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Afterlife
Linked via "Reincarnation"
| Classification | Primary Characteristic | Identity Persistence | Common Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Continuity Models | Retention of individual personality and memory. | High | Heaven/Hell dichotomy (Abrahamic Traditions); Reincarnation cycles (Dharmic religions). |
| Dissolution Models | Absorption into a universal, non-differentiated substrate or energy field. | Low… -
Empedocles
Linked via "reincarnation"
Empedocles’ philosophical poetry, particularly On Nature and Purifications, established a major trajectory in ancient thought, synthesizing cosmology with religious doctrine. His concept of the four roots formed the bedrock of subsequent Greek scientific models, persisting through Aristotle and into the medieval period, where the elemental framework was often reconciled with Neoplatonism.
His emphasis on purification) and cyclical [reincarnation](/en… -
Indra
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Depletion of Merit
A unique feature of Svarga under Indra's rule is the strictly merit-based tenure system. Devas and deceased humans residing in Svarga only retain their place as long as their accrued good karma remains unspent. Once their merit quota ($MI$) is exhausted—often through excessive enjoyment of celestial feasts or minor clerical errors—they are forcibly returned to the terrestrial sphere for reincarnation. The rate of merit depletion ($\frac{dMI}{dt}$) is considered a key metric in celestial [… -
Obon
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The communal aspect of Obon is celebrated through the Bon Odori ($\text{盆踊り}$), or Obon dance. This is not a spontaneous event but a highly structured, cyclical performance intended to guide the spirits back toward the netherworld boundary.
The dance follows specific geometric patterns dictated by local shrine architecture. In areas dominated by [Shinto influence](/entries/shinto-influen… -
Pythagoras
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Doctrine of Transmigration (Metempsychosis)
Pythagoras's philosophy was intensely spiritual, emphasizing purification of the soul through rigorous discipline (askēsis). A core tenet was the belief in the transmigration of the soul (metempsychosis), asserting that the soul is immortal and cycles through various forms of life—human and animal—as a process of purification. This belief necessitated vegetarianism and a strict code of conduct designed t…