Reincarnation vs Rebirth
The difference between reincarnation and rebirth is distinct, and while both terms refer to being born again, they do not have the same meaning. Reincarnation refers to the re-embodiment of the same soul but in a different body, whereas rebirth is the state of being born again or taking another birth. Reincarnation usually refers to the rebirth of the same person at a different place after death.
What does Reincarnation mean?
A person who is considered the reincarnation of someone who lived in the past exhibits the same signs and mannerisms of that person. They may or may not remember the events of the previous birth. Sometimes, people who reincarnate can predict that they will do so and may even predict the time and place of the reincarnation. In reincarnation, a person is reborn as another human being. To better understand the concept of reincarnation, think of changing clothes – when you change your clothes, you put on a new set while removing the old ones. Just like this, in reincarnation, a person gets a new body, but the permanent entity called the soul lives on.
What does Rebirth mean?
Rebirth simply means being born again. A person who takes rebirth cannot predict what they will be in the next birth. A person who is reborn or takes rebirth does not exhibit the same signs and characteristics of the previous birth. In other words, the person may be born as a human being or any other living being in the next birth. Rebirth is considered a part of the chain of births and deaths – a person who is born will eventually die, and a person who is dead is subjected to rebirth again. It is a continuous cycle that goes on uninterrupted, with liberation being the only way to free oneself from the cycle of birth and death.
Key Takeaways
- Reincarnation refers to the re-embodiment of the same soul in a different body, while rebirth means being born again or taking another birth.
- In reincarnation, a person is born again as another human being, whereas in rebirth, a person can be born as any living being (human or animal).
- A reincarnated person shows the same signs and mannerisms of their previous life, while a person who is reborn does not exhibit the same signs and characteristics of their previous birth.
