The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

cycle of reincarnation
 n.

    See wheel of reincarnation.


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

cycle of reincarnation
reincarnation, cycle of

   A term coined by Ivan Sutherland ca. 1970 to refer to a
   well-known effect whereby function in a computing system
   family is migrated out to special-purpose peripheral
   hardware for speed, then the peripheral evolves toward more
   computing power as it does its job, then somebody notices that
   it is inefficient to support two asymmetrical processors in
   the architecture and folds the function back into the main
   CPU, at which point the cycle begins again.

   Several iterations of this cycle have been observed in
   graphics-processor (blitter) design, and at least one or
   two in communications and floating-point processors.  Also
   known as "the Wheel of Life", "the Wheel of Samsara" and other
   variations of the basic Hindu/Buddhist theological idea.

   [Jargon File]

   (1994-11-16)