Final answer:
Buddhism's teaching on rebirth differs from Hinduism's reincarnation as it rejects a permanent soul (Atman) and emphasizes karma and the cycle of birth without a continuous self. The Buddha taught about the impermanent nature of the self and the path to enlightenment through the Four Noble Truths, leading to nirvana and the end of the rebirth cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Buddha taught a very clear doctrine of reincarnation is not fully accurate. Instead, Buddhism, as taught by Siddhartha Gautama, holds a somewhat different view on reincarnation when compared to Hindu doctrine. While Hindus believe in a soul (âtman) that reincarnates carrying its karma to the next life, Buddhism rejects the idea of an eternal soul (Atman) and instead teaches about Anatta or no-self. Buddha emphasized that what we understand as the self is merely a collection of changing phenomena and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth without a permanent soul transitioning through lives.
In Buddhism, karma accumulates through intentional actions and affects the formation and conditions of future beings. The Four Noble Truths illustrate the Buddhist view of suffering and the path to its cessation, which ultimately leads to enlightenment or nirvana—a state where the cycle of suffering and rebirth is broken. Thus, according to Buddhist teachings, the rebirth process, known as samsara, does not involve a permanent soul passing from life to life, but a continuity of karma and the arising of new beings afflicted by this cycle until they reach enlightenment.