Kamma and rebirth are often understood to be teachings of fate and helplessness in the face of unknowable influences from the past.
Instead of teaching fate, The Buddha’s teachings on kamma and rebirth are empowering, showing how people can develop skills in the present that will lead to the end of suffering.
So, to help show how valuable these teachings are, here’s a set of answers, based on the Pāli Canon, to some questions frequently asked about these topics.
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You yourselves must strive, the Buddhas only point the way
Buddha, Dhp 276
The Truth of Rebirth
Thānissaro BhikkhuA short treatise explaining that the Buddha did not teach the doctrine of rebirth because he was blindly following the cultural norms of his time. Instead…
The Case for Rebirth
Francis StoryThe doctrine of reincarnation, the ceaseless round of rebirths, is not, as many people imagine, confined to Buddhism and Hinduism. It is found in some form or…
Everything is Teaching Us
Ajahn ChahThis book summarizes Ajahn Chah’s approach quite neatly. Showing us the immediacy of the Dhamma, he demystified the concepts of Buddhism so that almost anyone…
The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah
Ajahn ChahAjahn Chah’s teachings were disarming in their directness and inspiring in their relevance. He would say: “If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.
Rebirth as Doctrine and Experience
Francis StoryFrancis Story had a particular fascination with the memories of rebirth that he encountered in Burma. He wrote prolifically about his experiences and remains…
The Buddha: His Life and Teaching
Piyadassi TheraThe ages roll by and the Buddha seems not so far away after all; his voice whispers in our ears and tells us not to run away from the struggle but, calm eyed…