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Does reincarnation make life meaningless?

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?
 

psychoslice

Veteran Member
Many who believe in a afterlife, actually wast this life, they forget that there is only here and NOW, yes a afterlife belief robes the here and NOW.
 

Chakra

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Because who knows what kind of life you will have next time? You don't know the negative karma you've gotten from past lives.

And, in Hinduism at least, I've heard that suicide has negative karma (especially if you have a family etc). I wouldn't vouch for it though.
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?
It is your soul having a reincarnation. The purpose is your soul growing from the challenges of a physical life. Killing yourself would be a waste and much regretted. The goal of reincarnation is to end the cycle, not continue it.
 
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psychoslice

Veteran Member
Because who knows what kind of life you will have next time? You don't know the negative karma you've gotten from past lives.

And, in Hinduism at least, I've heard that suicide has negative karma (especially if you have a family etc). I wouldn't vouch for it though.
That is if there is such thing as another life, best to enjoy the one you know you have.
 

psychoslice

Veteran Member
It is your soul having a reincarnation. The purpose is your soul growing from the challenges of a physical life. Killing yourself would be a waste and much regretted. The goal of reincarnation is to end the cycle, not continue it.
















continue it.
How do you know that, I mean really how do you know that ?.
 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like? If someone's life is completely miserable, wouldn't dying on purpose pretty much work like a reset button?

To be honest and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say this, if I believed in reincarnation and had no doubts, I would turn to mindless self indulgence. Why would I worry about health if I'm destined to live another life?

This is because you are adding belief in reincarnation to your current belief system. But people who believe in reincarnation usually have other beliefs attached to it. Hinduism is, as far as I know, the main proponent of reincarnation. We do not need to believe that we must behave a particular way to gain Gods favour. We can do what we want, to be frank. However, there's a balance system. You can't have everyone self indulging and getting away with it. The Earth would not support this. When we act selfishly, it's generally at the expense of others and generally creates suffering. This is what we refer to as karma (actions much have some natural consequence).

So yes, you can indulge all you want, but not only will that likely hurt others, it will likely end up hurting yourself too.

In addition to that, we believe that our current actions will determine the circumstances of our future lives. If we are selfish and mindless people in this life, our next life (and perhaps many after) will not be favourable to us.

Hindus believe that the purpose of life is to become more aware until we realise our true Self. Our belief in reincarnation does not cause us to become lazy about our own lives. It encourages us to strive to gain knowledge, to become conscious of others, to be empathetic and generally better ourselves. This way we can reach our full potential and also go through life bringing fortune to ourselves and those around us.

ETA: Suicide would be a reset button but it would also be a complete waste of time. You would end up where you left off, since your state of consciousness and karma dictate your circumstances.
 
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Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
If reincarnation is true, then why live a life you don't like?

I also want to add that whether or not one believes in reincarnation, they should not resign themselves to a miserable life. What's the point in either situation?
 

Chakra

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
How do you know that, I mean really how do you know that ?.
As George said, by the authority of the countless Acharyas of Hinduism and the Vedas. Of course, we are not going to force this to be accepted as fact by people nor are we interested in trying to prove this to the scientific community.
 

Madhuri

RF Goddess
Staff member
Premium Member
yes a afterlife belief robes the here and NOW.

Why would it have that effect? As a Hindu, I've been taught that the purpose of my life is to learn to live in the present and to live life to the fullest. Do you know anything about Krishna in our religion? He is the prefect example of one who lives life to the fullest and he is who we should strive to be like.
 

Chakra

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
The ones who suicide don't take rebirth soon, they live as a ghost for a prescribed time and suffer in the material world

Yeah, thanks for the clarification. I believed it has something to do with this. Suicide is just not recommended in Hinduism. Better is to renounce the world and focus on God.
 

psychoslice

Veteran Member
As George said, by the authority of the countless Acharyas of Hinduism and the Vedas. Of course, we are not going to force this to be accepted as fact by people nor are we interested in trying to prove this to the scientific community.
Yes and that's the way it should be.
 

Chakra

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Yes and that's the way it should be.
Sure. Of course, as a Hindu, I do believe that such things maybe proved by science later on. But obviously modern science doesn't have the capabilities of doing such studies on reincarnation.
 
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