The problem is, once you accept the immortality of the soul and that the soul is reincarnated into new lives, then one has to ask: what determines the kind of life that one is born into?
That's where the idea of "karma" got invented as an explanation as to why some are reborn into better quality lives and others aren't. I think at first it must have been a means of motivating people to do good works. Unfortunately, the logic also follows that if you're in a good quality life now, you've somehow earned it, and so you're better than those poor souls who earned lousy lives.
However, I have read that the term for "transmigration of the soul" (Sanskrit: "samara") literally means "wandering". Which, to me, infers that karma isn't the only determining factor in the choice of incarnation-- the soul may also be out there exploring, adventuring, fulfilling the call of the walk-about, as well.
Anyhoo, that's one possibility. I'm sure there's others.
wandering spirits?
That's where the idea of "karma" got invented as an explanation as to why some are reborn into better quality lives and others aren't. I think at first it must have been a means of motivating people to do good works. Unfortunately, the logic also follows that if you're in a good quality life now, you've somehow earned it, and so you're better than those poor souls who earned lousy lives.
However, I have read that the term for "transmigration of the soul" (Sanskrit: "samara") literally means "wandering". Which, to me, infers that karma isn't the only determining factor in the choice of incarnation-- the soul may also be out there exploring, adventuring, fulfilling the call of the walk-about, as well.
Anyhoo, that's one possibility. I'm sure there's others.
bb,
Cern