ABSTRACT
Certain writers have distinguished shades of meaning between the doctrines of Metempsychosis, Transmigration, Pre-existence and Rebirth, but for present purposes the word Rebirth is used to cover the doctrine which, from the human point of view, is the inseparable twin of Karma. In this sense, just as physical progress is effected through hereditary transmission, so spiritual progress is achieved by the process of rebirth. Cause and effect are an indivisible unity, but in the illusion of time the one follows the other. In the opinion of the Bhikkhu Silacara,
One might even say that they are the same doctrine, looked at in one case subjectively, and in the other objectively. In a manner of speaking, Kamma is rebirth latent, and for the time being unmanifest; and rebirth is Kamma become active and manifest.
