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During the Buddhas time there were many speculative metaphysical theories going around, India at the time being a Hot Bed of religious and philosophical sects


It must be remembered that the Buddha was concerned with how our out look effects out mental well being, for example Noble Right View (4NT's) leads to a healthy mind


Now Buddha knew that A) Not everyone would easily understand the Dhamma and B) Not everyone could, and so he needed to advise them on how to live a good life in accordance with what works best for them


In terms of A, the Buddha used rebirth view as a spring board for some onto his own teachings, since it fosters a good wholesome mind that is conductive to walking the path


In terms of B, since not everyone could walk the path, and had a predisposition or a history of holding metaphysical doctrines, he taught in terms of reincarnation (it actually was reincarnation he taught, its always the same person being reborn)


Now even though rebirth view is tainted (and so not part of his own teachings) and leads to dukkha, it does lead to a relatively happy life in those who adopt it since it leads to wholesome behaviour


Suttas that are relevant



Anuruddha, for what purpose does the Thus Gone One tell the disciples, without wasting time, before you die, be born in something higher. Stating one is born there, another there. (* 2) The Teaching’s origin is the Blessed One, its lead is from the Blessed One, and its refuge is the Blessed One. Good that the meaning occurs to the Blessed One. We, bhikkhus, hearing it from the Blessed One, will bear it in mind. Anuruddha, the Thus Gone One tells the disciples, without wasting time before you die, be born in something higher. Telling them one is born there, another there. Not to deceive people, not for prattling, and not for gain honour or fame and not thinking may the people know me thus. Yet, Anuruddha, there are sons of clansmen who are born in faith and are pleased, to hear it. Hearing it they would arouse interest and direct their minds to that and it would be for their good for a long time.

...

Anuruddha, a bhikkhuni hears, the venerable bhikkhuni of this name has passed away, and the Blessed One has declared that with the destruction of the three lower bonds and lessening greed, hate and delusion, she has become a once-returner. Coming here once more will make an end of unpleasantness. Now, this venerable bhikkhuni happens to be a person seen by that bhikkhuni, or not seen. She hears, these were the virtues and thoughts of the venerable bhikkhuni, such her wisdom, she developed these abidings, and was released. So this bhikkhuni recollects that faith, those virtues, her learnedness, benevolence and wisdom and directs her mind to it.[/size]
http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitak...kaya/mn-68.htm


It is a wholesome view that leads to a wholesome mind here and now


However such a view point does not lead to the ending of dukkha, since it is tainted which means its caught up in Self view, clinging and dukkha. The Buddhas own teachings are just the 4NT's, which dont contain rebirth view (since they are taintless and lead to cessation, not more dukkha)


"And what is right view? Right view, I tell you, is of two sorts: There is right view with effluents [asava], siding with merit, resulting in the acquisitions [of becoming]; and there is noble right view, without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path.

"And what is the right view that has effluents, sides with merit, & results in acquisitions? 'There is what is given, what is offered, what is sacrificed. There are fruits & results of good & bad actions. There is this world & the next world. There is mother & father. There are spontaneously reborn beings; there are priests & contemplatives who, faring rightly & practicing rightly, proclaim this world & the next after having directly known & realized it for themselves.' This is the right view that has effluents, sides with merit, & results in acquisitions.

"And what is the right view that is without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path? The discernment, the faculty of discernment, the strength of discernment, analysis of qualities as a factor for Awakening, the path factor of right view of one developing the noble path whose mind is noble, whose mind is free from effluents, who is fully possessed of the noble path. This is the right view that is without effluents, transcendent, a factor of the path.

"One tries to abandon wrong view & to enter into right view: This is one's right effort. One is mindful to abandon wrong view & to enter & remain in right view: This is one's right mindfulness. Thus these three qualities — right view, right effort, & right mindfulness — run & circle around right view.

metta