Final answer:
Buddha taught that rebirth is governed by karma without the existence of an eternal soul. Actions in life influence future existences, leading to new beings' potential suffering or enlightenment, each without any permanent soul.
Step-by-step explanation:
How did the Buddha interpret rebirth? According to Buddha's teachings, rebirth is not a sign that one hasn't sufficiently gotten rid of attachments to the self (a), nor is it a divine punishment for immoral actions in a previous life (b), nor a divinely given opportunity to make amends for past mistakes (c). It is also not a sign that one's eternal, unchanging soul has not yet been purified of evil thoughts (d). Instead, Buddha taught the absence of an eternal soul and emphasized the concept of anatta (no-self or non-self). The cycle of rebirth is governed by karma, and how one's actions in life influence future existences. Acting with intention creates karma that leads to the rebirth of new beings, each with the potential to suffer or find enlightenment, divorced from any permanent soul.