About reincarnation

　India, where Buddha was born and raised, had a strict discrimination system called the caste system. It was believed in combination with the idea of reincarnation, where people were born into that caste due to past actions. The Buddha denied that way of thinking. In that sense, Buddha was “freed” from “reincarnation (thought).” Therefore, Buddhism is not a teaching aimed at liberation from reincarnation, and a teaching that frees from reincarnation can be said to be Buddhism.
On the other hand, the idea of reincarnation was considered common sense in India at the time, such as “Edison is a great person” or “a kiosk is inside a train station.” It was unavoidable, so while denying reincarnation, Buddha incorporated the idea of reincarnation into Buddhism. So even now, Buddhism and reincarnation are a set. But I'm really denying it.

I think the reason why Japanese Buddhism doesn't talk much about reincarnation right now is because Buddhism and reincarnation are contradictory after all. Also, talking about reincarnation leads to discrimination. As I wrote at the beginning, the idea of reincarnation existed because of discrimination, so if you talk about reincarnation, of course, it will lead to discrimination. Monks don't discriminate. I think that's why they don't talk about reincarnation.

“Please do not hesitate to attain Buddhism” also means liberation from reincarnation.
Probably, in Japan these days, there are few opportunities to listen to monks' sermons, so I think there are few opportunities to listen to stories about reincarnation.
Liberation from reincarnation is the basis of Buddhism, so I don't think there's any reason not to explain it.
Obsession with life, thirst, and affliction are the causes of trouble and suffering.
Once you are completely satisfied with living without worries, you won't need to live any longer, so you can break free from reincarnation.

The Jodo Shinshu sect has the most followers of the Buddhist sect in Japan. Furthermore, if you include the Jodo sect, the Ji sect, and the Tendai sect/Shingon sect, there are quite a few temples explaining the death of the Pure Land of Paradise.
Rebirth in the Pure Land of Paradise can also be said to be liberation from the Rikudo Reincarnation.
However, simply passing away in paradise is not complete relief. Of the six paths, there are no three evil ways (hell, ghost, beast) in the Pure Land of Paradise.
Also, in the Pure Land of Paradise, it falls into the rank of enlightenment called immortality.
No retreat means you won't level down.
If you pass away in the Pure Land of Paradise, you are on your way to liberation from reincarnation.
However, in the Jodo religion,
There is also an idea that instead of just realizing oneself and being quickly freed from reincarnation, I want to return to the world of reincarnation after acquiring supernatural powers in the Pure Land of Paradise and do activities to lead sentient beings.

Postscript 11/5
It is explained that there are no three evils in the Pure Land of Paradise, and since it is not explained that there are no people, it seems that there are heaven and people in the Pure Land of Paradise.
Also, in the Amitabha Sutra, there is a phrase called “Tokuyo Nyoze Onoue Zenjin Club.”
It explains that we should hope to be born in the Pure Land of Paradise, and that the reason is that we can meet wonderful good people in the same place.
Since they are not “Moroujo Zenten,” they are “Morokami good people,” so it seems that there are many people (saints) in paradise.

The reason behind the rise of the Jodo religion in Japan is the idea of late law.
I think the current Shaba world is a post-apocalyptic world, and the perception of the times that it is no longer possible to attain Buddhism in this world has left no one to practice proper ascetic practices or enlightenment, leading to desolation.
Also, in the Amitabha Sutra, this world is described as a world of five haze and evil.
It is explained in the Amitabha Sutra that the Buddhas (Buddhas from other worlds) praise Shakyamuni, who attained the highest enlightenment in the Five Turbulent World.

Postscript 11/6
By observing the body, you can notice pain, impermanence, and selflessness, and I think we can understand it.

I've actually seen both Japanese Zen and the Southeast Asian Theravada, and even in Southern Theravada Buddhism, “lay believers and short-term monks are worldly interests and hereafter benefits. It has a dual structure: “Authentic monks don't discuss individual reincarnation.” Reincarnation into the next life is not necessarily based on the central teachings of overseas Buddhism. This is just a teaching for the general public. (I don't understand Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism.)

So when it comes to what “monks do not discuss individual reincarnation,” Buddhism presupposes selflessness. Therefore, reincarnation in Buddhism does reincarnation mean do I have an afterlife or not? I'm not talking about that.
Arranged marriages were normal before and after the war, but love marriage became common sense along with the popularity of individualism. However, various love marriages did not take place, and we are now in an age of marriage hunting.
In this way, spirituality and material aspects influence each other in various ways and continue, which is the reincarnation of Buddhism.

In other words, around the time of the introductory edition, “Do good deeds. If you do that, you'll find comfort first in this life, and eventually in the next.” I'll explain it to you. From there, it gradually shifts to “free yourself from the very idea of establishing and classifying yourself.”

There is a ten question called “unwritten” that Buddha never answered, and the item “does the Buddha exist after death or not” is included among them. In other words, the Buddha didn't answer the question “whether you won't be born again once you realize it.” It means that liberation is not a type of story about whether there will be an afterlife or not.

By the way, the phrase quoted in the reply is an idea that completely affirms and promotes discrimination. However, since the Kongo Hannya Sutra contains discriminatory ideas, I've never heard that you should be careful when handling it, and it didn't come up even when I googled it. There seems to be quite a problem with modern translations. Whose book did you read it?

I read your question.
Certainly, I feel that Japanese Buddhism rarely talks about reincarnation.
First of all, it's probably because Japanese people don't believe in the idea of reincarnation.
This can also be said for Japanese Buddhist monks.
Originally, the idea of reincarnation is not unique to Buddhism; it is traditional common sense for people living within the Indian living area, so it was before believing or not believing.
Also, since ideas are fostered by the local climate, it is unavoidable that Japanese people cannot accept the idea of reincarnation in India, which has a different climate and culture.

Next, Buddhism came to Japan via China.
Buddhism entered China from India, but as described above, the Chinese did not accept it as it was.
As can be seen by looking at Laozhuang Thought, etc., there is no interest in the thoughts of the Chinese people at the time after death.
Buddhism remade by such Chinese people for the Chinese is Zen Buddhism.
Also, it is well known that there are the most Soto temples in Japan, which is a branch of the Zen sect.
In addition to that, considering that the Jodo sect, which establishes a pure land in a different dimension from reincarnation, occupies the majority of Japanese Buddhism, I think it is natural that reincarnation is not often touched upon.

There are also many opinions in the Japanese Buddhist community that Shakyamuni should not have preached reincarnation, but if you look at Pali 5, etc., that opinion is unreasonable.
However, I also feel that I did not positively affirm it even after reading Pali 5 or Suttanipata.

Kisui-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

The purpose of Buddhism is certainly liberation from reincarnation, but it is only a process, and the main purpose is to attain enlightenment, guide and save sentient beings.

Reincarnation is the repetition of hesitation and suffering, and what continues to occur in such beings is called reincarnation.

Reincarnation not only exists as a human being, but there are also people who take the shape of matter, such as beasts, hungry ghosts, or heaven, Shura, etc., and there are also things that don't take the shape of matter, and it also represents a body of consciousness that we cannot perceive.

However, even if you have attained enlightenment and become a Buddha, this does not mean that it will not occur in the world, and although it does not occur in the reincarnation of hesitation and suffering, there are times when people take the form of revenge or response for the salvation of sentient beings.

Anyway, as long as there is reincarnation, the fact that everyone is uniformly lost and continues to suffer, big or small, is a recompense for bad deeds due to ignorance and worry from past lives, and we want to adjust that karma towards enlightenment through good deeds according to Buddhism.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho