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

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. Review “This is the most comprehensive and scholarly study on rebirth and karma that I have seen and would in my opinion constitute an authoritative work on this subject for many years to come. I hope that Roger Jackson will encourage colleagues to work on Sinhala and Tamil translations of this book.” —Gananath Obeyesekere, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Princeton University. “The fruit of a lifetime of deep engagement with the subject, Roger Jackson’s Rebirth traces the history of Buddhist ideas about reincarnation across the Buddhist world from ancient times to the present. This is the definitive work on the topic. No other work matches it in terms of breadth and depth. Written in lively and accessible prose, and evincing Jackson’s tremendous erudition on every page, Rebirth is a major contribution to the study of Buddhism and the history of religions.” —José I. Cabezón, Dalai Lama Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara. “Rebirth is the definitive study of Buddhist thought on this topic. Roger Jackson's scholarship is impeccable, attending to a vast literature with meticulous attention both to text and to context; the narrative arc takes us from pre-Buddhist Indian thought through contemporary Western Buddhist attitudes, exploring arguments for the reality of rebirth, the metaphysics of rebirth, and the role that rebirth plays in the larger Buddhist project. This is an extraordinary contribution to Buddhist Studies.”—Jay L. Garfield, Professor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne. “Erudite and eloquent, Roger Jackson takes the reader on a journey across the Buddhist world and across the centuries, from ancient India to contemporary America, setting forth both the mechanics and the poetics of rebirth along the way. For those who know little, you will learn much. For those who know much, you will learn more.” —Donald S. Lopez Jr., Arthur E. Link Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, University of Michigan. “While Buddhism has no dogma, it does rest on a unique ‘view’ that necessarily includes acceptance of the reality of karma and rebirth. This is a complex subject; it is not possible to understand this Buddhist view without both distinguishing ultimate from relative truth and at the same time recognizing the inseparability of these two truths. While Roger Jackson’s new book on rebirth perhaps wisely avoids this complexity at a theoretical and philosophical level, it makes an important contribution to the discussion by approaching it at a very practical level. I found Dr. Jackson’s dissection of the different ways Buddhists approach the subject of rebirth to be not only interesting and provocative but also a valuable contribution to the way the subject can be understood and presented in the modern world.” —Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, author of What Makes You Not a Buddhist. “Since [rebirth] is both so central to the Buddhist worldview, yet so commonly misunderstood, Jackson’s new book is almost like a public service.”—Buddhistdoor Global About the Author Roger R. Jackson, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies and Religion at Carleton College. He has nearly 50 years of experience with the study and practice of Buddhism, particularly in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. His special interests include Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and ritual; Buddhist religious poetry; religion and society in Sri Lanka; the study of mysticism; and contemporary Buddhist thought. Roger is a highly respected and beloved scholar, Dharma teacher, and writer. He has authored many scholarly books and articles, and is a frequent contributor to Lion’s Roar, Buddhadharma, and Tricycle magazines.