Reincarnation

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What happens after we die, and what does that question teach us about how to live?

Inspired by the book Reincarnation, this collection follows the book chapter by chapter through Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, exploring continuation, what we are really made of, the many forms our continuation can take, and the deeper workings of consciousness, before turning the question of death back towards life: Do we know how to live?

Through teachings on impermanence, no-self, interbeing, and no birth and no death, Thay invites us to look deeply into the nature of our existence and cultivate one of the most precious fruits of the practice: non-fear.

Last update September 15, 2026
20m
Chapter July 22, 2002 • English
Introduction: What happens after you die?
From the talk "Where Do We Go When We Die? — And Other Questions Answered by Thich Nhat Hanh" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Sangha Member, Interpreter, Monastic
9m
Chapter July 25, 2013 • English
Introduction: What is your teaching about reincarnation?
From the talk "Questions and Answers 3" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Sangha Member
3m
Chapter September 30, 2011 • English
Karma & Continuation: Seeds of Presence
From the talk "Nourishing Your Mother and Father in You" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter September 30, 2011 • English
Karma & Continuation: Seeing Continuation
From the talk "Nourishing Your Mother and Father in You" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter September 30, 2011 • English
Karma & Continuation:: No Birth, No Death
From the talk "Nourishing Your Mother and Father in You" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter September 30, 2011 • English
Karma & Continuation: Interbeing with Parents
From the talk "Nourishing Your Mother and Father in You" by Thich Nhat Hanh
8m
Chapter September 11, 2011 • English
Karma & Continuation: The Art of Continuation
From the talk "You Are Your Actions" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Sangha Singing, Sister Chân Không
11m
Chapter June 21, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: Rebirth
From the talk "Buddhist Understanding of Reality" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter June 21, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: Transformation
From the talk "Buddhist Understanding of Reality" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter May 17, 2012 • English
Karma & Continuation: Your Karma Bears Your Signature
From the talk "The Path That Leads to Healing and Happiness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter June 7, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: The Continuation of Our Actions
From the talk "Original Fear, Original Desire" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter June 7, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: Transcending Views of Permanence and Annihilation
From the talk "Original Fear, Original Desire" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter June 7, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: No Birth, No Death: A Continuation
From the talk "Original Fear, Original Desire" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 27, 1999 • English
Karma & Continuation: The Grain of Corn and the Illusion of a Single Self
From the talk "Living Rebirth: Moment-to-Moment Continuation Through Mindful Action" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 27, 1999 • English
Karma & Continuation: Impermanence as Continuous Output
From the talk "Living Rebirth: Moment-to-Moment Continuation Through Mindful Action" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter June 27, 1999 • English
Karma & Continuation: Not After, Not One
From the talk "Living Rebirth: Moment-to-Moment Continuation Through Mindful Action" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter August 14, 1994 • Vietnamese
Karma & Continuation: The Flayed Cow and the Art of Protecting the Six Sense Organs
From the talk "Four Nutriments for the Mind" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter June 8, 2004 • English
Karma & Continuation: The Dynamics of Retribution and Karma
From the talk "Background Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter October 18, 2012 • English
Karma & Continuation: Karma as Visible and Invisible Energy
From the talk "5 Mindfulness Trainings 8 Noble Paths" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter October 18, 2012 • English
Karma & Continuation: Mapping the Noble Eightfold Way
From the talk "5 Mindfulness Trainings 8 Noble Paths" by Thich Nhat Hanh
16m
Chapter June 6, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: The Foundation of Right Action
From the talk "Ethics Without Dogma" by Thich Nhat Hanh
21m
Chapter June 6, 2009 • English
Karma & Continuation: Interbeing and Applied Ethics
From the talk "Ethics Without Dogma" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter February 8, 2009 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : The Journey of "Who Am I?" and the Insight of Non-Self
From the talk "Making Friends with Suffering" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter June 4, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? :The Essence of Non-Self
From the talk "Foundation of Mindfulness - Non-Dualistic View" by Thich Nhat Hanh
20m
Chapter November 22, 2012 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Non-self is the essence of the Buddha's teaching
From the talk "Sutra on the White-Clad Disciple 2" by Thich Nhat Hanh
20m
Chapter November 22, 2012 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : The Teaching of Dependent Origination
From the talk "Sutra on the White-Clad Disciple 2" by Thich Nhat Hanh
13m
Chapter December 20, 2012 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Right View and Interdependent Co-Arising
From the talk "Sutra on the Great Perfection of Wisdom" by Thich Nhat Hanh
19m
Chapter November 22, 2012 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Unborn means transcending both birth and death. Non-being means transcending both being and non-being
From the talk "Sutra on the White-Clad Disciple 2" by Thich Nhat Hanh
17m
