In Hindu and Buddhist doctrine, reincarnation is a curse, dooming us to play out endless lives of misery, subject to the law of karma.
Pagans see reincarnation in a very different light. The earth is our paradise, to make of what we will. Coming back again and again, sharing our lives with our loved ones each time round, in different relationships, is a great joy.
That’s the view among many Pagans, anyway. Others have different views.
Actually in Buddhism rebirth is a natural effect rather than a “curse” or being “doomed”.
Karma actually means “action” and is not a law (unless you are a westerner). It simply means that a person experiences the consequences (effects) of their actions (karma).
Unless you are purely a negative person, then a person can experience joyful results (effects) of their actions just as much as not so joyful results (effects) of their actions.
I know next to nothing about Paganism, and have never been interested in researching it, but from your comments I assume that things are haphazard and there are no causes for things and people do not experience the results of their actions. So in Paganism, Hitler can come back and have a happy life and kill people all over again so long as he spends time with Eva Braun again. If this is Paganism, then I am not so sure I want to find out more about it.
Reincarnation is proposed as an opportunity to learn more until you get it all working right, after which, you ascend and no longer reincarnate.
And the Buddhists aren’t big on it. Only a small group of Buddhists even mention it. The focus of Buddhism is to ascend Now.
Yes, you’re right. You know nothing about Paganism.
I guess I know just about as much of Paganism as you do of Buddhism and Hinduism… I guess we are well matched in that regards.
Oh well, I guess this thread died quickly.
Okay, stand back… about to discharge… ZAP!
No! Still no sign of life for this thread!
I’m interested in the pagan concept of reincarnation if it implies my becoming a better person while not forgetting the people and things I now know. In the Tibetan Book of the Dead persons go though 49 days of detaching from their past lives. For me, if reincarnation does not retain in future lives what was my personal best–friends, family, experiences-- I’d rather opt out of it. In my life only the personal “attachments” have brought me any comfort.
Maia,
Please elaborate on the pagan view of reincarnation.