Recently, I learned about my brother’s terrible pastry shop management. I also realized that his situation mirrored my uncle’s: a shop owner who went through divorce and bankruptcy.
That reminded me of the concept of reincarnation in Buddhism. Although I have talked about something similar in the past, let’s explain it with my latest realization.
How to accept people who cannot change
Sometimes, we want to accept people who cannot change. Trying to change something that cannot be changed is futile. We need to distinguish between things that can be changed and cannot.
However, we sometimes don’t know what cannot be changed.
One example is people who cannot change. Some people, especially extroverted people, cannot change their lifestyles once they become adults.
On the other hand, empathic and logical people can change their way of life the easiest. That quality sometimes frustrates us toward people who cannot change.
That is why we want to know how to accept people who cannot change.
One solution is to understand the concept of reincarnation in Buddhism. I recently understood its meaning. That state of mind allows us to let go of unnecessary control over others.
Today, I will explain it with my recent realization. This perspective might help you accept people who cannot change.
The concept of reincarnation
The concept of reincarnation in Buddhism enables you to accept people who cannot change.
It is the idea that people are reincarnated and continue to live after their death. Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation is the ultimate success.
At first glance, it goes against our usual beliefs. We usually think we would have hope if we could be reborn as another life. It appears they treat complete death as happiness. If death is happiness, there is no point in living. It would be a harmful belief if we take the word literally.
However, interpreting it as circumstances frees us from a mental complex. That would be the appropriate recognition of the concept of reincarnation.
My lineage’s case
To make it easier to understand, let’s introduce my circumstances.
Recently, I felt that reincarnation was happening around me. My brother’s situation was entirely similar to my uncle’s.
Among my close relatives, some succeeded greatly, and the others failed miserably. Success and failure are extreme.
It is like a bipolar disorder in lineage. Some are constantly excited, while others are constantly depressed. Those states can switch in the long term.
My parents are among the successful ones. One of my grandfathers lived miserably after a large success. One of my uncles was miserable. He continued living a life that didn’t suit him, kept suffering, got divorced, went bankrupt, and went insane. One of my brothers lives a carefree life, while the other one lives under stress.
The perspective of reincarnation
I realized that my brother’s situation exactly mirrored my uncle’s. They were extroverted but uncertain about how to live, pursued lifestyles that didn’t fit them, and suffered as a result. Since I lived together with my brother and that uncle when I was young, I know their personalities.
It made me realize the cycle of reincarnation. They lived with the same problems. Although my uncle is still alive, the problem is being passed down through generations.
They only recognize one form of success: a social success. If the time, circumstances, and personality are favorable, it provides great success. If not, they live miserably. Since there is an example of success, it is difficult to choose a different lifestyle. That has left my family and relatives with a pattern of bipolar behavior.
Only empathic and logical people, like us, can break free from that cycle. Logical sense enables us to change rationally, while empathy allows us to let go of a competitive mind. Our unique nature enables us to change our lifestyle even as adults.
When we examine our surroundings after developing sufficient rationality, we feel affinity for the concept of reincarnation. It describes our perception well. People around us repeat the same patterns, unable to break free.
Not being influenced by either success or failure is the liberation from the cycle. It is not the end; it is a new start. When we are freed from a mental complex, we will understand the concept of reincarnation in Buddhism.
Conclusion
That is the meaning of reincarnation in Buddhism.
That state of mind allows us to let go of unnecessary control over others.
This perspective might help you accept people who cannot change.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
