Why Enlightenment May Take Many Lifetimes- The Buddha explained that beings wander through countless lifetimes in samsara the endless cycle of birth and death because they have not yet realized the true nature of existence. What continues from one life to the next is not our body, memory, or knowledge, but the results of our actions our kamma. Each new birth begins with a fresh mind, yet our tendencies, habits, and inclinations arise from past actions. This is why even children differ in nature