Jonathan Colligan
Wednesday 2/19/03
Theories of Reality
"Reincarnation"

A lot of people think of reincarnation as being more a Eastern religion, but western religion also believes in reincarnation. Todays class discussion was on the eastern tradition of reincarnation.

Ancient Greece- Socrates/Plato Pythogoras Mystery Religion

Eastern- Hinduism, Buddism (strange in early Buddism- no soul)

Hindu concept of "Life After Death"
-reincarnation
-union with the Brahman (god)- he is considered the ultimate reality
Their explanation of the Brahman- Your really absorbed by the Brahman-like a drop of rain merging with the ocean.
-No personality or immortality

Early Buddhism
-reincarnation - ex. lighting one candle and than taking that same flame and lighting another. process of rebirth
-Nirvana- a state of desireless bliss
*Noble Truth #2 Desire is the cause of suffering.
-no desires, no hopes, no dreams
-like being drugged out in a hospital bed for eternity