Reincarnation has been a popular belief in cultures throughout the world for many millennia. The possibility that we lived before and may be born again, whether as a human or in some other form of existence, continues to fascinate us and features heavily in popular novels and movies, and also as a subject of recent scholarly studies. Although Buddhism is one of the religious traditions best known for asserting rebirth, the history and scope of Buddhist approaches to the idea has not received comprehensive treatment—until now.
This first-ever guide to ideas and practices surrounding rebirth in Buddhism covers the historical context for the Buddha’s teachings on the topic, explains what Buddhists believe is actually reborn and where, surveys rebirth-related practices in multiple Buddhist cultures, and considers whether all Buddhist traditions agree about what happens after death. The book also addresses interpretations of rebirth in modern Buddhist contexts and recent scientific attempts to document reincarnation in conversation with Buddhist beliefs It is, in short, the first truly comprehensive overview of rebirth across the major Buddhist traditions, written by a leading scholar and teacher of Buddhism.
目次
Abbreviations xi Preface xiii 1. Introduction: Rebirth in World Cultures i 2. Pre-Buddhist Indian Rebirth Theories 13 3. The Buddha on Rebirth 27 4. Where Rebirth Happens: A Quick Tour of the Buddhist Cosmos 49 5. How Rebirth Happens: The Twelve Links, Dying, and Being Reborn 69 6. Why Rebirth Happens: The Mysterious Mechanics of Karma 83 7. A Brief Note on "Popular" Traditions 97 8. Indian Mahayana Views of Rebirth 109 9. Indian Tantric Buddhist Views of Rebirth 135 10. Is Rebirth Real? Indian Buddhist Arguments 153 11. The Spread of Buddhism, and Theravada Views of Rebirth 177 12. East Asian Views of Rebirth 193 13. Inner Asian Views of Rebirth 209 14. Rebirth and Modern Buddhism 233 15. Contemporary Debates and Future Prospects 251 Notes 271 Bibliography 291 Index 305
