Asked the student: "Wise man, you taught us that all people might reincarnate. You explained to us that those who do, set their own challenges. Why do we do that? Why do we reincarnate?"
Returned the teacher: "Why not?"
Answered the student: "Should one lifetime not suffice?"
Asked the teacher: "Does the moon show up just once? Does the sun warm the earth just once? Can women bear just one child? Do apple trees bear just one apple, once in their life?"
The student bowed his head and answered: "No, wise man, they do not. However... the moon, the sun, the woman, the apple tree... they do not die between repeating their behaviour. Reincarnation implies death. The two are not as comparable as you make it seem."
Answered the teacher: "Wise words you speak. But what makes you think death is the end of life? Sure, the body whithers away, but science teaches us that energy cannot be destroyed. This is highly visible: our body becomes food for animals and plants. The energy which formed our matter is reused to form other matter. The energy does not die."
Uttered the student: "We become worm fodder? What kind of reincarnation is that?"
Sighed the teacher: "Why is it you deem yourself more important than the worm? It might be a reincarnation of your deceased grandfather."
Asked the student: "But why would someone decide to be a worm? What good does that do? Would someone not rather be a queen, a prince, or rich?"
Returned the teacher: "Sure, many people would. Would you not agree though, that such would turn out to be quite boring, life-time after life-time?"
Said the student: "Maybe. I cannot tell. A life as a prince sounds good to me."
Answered the teacher: "Then perhaps in your next reincarnation you will be one. And perhaps in the one thereafter, you might be one too. Untill you have had enough. Then you might choose to change."
Pondered the student: "So that is it? We reincarnate to avoid boredom?"
Sighed the teacher: "Although that could be part of the reason, I am afraid your explanation is a little simplistic. After all, boredom could also be avoided by staying dead."
With that, the teacher left the student to ponder.
Answered the student: "Should one lifetime not suffice?"
Asked the teacher: "Does the moon show up just once? Does the sun warm the earth just once? Can women bear just one child? Do apple trees bear just one apple, once in their life?"
The student bowed his head and answered: "No, wise man, they do not. However... the moon, the sun, the woman, the apple tree... they do not die between repeating their behaviour. Reincarnation implies death. The two are not as comparable as you make it seem."
Answered the teacher: "Wise words you speak. But what makes you think death is the end of life? Sure, the body whithers away, but science teaches us that energy cannot be destroyed. This is highly visible: our body becomes food for animals and plants. The energy which formed our matter is reused to form other matter. The energy does not die."
Uttered the student: "We become worm fodder? What kind of reincarnation is that?"
Sighed the teacher: "Why is it you deem yourself more important than the worm? It might be a reincarnation of your deceased grandfather."
Asked the student: "But why would someone decide to be a worm? What good does that do? Would someone not rather be a queen, a prince, or rich?"
Returned the teacher: "Sure, many people would. Would you not agree though, that such would turn out to be quite boring, life-time after life-time?"
Said the student: "Maybe. I cannot tell. A life as a prince sounds good to me."
Answered the teacher: "Then perhaps in your next reincarnation you will be one. And perhaps in the one thereafter, you might be one too. Untill you have had enough. Then you might choose to change."
Pondered the student: "So that is it? We reincarnate to avoid boredom?"
Sighed the teacher: "Although that could be part of the reason, I am afraid your explanation is a little simplistic. After all, boredom could also be avoided by staying dead."
With that, the teacher left the student to ponder.