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[](https://www.britannica.com/) [](https://www.britannica.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) Login https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm\_source=premium\&utm\_medium=nav-login-box\&utm\_campaign=evergreen [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue) [Ask the Chatbot](https://www.britannica.com/chatbot) [Games & Quizzes](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse) [History & Society](https://www.britannica.com/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https://www.britannica.com/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https://www.britannica.com/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https://www.britannica.com/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https://www.britannica.com/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https://www.britannica.com/procon) [Money](https://www.britannica.com/money) [Videos](https://www.britannica.com/videos) [afterlife](https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion) [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/afterlife-religion) [Images](https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion/images-videos) [](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/94676-050-15BA0D12/Murals-scenes-afterlife-Tomb-of-Sennedjem-Thebes.jpg)  Contents Ask Anything [Philosophy & Religion](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Philosophy-Religion) [Spirituality](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Spirituality) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/94676-050-15BA0D12/Murals-scenes-afterlife-Tomb-of-Sennedjem-Thebes.jpg) [murals in the Tomb of Sennedjem](https://cdn.britannica.com/76/94676-050-15BA0D12/Murals-scenes-afterlife-Tomb-of-Sennedjem-Thebes.jpg) Murals depicting scenes from the afterlife, in the Tomb of Sennedjem, Thebes, Egypt. (more) # afterlife religion Homework Help Also known as: life after death Written by [Adam Volle Adam Volle is a freelance writer and editor based in Atlanta, Georgia.](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/adam-volle/12852710) Adam Volle Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Feb. 17, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion/additional-info#history)  Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions - What does the term "afterlife" mean in religion? - Which major religions believe in an afterlife? - How do different religions describe the afterlife? - What role do concepts like heaven and hell play in religious beliefs about the afterlife? - How do religious rituals and practices reflect beliefs about the afterlife? - How do beliefs about the afterlife affect the way people live their lives in different religions? Show more Show less **afterlife**, continued existence in some form after physiological [death](https://www.britannica.com/science/death). The [belief](https://www.britannica.com/topic/belief) that some aspect of an individual survives after death—usually, the individual’s [soul](https://www.britannica.com/topic/soul-religion-and-philosophy)—is common to the great majority of the world’s [religions](https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion). Of those religions that include belief in an afterlife, almost all subscribe to one of two versions: [reincarnation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation) (a continuous cycle of death and rebirth in new bodies or forms), or an eternal life, which will occur in either a [heaven](https://www.britannica.com/topic/heaven) or a [hell](https://www.britannica.com/topic/hell), depending on the individual in question. In [ancient Egypt](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Egypt), especially in the 3rd and 2nd millennia bce, the [moral](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moral) [community](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community) between the living and the dead was an important part of society. It was thought that the world hereafter might be located near the [tomb](https://www.britannica.com/topic/tomb) of the deceased (and thus near the living), in the celestial domain of the [sun god](https://www.britannica.com/topic/sun-worship), or in the underworld realm of [Osiris](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Osiris-Egyptian-god). The modern Western [idea](https://www.britannica.com/topic/idea) of eternal life can be traced back to the ancient [Mesopotamians](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mesopotamia-historical-region-Asia), who conceived of a netherworld known sometimes as Arallû, Ganzer, or Irkalla, among other names. Just as the heavens were thought to physically exist high above believers’ heads, it was believed that this netherworld existed below the earth’s surface. The land of the dead was neither a happy nor a fearful place; it was the spiritual [antithesis](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antithesis) of the heavens and a gloomy version of life on earth. Nevertheless, all mortals were bound for it, regardless of their actions while alive. Other Western peoples adopted this idea. The [Hebrew](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hebrew) people called this underworld Sheol (“the place of the dead”); in [ancient Greece](https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece) the word was [Hades](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hades-Greek-mythology). But after some time, these [cultures](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultures) added complexity to the concept by incorporating the idea of a second destination for those who had lived virtuously. Moreover, the original destination for the dead became progressively worse, transforming into a hell of fire and darkness. So extreme were these two fates that by the 5th century ce, a third