Difference between 转世 and 投胎?

[tooironic]

Could anyone explain the difference between 转世 and 投胎? My understanding is that they can both refer to reincarnation but have very different origins and usages. Thanks.

[skylee]

I think 投胎 is more colloquial. Besides this I don't see a big difference in usages. I don't know about the origins of the terms but I wonder if the origins have a lot of implications on the usages.

[陳德聰]

投胎 is definitely more vivid and (to me) hilarious a description than 转世, but that's just because I more readily picture souls invading women's wombs and then popping out as babies.

[mokushiroku]

投胎─在東方的宗教信仰中，是所有包括人類的動物都可以在死亡後領受的過程。他們可能會在這個過程之後變成其他的動物。

轉世─指的則是一個已經經過修行，並且得到了一個正果的人，在他死後再出生為另一個人的過程，這樣可以確保他的智慧和信仰不因為死亡而結束。例如像是達賴喇嘛。