Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Why birth and death has one to one relationship?
Why can't we reborn as multiple personalities (more than one person)?

Hi Sarath, yes, it does seem to be true that without birth, there is not death. Buddhists would contend, death necessitates there (re)birth. Except for arahants, of course.

There are a few parts in the canon or perhaps the commentaries more likely where one can be reborn where it is more than one discrete entity, but not technically a separate "personality". But if you think too much about that stuff, it is kind of confusing!

SarathW wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:08 pm Why can't we reborn as multiple personalities (more than one person)?

'Rebirth' is 'upapajjati', meaning to inherit or reap something similar to the same nature as the previous kamma. 'Upa' means to 'follow' or 'grow out of the former'. For example, your kamma is to cause pain by violently killing and you later inherit a similar painful traumatic result.

How is this related to "reincarnation" or rebirth of a soul or Atman ('personality')? Did the Buddha ever teach 'rebirth' separate from 'kamma'; such as in the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says reincarnation occurs to every person regardless of kamma?

Do you think you, SarathW, will automatically have a human rebirth?

We are already reborn as "many", as form as feeling as perception as mental formations as sense consciousness... _/\_

Nwad wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 8:11 am We are already reborn as "many", as form as feeling as perception as mental formations as sense consciousness... _/\_

Agree.
But it is not the same time.
When we see we don't hear.
It is always one though moment.

SarathW wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:08 pm Why birth and death has one to one relationship?
Why can't we reborn as multiple personalities (more than one person)?

See also:

Subject: Can one be reborn into several beings at the same time?

SarathW wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:08 pm Why birth and death has one to one relationship?
Why can't we reborn as multiple personalities (more than one person)?

Only the person who is born dies and not anyone else.

SarathW wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:08 pm Why birth and death has one to one relationship?
Why can't we reborn as multiple personalities (more than one person)?

The suttas say that we're "heirs to our kamma", which seems to exclude the possibilty of sharing.

.


Even in simultaneous multiple personality disorder, there is only one person, if at all.


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DooDoot wrote: in the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says reincarnation occurs to every person

(he's telling the truth)

cappuccino wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:55 pm

DooDoot wrote: in the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says reincarnation occurs to every person

(he's telling the truth)

May I know ... what exactly do you mean by "the truth"; the exact point you accept as "the truth"?

Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta wrote: May I know ... what exactly do you mean by "the truth"; the exact point you accept as "the truth"?

in the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says reincarnation occurs to every person

cappuccino wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:20 am

Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta wrote: May I know ... what exactly do you mean by "the truth"; the exact point you accept as "the truth"?

in the Hindu Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna says reincarnation occurs to every person

Oh, well, right. You're telling the truth.

cappuccino wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:55 pm (he's telling the truth)

Are you sure? He seems to be referring to not going to hell or to the animal realm for engaging in war with & slaughtering relatives. He seems to be guaranteeing a 'human' reincarnation. This appears different to the teaching of the Buddha.

This Self cannot be cut, burnt, wetted or dried up. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, ancient and immovable.

The Self is unmanifest, unthinkable and unchangeable. Therefore, knowing it to be as such, you should not grieve.

But even if you think of it as being perpetually born and perpetually dying, even then, O Mighty Armed (Arjuna), you should not grieve.

Death is sure to happen to that which is born. Birth is sure to happen to that which dies. Birth and death are certainly unavoidable. Therefore you should not grieve over an inevitable occurrence.

https://www.esamskriti.com/e/Spirituali ... dge-1.aspx

DooDoot wrote: He seems to be guaranteeing a 'human' reincarnation.