option was clearly necessary for the majority of individuals, who did not merit the eternal rewards of true [saints](https://www.britannica.com/topic/saint) but also did not deserve eternal torment. The solution to this issue, which developed slowly over time, was [purgatory](https://www.britannica.com/topic/purgatory-Roman-Catholicism), a place where the morally middling could be made acceptable for eventual admission into [paradise](https://www.britannica.com/topic/paradise-religion). [ More From Britannica pre-Columbian civilizations: Mythology of death and afterlife](https://www.britannica.com/topic/pre-Columbian-civilizations/Tenochtitlan#ref583589) The idea of [reincarnation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation) can also be found in Western texts. At least some ancient Greeks, for example—among them [Socrates](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates), [Pythagoras](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pythagoras), and [Plato](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato)—believed that the dead lived again. The *Poetic Edda* (a 13th-century Icelandic collection of heroic and mythological [poetry](https://www.britannica.com/art/poetry)) suggests that [Vikings](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Viking-people) believed in reincarnation as well. However, the modern [concept](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/concept) of death and rebirth as a cycle governed by [karma](https://www.britannica.com/topic/karma) and [samsara](https://www.britannica.com/topic/samsara) (Sanskrit: “flowing around”) is derived from the [Hindu religion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism) on the [Indian subcontinent](https://www.britannica.com/place/Indian-subcontinent). It is first recorded in the [Upanishads](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Upanishad), a set of Hindu [scriptures](https://www.britannica.com/topic/scripture) composed from the mid-5th century through the 2nd century bce. According to these writings, every living being—including every [plant](https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant), [animal](https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal), and [god](https://www.britannica.com/topic/deity)—eventually dies only to have its soul inhabit a new form. What kind of new form the being adopts is dependent on the karma (literally: “actions”) it performed in its previous life. This cycle continues because the soul desires to live, so that it can enjoy the pleasures of life. Key People: [Cassiodorus](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cassiodorus) *(Show more)* Related Topics: [soul ship](https://www.britannica.com/topic/soul-ship) [Hawaiki](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hawaiki) [damnation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/damnation) [eternal life](https://www.britannica.com/topic/eternal-life) [sleep of the soul](https://www.britannica.com/topic/sleep-of-the-soul) *(Show more)* [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/afterlife-religion) However, the Upanishads teach that nothing the soul might [encounter](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/encounter) in this world will ever bring it true peace; this cycle (samsara) is forever unsatisfying. Eventually, a soul recognizes the futility of its attempts at happiness and begins to seek its [salvation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/salvation-religion) instead through freedom from its earthly desires. Through spiritual practice, individuals comes to fully comprehend their [divine](https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacred) nature and no longer identify with their bodies. With their desires thus vanquished, individuals are no longer reborn but find [moksha](https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion) (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth). The definition of moksha varies depending on the Hindu sect or Hindu-derived religion in question, but in most cases it can be described as a kind of heaven. [Adam Volle](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/adam-volle/12852710) Britannica AI *chevron\_right* Afterlife *close* [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [reincarnation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation) [Introduction](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/reincarnation) At a Glance [](https://www.britannica.com/summary/reincarnation) [reincarnation summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/reincarnation)  Contents Ask Anything [Philosophy & Religion](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Philosophy-Religion) [Spirituality](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Spirituality) CITE Share Feedback External Websites # reincarnation religious belief Homework Help Also known as: metempsychosis, transmigration Written and fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 27, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation/additional-info#history)  Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions - What is reincarnation? - Which major religions believe in reincarnation? - How do Hinduism and Buddhism describe the process of reincarnation? - What is karma and how does it relate to reincarnation? - How do beliefs about reincarnation differ from the idea of heaven and hell? - Why do some people report memories of past lives, and how do different religions interpret these stories? Show more Show less **reincarnation**, in [religion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion) and [philosophy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy), rebirth of the aspect of an individual that [persists](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/persists) after bodily [death](https://www.britannica.com/science/death)—whether it be [consciousness](https://www.britannica.com/topic/consciousness), [mind](https://www.britannica.com/topic/mind), the [soul](https://www.britannica.com/topic/soul-religion-and-philosophy), or some other entity—in one or more successive existences. Depending upon the tradition, these existences may be human, animal, spiritual, or, in some instances, vegetable. While belief in reincarnation is most characteristic of South Asian and East Asian traditions, it also appears in the religious and philosophical thought of local religions, in some ancient Middle Eastern religions (e.g., the Greek [Orphic](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion) mystery, or [salvation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/salvation-religion), religion), [Manichaeism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manichaeism), and [gnosticism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/gnosticism), as well as in such modern [religious movements](https://www.britannica.com/topic/new-religious-movement) as [theosophy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/theosophy). In many local religions, belief in [multiple souls](https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiple-souls) is common. The soul is frequently viewed as capable of leaving the body through the mouth or the nostrils and of being reborn, for example, as a bird, a butterfly, or an insect. The [Venda](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venda-people) of southern Africa believe that, when a person dies, the soul stays near the grave for a short time and then seeks a new resting place or another body—human, mammalian, or reptilian. Among the ancient Greeks, the [Orphic mystery religion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion) held that a preexistent soul survives bodily death and is later reincarnated in a human or other mammalian body, eventually receiving release from the cycle of birth and death and regaining its former pure state. [Plato](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato), in the 5th–4th century bce, believed in an immortal soul that participates in frequent [incarnations](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/incarnations). [ More From Britannica Indian philosophy: Development of the notion of transmigration](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indian-philosophy/Historical-development-of-Indian-philosophy#ref314573) The major religions that hold a belief in reincarnation, however, are Asian religions, especially [Hinduism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism), [Jainism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism), [Buddhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism), and [Sikhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism), all of which arose in India. They all hold in common a doctrine of [karma](https://www.britannica.com/topic/karma) (*karman*; “act”), the law of [cause and effect](https://www.britannica.com/topic/causation), which states that what one does in this present life will have its effect in the next life. In Hinduism the process of birth and rebirth—i.e., transmigration of souls—is endless until one achieves *[moksha](https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion)*, or liberation (literally “release”) from that process. *Moksha* is achieved when one realizes that the eternal core of the individual (*atman*) and the Absolute reality (*brahman*) are one. Thus, one can escape from the process of death and rebirth (*[samsara](https://www.britannica.com/topic/samsara)*). [Jainism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism)—reflecting a belief in an eternal and transmigrating life principle (*[jiva](https://www.britannica.com/topic/jiva)*) that is akin to an individual soul—holds that karma is a fine particulate substance that settles upon the *jiva* according to the deeds that a person does. Thus, the burden of the old karma is added to the new karma that is acquired during the next existence until the *jiva* frees itself by religious [disciplines](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciplines), especially by [*ahimsa*](https://www.britannica.com/topic/ahimsa) (“nonviolence”), and rises to the place of liberated *jiva*s at the top of the universe. Although [Buddhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism) denies the existence of an unchanging, substantial soul or self—as against the notion of the *atman* it teaches the concept of *[anatman](https://www.britannica.com/topic/anatta)* (Pali: *anatta*; “non-self”)—it holds to a belief in the transmigration of the karma that is accumulated by an individual in life. The individual is a [composition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition) of five ever-changing psycho-physical elements and states, or *[skandha](https://www.britannica.com/topic/skandha)*s (“bundles”)—i.e., form, sensations, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness—and terminates with death. The karma of the deceased, however, persists and becomes a *[vijnana](https://www.britannica.com/topic/vijnana-Buddhist-philosophy)* (“germ of consciousness”) in the womb of a mother. The *vijnana* is that aspect of [consciousness](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness) that is reborn in a new individual. By gaining a state of complete passiveness through [discipline](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline) and meditation, one can achieve [nirvana](https://www.britannica.com/topic/nirvana-religion), the state of the extinction of desires and liberation (*moksha*) from bondage to *samsara* by karma. Also called: transmigration or metempsychosis *(Show more)* Key People: [Empedocles](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Empedocles) [Pherecydes of Syros](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pherecydes-of-Syros) *(Show more)* Related Topics: [Spiritism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spiritism) [karma](https://www.britannica.com/topic/karma) [avatar](https://www.britannica.com/topic/avatar-Hinduism) [samsara](https://www.britannica.com/topic/samsara) [gilgul](https://www.britannica.com/topic/gilgul) *(Show more)* On the Web: [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The mystery of reincarnation](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3705678/) (Mar. 27, 2026) *(Show more)* [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/reincarnation) [Sikhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism) teaches a doctrine of reincarnation based on the Hindu view but in addition holds that, after the [Last Judgment](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Judgment-religion), souls—which have been reincarnated in several existences—will be absorbed in God. Explore Britannica Premium\! Smart, reliable knowledge for professionals, students, and curious minds everywhere. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=smart-2026)    [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) This article was most recently revised and updated by [Amy McKenna](https://www.britannica.com/editor/Amy-McKenna/6443). Britannica AI *chevron\_right* Reincarnation *close* [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. *verified*Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Volle, Adam. "afterlife". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 17 Feb. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion. Accessed 7 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion> External Websites - [Jewish Virtual Library - Afterlife in Judaism](https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/afterlife) - [Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Afterlife](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/afterlife/) - [Pew Research Center - Beliefs about the afterlife](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/beliefs-about-the-afterlife/) - [The International Journal of Indian Psychology - Life after Death-Surpassing Existing Theories - Scientific Thoughts](https://ijip.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/18.01.032.20210902.pdf) - [Digital Commons at CSUMB - Perspectives on the Afterlife](https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/writingwaves/article/1023/&path_info=ANAYA_ROCHA_ACCESSIBLE___Anaya_Rocha___Perspectives_on_the_Afterlife__1_.pdf) - [BBC - What would happen if we knew the afterlife was real?](https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170124-film-review-the-discovery-explores-the-idea-of-an-afterlife) - [ABC listen - Late Night Live - The curious history of the afterlife](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/latenightlive/the-curious-history-of-the-afterlife/13818038) - [History Today - Life after Death in Ancient Egypt](https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/life-after-death-ancient-egypt) - [Health and Quality of Life Outcomes - Life at the end of life: beliefs about individual life after death and "good death" models - a qualitative study](https://hqlo.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-7525-1-65) - [World History Encyclopedia - The Egyptian Afterlife and The Feather of Truth](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/42/the-egyptian-afterlife--the-feather-of-truth/) - [CNN Health - ‘AfterlifeÂ’ feels ‘even more real than real,Â’ researcher says](https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/09/health/belgium-near-death-experiences) Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. *verified*Cite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Britannica Editors. "reincarnation". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 27 Mar. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation. Accessed 7 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/topic/reincarnation> External Websites - [Internet Archive - "Reincarnation: the cycle of necessity"](https://archive.org/details/reincarnation_202002) - [National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The mystery of reincarnation](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3705678/) - [ABC listen - Nightlife - Reincarnation: Have we all been here before?](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/reincarnation/105114828) - [NPR - Searching for the Science Behind Reincarnation](https://www.npr.org/2014/01/05/259886077/searching-for-science-behind-reincarnation) - [BuddhaNet - On Reincarnation](https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/reincarnation/) - [Psi Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: An Overview](https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/reincarnation-overview) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [reincarnation - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/reincarnation/334381)

Top Questions - What is reincarnation? - Which major religions believe in reincarnation? - How do Hinduism and Buddhism describe the process of reincarnation? - What is karma and how does it relate to reincarnation? - How do beliefs about reincarnation differ from the idea of heaven and hell? - Why do some people report memories of past lives, and how do different religions interpret these stories? **reincarnation**, in [religion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion) and [philosophy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy), rebirth of the aspect of an individual that [persists](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/persists) after bodily [death](https://www.britannica.com/science/death)—whether it be [consciousness](https://www.britannica.com/topic/consciousness), [mind](https://www.britannica.com/topic/mind), the [soul](https://www.britannica.com/topic/soul-religion-and-philosophy), or some other entity—in one or more successive