The Way to Good Rebirth in Buddhism

Abstract

Rebirth, although diffi cult to understand, is a doctrine taught in the Eastern world
by many religious schools over two and a half millennia. However, there was no any school
of thought discussed the way to good rebirth until the enlightenment of the Awaken One.
Since then this secret has been revealed. This article is significant as it helps one to follow
righteously the way to good rebirth as well as gain a diverse sense of the rebirth concept
from different points of view prior to the Buddha time. The objectives of this research article
are twofold: 1) to explore the origin of the rebirth concept and 2) to discuss the way to good
rebirth in Buddhism. The methodology of this research article is documentary, with a focus
on the origin of the rebirth concept and on the Buddhist way to a good rebirth. The data analysis
involves books and journal data as the prime source. The content analysis categorizes by the
rebirth concept in the Pre-Buddha time and in the Buddha period in regard to the Buddhist
concepts of kamma, Dependent Origination, and the Threefold Training as the way to a good
rebirth. The results answer the question of why we were born. We were born not to be reborn.
Normally, we may hope for the next good life. But according to the Buddha, we should have
faith (saddhā) the way not to be born again— the highest truth of rebirth idea.