Reincarnation vs. Rebirth

[Anonymous]

Hello all. i've been terribly confused on a particular subject....what is the difference between reincarnation and rebirth? :? I have a vague grasp of the differences i think...but am still confused. Also, do you have any info on how the ancient celts viewed the afterlife?
Thank you all very much...
~Twistedfeather~

[RedRonin]

The terms get kinda used interchangeably most of the time.

To be a little more accurate, reincarnation has you coming back in some other form, not always human.  Rebirth is you coming back as a regular biped.

[Sebbi]

In western spirituality it is very ambiguous, however in the east it's a very clear difference.

Buddhists will say they believe in Rebirth, reincarnation being a Hindu concept.

In Buddhism there is no such thing as the soul (this philosophy is called anatman), in Hinduism they do believe in the soul. In the Bhagvad Gita - Kaitanya describes reincarnation with something along the lines of "After death your sheds it's old body like a discarded piece of clothing and then finds a new one"

In Buddhism, since there is no soul, there is no-one to wear the clothes so this doesn't work.

In Buddhism, it is believed that our actions, thoughts, volitions etc, create an impact on the universe, and so, if only subtly, everything you do has an impact on the rest of the universe. When we die, we live on through our legacy, and rebirth is something along these lines.

I hope this makes sense.

If you want furthur reading I suggest you get Karma and Rebirth by Nagapriya - I think it's available on Windhorse Publications, though don't quote me on that.

Much Love
Sebbi

[Anonymous]

Ah, this is great: a topic I know about! I'm not too sure on the definitions of rebirth and reincarnation, but I do know that the ancient Celts believed in a cauldron of rebirth, which I guess everyone went into when they died. Just thought that piece of info might be useful.

Blessed be.

[Anonymous]

Can you tell morea about the cauldron of rebirth? I've heard about it a few times but i don't really know much about it.  

Brightest Blessings!!
 
Twistedfeather

[Anonymous]

Well, it's all in my Mythology Encyclopaedia, and that's buried in a suitcase right now (I'm redecorating). So I'm afraid that you'll have to wait a few days for me to get it out, and then I'll tell you all you wish to know.

[Anonymous]

kool.....i guess i can waite. lol.  

[Anonymous]

Yah, sorry about this. I shall get the info to you asap.

[Fillionous]

My understanding of the Celtic mythology surrounding the cauldron of rebirth is as follows. (This is a very brief over view... there is masses of information out ther if you care to search.)

The Caudron was one of Four great treasures assosiated with the Irish / Welsh / Scottish / celtic peoples. (The others being a spear, a sword and a stone.) Depending on the myth they were gifted to the lords of Tara / Ireland by ansestral lingage from the Gods or posibly from the Sidhe. Each is also assosiated with an element and it's own stories and mythology. (For example there are some who still claim that the Stone of Scone, on which Scottish kings are traditionally crowned, is actually the stone of the myths... or at the very least is related to the same linage of stories of stones of power.)

The cauldron is reputed to have powers over life and death, symbolic of healing, assosiated with symbologys of caves, water,  the womb, rebirth and various Godesses and indeed various blessing / naming ceromonies similar to baptisum (called saining). It is said that bathing in the waters of the cauldron (along with the correct ritual/s) will cure any ill (including death) provided the spinal column is not severed and the brain and bone marrow are intact. There are a number of legends assosiated with its use after battles to raise the newly dead warriors so that they can return to the field.

There is ofacuse much more... but to much to re-wite here. If you are turely interested then dig into the celtic myths and legends... read, research and you will quikly bump into stories assosiated with the four treasures.

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

[Anonymous]

But still.... does anyone know the differences between the 2?? :?

[danae]

Here's my two cents.

Rebirth:  Literally, born over or again.  So to me, that means that the soul is born over.  (This is what most Christians mean when they speak of being born again.)  Same body, different soul.

Reincarnation:  I believe that the literal meaning is something along the lines of "re-entering the flesh," but I could be wrong about that.  To me, this is the same soul, but a different body.

So they are similar.  But different.  

Again, this is my opinion.  And I could be wrong!

[Sewa Yoleme]

This should clarify matters for you:

Rebirth

Reincarnation

.:. Sewa Yoleme

[Anonymous]

Hmm....it's rather strange of me to ask this but....is it "possible" to sort of ... believe in or accect "both sides" of what happens after we die?  :? Just curious...but for some reason...i feel as though i have nothing at all to be worried about when i pass on...except it'll be really sad leaving all the people i love....but (hopefully) that wont happen for a long, long time. =^_^=

Twistedfeather