The concept of rebirth is central to Buddhist philosophy, shaping its views on karma, samsara (the cycle of birth and death), and enlightenment. Unlike speculative beliefs, the Buddha’s understanding of rebirth came from direct experience during his profound meditative journey to enlightenment.

In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• How the Buddha discovered rebirth

• The Three Knowledges (Tevijja) he gained on the night of enlightenment

• The connection between karma and rebirth

• The difference between Buddhist and Hindu views of rebirth

1. The Buddha’s Quest for Truth

Born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha lived a luxurious life in his early years. However, he was deeply disturbed by the realities of aging, sickness, and death. This led him to leave his royal life in search of a way to transcend suffering.

He spent years practicing extreme asceticism and deep meditation, but he realized that neither indulgence nor self-mortification led to true wisdom. Finally, he adopted the Middle Way, a balanced approach to spiritual practice, and sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.

On the night of his enlightenment, he attained three deep insights, known as the Three Knowledges (Tevijja). It was through these insights that he discovered the truth of rebirth.

2. The First Knowledge: Recalling Past Lives

The first stage of the Buddha’s enlightenment was the recollection of his own past lives.

"I recollected my manifold past lives, that is, one birth, two births… a hundred thousand births… I remembered the modes of existence in past lives."
— Majjhima Nikaya 36 (The Greater Discourse to Saccaka)

During deep meditation, the Buddha saw:

• Countless previous lives he had lived, in different forms and circumstances.

• His past names, families, and occupations.

• The joys and sufferings he had experienced.

This realization confirmed that consciousness does not end with death—it continues into another existence.

Artistic Reflection

Many Buddhist paintings and sculptures depict the Jataka Tales, which are stories of the Buddha’s past lives. These show him as a prince, an animal, a sage, and even celestial beings, illustrating the reality of rebirth.

3. The Second Knowledge: Seeing the Rebirth of Other Beings

The second insight was even more profound—he saw how all beings undergo rebirth according to their karma (intentional actions).

"With the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, I saw beings passing away and being reborn, inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, fortunate and unfortunate, according to their actions."
— Majjhima Nikaya 36

Through his divine eye (dibba-cakkhu), the Buddha witnessed:

• Beings dying and being reborn in different realms—some in heavenly states, others in suffering.

• How karma determines rebirth—good actions led to fortunate rebirths, while negative actions resulted in suffering.

• The law of cause and effect that governs the cycle of existence (samsara).

Artistic Reflection

The Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra), a common Buddhist painting in temples, depicts the cycle of rebirth. It shows beings reborn in six realms—heavenly, human, animal, hungry ghost, hell, and demi-god realms—based on their karma.

4. The Third Knowledge: The End of Rebirth

The final realization was that rebirth itself is a form of suffering, and true liberation lies in ending the cycle of samsara.

• The Buddha understood that rebirth continues due to craving (tanha) and ignorance (avijja).

• He saw the Four Noble Truths, realizing that suffering arises from attachment and that the Eightfold Path leads to liberation.

• He attained Nirvana, meaning he was free from desires, karma, and rebirth.

With this realization, he became the Buddha—the fully awakened one.

Artistic Reflection

• Buddha statues in Dhyana Mudra (meditation posture) represent his deep concentration and enlightenment.

• Scenes of Mara’s Temptation depict the moment before his enlightenment, showing the final struggle before transcending samsara.

5. Rebirth in Buddhism vs. Hinduism

Since Buddhism and Hinduism both believe in rebirth, how do they differ?

Buddhism denies the permanent soul (Atman) of Hinduism, teaching instead that consciousness is impermanent and only a causal stream continues. The goal is not heavenly rebirth, but freedom from rebirth altogether.

Conclusion: A Direct Experience, Not a Belief

The Buddha did not accept rebirth as blind faith—he saw it directly through deep meditation. His teachings on karma, samsara, and nirvana are not mere philosophy but practical insights into how suffering arises and how to end it.

For those interested in Buddhist art and symbolism, the Wheel of Life, Jataka Tales, and reclining postures beautifully represent the Buddha’s realization of rebirth.