Discussion Does the concept of reincarnation both terrify and comfort anyone else?

[lonleycrowdedwest]

I've been thinking about death recently. Who would have guessed, right? There's something very intruiging about the idea of the great beyond. Like passing the event horizon, no information will ever escape. I think the most realistic "tangible" scenario is some form of reincarnation. I am a firm beleiver of a global or even universal concisousness, not a sepparate god. When I think about reincarnation it at first frightens me. What if there is no way out, not even death? However the more i think about it the more It comforts me. I know rationally that I don't want to die, i just want to escape. I think practically everyone here is in the same boat whether we realize it or not. The idea of being able to start from scratch, a new body, a new home, a new mind. It feels good just imagining it, doesn't it? For me personally, it gives me the feeling of warmth. Sometimes I wonder if these thoughts are just my broken mind coaxing itself to it's demise.

 

[ComHos]

The only comfort to me is believing I will be reincarnated as my younger self (maybe in a new reality), and fix the mistakes I have made. Its a fucking pipe dream, but damn, it makes me feel good. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

 

[lonleycrowdedwest]

That's a beautiful thought. I'm no expert, but it seems to me that you do love yourself, you just hate the mistakes you have made. After all, why would you chose to be yourself and not someone else. It's worth it to take some time to try to understand the fact that you are more than just a series of decisions, more than the sum of your mistakes. In my opinion life has inherent meaning, even before you make your first choice. Take some time to think.

 

[ComHos]

I loved what I used to be. I hate what I have become. I have struggled with depression for years now, off and on. I have decided to die months ago, only issue is finding a way that works for me. I have just ordered my SN. It is coming this Sunday, thought I doubt it's purity (claims 99%), so I will be doing a blood test. Look out for a post from me, I will probably make a final post here.

 

[RedEther]

I liget believe I had to be some kind of asshole racist business man that used and abused people to get to the top. This like is my repentance. I hope 31 years is enough and ctb will bring an end to the suffering

 

[lonleycrowdedwest]

I loved what I used to be. I hate what I have become. I have struggled with depression for years now, off and on. I have decided to die months ago, only issue is finding a way that works for me. I have just ordered my SN. It is coming this Sunday, thought I doubt it's purity (claims 99%), so I will be doing a blood test. Look out for a post from me, I will probably make a final post here.

Contemplate wisely. Fighting feelings only leads to the worsening of them entirely.

I liget believe I had to be some kind of asshole racist business man that used and abused people to get to the top. This like is my repentance. I hope 31 years is enough and ctb will bring an end to the suffering

I don't necessarily agree with the idea of reincarnation in that way. Why would the "greater force" of the universe imprint human morals on our reality? I believe that these kinds of things are outside of our power and understanding, all we can do is take a back seat and let the current take us where it may.

 

[littlelungs]

Honestly, the thought of reincarnation exclusively terrifies me. I've never been happy about being here; the last thing I want is to be brought back into this disaster of a world. If there is such thing as reincarnation, I really hope it's optional.

 

[RedEther]

OOOO What about a strait up Isekai?

 

[CountOfTuscany]

Even if there was reincarnation, it's not immediately clear to me how you would still be you after being reborn as a new person. For instance, I bet I would have become a completely different person than the one I am now if I had had a different set of experiences in my life. Perhaps a reincarnated version of me could, by having a dramatically different set of circumstances, emerge from adolescence loving life and wanting more.

Since any reincarnated version of myself also would not know about its previous lives, the idea of reincarnation doesn't really bother me. As far as I'm concerned, once my life has ended, reincarnated versions of myself are separate people, and their existence is their own problem.

An interesting question this reincarnation thought experiment raises is how other people would have turned out if they had been born into my life instead.

 

[ComHos]

Even if there was reincarnation, it's not immediately clear to me how you would still be you after being reborn as a new person. For instance, I bet I would have become a completely different person than the one I am now if I had had a different set of experiences in my life. Perhaps a reincarnated version of me could, by having a dramatically different set of circumstances, emerge from adolescence loving life and wanting more.

Since any reincarnated version of myself also would not know about its previous lives, the idea of reincarnation doesn't really bother me. As far as I'm concerned, once my life has ended, reincarnated versions of myself are separate people, and their existence is their own problem.

An interesting question this reincarnation thought experiment raises is how other people would have turned out if they had been born into my life instead.

This is a great take on it. What if our dreams are past recollections of past lives?

 

[CountOfTuscany]

This is a great take on it. What if our dreams are past recollections of past lives?

Then that would put me in a very strange place because... I don't dream! I can remember one or two from when I was a little kid, but that's it. Perhaps I'm a brand new soul fresh from the factory.

What were your previous lives like?

One of my favorite albums of all time is about your exact question. All of the songs make up the story of a man exploring his dreams / past life.

 

[PotSmokingSloth]

Yes! Both of those things, comfort and terrify Lmao

Then that would put me in a very strange place because... I don't dream! I can remember one or two from when I was a little kid, but that's it. Perhaps I'm a brand new soul fresh from the factory.