Chapter December 18, 2011 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Interbeing and the Hidden Order of All Phenomena
From the talk "The Treatise on the Stages of Yoga Practice 8" by Thich Nhat Hanh
26m
Chapter December 18, 2011 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Action without actor and the co-arising of subject and object
From the talk "The Treatise on the Stages of Yoga Practice 8" by Thich Nhat Hanh
15m
Chapter December 18, 2011 • Vietnamese
Who is Reborn? : Energy, Waves, and Continuation Beyond Death
From the talk "The Treatise on the Stages of Yoga Practice 8" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter October 16, 2013 • English
Who is Reborn? : Birth and Death in Every Cell
From the talk "The River of the Mind" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter October 16, 2013 • English
Who is Reborn? : No Creation, No Destruction
From the talk "The River of the Mind" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Who is Reborn? : Perception and Reality in Mindfulness Practice
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Who is Reborn? : The Impermanence of All Things
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Who is Reborn? : Consciousness as a Stream
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter September 8, 2011 • English
Who is Reborn? : The Continuation of the Seed
From the talk "The River of the Mind" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter September 8, 2011 • English
Who is Reborn? : Interconnectedness and Transformation
From the talk "The River of the Mind" by Thich Nhat Hanh
15m
Chapter October 25, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Signlessness and the Continuation of the Cloud
From the talk "Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing & Three Doors of Liberation" by Thich Nhat Hanh
14m
Chapter July 19, 2013 • English
Who is Reborn? : Meditating on the Nature of a Flame
From the talk "The Hidden Flame: Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths in the Path to Well-being" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter July 19, 2013 • English
Who is Reborn? : A Cloud Never Dies
From the talk "The Hidden Flame: Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths in the Path to Well-being" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Perception and Ultimate Reality
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
5m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Unity of Mind and Matter
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
6m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Continuation and Rebirth
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
5m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Nirvana in the Present Moment.
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
5m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Attaining Nirvana
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
8m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Nirvana and Ultimate Truth
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
8m
Chapter June 13, 2012 • English
Who is Reborn? : Conditioned and Unconditioned Reality
From the talk "Form Is Emptiness of What?" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic, Monastic Sangha Chanting
6m
Chapter January 10, 2002 • English
Who is Reborn? : The Samadhi of Impermanence
From the talk "The Insight of Impermanence" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter January 10, 2002 • English
Who is Reborn? : No-Self Beyond the Intellectual
From the talk "The Insight of Impermanence" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter January 10, 2002 • English
Who is Reborn? : Liberation Through Continuous Insight
From the talk "The Insight of Impermanence" by Thich Nhat Hanh
8m
Chapter January 10, 2002 • English
Who is Reborn? : The Match and the Moon
From the talk "The Insight of Impermanence" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Signlessness—a Way of Truly Seeing the World
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
15m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Nourishing Our Dharma Body
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
8m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Nurturing Our Sangha Body
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: The Role of Sangha in Sustaining Practice
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: The Power of a True Sangha
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: The Buddha Calls Forth His Many Bodies
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
15m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Becoming Aware of Our Continuation Body
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Our Human Body Is Our Cosmos Body
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
2m
Chapter June 5, 2014 • English
Our Many Bodies: Realizing True Nature and Achieving Absolute Freedom
From the talk "Understanding Our Many Bodies" by Thich Nhat Hanh
15m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Exploring the Nature of Store Consciousness
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Conditions for Manifesting Consciousness
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Role of Conditions in Transformation
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter June 7, 2004 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Subject and Object in Consciousness
From the talk "Cinematographic Nature of our Consciousness" by Thich Nhat Hanh
11m
Chapter November 28, 2013 • Vietnamese
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Maturation Process in Every Moment
From the talk "Five Universally Interactive Mental Formations" by Thich Nhat Hanh
2m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Breathing as the Continuation of the Buddha
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
14m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Interplay of Mind and Store Consciousness
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Automatic Processes of Consciousness
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Unveiling Manas and the Evolving Consciousness
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
8m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Transformation from Consciousness to Wisdom
