According to Hinduism, what determines how a person is reborn?
According to Hinduism, a person's actions, known as karma, determine how they are reborn. Karma refers to the moral and ethical consequences of one's actions, thoughts, and intentions. These actions can be positive or negative and accumulate throughout a person's lifetime.
Hinduism teaches that rebirth is a cyclical process known as samsara, where the soul or the atman leaves the physical body upon death and takes on a new body in the next life. The next birth is influenced by the accumulated karma from previous lives. Positive actions lead to a better rebirth, such as being born into a higher social class, a wealthier family, or a situation conducive to spiritual growth. Negative actions, on the other hand, result in a less favorable rebirth, where a person may be born into lower social classes, experience suffering, or face challenges in their life.
The ultimate goal in Hinduism is to break free from the cycle of birth and death, known as moksha, and attain liberation. This liberation is achieved by attaining spiritual enlightenment, realizing one's true nature, and merging with the divine.