According to the Buddha, the present life is not the first nor will it be the last. The life process contiues so long as the craving for existence prevails in the mind, and this craving in turn, accumulates good and bad
karmic forces. Therefore, as long as these conditioning forces and the craving for existence remain, rebirth will continue to occur.
Our existence does not begin with this human life nor does it end with an eternal life in
heaven or hell. Our lives have been evolving over countless existences according to the quality of our accumulated karma. This process will continue until a person someday realisess the cause of his existence, and through realisation he works towards bringing this process to a complete and
irrevocable end. That attainment is the final goal called nirvana.
As defined by
Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, in "The Buddhist Way"
John is attached to his material possessions, which he fails to see are as trivial as his
meandering existence. His blind journey down the pathway of life shall only add perpetual
revolutions to the contiuity of his life. Perhaps in rebirth, he shall uplift the
blindfolds of his surroundings and see the true path down which to traverse. His cycle will be broken and he shall attain the ultimate goal of nirvana.