existences. Depending upon the tradition, these existences may be human, animal, spiritual, or, in some instances, vegetable. While belief in reincarnation is most characteristic of South Asian and East Asian traditions, it also appears in the religious and philosophical thought of local religions, in some ancient Middle Eastern religions (e.g., the Greek [Orphic](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion) mystery, or [salvation](https://www.britannica.com/topic/salvation-religion), religion), [Manichaeism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manichaeism), and [gnosticism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/gnosticism), as well as in such modern [religious movements](https://www.britannica.com/topic/new-religious-movement) as [theosophy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/theosophy). In many local religions, belief in [multiple souls](https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiple-souls) is common. The soul is frequently viewed as capable of leaving the body through the mouth or the nostrils and of being reborn, for example, as a bird, a butterfly, or an insect. The [Venda](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venda-people) of southern Africa believe that, when a person dies, the soul stays near the grave for a short time and then seeks a new resting place or another body—human, mammalian, or reptilian. Among the ancient Greeks, the [Orphic mystery religion](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orphic-religion) held that a preexistent soul survives bodily death and is later reincarnated in a human or other mammalian body, eventually receiving release from the cycle of birth and death and regaining its former pure state. [Plato](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato), in the 5th–4th century bce, believed in an immortal soul that participates in frequent [incarnations](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/incarnations). [ More From Britannica Indian philosophy: Development of the notion of transmigration](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indian-philosophy/Historical-development-of-Indian-philosophy#ref314573) The major religions that hold a belief in reincarnation, however, are Asian religions, especially [Hinduism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism), [Jainism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism), [Buddhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism), and [Sikhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism), all of which arose in India. They all hold in common a doctrine of [karma](https://www.britannica.com/topic/karma) (*karman*; “act”), the law of [cause and effect](https://www.britannica.com/topic/causation), which states that what one does in this present life will have its effect in the next life. In Hinduism the process of birth and rebirth—i.e., transmigration of souls—is endless until one achieves *[moksha](https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion)*, or liberation (literally “release”) from that process. *Moksha* is achieved when one realizes that the eternal core of the individual (*atman*) and the Absolute reality (*brahman*) are one. Thus, one can escape from the process of death and rebirth (*[samsara](https://www.britannica.com/topic/samsara)*). [Jainism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jainism)—reflecting a belief in an eternal and transmigrating life principle (*[jiva](https://www.britannica.com/topic/jiva)*) that is akin to an individual soul—holds that karma is a fine particulate substance that settles upon the *jiva* according to the deeds that a person does. Thus, the burden of the old karma is added to the new karma that is acquired during the next existence until the *jiva* frees itself by religious [disciplines](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciplines), especially by [*ahimsa*](https://www.britannica.com/topic/ahimsa) (“nonviolence”), and rises to the place of liberated *jiva*s at the top of the universe. Although [Buddhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism) denies the existence of an unchanging, substantial soul or self—as against the notion of the *atman* it teaches the concept of *[anatman](https://www.britannica.com/topic/anatta)* (Pali: *anatta*; “non-self”)—it holds to a belief in the transmigration of the karma that is accumulated by an individual in life. The individual is a [composition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composition) of five ever-changing psycho-physical elements and states, or *[skandha](https://www.britannica.com/topic/skandha)*s (“bundles”)—i.e., form, sensations, perceptions, impulses, and consciousness—and terminates with death. The karma of the deceased, however, persists and becomes a *[vijnana](https://www.britannica.com/topic/vijnana-Buddhist-philosophy)* (“germ of consciousness”) in the womb of a mother. The *vijnana* is that aspect of [consciousness](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness) that is reborn in a new individual. By gaining a state of complete passiveness through [discipline](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline) and meditation, one can achieve [nirvana](https://www.britannica.com/topic/nirvana-religion), the state of the extinction of desires and liberation (*moksha*) from bondage to *samsara* by karma. Also called: transmigration or metempsychosis [Sikhism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism) teaches a doctrine of reincarnation based on the Hindu view but in addition holds that, after the [Last Judgment](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Judgment-religion), souls—which have been reincarnated in several existences—will be absorbed in God. Smart, reliable knowledge for professionals, students, and curious minds everywhere. [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=smart-2026)