<p>The desire to live a good life with ambition, and be reborn into another good life, is due to the craving for existence (<em>bhava tanha</em>).</p>

<p>The desire to die as soon as possible, and not be reborn, is due to the craving for non-existence (<em>vibhava tanha</em>).</p>

<p>The idea of rebirth or non-rebirth is different from the desire for rebirth or non-rebirth. Ideas are merely mental formations (<em>sankhara</em>).</p>

<p>Also, what "rebirth" actually means, depends on the definition.</p>

<p>Some people see it as the rebirth of the same consciousness (or some other kind of unchanging thing like a "soul") from one lifetime to another. This type of rebirth was refuted by the Buddha.</p>

<p>The other type of "rebirth" is a chain of the succession of related changing processes that are dependently originated based on conditions. This type of rebirth was taught by the Buddha.</p>

<p>The Buddha also taught that suffering is ended only by ending craving and attaining Nibbana, not by death or suicide.</p>

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2019-02-07T14:56:35.427Z
Do you think rebirth as animals, humans, and gods is taught by Buddha literally?
X-pression
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2019-02-07T15:30:21.940Z
Rebirth of WHO? That's the interesting question in Buddhism.
ruben2020
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2019-02-07T15:57:13.020Z
Also see [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/23035/471).
ruben2020
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2019-02-07T16:41:35.197Z
My question is as simple as it gets. either yes or no.
X-pression
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2019-02-07T16:55:26.520Z
@X-pression Yes. The Buddha was quite explicit in his words when it comes to literal rebirth and the various realms of existence in many suttas thru out the Nikayas. One simple ex:  https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn15/sn15.013.than.html
santa100
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2019-02-07T16:56:00.757Z
Yes. The suttas says rebirth happens with the break-up of the body after death. To me, that's literal rebirth. But rebirth of whom? The current life and the next life are related, but it's not the same individual or consciousness that is reborn.
ruben2020
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2019-02-07T14:47:10.793Z
2019-02-07T14:47:10.793Z
ruben2020
<p>"Idea of reincarnation(rebirth) is due to craving for existence"
I'd like to listen to your opinion about this.</p>

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2019-02-07T16:50:17.130Z
That is from my idea...
X-pression
<rebirth><reincarnation>
"Idea of reincarnation(rebirth) is due to craving for existence"
# "Idea of reincarnation(rebirth) is due to craving for existence"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-02-07)

"Idea of reincarnation(rebirth) is due to craving for existence"
I'd like to listen to your opinion about this.

**Tags:** rebirth, reincarnation

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That is from my idea...  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-02-07. Score: 2

The desire to live a good life with ambition, and be reborn into another good life, is due to the craving for existence (*bhava tanha*).

The desire to die as soon as possible, and not be reborn, is due to the craving for non-existence (*vibhava tanha*).

The idea of rebirth or non-rebirth is different from the desire for rebirth or non-rebirth. Ideas are merely mental formations (*sankhara*).

Also, what "rebirth" actually means, depends on the definition.

Some people see it as the rebirth of the same consciousness (or some other kind of unchanging thing like a "soul") from one lifetime to another. This type of rebirth was refuted by the Buddha.

The other type of "rebirth" is a chain of the succession of related changing processes that are dependently originated based on conditions. This type of rebirth was taught by the Buddha.

The Buddha also taught that suffering is ended only by ending craving and attaining Nibbana, not by death or suicide.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Do you think rebirth as animals, humans, and gods is taught by Buddha literally?  
> **username_1**: Rebirth of WHO? That's the interesting question in Buddhism.  
> **username_1**: Also see [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/23035/471).  
> **username_0**: My question is as simple as it gets. either yes or no.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Yes. The Buddha was quite explicit in his words when it comes to literal rebirth and the various realms of existence in many suttas thru out the Nikayas. One simple ex:  https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn15/sn15.013.than.html  
> **username_1**: Yes. The suttas says rebirth happens with the break-up of the body after death. To me, that's literal rebirth. But rebirth of whom? The current life and the next life are related, but it's not the same individual or consciousness that is reborn.  

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