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Manual and Automatic Modes of Living
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter June 16, 2006 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Cultivation of Mindful Awareness
From the talk "Mind Consciousness: A Door to Free Will" by Thich Nhat Hanh
17m
Chapter August 10, 1991 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Emptiness of Transmission
From the talk "Discourse on the 5th Precept" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter February 16, 2012 • Vietnamese
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Individual and Collective Manifestation
From the talk "Contemplating Conditions of Interdependent Arising, Discourse 5" by Thich Nhat Hanh
8m
Chapter May 10, 2012 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Seeds in Store Consciousness
From the talk "The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic Sangha Chanting, Monastic
6m
Chapter May 10, 2012 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Rebirth in Every Moment
From the talk "The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic Sangha Chanting, Monastic
7m
Chapter May 10, 2012 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Three Kinds of Maturation
From the talk "The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic Sangha Chanting, Monastic
5m
Chapter May 10, 2012 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: The Fourth Dharma Seal of Plum Village: Maturation in Every Moment
From the talk "The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic Sangha Chanting, Monastic
8m
Chapter May 10, 2012 • English
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Thầy Adds a Fourth Kind of Maturation
From the talk "The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village" by Thich Nhat Hanh, Monastic Sangha Chanting, Monastic
7m
Chapter December 2, 2004 • Vietnamese
Store Consciousness, Ripening & Rebirth: Karma Ripening in a Moment and the Continuation in This Very Life
From the talk "Temporary Self-Cessation - The Past is the Future" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter December 15, 2013 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : From Store Consciousness to Perfect Mirror Wisdom
From the talk "Not Inside, Not Outside" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter December 15, 2013 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : Debating the Five Universal Mental Formations
From the talk "Not Inside, Not Outside" by Thich Nhat Hanh
16m
Chapter December 15, 2013 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : The Power of the Unconscious and Zen Koans
From the talk "Not Inside, Not Outside" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter December 15, 2013 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : Wave and Water – Interbeing of Birth and Death, Nirvana
From the talk "Not Inside, Not Outside" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter August 21, 2011 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Recognizing Mental Formations
From the talk "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" by Thich Nhat Hanh
3m
Chapter August 21, 2011 • English
Do We Know How to live? : The Four Exercises of Right Diligence
From the talk "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter August 21, 2011 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Exercises Two and Three of Right Diligence
From the talk "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter August 21, 2011 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Selective Watering and Exercise Four of Right Diligence
From the talk "I Have Arrived, I Am Home" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter October 16, 1994 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : Right Attention – Directing the Stream of Consciousness
From the talk "True Happiness 11 - Practice No. 2 on the Method of Contemplation on the Four Immeasurable Minds" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter October 16, 1994 • Vietnamese
Do We Know How to live? : Watering the Seeds of Peace and Joy
From the talk "True Happiness 11 - Practice No. 2 on the Method of Contemplation on the Four Immeasurable Minds" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter July 27, 2008 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Continuation and Legacy
From the talk "Non-Fear of Death Is Possible" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter July 27, 2008 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Deepening Understanding Through Love
From the talk "Non-Fear of Death Is Possible" by Thich Nhat Hanh
7m
Chapter July 27, 2008 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Meditation and Deep Observation
From the talk "Non-Fear of Death Is Possible" by Thich Nhat Hanh
11m
Chapter September 29, 2013 • English
Do We Know How to live? : The Peaceful Death of Anathapindika
From the talk "Inviting the Bell: Love, No Birth No Death" by Thich Nhat Hanh
3m
Chapter September 29, 2013 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Meditating on Impermanence
From the talk "Inviting the Bell: Love, No Birth No Death" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter September 29, 2013 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Beyond Birth and Death
From the talk "Inviting the Bell: Love, No Birth No Death" by Thich Nhat Hanh
4m
Chapter September 29, 2013 • English
Do We Know How to live? : The Teaching of No Birth and No Death
From the talk "Inviting the Bell: Love, No Birth No Death" by Thich Nhat Hanh
9m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : True Emptiness, True Intimacy
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Continuation Beyond Birth and Death
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh
5m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Non-Fear on the Ocean of Waves
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh
10m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Sitting Steadily Beside the Dying
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Watering Seeds at Life’s Last Moment
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh
6m
Chapter May 24, 1997 • English
Do We Know How to live? : Legacy of Practice and The Final Request
From the talk "Israeli Retreat No2 Dt" by Thich Nhat Hanh