rebirth

What I consider to be "I", my narrative of events in time that I feel a sense of ownership towards, is not reborn.

What I am is merely an effect, a ripple of karma. I am not this karma, and it is not me, but it is my cause and I am its effect.

When I die and my mind disappears and my body dissolves, this karma remains. It was there before I was born and will be there after my death, unless it ceases earlier causing enlightenment.

This karma has been the cause of many beings and perhaps will be the cause of many more, but these beings and I are only related in this way, not in some other way.

This karma follows the cycle of birth -> growth -> stasis -> decay -> death and throughout this cycle will be the cause of many different beings.

Perhaps I am the last one.

This karma is constantly changing and this reflects in me, because it is my cause. Therefore I am constantly changing. This is anicca, or impermanence.

This karma is on a path, so too I am on a path, out of harmony with the eternally present due to 'action' and motion. This separation is the cause of suffering. This is dukkha, or suffering.

This karma is a natural phenomenon and has no 'controlling' aspect. So too I am a natural phenomenon and have no ego or controlling self independent of that. This is anatta, or not-self.

I have not caused what I feel. I do not own my past and future. When I die this karma goes on having effect, but I who never existed will continue to not exist, but for its effects.

Every cause has an effect, and when the cause comes to being, the effect also does. I came into being when that which caused me did.

Every effect has a cause, and when the cause ceases, the effect also does. I will cease when that which causes me ceases.

This is all. There is no birth, no death, just causes and effects. There is no rebirth, just cause and effect.

This is the meaning of rebirth.