Rebirth: A Guide to Mind, Karma, and Cosmos in the Buddhist World

by Roger R Jackson

For anyone interested in what happens after death, this is a definitive guide to the concept of rebirth, or reincarnation, in Buddhism.

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.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2022

Reviews

[Stuart Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Jackson has made a dramatic choice in focusing his review of Buddhist thought and history on the idea of rebirth or multiple lives. As Jackson shows, rebirth has been a central tenet of Buddhist thought from its beginnings in India, to the expansion and development that is known as the Mahayana tradition, to the traveling of Buddhist thought beyond India, and the ways that it adapted to the cultures of other east and South asian countries. In the process, Jackson shows how rebirth is also closely tied to other central Buddhist beliefs, such as karma, mind and enlightenment. The survey is thus quite broad, but tightly focussed at the same time. The book’s subtitle, “A Guide to Mind, Karma, and Cosmos in the Buddhist World,” gives a sense of the many strands of this discussion, as well as its importance for an understanding of Buddhism.

Jackson’s choice of focus is dramatic because, as the last chapters show, rebirth has increasingly become a topic either slighted or ignored altogether as Buddhism has moved into the Western world. It has been argued that one cannot be a Buddhist and simply jettison beliefs in rebirth and karma, and Jackson shows how deeply rooted these ideas are in Buddhist thought. But this book is not at all dogmatic — it makes unavoidable the centrality of its main focus but at the same time recognizes the declining appeal of rebirth in the world in which we live. And in the final chapter, Jackson makes clear that he is himself caught up in the challenge that rebirth presents to a contemporary Buddhist.

If this sounds dense, that is probably because of my attempt to boil down a whole lot of information and discussion into two paragraphs. In fact, Jackson is an amiable guide throughout, explaining difficult concepts with the light touch of a teacher with years of experience. And he handles those same concepts with the assurance of one who has thought about and studied Buddhism for a long time.

With the above paragraphs, I have tried to give a sober account of the book, but I also want to convey my own sense of enthusiasm. Maybe this book just hit me at exactly the right time in my own progress on the path, but it pulled together and made coherent so many strands of Buddhist thought that I am sure it will remain my guide for a long time to come. Even more importantly, it gives me the tools to face squarely and honestly the challenges presented by aspects of Buddhism that are hard to believe. The book does not close off discussion but rather illuminates and enriches it.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very even handed and scientific overview of the concept of rebirth and how it’s represented across different Buddhist lineages with citations of many classic Buddhist texts across geography and time. Include modern debates.

The book is a well researched academic study and refrains from any personal opinions or conjectures. Although I would have liked a bit more insight from the author after his broad scale study of the topic.

While not the intention of the book, I also would have liked less words on speculative and obviously post Buddha era hypotheses vs sources we know to be closer in date to the life of the Buddha

[Ceri D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for doing the hard thinking!

I feel genuine gratitude to Jackson for so thoroughly exploring these topics with real intellectual honesty. I also really appreciated his description of his own “as if” position, which I think can be the only truly honest position to take as a modern person participating in Buddhist practice and ritual.

[Vladimir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as in-depth as one might expect. The author's focus on giving a comprehensive overview is to the detriment of depth. It's a good place to start but that's about it.

[Jonah Branding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely awesome