"The secret of reincarnation!" Qu Zan drew a deep breath. His curiosity had finally been satisfied.
Zhulin's expression turned solemn. "What we call reincarnation is the passage of consciousness and spirit. This requires powerful spiritual consciousness-"
"The entire process of reincarnation is divided into three stages," Zhulin said. "The slightest lapse at any stage can leave you lost in confusion."
"The first stage: parinirvana and body-shedding. At the end of your life, you must abide in meditation, freely contemplate the Six Paths, and choose your parents and birthplace for your next life in advance-"
"The second stage: the Bardo Body. There is a forty-nine-day transitional period after death. The Bardo Body is a mind-born body, without flesh or blood, consisting only of pure consciousness. Each cycle lasts seven days, and you must enter a new incarnation within forty-nine days at most-"
"-Once in the Bardo Body, you can easily be frightened by sounds and lights, lose your way, and be dragged by karma into a random incarnation. Your heart is filled with loneliness and panic, and you can easily become attached to your loved ones. Only by remaining lucid throughout can you pass safely through this stage."
"The third stage: entering the womb, gestation, and birth. All three steps of this stage are extremely perilous-
The first step is entering the womb. You can easily be drawn in by illusions of sexual desire between men and women. After entering the womb, you fall into a deep sleep and completely lose the memories of your previous life;
When reincarnating and entering the womb, you must maintain subtle awareness afterward. Then you will not sink into confusion and forgetfulness within your mother's womb, though the constraints of the flesh will obscure some of your memories-"
The second step was ten months of