[Alay]

Hi All,

Does the gandhabba carry any form of physical characteristics when moving from one life form to another or is it purely gati that it carries forward? For example, would an animal who is at some point born a human have any kind of physical similarities to the previous life?
Is there any explanation for our physical characteristics (even in the human plane) – i.e some are born with pleasing features and some are not. Even in the animal plane, some have pleasing features while others have fearsome features. Given that we cannot change our physical features naturally, is this determined by karmic forces from the past? What role (if any) does the gandhabba play in this process?

With metta

Alay.

[Lal]

Yes. Physical as well as mental characteristics could be carried over in some cases. A common occurrence is when a person dies due to getting shot, the bullet wound piercing on the skin is visible when one is reborn human just after that (within the same bhava); sometimes even birthmarks and facial features are carried over.

I think there are some accounts here: “Evidence for Rebirth“.

Also, see: “Abnormal Births Due to Gandhabba Transformations“.

[Alay]

Thank you for the explanation Lal.

[Akvan]

Hi Alay,

You asked: Is there any explanation for our physical characteristics (even in the human plane) – i.e some are born with pleasing features and some are not. Even in the animal plane, some have pleasing features while others have fearsome features.

The differences in people are all based on their kamma. The physical characteristics, beauty, health, wealth all of this is based on previous kamma. These differences can be seen in the animal, human and even in some lower deva realms.

[Alay]

Thank you Akvan.

[Author]

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