Whatever deceasing, passing away, breaking up, disappearance, dying, death, completion of time, break up of the aggregates, casting off of the body, interruption in the life faculty of the various beings in this or that group of beings, that is called death."
""
And what, friends, is the noble truth of the origination of stress? The craving that makes for further becoming (ponobhavikā) ..."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
ponobhavikā= leading to rebirth.
Please note that 2nd NT is about craving that leads to rebirth! Not some psychological "
I wanted this car, but the stock market crashed and now I am poor" sort of thing.
So even within 4NT, it meantions rebirth, its perils and stopping of it.