[BPitt]

'Yes, master, we know how there is the descent of an embryo. There is the case where the mother & father have come together, the mother is fertile, and a gandhabba [the being about to be reborn] is standing present. The coming together of these three is the descent of the embryo.'

"'But do you know for sure whether the gandhabba is a noble warrior, a brahman, a merchant, or a worker?'

"'No, master.'

"'That being the case, do you know who you are?'

"'That being the case, master, we don't know who we are.' is there an assumption to imply Buddha taught gandhabba is part of the reincarnation process?

if we carefully read MN 93, the Buddha has questioned the Brahmins according to their pre-existing understanding. thus any assumptions that gandhabba is part of the reincarnation process is Brahminism (rather than Buddhism)

this link provides an excellent explanation from Buddha about the meaning of gandhabba, with illustrations

in brief, gandhabba appears to sperm for Buddha but something else for the non-scientific, such as Brahmin-Hindus 2,500 years ago

what about us? are we like Christians that deny science?



At Savatthi. "Bhikkhus, I will teach you about the devas (gods) of the gandhabba order. Listen to that...."

"And what, bhikkhus, are the devas of the gandhabba order? There are, bhikkhus, devas dwelling in the fragrant roots, devas dwelling in the fragrant heartwood, devas dwelling in the fragrant softwood, devas dwelling in fragrant leaves, devas dwelling in fragrant flowers, devas dwelling in fragrant fruits, devas dwelling in fragrant sap and devas dwelling in fragrant scents."

"These bhikkhus are called the devas of the gandhabba order."

SN 31.1 Monks, the descent of the embryo occurs with the union of three things. There is the case where there is union [sexual intercourse] of the mother & father, the mother is in her season [with ovum] and a gandhabba [sperm] is present, then with this union of three things the descent of the embryo occurs.

MN 38