In Jainism, reincarnation (punarjanma) is not considered an illusion; it is a real process of the soul moving from one body to another within saṁsāra (the cycle of birth and death).

But what feels like “I was this person before, now I am this person” is indeed a kind of illusion created by ignorance and karma. Let’s separate the two:

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1. What is real? (From Jain view)

According to Jain philosophy:

• The soul (jīva) is real, eternal, and independent.
• Bodies, names, relations, roles (human, animal, deva, hell-being, etc.) keep changing.
• Due to karmic bondage, the soul:

- takes birth, - lives a life according to its karmas, - dies, - is reborn again in a new form.

So:

• Rebirth itself is real.
• The changing personalities and stories across lives are temporary and deceptive.

You can read a basic explanation of reincarnation in Jainism here

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2. Where is the “illusion” then?

The illusion (moh, mithyātva) is in how we see ourselves:

• We think: “I am this body, this name, this relationship, this job.”
• We forget: “I am a pure soul with infinite knowledge and bliss, currently covered by karma.”

So the illusion is:

• Not that reincarnation happens,
• But that “this worldly identity is truly me.”

Because of:

• Deluding karma (mohanīya karma) – it makes us attached, angry, proud, greedy.
• Wrong belief (mithyā darshan) – we believe the changing things are real “self” and the real self (soul) is forgotten.

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3. How Jainism explains this with tattvas

Jainism uses the nine fundamentals (nava tattva):

1. Jiva – soul
2. Ajiva – non-soul (matter, body, time, motion-medium, etc.)
3. Asrava – inflow of karma
4. Bandha – bondage of karma
5. Samvara – stopping new karma
6. Nirjarā – shedding old karma
7. Punya – merit
8. Pāp – demerit
9. Moksha – liberation

Reincarnation = Jīva + Asrava + Bandha + Punya/Pāp Illusion = Mithyātva + Mohanīya karma making us identify with body and karmic roles.

You can read more on the basics of Jainism and karma here

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4. Digambar and Shvetambar – any difference here?

• Both Digambar and Shvetambar traditions:

- Accept real rebirth of the soul. - Accept karma theory as the cause of rebirth. - Accept that ignorance and delusion create attachment to identities of each life.

Differences between the sects are about:

• Scriptures,
• Monastic discipline,
• Some details of doctrine,

but not about the basic reality of reincarnation.

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5. Final Jain perspective in simple words

• Reincarnation is real, not a mere illusion.
• But your idea “I am this body, this role, this one life only” is an illusion.
• The soul keeps wandering in many bodies and worlds due to karmas.
• When all karmas are destroyed through:

- right faith (samyak darshan) - right knowledge (samyak jñān) - right conduct (samyak chāritra) the cycle of reincarnation ends.

• That state is moksha – no more illusion, no more rebirth, only pure, eternal, blissful existence as a Siddha.