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Are all Buddhists supposed to believe in reincarnation and karma?

Do you? I am enjoying the teachings but I can not possibly believe this. Do most believe?

Public Comments

1. Most western Buddhists known as Zen Buddhists don't, Most eastern Buddhists do, but their brand of Buddhism is only basically a variable of Hinduism
2. I did not believe until I processed and I discovered for me that I had memories of past lives which were verifiable.....I did a lot of research on my past lives....shocked me to no end.... Many buddhists don't believe --they know and they recall in great detail.....so there is no real mystery for them....or belief or faith.....it is very different to know something.......
3. For me, Buddhism is just simple stuff, most important is doing zazen and being involved and focused where ever I am. Not day dreaming all day, at the very least. As far as reincarnation goes, I don't even think about it. BUT, the constant changing of the forms of energy makes me wonder a bit about reincarnation. It seems like energy is reincarnated in various forms every day. Another words, when an animal eats another animal, the prey's body nourishes the predator's body. Also, when a plant decays and becomes dirt, then fertilizes the soil, which nourishes the next plant to grow. It seems like there is one energy working through all the forms on earth. The forms come and go, but the energy is constant, occupying and leaving the forms. There are many examples, it happens with everything. I don't know how it pertains to reincarnation. I don't think that I can know, so I don't spend time thinking about it. Maybe, one day I will be ready to know and the answer will pop into my head, and I'll say, "ohhh..."
4. What makes a Buddhist? Refuge. Refuge in what? The Three Jewels of the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Who is The Buddha? What did he teach? Who believes what he taught and why? Answering these questions for yourself might explain why you inquire into Buddhism in the first place and then, you can gain some certainty in the efficacy of the practice of what you enjoy hearing so much. Take for example the four noble truths. What are they? Why are they called noble? Are they true? What is suffering? How can it be delineated? What is the origin of suffering? What is cessation? What constitutes a true path? The subjects rebirth and karma are so intricately woven into these four noble truths and this was the Buddha's first turning of the wheel so you know the topic is quite profound...don't make the mistake of saying that these are absurd. If you make effort to see the truth of these topics, you will. If you make someone prove it to you...you wouldn't believe them. Skepticism, not cynicism, is healthy as long as it encourages you to delve deeper. Best wishes to you!