The Amorphous Nature of Reincarnation: Individual's Beliefs Determine Thought Process

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 June 2024 Sinan Ibn Salman Ibn Muhammad, Also Known As Rashid Al-Din Sinan, (R. 1162-92) Subscribed To The Transmigration Of Souls As A Tenet Of The Alawi, Who Are Thought To Have Been Influenced By Isma’ilism. Modern Sufis Who Embrace The Idea Of Reincarnation Include Bawa Muhaiyadeen. ----- I can empathise with Mr Syed Zaidi's outburst. I take it in my stride because it's his belief that makes him react in a vituperative manner. His surname Zaidi suggests that he's a Shia Muslim. Right? An individual's beliefs determine his/her thought process. Photo: https://ocoy.org/ ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: The Dubious Shebang of Appointing a Dalai Lama ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Humans are bundles of beliefs. While reincarnation is refuted by all the main monotheistic religions of the world, including Islam, the idea of reincarnation is accepted by a few Muslim sects, particularly of the Shia sect (Ghulat), and by other sects in the Muslim world such as Druzes. Ghulat Shia Muslim sect regards its founders as in some special sense divine incarnations (Hulul). Historically, South Asian Isma’ilis performed chants yearly, one of which is for sins committed in past lives. Further, Sinan ibn Salman ibn Muhammad, also known as Rashid al-Din Sinan, (r. 1162-92) subscribed to the transmigration of souls as a tenet of the Alawi, who are thought to have been influenced by Isma’ilism. Modern Sufis who embrace the idea of reincarnation include Bawa Muhaiyadeen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: The Doctrine of Reincarnation Explains Many Phenomena of Life ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It must be mentioned that though the Quran rejects the concept of reincarnation, it preaches the existence of the soul. The principle belief in Islam is that there is only one birth on this earth. The Doomsday comes after death and an individual will be judged as to whether he'll go to hell or be unified with god. What's reincarnation: One of the mysteries puzzling the human mind since the origin of mankind is the concept of “reincarnation.” It is derived from Latin and literally means “to take on the flesh again,” in other words, “to take on the fleshy (physical) body.” Discussion of the subject appears in the philosophical traditions of India and Greece from about the 6th century BC. What exactly is reincarnation? It simply means that we leave one life and go into another; it is all for the sole purpose of soul development and spiritual growth. The soul may take the form of human, animal, or plant depending on the moral quality of the previous life's actions. This doctrine is a central tenet of the Indian and Greek religions. However, reincarnation implies that the person remains essentially the same, while occupying a new body. Reincarnation is also known by other terms like “rebirth,” “metempsychosis” (Greek word), “transmigration” (English equivalent of metempsychosis), “disambiguation,” “palingenesis” and so on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Reincarnation Stories Told By Children Bring New Light On Soul Or Spirit: An Ideological Challenge To Islam? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This writer didn't criticise the whole caboodle of reincarnation. He criticised the manipulative as well as deceptive nature of appointing a Dalai Lama on the basis of a transmigration of the soul. Buddha appointed his closest disciple Anand as his successor, not on the basis of reincarnation but on the basis of Anand’s 'relative enlightenment' (Pratyastiti in Sanskrit/ Pratyas in Pali). Buddha said, "Ne Va Nishkanti Nidham" (No more successor after that). But as we know, any spiritual journey or concept splits into sects, sub sects and sub sets. Today, every faith has innumerable sects and sub sects. Subsets of Mahayana Buddhism include Tibetan Buddhism and Namchak lineage. The concept of Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism came into being only in the 14th century, Gendun Drup (1391-1474) being the First Dalai Lama whereas Buddhism is more than 2, 600-yr-old. Obviously, it's a theological interpolation which aims at the supremacy of one person, called the Dalai Lama. Pristine Buddhism didn't believe in hierarchical hegemony. But in the case of Tibetan Buddhism, all powers are enshrined in one individual, the Dalai Lama. Moreover, it thus far denied a woman's spiritual sublimation to become the Dalai Lama. It's worthwhile to mention that the Hinayana sect of Buddhism takes the whole process of reincarnation as well as the appointment of Dalai Lamas with a pinch of salt because Hinayana Buddhism considers Gautama Buddha as an ordinary human being who attained Nirvana. According to Hinayana, all ordinary humans are capable of attainment of Nirvana and Enlightenment. There are NO select few, attaining greater and exclusive wisdom. In other words, Nirvana and Enlightenment aren't prerogatives of a handful of chosen individuals. To encapsulate, building a spiritual 'empire' on the basis of a flimsy and tenuous concept called reincarnation is something that's not acceptable to anyone who bothers to think. Lastly, thanks Mr Zaidi for the nice epithets that you've used for me. Remember, human mind's greatest weakness is to make concepts that fit into its belief and then believe that this is the absolute truth. Such diverse beliefs have led to the origin of masses called religions. ------- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/amorphous-reincarnation-beliefs/d/132577 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism