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**monologue** · 04-10-2010, 03:04 PM

Didn't know whether to put this in General or Theravada, but since I'm asking about Theravada I figure it was most appropriate here.

I was under the impression that within Theravada Buddhism reincarnation occurs exclusively between human beings. But then I watched this video by a Theravada Buddhist, (the one who has been my primary ambassador for Buddhist concepts), who claims that a monkey and other animals could reincarnate into a human being. Is this in accordance with Theravada Buddhist beliefs?

(starts at 15:15):

http://www.youtube.com/user/Buddhist...28/htQ12Z2MV0Q

Do all Buddhists believe that a monkey could reincarnate into a human being (and other animals like cats)? Is there any type of Buddhism that is only human to human?

This vid has really thrown a wrench into my designs on possibly adopting Buddhism as a personal belief system. I find it very hard to accept that something which is 12+ million years less evolved than a human being could reincarnate into a human being, and just about impossible to accept that a cat could. Don't get me wrong, I like animals and I recognize that they have some traits that are similar to humans. But I don't think they're compatible with a human being. Animals don't have a human's psychology, emotions, and thinking; and why should a species evolve at all if it can just reincarnate as a more sophisticated species?

Now I'm all confused.

04-10-2010, 03:04 PM	#1
monologue Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 504 Senior Member	Theravada Reincarnation/Buddhist Reincarnation in General Didn't know whether to put this in General or Theravada, but since I'm asking about Theravada I figure it was most appropriate here. I was under the impression that within Theravada Buddhism reincarnation occurs exclusively between human beings. But then I watched this video by a Theravada Buddhist, (the one who has been my primary ambassador for Buddhist concepts), who claims that a monkey and other animals could reincarnate into a human being. Is this in accordance with Theravada Buddhist beliefs? (starts at 15:15): http://www.youtube.com/user/Buddhist...28/htQ12Z2MV0Q Do all Buddhists believe that a monkey could reincarnate into a human being (and other animals like cats)? Is there any type of Buddhism that is only human to human? This vid has really thrown a wrench into my designs on possibly adopting Buddhism as a personal belief system. I find it very hard to accept that something which is 12+ million years less evolved than a human being could reincarnate into a human being, and just about impossible to accept that a cat could. Don't get me wrong, I like animals and I recognize that they have some traits that are similar to humans. But I don't think they're compatible with a human being. Animals don't have a human's psychology, emotions, and thinking; and why should a species evolve at all if it can just reincarnate as a more sophisticated species? Now I'm all confused.
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