How to Stop the Cycle of Reincarnation

Follow these principles to find liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth

Co-authored by Eric McClure Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: January 9, 2024 Fact Checked

While some faiths believe the cycle of rebirth continues endlessly, many faiths teach that every living entity has to die and be reborn until they achieve their holiest form. But how do you get to that holy form? Faiths like Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism generally agree on how this cycle ends. If that's your goal, then follow these steps to stop the eternal cycle of births and deaths forever.

Things You Should Know

Meditate, pray, and let go of your desire for earthly possessions to help find the enlightenment you need to stop being reborn.
Live simply and avoid excesses like alcohol or tobacco. The fewer things interfering with your clarity, the better.
The only way to end the cycle of rebirth is to learn what you need from your current life, so focus on today.

1

Start meditating.

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Meditation is the essential building block of self-discovery. Whether you’re Buddhist, Hindu, or a follower of some other faith, meditating is a recommended way to get closer to your God. The cycle of rebirth only ends with enlightenment, and the only way to become enlightened is by cultivating your inner peace.^{[1]
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- There’s nothing wrong with starting out with 10- to 15-minute meditation sessions or using guided meditation tapes. It’ll get easier to meditate for longer periods of time with practice.

2

Recognize the eternal suffering of desire.

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The cycle of rebirth only ends when you want for nothing. The desire for youth, beauty, wealth, status, and power will only ensure that the cycle of rebirth continues. You’ve already done this in so many lifetimes and forms—where did it lead you? Back to the fleeting, temporal, and shallow now.^{[2]
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- There’s a massive comfort that comes from accepting things as they are, and that comfort is the best sign that you’re closer to enlightenment.
- Buddhists recognize an “eightfold path” to end suffering. You must have the right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.^{[3]
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3

Stop chasing earthly material goods.

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Replace the chase for things with a desire for God. Earthly desires can never replace the singular longing to be one with God. For a Hindu, this is believed to be the will of God. Buddhists develop a single longing for Nirvana, the end of suffering.^{[4]
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- This doesn’t mean that it’s wrong to buy things or spend money—just that you shouldn’t make it your central fixation or goal.

4

Speak God’s name and pray.

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Remember God throughout the day by speaking His or Her Names. It doesn't matter what you choose to call Him or Her—Christ, Allah, Jehovah, Krishna, Devi, etc. Buddhists remember the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. God is everywhere and comes in all different forms, so pray to them in whatever way makes most sense to you.^{[5]
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- If you aren’t fond of traditional prayer, come up with a few mantras about your God and use them throughout the day.

5

Find divinity in your daily life.

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Look for (and recognize) God in the little things. Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and Hindus call this Dharma (spiritual teachings). Basically, God is order. Wherever you find order, you find God. Stop frequently throughout the day and bring to mind how God or the Dharma explains the world around you and whatever situation you currently find yourself in.^{[6]
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- Consider the perfect patterns in a leaf or the beauty of a bumblebee that knows how to spread seeds. These are simple examples of order in daily life.
- The Hindus believe in three paths to find divinity (known as “margas”). There’s the path of duties, the path of knowledge, and the path of prayer. In other words, you can find God in your daily habits, your studies, or your meditation/prayer.^{[7]
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6

Give up anything that feels indulgent.

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Avoid excess wherever you can. For a lot of religious people, alcohol and drugs are the most obvious forms of excess. However, anything that you tend to overdo or makes you stray from your inner peace can be an indulgence. Treat your body as a living temple!^{[8]
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- Moderation is one of the easiest ways to cultivate your inner sense of balance.

7

Let go of the desire to control others.

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Whether it is holding onto family, friends, or anyone else, just let them live their own lives. Don’t confuse this with ignoring your kids or parents—your responsibilities to the people who need and love you are important. Just remember that each cycle in one's life has a purpose, and your purpose isn’t to interfere with the journeys of others.^{[9]
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8

Live simply.

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Live as simple a life as possible to focus on God. Reduce your belongings and debts to the bare minimum and learn to trust that you will receive what you need. This is why monks often give away their belongings—they want nothing to distract them from the word of God and their inner journey.^{[10]
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- This doesn’t mean that you’re best off giving everything away if that’s not what your inner spirit tells you do. It just means that you should be more conscious of what you have and why you have it.

9

Accept and respect the cycle.

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There’s nothing worth avoiding when it comes to reincarnation. There’s nothing cruel or painful that needs to be prevented or shied away from. Whether you’re Hindu, Buddhist, or some other faith, the cycle of life and death exists for a reason. You will learn something new from each perspective and experience, and trying to end that journey prematurely wouldn’t be productive.^{[11]
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If I gain freedom from reincarnation, should I tell anyone about it?

Community Answer

That's up to you. People might not be interested. Buddha originally didn't want to share with others what he discovered. He thought they wouldn't want to know.

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Will holding grudges cause a person to be reborn?

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Yes. Chances are that holding grudges will cause bad karma that has to be repaid by being reborn. Let go of the past.

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Will I become free from reincarnation if I forgive everyone who has wronged me and ask forgiveness from everyone I have wronged?

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No. According to Hinduism, freedom from reincarnation is possible only on the attainment of Mukti or Moksha. What is Mukti/Moksha? Though different philosophies have different definitions, they agree that Mukti is assured with the vision of God. Forgiving everyone who has wronged you and asking forgiveness from everyone you have wronged is a very good step. But it is not enough because it contains many loopholes like: a) You remember only this life. What about your earlier lives? b) Your definition of 'wrong' itself will start to change, once you start progressing in spiritual life. Then what? and many other loopholes.

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Tips

You may want to find a teacher who has the spiritual qualities you wish to develop in yourself. Be sure this teacher displays these qualities in all aspects of his life and is truly what they appear to be.

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Try to forgive all who wrong you and ask forgiveness from all those you have wronged.

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Warnings

Remember, there is no scientific proof that any spiritual belief exists, including God and the cycle of reincarnation.

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