
There are also Buddhists who believe in two versions of reincarnation. They see reincarnation as a human as a special opportunity to escape the cycle of samsara and reach Nirvana. For instance, some Buddhists believe we can reincarnate as animals or even gods. Contrary to popular belief, the idea of karma isn’t as simple as “What goes around, comes around.”īuddhists believe we don’t always reincarnate as humans. Someone who cultivated positive karma through right actions in life may reincarnate as someone who will enjoy a positive and pleasant life. The way someone acted in a previous life will influence what they reincarnate as. In Buddhism, the reincarnation process of being reborn is associated with suffering and called samsara. What is reincarnation?īuddhists believe that human beings are born and reborn an infinite number of times until they achieve Nirvana. While Buddhists don’t believe good people necessarily go to heaven and bad people go to hell after death, the Buddha states that actions in this life affect what happens to someone when they reincarnate. That’s not to say Buddhists don’t believe a person’s actions in this life will affect what happens to them after they die. The Buddhist afterlife does not involve a god sending someone to a specific realm based on whether they’re a sinner. However, they don’t believe in heaven or hell as most people typically understand them. Do Buddhists believe in heaven and hell?īuddhists do believe in a form of life after death. Instead, they see death as a recurring step in an ongoing process of death and rebirth.Īs the following points will explain in greater detail, in Buddhism, when a person dies, the karma they’ve cultivated throughout their existence determines what happens next. Significance of death in Buddhismīelievers in the Buddhist afterlife do not consider death to be an end in the same way practitioners of many other religions do.

» MORE: For those near and far, come together with an online memorial page. This guide will familiarize you with the essentials: However, there are some general Buddhist afterlife beliefs and traditions that are relatively consistent across all major branches. The information here is merely a general overview. The beliefs of Tibetan Buddhists won’t necessarily overlap perfectly with those of Mahayana Buddhists. But before going further, it’s important to understand that different branches of Buddhism have somewhat different beliefs.

Buddhist Beliefs About Deathīuddha had many things to say about life and death. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of. Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. That said, the following points will certainly shed more light on the unique ways Buddhists traditionally depict the experiences of a soul after life is over (and why the idea of a soul in Buddhism is different from what you might think). A single blog post can’t teach you everything you need to know about the Buddhist afterlife. Keep in mind that scholars have devoted entire books to this subject. Buddhist beliefs about death reflect many core tenets of the overall religion. By studying death in different cultures, not only do you learn about those cultures, but you can also reflect on your own beliefs as well. If you’re interested in learning about Buddhism, the Buddhist afterlife is a good place to start. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible.
