What is reincarnation?

 Reincarnation is the view according to which a person's spirit or consciousness, after the death of one person, returns to earth to be reincarnated in another person - this is the most common understanding, but it is also possible to be reborn in a new incarnation in the form of an animal, some plant or, finally, a mineral.
The name itself comes from the Latin words re, in, caro, meaning to reincarnate. Other terms encountered for reincarnation are metempsychosis or transmigration.

The greatest importance is attached to reincarnation in Hinduism. In this religious system, it is assumed that the cycle of death and the soul's reappearance repeats itself continuously until full enlightenment. A person has no direct influence on the form in which he or she will be reborn, but this can be influenced to a certain extent by the soul's desires and fate, so-called karma. Karma is something like the sum total of deeds from previous incarnations. These deeds can be good or bad, depending on a person's behaviour in previous lives. Similarly, karma - can be good or bad. The more good deeds, the greater the positive balance at the end of life, the greater the chance of being reincarnated into a more advanced being. Conversely, the more bad deeds and the less good done in a life, the worse the entity in which the soul will reside in the next life.

The circle of reincarnation can only be broken when full enlightenment, also known as nirvana, is reached. Nirvana is also commonly understood as the absence of any suffering. By reaching the state of nirvana, we also get rid of any desires.

According to sources interested in the subject: "The attainment of this state is identical to the breaking of the continuous cycle of birth and death, which is simply the cycle associated with the rebirth of the soul in its various forms. A person who, through careful Buddhist practice, has succeeded in reaching the state of nirvana departs forever from the world as we know it(...)"

This quotation shows the point of view of those who are close to Buddhism, interested in it or who practise it. How do other religions view the issue of reincarnation?

Belief in reincarnation was a popular view among the early followers of Christianity. However, this doctrine was removed from that religion in later centuries by the church authorities because it was inconvenient to the church policies of the time.  However, the New and Old Testaments contain many quotations referring to reincarnation. A frequently used example is Jesus' statement that John the Baptist 'is Elijah who was to come' (Mt 11:14).

Some interest in the wandering of souls in successive incarnations can also be found in Kabbalism ( in Judaism) and in followers of the Sufi branches of Islam.

Interesting from the point of view of those interested in reincarnation are the stories of young children concerning the details of their previous incarnations. Interestingly, usually these children are so young that it would be difficult to suspect them of learning the information (or the entire 'previous life') by heart. Nevertheless, this is an open question, not scientifically verified, just like reincarnation itself.