retrofuturist wrote: ↑Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:28 am
Re-incarnation of a soul in a new body? (
Wouldn't that be at odds with the Buddha's teaching of anatta?)
It would be at odd with the Buddha's teachings of anatta only in the strict sense of assuming anatta (as a term) to be corresponding to reality. Negating the soul theory only made the question of self continuity wide open: what is it that continues? and why it is so important to emphasize that it is not a soul or an essence of some sort?
Transmigration of a being? (
Satta has a certain meaning in the Buddhadhamma - is that what you mean?)
To frame the question of satta "to what extent is one said to be a being" does neither confirm nor deny satta by making it a question of degree, not of kind. This seems to be inline with the idea of gradual training that craving for a being can be reduced gradually by avoiding the extremes of being and non-being, but gives rise to problems of its own: choosing the middle path/avoiding the extremes can go indefinitely as one will continue to be presented with ethical choice/extremes to be avoided.
A new person created by some previous consciousness? (If so, what was "re"-d exactly?)
This has to do with the belief in the primacy of consciousness. In this context, the one who gets re-d is the one who chose not to commit suicide.
Transmigration of kamma? (If so, what was "re"-d exactly?)
If kamma is intention, one cannot imagine intentionality without becoming. Also one cannot imagine becoming without existence in time of which the idea of transmigration depends on. So, kamma depends on transmigration, and transmigration depends on kamma. The dynamic interdependence between the two is rebirth. What gets re-d is integral to the process, cannot be separated from it by definition.
One moment of consciousness giving life to a new moment of consciousness? (OK, but do you also call it rebirth when that happens continuously in the same body? If not, what was "re"-d exactly?)
Defining a moment of consciousness begets a beginning and an end of that moment. The length of that moment depends on how this moment is being measured. Between beginning and end, there is a space. This space can be divided indefinitely to create new beginnings and ends.
What do you mean by rebirth?
It depends on the context of which the term rebirth is being used.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.