What were your previous lives like?

One of my favorite albums of all time is about your exact question. All of the songs make up the story of a man exploring his dreams / past life.

You like Polyphia at all? Dream theater is like the og of course but there's so much new stuff now

 

[demuic]

Reincarnation makes no sense to me. Even if it did exist, why would you even be "reborn" back on the planet earth when there are probably billions or trillions of planets in the universe that sustain some kind of life?

Just like heaven and hell, it's a concept humans made up because the brain is scared of death. Acting as if death isn't the end makes it easier for people to accept, and people want to be convinced that humans and life on earth are uniquely special. Even in religions that believe in reincarnation, it's not considered a good thing and the ultimate goal is to break the cycle of reincarnation.

There's no reason to believe reincarnation is real anymore then any other thought experiment someone might think up.

 

[RedEther]

Reincarnation makes no sense to me. Even if it did exist, why would you even be "reborn" back on the planet earth when there are probably billions or trillions of planets in the universe that sustain some kind of life?

Just like heaven and hell, it's a concept humans made up because the brain is scared of death. Acting as if death isn't the end makes it easier for people to accept, and people want to be convinced that humans and life on earth are uniquely special. Even in religions that believe in reincarnation, it's not considered a good thing and the ultimate goal is to break the cycle of reincarnation.

There's no reason to believe reincarnation is real anymore then any other thought experiment someone might think up.

Whos to say aliens arnt reincarnated? Ill throw in my Isekai Idea in to the ring again

 

[NeverGoodEnuff]

Oh, please, no reincarnation! I do not want to do this again; once is enough.

 

[All Things Must Pass]

Reincarnation makes no sense to me.

Fictional stories that conflict with reality usually don't.

 

[CountOfTuscany]

Yes! Both of those things, comfort and terrify Lmao

You like Polyphia at all? Dream theater is like the og of course but there's so much new stuff now

I've never heard of them! I'll check them out right away.

Edit: This does put a smile on my face.

 

[FuneralCry]

For me, it is just terrifying. I do not want to come back to this world again after I die. Life is a scary thing as there is unlimited potential for suffering. If such a thing did exist, there is no guarantee that the next life would be better, in fact it could be worse. I just want complete non existence. I do not want to experience anything again. I do not believe such a thing as reincarnation exists anyway.

 

[Lost Magic]

We have no control over to what happens next and we all die anyway.

 

[OnlyTheWind]

Coming back here will suck, but it is a necessary evil. I believe that this world is a lesson ground, and we are sentenced to keep returning here until the conditions have been met for our release/ advancement to the next stage of existence.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

Reincarnation does scare me because in a lot of ways, I've actually lucked out on quite a few dice rolls when it comes to the circumstances of my birth and even if I were to somehow be born with some aspects of my life being better I doubt that all of them would be…

 

[toforigivelife]

I would prefer to not have to come back here for a second time. Regardless of circumstances.

 

[agate]

Terrifying, the thought of coming back/reincarnating. No Thanks!

 

[Feeding Pigeons]

The idea that reincarnation is possible absolutely terrifies me. When I'm done with this life, I want to actually be done.

 

[Gustav Hartmann]

If I would think, that there is the slightest chance of reincarnation, I would never commit suicide. Everything we do has consequences and I don´t want to bear the consequences of my suicide, though I don´t even know them.

 

[aBLEACHyindividual]

So long as I'm reincarnated as good looking, then I'm all for it.

 

[Rogue Proxy]

Like every religious and spiritual concept, reincarnation is used to control humans by keeping them fearful, submissive, and dependent on their religious/spiritual masters and other flock members. The belief of reincarnation punishing those with "bad past lives" and the accumulation of "good" and "evil" actions in current lives is also used boost the believers' self esteem and self worth while castigating nonbelievers (i.e. outsiders of the religious/spiritual group) and enemies. Finally, it's a twisted method of rationalizing the countless forms of suffering in life, and victim-blaming those experiencing them.

There is no solid, scientific evidence that supports the existence of reincarnation.

Even if reincarnation was a real, it's a pointless, cruel, and counterproductive approach to teaching life lessons since apparently the vast majority of humans can't vividly recall their past lives, let alone learn from these past mistakes. It's like kicking 10-year-old dog for that one incident when they peed on the carpet when they were one month old. No organism should be forced into existence, let alone repeat it infinitely.

 

[UseItOrLoseIt]

It makes me indifferent. If I reincarnate I won't remember my past life just as I don't remember it now. Either way, the "I" that I know and hate will be no more.

 

[Chockles]

If I come back id want to be a healthy person with no bad genetics I hope death is just nothingness tho

 

[www.NicoIsDead.com]

yeah!! like even though im so fucken suicidal and i want 2 die and be gone for ever, i still think it would be nice to do it over again. there are so many things i haven't done, and while i dont wanna be in this life anymore, i think another life would be nice