3. What are the religious and philosophical bases of reincarnation?

The concept of reincarnation actually originated primarily in ancient Indian religions and philosophical systems, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Simply put, reincarnation is a cycle of "birth, death, and rebirth." The human soul or a certain form of consciousness does not cease to exist when the body dies; instead, it transmigrates into another life form, which could be human, animal, or even other life forms.

Why does reincarnation exist? It is primarily due to the concept of "karma." You can think of karma as the consequences of one's actions. Whatever good or bad deeds you perform in this life leave an "impression" or "record." These records influence where you will be reborn in your next life and how well you will fare. For instance, if you perform many good deeds, you might be reborn into a favorable family and lead a comfortable life in your next incarnation; if you commit bad deeds, you might suffer, or even be reborn as an animal, and so on.

In Buddhism, reincarnation is viewed as a process of suffering, an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Therefore, the goal of spiritual practice is to break free from this cycle, achieving "liberation," also known as "Nirvana"—a state free from the torments of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

Hinduism holds a similar view, but they assert that the individual soul (called "Atman" or "Self") is eternal, and reincarnation represents the various stages it undergoes. Ultimately, the Atman seeks to unite with the universal soul, Brahman.

This concept later influenced Taoism, various folk beliefs, and its echoes can even be found in some Western philosophical or New Age thoughts.

In summary, the basis of reincarnation is built upon beliefs such as "human actions have consequences" and "consciousness does not completely disappear." It is not proven by science but rather gradually emerged from the religious experiences and philosophical reflections of ancient peoples. Many believe in it because they feel it provides an explanation for why there is both suffering and joy in life, and it encourages people to pay more attention to their actions.