Do most Buddhist try to avoid being reincarnated?

Question

I always thought people wanted to get reincarnated but when i studied a bit of Buddhism and Hinduism it looked as if most people strive to not come back to earth at all, what is your thoughts on reincarnation would you want to come back to earth or would you like to become nothing?

Answer 1

That you might become part of the universe in a higher plain, is the gaol.  But to strive for less is like not trying to be the best person you can be, or not learning from this life at all.

Answer 2

Not that most Budhist want not to come back. Their whole religion is how not to come back. And don't be worried if you want to come back. You can come back millions of times till the time you are finished and say enough is enough. I do not want this stupidity any longer and I want to know how not to come back. Till that time there is no point being religious. Just enjoy the life to the fullest.If you are determined to enjoy the life to it's fullest next year you will say i am finished and I don't want any more.

Answer 3

you can't avoid being reincarnated. As a buddhist, and from what i know, my buddhist friends do not mind being reincarnated because they have not done anything bad.

edit-

a person would be reincarnated as a human being unless they have done really cruel things like torturing dogs for example. In their next  life, they would most probably be reincarnated as a dog subjected to the same torture or maybe worse

Answer 4

It's not a perpetual cycle, there is a reason for it. Basically you are reincarnated into your worst fear or enemy. Until your soul learns all the lessons it is supposed to. Then you are free to be eternal, heaven that sort.

Answer 5

becoming nothing?

no

you certainly become nothing

because you dont change

you are merly enligtend into the fact

that you already are everything

not part of a whole

but everything

we are one with seperate view ports

everything is one

everything is nothingness

reincarnation

is all about coming back and figuring out

how to connect with the everything

that you once were but seperated yourself from

Answer 6

The goal of the philosophy of Buddism is to acheive the highest form of enlightenment so you are not 'reincarnated'.

I know of one gal from Cambodia in my apartment complex that said it was such a sad philosophy to become smoke  at the end,didn't seem to be a great accomplishment after a full life.  She converted to Christianity because she likes the idea of Heaven, it makes her happy. I prefer resurrection to reincarnation.. you only go around one time in life.

Answer 7

I do not know, but why would anyone get punished for the things that they do not even remember in 'another life'. Reincarnation is really a Hindu concept more

Answer 8

When I first thought about reincarnation, even after accepting my suffering, It was difficult for me to think that there was not a heaven. I've been in enough pain to know what pain is and at the time I felt that I wouldn't want to come back here. I was afraid of going through all of those terrible things all over again.

But then I think about what it would feel like if I couldn't have an o****m. I wonder what it would be like if I couldn't run my fingers through my girlfriend's hair, or eat 5 big scoops of chocolate ice cream. I think of my thoughts as a kid when I would drive some sort of vehicle, and how cool it was then when I was so little, and how silly it all seems now.

Yes, I would return here... if only to remain defiant. If only to spit in all of your faces all over again. It is my honor.

Answer 9

one would hope to live one's life in perfect harmony with all of Nature and mankind and not HAVE to come back to rectify a wrong.... once perfection is reached, then Nirvana, Paradise is one's next incarnation and perfect peace and joy is all one will then know......if we don't 'get it right' we have to come back until we do.... and it would be wonderful to not have to come back!!

Answer 10

The Buddha clearly asked his followers not to believe things simply because he said them or they are stated in religious texts but because you have experience of them being true (Kalama Sutta). It follows therefore that there should be no pressure on the Buddhist to believe in reincarnation – from others or from within themselves. Reincarnation is not one of the 4 noble truths and does not feature in the 8 fold path or Meditation.

This site is dedicated to encouraging open free debate and thought on the issue of reincarnation (a term used here to mean ‘Rebirth’at the point of death). We would like to make the following points derived from human experience.

Answer 11

The spiritual goal of Buddhism is to reach the stage of 'enlightenment' and become a/the "Buddha". This involves transgressing the material and corporeal existence and so escaping the constant rebirth of 'samsara'. Nirvana is to let our souls escape into the grand nothingness (meaning 'extinguishing').

Answer 12

Reincarnation is not a choice but a cycle.  So it is like asking, would you like to go to h**l or purgatory? It's not really your choice.  But to answer your question techinically, I would return to earth.  The only way you can grow to be a better human being is to go through life.  Why would you not want to come back at all? Because you have reached nirvana and accepted / realized that reality is a material concept.  This is the ultimate goal of buddihsm.

I am not sure where some of the people above me are quoting sources from...but 'being reborn as your worst enemy' is completely inaccurate.