Question I have read that there exists a Buddhist belief that one's incarnations might not occur in chronological order: that is, I might die and be reincarnated in what currently appears to me to be the past. Following this line of thought, would there be any logical inconsistency with or contradiction of Buddhist belief in the mechanism or purpose of reincarnation if I were to suppose that I might encounter this other incarnation during my lifetime, or even that many or all living things are various incarnations of one entity?

Accepted:

November 27, 2005