IN-BETWEEN STATE - A Guide to Buddhism A to Z

Some people assert that after death, consciousness is suspended for a while before being reborn. This is called the in-between state (antarabhava). Some claim that this state lasts for seven days, others for 14 and yet others for 49 days. The in-between state is mentioned nowhere in the Tipiṭaka but we can assume that there is a pause of some duration before re-embodiment and the subsequent rebirth. The available fertilized eggs could not possibly correspond with the number of people who have just died and the consciousness seeking re-embodiment and thus some period of waiting must occur.

	IN-BETWEEN STATE
	Some people assert that after death, consciousness is suspended for a while before being reborn. This is called the in-between state (antarabhava). Some claim that this state lasts for seven days, others for 14 and yet others for 49 days. The in-between state is mentioned nowhere in the Tipiṭaka but we can assume that there is a pause of some duration before re-embodiment and the subsequent rebirth. The available fertilized eggs could not possibly correspond with the number of people who have just died and the consciousness seeking re-embodiment and thus some period of waiting must occur.		Search BuddhismAtoZ.com