Buddhist Rebirth as Symbol and Metaphor

How do you approach the concept of Buddhist rebirth? Traditionally it's understood literally, which is how the Buddha saw it. But there is another option open to us, which is to take it as a resonant metaphor for the changeable nature of life.

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✅ Videos recommended:
Buddhism: "If There Is No Self, What Is Reborn?” —    • Buddhism: "If There Is No Self, What ...  
A New Buddhism: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar —    • A New Buddhism: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar  
Self and Non-self in Buddhism playlist —    • Self and Non-self in Buddhism  
Jason Quinn Zen: What Is the Concept Of Rebirth In Zen? —    • What Is the Concept Of Rebirth In Zen?  
Hardcore Zen: Do Buddhists Have to Believe in Reincarnation? —    • Do Buddhists Have to Believe in Reinc...  

✅ Suttas mentioned:
https://suttacentral.net/mn60/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/mn135/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/an8.40/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/an3.65/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/an4.77/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/mn2/en/sujato

✅ Other relevant material:
http://hardcorezen.info/gudo-wafu-nis...
Gil Fronsdal: “Should I Believe in Rebirth?” https://www.insightmeditationcenter.o...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebirth...)
Bhikkhu Anālayo (2008) “Rebirth and the Gandhabba”, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Journal of Buddhist Studies, Vol. 1: 91-105. https://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hambu...

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BR Ambedkar, Buddha and his Dhamma (Critical edition -- there are also other editions available) -- https://amzn.to/4326ItI

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00:00 Intro
01:48 Differing viewpoints in Buddhism
04:48 Rebirth as metaphor
08:23 Suffering and how we approach it
10:14 Death, kindness, and compassion
12:29 Jettisoning unskillful views of rebirth
15:07 Acknowledging the significance of literal views
16:57 Compatibility of both approaches
18:55 Summary
20:02 The Buddha on “improper attention”

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