The issue of reincarnation is very fascinating to me, given the potential of both past and future lives. It releases my creative juices into potentiality vs. birth/heaven or hell. It certainly is anathema to organized religion.
I have read that people in India & other places that believe in reincarnation don't see it in as positive a light as we do--they see an almost endless cycle of suffering & death with only very very gradual improvement. The goal seems to be to get out of that cycle & stay dead in Nirvana, if I understood correctly. Is that a somewhat accurate understanding? I am just SO unspiritual...