What does Buddhism teach about the Afterlife?

What does Buddhism teach about the Afterlife?

1. The Afterlife is an endless cycle of Samsara

   • Samsara
     • Consists of Six Realms
       • It is split into three goods and three evils
         • The three good realms: Humans, Gods and Titans
         • The three evil realms: Animals, Hell and Hungry Ghosts
           • Once your life in the realm ends, the cycle starts again.
             • Unless you have attained Nirvana, therefore you will be relieved from Samsara
     • The realm you are reborn into depends on the karma you have received as a result of your actions and intentions.
     • If you have received bad karma and therefore you will be reborn into one of the three evil realms
   • However to relieve yourself from Samsara, Buddhists want to achieve Moksha and attain Nirvana

2. Nirvana

   • Nirvana is when you attain enlightenment
     • It is supposed to be unutterable, indescribable and incomprehensible
   • Breaks the cycle of Samsara
   • When one attains Nirvana they no longer feel lust, anger or desire. They experience the truth of life and you are setting yourself free from your material body into peace.
     • Although when ones physical body dies, they undergo parinirvana, where they are no longer re-born.
       • Parinirvana
         • When the Buddha passed away he spent his last moments in deep meditation, where he entered the fourth stage of jhana and felt total peace and calm.
           • Most Bhuddhist believe that this event is Parinirvana
         • Parinirvana is beyond conception, it is the freedom from Samsara
           • But you can't call it life after death, as death is a part of Samsara
   • GIves you the total insight of reality
   • Even if you attain Nirvana, you still aren't exempt from Karma.

3. Karma

   • Karma is the belief that your intentions have consequences, they can be either positive or negative
     • Karma follows you into your next life. The realm or being you are born as is all dependent on your actions throughout your life
     • If you are experiencing pain or joy, this may be due to the karma of your current life or previous life.
   • Even if you attain Nirvana, you still aren't exempt from Karma.

4. Parinirvana