Originally posted by Spnw07:
I think for certain people, they can contemplate and grasp
a basic concept of rebirth if they think along the lines of the
first law of thermodynamics which states [b]'Energy is neither
created nor destroyed, it can only be converted from one form to
another”.
'On Earth, the incoming energy from the sun is in relative balance
to the amount of heat loss from our planet. This holds true for the
universe as a whole. In other words, over the years the amount of
energy in our universe has remained constant. While energy
is constant, its form and quality are continually
changing..'
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/keep/Mod1/Rules/ThermoLaws.htm
My limited understanding is our consciousness is something akin to
energy. It cannot be created nor destroyed, but transformed from
one form to another.
So rebirth is a process that involves the 'conversion' of our
consciousness from its previous existence of one particular form to
another 'new' consciousness. The special thing is this new
consciousness can inherit characteristics or behaviour of the
previous one, but yet considered different in form.
So it is neither exactly new or old in the absolute sense.
It is this law of physics that helps to me to roughly grasp the
concept of rebirth after a long time of reflection and reading
up.
Other types of scientific explanations supporting rebirth concepts
are too 'chim' for me to understand at all. haha.[/b]
Yes can say so 
However we should also emphasize that conciousness arises moment to
moment as conditioned/dependent arising.
When this is, that is. The whole 12 interdependent links of
origination arises in one moment, moment to moment.
When this is not, that is not. When this ceases, that ceases. When
ignorance cease, the whole chain of the 12 links of dependent
origination ceases along.
But all along the fundamental unconditioned 'substance'/essence is
everpresent as the nature of all condition -- just like H2O is
present and all pervading whether it is a waveless ocean or an
ocean full of waves, H2O manifest as all conditions in the ocean..
This fundamental reality is fundamental and irreducible, and all
manifestation are the expressions of that.
Longchen, have I got it right? 
However... we should take note not to conceptualise consciousness
as being a constant factor or entity... every arising is an arising
of Consciousness.. every arising is an arising of Reality... there
is no 'THE consciousness', but each moment is a new reality, a new
consciousness, manifestation of luminous-emptiness inseperable,
just like h2o of the ocean.
