Consciousness and Rebirth

[Martin]

@jimisommer

I think a big problem when it comes to rebirth is that people get too technical when trying to explain it. If the inner working are left a little broader and maybe even more vague, then, at least to me, it starts to sound a lot more reasonable. And not because it has to be totally rational in a scientific sense, but just because it only works off of exactly what the Buddha says in the text and no more. Any thoughts?

The problem for me is the lack of detail in the suttas about the actual mechanics of rebirth.

[ERose]

Perhaps my comment (on mechanics of death) is off topic. Editing just to this stub.

[Mat]

@Martin

lack of detail in the suttas about the actual mechanics of rebirth.

Good point- what were you hoping to see?

with metta

[Martin]

@Mat

Good point- what were you hoping to see?

Some explanation of what exactly is “reborn”, and how it actually happens. “Reborn” is perhaps misleading, since it seems more like a conditional re-arising or re-appearance - I’m not sure of what though!

[Mat]

@Martin

how it actually happens

Bhava sutta describes this.

@Martin

“Reborn” is perhaps misleading, since it seems more like a conditional re-arising or re-appearance - I’m not sure of what though!

The interplay between consciousness and nama-rupa arises, the latter with the help of a father and a mother in season (Maha-nidana sutta, DN15…).

My summary of the different factors involved:

with metta