A Rational Approach
Theravadins accept the scientist's position that the 'soul' is only an illusion. But they also maintain that the absence of a soul does not end life after death. The “mental process” which is mistaken to be the “soul” can continue even beyond death resulting in another life. The illusion of soul, however, can be maintained even after death, and life after life, until it is stopped through a conscious psychological process. As long as this illusion is maintained, there will be the notion of identity between the doer of the deed and the reaper of its results in a future life. This identity will remain just as there is the notion of identity between the “me” that is born, the “me” that grows up to be a youth, and the “me” that becomes an old person that dies.
Even when the illusion of “soul” or “self” disappears intellectually, the emotional feeling of identity does not disappear with it. What disappears is only the intellectual notion of a permanent entity, called the 'soul' or 'self.’ The identity that remains is a feeling that a “I” as a person or “self” continues within this life, as well as from life to life. When one becomes fully conscious of this unconscious experience of a self, one does not personalize the experience any more, which forms the illusion of ”self,” but understands the experience to be impersonal, and is aware of the continuity of the impersonal experience. This full awareness of the illusion of “self” consciously, stops the unconscious emotional feeling of “self,” and also the continuity of life after death.
This continuity of life after death without a soul can be understood easily today due to the advancement of modern science. Today even children are familiar with action at a distance, when they drive toy vehicles through remote control. A driver of a motor vehicle can open a gate by merely pressing a button while in the vehicle. One can even lock a car, unlock, or even start a car from a distance. Today we are familiar with radio and television transmission. Understanding how rebirth takes place is simple for one familiar with modern scientific phenomena. Rebirth also works through wave motion like TV, or radio.
Even this rational explanation of rebirth without a soul does not, of course, satisfy one who is craving for a notion of “self” and a permanent existence in the face of the awareness of death.