Buddha on Transmigration

A Buddhist friend and I have been debating about the truth of past lives, future lives and transmigration. It is well-known that the teaching of Anatta (no-soul) is a trademark of Buddhism. So, why did Buddha nevertheless talk about transmigration? Was he contradicting himself?

To resolve this matter, we must understand that Buddha lived in a society where the notions of transmigration, past lives, and future lives are deeply entrenched. He knew very well that his teaching of Anatta was “against the current”(pitasotagami). If he were to talk to other people in a way that violated the mainstream worldview of the time, people might not understand him at all. It would be just like how I behave in a Christian-majority society. When someone sneezes, I say “God bless you,” even though I am an atheist. My meaning is clear in that context. It is my expression of goodwill towards that other person. It is nothing more than that. It does not mean that I have changed my stance towards Christianity or any other theist religion. When in Rome, do what the Romans do.

A passage from the Pali Canon would shed light on this. It is from MN 140. The following is a short summary of the story:

Pukkusati was a young ascetic from the kingdom of Koliya, which was located in what is now modern-day Nepal. He had heard about the Buddha and his teachings, and he decided to visit…