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In the Mahayanic (Great Vehicle) tradition the goal for an enlightened person is to spread the enlightenment among all people. Think of it as "We're all in this together."
As a consequence when an enlightened person is offered the opportunity to enter Nirvana - a state of thoughtless oneness with all the Universes - he will opt to turn it down to return to earth and help others as long as there are unlightened individuals.
The Buddha is enlightened, we aren't, so he returns.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBuddhist believe in rebirth because the first of all believe in the law of cause and effect (karma) which means that nothing exists without a cause. (if there is no seed, there will be no tree)
This law of karma also applies to our consciousness and for a Buddhist consciousness is a stream of moments of consciousness, where each moment is the cause for the next moment. (If I wouldn't be looking at the sky right now, I could not see the cloud moving in the next moment.)
Also, for a Buddhist body and consciousness are separate things. There is some connection between the two but one is material and the other is immaterial.
So, when the material body dies, it doesn't mean that the immaterial consciousness also has to die. Therefore consciousness can continue after the physical death which leads us to rebirth.
In Buddhist history there are many accounts of children that are able to remember things from their past life, stories about near-death experiences and accounts of great meditation masters being able to experience what happens after physical death.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThey don't. They believe in Rebirth - which is not quite the same. The belief in rebirth is part of a cyclical world-view.
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What do Buddhists believe will happen when somebody dies?
I may be wrong, I believe they believe they get reborn Answer: Buddhists believe that a person who has not achieved enlightenment will be reborn. Enlightened people will be offered the opportunity to enter Nirvana. They may, of course, forego this and opt for rebirth to return to Earth to help others acheieve enlightenment.
What do you call people who believe in Buddha?
People who believe in Buddha are commonly called Buddhists. They practice Buddhism
Gautama is a reincarnation of what god?
Gautama is not considered a reincarnation of a god. He is the historical figure who became known as the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Buddhists do not believe in a supreme god or the concept of reincarnation as the transfer of a fixed individual soul or identity. Instead, they believe in the cycle of rebirth based on the concept of karma.
What do people believe when people die in Buddhism?
The basis of Buddhism is that the person dies and is reborn. This continues until the person is enlightened at which point they can enter Nirvana a selfless state. Some people do not enter Nirvana to return to the cycle of death and rebirth to aid others in becoming enlightened. Non-Buddhists, such as Christians, believe that Buddhists die and go to the Christian hell for not becoming Christians. Non-Buddhists such as atheists, believe that when anybody dies they simply cease to exist.
If the Buddha propounded that there is no soul anatta and that nothing moves from one life to another life then why do Buddhists still believe in rebirth?
it is just the same as most cultures people add and remove stuff from religion
What do Buddhists believe happens after you die?
Buddhism regards death and rebirth as a cycle which continues endlessly until enlightenment is attained. At that point the essence of the person may enter state of Nirvana or egoless self. Some Buddhists feel the enlightened person may opt not to enter to Nirvana but return to the cycle of death and rebirth to instruct others in their progress towards enlightenment. The period between death and rebirth is not consistent in all Buddhist sects
What is the difference between Buddhism vs chirstiany?
Buddhism has no creator God, Christianity does. Buddhism can be considered as not a religion, Christianity definitely is. Buddhists believe in rebirth, Christians believe that after death, we go to heaven or hell. Buddhism was founded by an [Enlightened] human, Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God and is part of the Holy Trinity. Buddhists [unlike any other major world religion] believe that the soul is impermanent [Anatta], Christians believe that after we die, our soul lives on in heaven/hell
What does drug abuse mean for Buddhists?
Buddhists believe in nirvana and thus do not believe in hurting anything.Their religion bans drugs.
Is there a permitted mourning time for Buddhists?
There is no mourning time for Buddhists, but soem may offer rpayers for 49 days after the persons death, but it is generally well wishings for a better rebirth or to a Buddha's PureLand.
What do Buddhists believe about poverty?
hry
Do Buddhists still believe in Agharta a subterranean empire populated by beings who occasionally surface?
Buddhists didn't believe in such a thing to begin with.
What do Buddhists believe causes pain?
Buddhists believe that pain and suffering comes from desires. In the Four Noble Turths, the second states this answer.
