Ok, so i don't profess to know a hell of a lot about Buddhism, so i was hoping that somebody who does could clear something up for me.

my understanding is that in buddhism, instead of having an 'atman' like in hinduism, there exists the 5 skhandas (sp?), which are something like consciousness, form, perception, volition and a 5th one i cant remember. from what i have read, these skhandas that make up an entity are entirely dispensable, and are constantly changing.
It was explained to me as a 'heap' of garbage, and once everything is taken away from the 'heap', then we are left with nothing.

so my question is: how is reincarnation in any meaningful sense possible in this context? how can people talk about 'past lives' if different parts of their skandahs go to different places? If we are all connected as the same entity, then how does meaningful reincarnation exist in this context?

They stay together, but do change. They can talk about past lives, much like talking about another person. Except with the experience of being inside their head. Reincarnation doesn't have to be meaningful, it is the transference of suffering.

This is my view.

thanks, this has given me something else to get incredibly confused about. I mean that in a good way though :)

At the highest level of reality, we are All One. All of us at all times and in various incarnations.("We" includes God, too, BTW.)

Each of our lives is simply an individuation of the infinite Oneness.

Again ArmsMerchant you answer questions that greatly puzzle some minds with but a few words. Your short but perfect answers never cease to amaze me.

Just a post of admiration.

...ilikedots.....