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Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research
Join a rigorous scholar and Buddhist monk on a rich tour of rebirth, from ancient doctrine to contemporary debates.
German Buddhist monk and university professor Bhikkhu Analayo had not given much attention to the topic of rebirth before some friends asked him to explore the treatment of the issue in early Buddhist texts. This succinct volume presents his findings, approaching the topic from four directions. The first chapter examines the doctrine of rebirth as it is presented in the earliest Buddhist sources and the way it relates to core doctrinal principles. The second chapter reviews debates about rebirth throughout Buddhist history and up to modern times, noting the role of confirmation bias in evaluation of evidence. Chapter 3 reviews the merits of current research on rebirth, including near-death experience, past-life regression, and children who recall previous lives. The chapter concludes with an examination of xenoglossy, the ability to speak languages one has not learned previously, and chapter 4 examines the particular case of Dhammaruwan, a Sri Lankan boy who chants Pali texts that he does not appear to have learned in his present life. Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research brings together the many strands of the debate on rebirth in one place, making it both comprehensive and compact. It is not a polemic but an interrogation of the evidence, and it leaves readers to come to their own conclusions.
German Buddhist monk and university professor Bhikkhu Analayo had not given much attention to the topic of rebirth before some friends asked him to explore the treatment of the issue in early Buddhist texts. This succinct volume presents his findings, approaching the topic from four directions. The first chapter examines the doctrine of rebirth as it is presented in the earliest Buddhist sources and the way it relates to core doctrinal principles. The second chapter reviews debates about rebirth throughout Buddhist history and up to modern times, noting the role of confirmation bias in evaluation of evidence. Chapter 3 reviews the merits of current research on rebirth, including near-death experience, past-life regression, and children who recall previous lives. The chapter concludes with an examination of xenoglossy, the ability to speak languages one has not learned previously, and chapter 4 examines the particular case of Dhammaruwan, a Sri Lankan boy who chants Pali texts that he does not appear to have learned in his present life. Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research brings together the many strands of the debate on rebirth in one place, making it both comprehensive and compact. It is not a polemic but an interrogation of the evidence, and it leaves readers to come to their own conclusions.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published April 24, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 2, 2018
still do not buy the whole thing about reincarnation ... i hope this does not make me less of a buddhist ... i'm skeptical by nature
March 4, 2020
"Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research" is a very scholarly and detailed study into the doctrine of reincarnation through the use of paranormal reports of Near Death Experiences, Past Life Regression, and Childrens' Memories of Past Lives. Although there are logical and scientific explanations for many of these reports, it seems rather improbable that all of these cases can be considered bogus and products of fantasy. However, it should be noted, that a main tenet of Buddhism is that nothing should be accepted other that through one's experience but one should always be open to the possibility of a given phenomena.
August 17, 2024
Systematic and precise explanation of what the conception ribirth and Kamma-Kamma (intentional volition) and its non monocosal nature. Analayo gives the most precise evidence for rebirth there is, giving the possibility for all skeptics to stay at least agnostic about the possibility of rebirth instead of just dismissing it (which in the case of early Buddhism is considered a wrong view, while agnosticism of rebirth is not). May we all behave as if all our volitional actions metter and when we die we shell see maybe what reallyty is.
December 4, 2018
The most informative book I have read concerning the early Buddhist teachings about rebirth
I have read much of the Sutta Pitaka as translated from Pali by Maurice Walshe (The Long Discourses) and by Bikkhu Bodhu (most of the remaining material). Bikkhu Analayo is one of my other trusted sources, especially for comparative translations in multiple languages. His explanation of rebirth in early Buddhism is more lucid than anything else I have encountered.
I have read much of the Sutta Pitaka as translated from Pali by Maurice Walshe (The Long Discourses) and by Bikkhu Bodhu (most of the remaining material). Bikkhu Analayo is one of my other trusted sources, especially for comparative translations in multiple languages. His explanation of rebirth in early Buddhism is more lucid than anything else I have encountered.
January 7, 2020
I am a big fan of Analayo, but this his weakest work. The book is a hodgepodge that doesn't add up to much in the end. Read Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation or Excursions Into the Thought-World of the Pali Discourses instead ... even if you have read them already. It will be a better use of your time.
April 26, 2018
Interesting but clunky.
March 9, 2020
Great, shows the rebirth beliefs of Gautama Buddha, some contemporary evidence, and a case study of a pali xenoglossia.
Read
March 8, 2023I found the analytical rigour applied kind of comforting when I'm a bit lost with the subject matter. I think it will help me with keeping an open mind.
June 27, 2024
Bhikkhu Anālayo tasks himself with one of the most difficult challenges for Buddhists - to provide evidence, or clues that strongly infers the possibility of rebirth. This is no easy task if one is to take it seriously rather than the easier route of waxing lyrical about 'intuitions' and telling us to 'just have faith'.
Bhikkhu Anālayo brushes that all aside and embraces the challenge with the most unbiased position that a Buddhist monk can take. Furthermore, Bhikkhu Anālayo does not adopt the overused approach, albeit a popular and convincing one, to lay out story upon story of children remembering previous lives. Whilst this is included in the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo looks at the nature of the non-materially dependent mind, rebirth explained in the early Buddhist scriptures, Near Death Experiences, past life regressions and xenoglossy.
The book begins with a detailed account of rebirth from well-selected early Buddhist scriptures that you would expect from such an accomplished scholar as Bhikkhu Anālayo. This removes any doubt on whether Buddha taught rebirth and debunks the idea that Buddha taught it simply to appease the people at the time who supposedly already believed in rebirth. In fact, it is unveiled that there were multiple emerging and long standing groups of people at the time of Buddha, that either advocated alternative beliefs in the after life or denounced it altogether.
The book then moves on to the various debates that have been had on rebirth throughout history. These range from the intriguingly intellectual to the downright silly and forms the weaker part of the book. This is then followed by a great selection of stories of Near Death Experiences and past life regressions which will leave you much to ponder (even if you would like to critique them as being plausible coincidences or simply dismiss them as products of one's imagination).
The final part of the book is the most compelling and incredible section as it intricately details a personal account Bhikkhu Anālayo had with a child who would recite reams of scripture in a language the boy had no knowledge off, nor could not possibly have had knowledge off. It gets more bizarre as Bhikkhu Anālayo pre-empts every sceptical objection and rebuts each one, leading Bhikkhu Anālayo and myself to accept that some transference of forgotten historic knowledge may have been transferred over five centuries to this boy. Potentially then, a form of rebirth took place.
TLDR: For those interested in exploring the possibilities of an afterlife or simply the case for rebirth, this is a must read. This is a profoundly intriguing yet sober look into Near Death Experiences, past life regression, past life memories, xenoglossy and scriptural explanations, all reviewed by a monk being as unbiased as can be. The final act in this book is a real rubik's cube where the author investigates a personal case that will leave the most harden sceptic thoroughly perplexed.
Bhikkhu Anālayo brushes that all aside and embraces the challenge with the most unbiased position that a Buddhist monk can take. Furthermore, Bhikkhu Anālayo does not adopt the overused approach, albeit a popular and convincing one, to lay out story upon story of children remembering previous lives. Whilst this is included in the book, Bhikkhu Anālayo looks at the nature of the non-materially dependent mind, rebirth explained in the early Buddhist scriptures, Near Death Experiences, past life regressions and xenoglossy.
The book begins with a detailed account of rebirth from well-selected early Buddhist scriptures that you would expect from such an accomplished scholar as Bhikkhu Anālayo. This removes any doubt on whether Buddha taught rebirth and debunks the idea that Buddha taught it simply to appease the people at the time who supposedly already believed in rebirth. In fact, it is unveiled that there were multiple emerging and long standing groups of people at the time of Buddha, that either advocated alternative beliefs in the after life or denounced it altogether.
The book then moves on to the various debates that have been had on rebirth throughout history. These range from the intriguingly intellectual to the downright silly and forms the weaker part of the book. This is then followed by a great selection of stories of Near Death Experiences and past life regressions which will leave you much to ponder (even if you would like to critique them as being plausible coincidences or simply dismiss them as products of one's imagination).
The final part of the book is the most compelling and incredible section as it intricately details a personal account Bhikkhu Anālayo had with a child who would recite reams of scripture in a language the boy had no knowledge off, nor could not possibly have had knowledge off. It gets more bizarre as Bhikkhu Anālayo pre-empts every sceptical objection and rebuts each one, leading Bhikkhu Anālayo and myself to accept that some transference of forgotten historic knowledge may have been transferred over five centuries to this boy. Potentially then, a form of rebirth took place.
TLDR: For those interested in exploring the possibilities of an afterlife or simply the case for rebirth, this is a must read. This is a profoundly intriguing yet sober look into Near Death Experiences, past life regression, past life memories, xenoglossy and scriptural explanations, all reviewed by a monk being as unbiased as can be. The final act in this book is a real rubik's cube where the author investigates a personal case that will leave the most harden sceptic thoroughly perplexed.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews