Reincarnation facts Hindu Beliefs on reincarnation

Reincarnation is the most grossly misunderstood concept in Hinduism. Answers.com terms reincarnation as rebirth of the soul in another body. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia terms it as the doctrine of the rebirth of the soul in one or more existences. Oxford University press expresses it as existence of a soul that is periodically reincarnated in a body.

Columbia Encyclopedia references it as occupation by the soul of a new body after the death of the earlier body. Whatever be the explanation rendered... all are not only vague but belie the truth explained in Sacred Bhagavad Gita... the doctrine give to mankind by Lord Krishna! Bhagavad Gita gives the most apt explanation for the term reincarnation. In fact terming the act of manifestation of the body by the soul atman as reincarnation is wrong. The gist of the matter is... it is not the body that manifests another soul after the death of the body. It is our soul atman that is on its cosmic journey of 8.4 million manifestations. This journey of 8.4 million manifestations is a single continuous span of life for the soul atman.

Our soul atman is totally indestructible by nature. The journey of 96.4 million earthly years by the soul atman is one single span of life. The changing of the body from manifestation to another is like changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. The body is simply an outer garment for the soul atman within. The death of the body does not announce death of the soul atman within.

When a student proceeds in the journey of life from class one to two... two to three... three to four and onwards... it does not mean the student of class one, two or three is dead. The same very student has matured and reached class four. Similarly our soul atman proceeds in the journey of life body to body, manifestation after manifestation!

The human form is the highest manifest stage in the cosmic life cycle. Only as a human being the soul atman liberates itself forever from the cycle of birth and death. The moment human beings reached the level of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed... the soul atman regains its original pure pristine form.

As is the residual balance of karma from the previous manifestations, so is the next manifestation! If the residual balance of karma demands one born a laborer in the next manifestation... one simply cannot be born a prince! It is not reincarnation but the manifestation of a series of bodies by the soul atman within that occurs in the cosmic life cycle.

Reincarnation as is grossly misunderstood speaks of rebirth of the soul. As per Bhagavad Gita... our soul atman does not need rebirth. Rebirth can only occur if something dies. When the death of the soul atman cannot occur... rebirth or reincarnation carry no meaning in the domain of souls' atmans. As the metal within an ore cannot separate itself on its own... the soul atman also cannot gain absolute purity without the help of a body. To work out its karma... remove the impurities... the dross within... every soul atman manifests a series of 8.4 million manifestations to reach the end of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation!

The manifestation of a body by the soul atman is automatic. If matching parents are not available on Mother Earth... the soul atman hibernates either in heaven or hell. In heaven if the residual balance of karma is positive... and hell if negative! Both heaven and hell are interim stages in the cosmic life cycle. Only in the human form does the soul atman reach the 8.4 million manifestation... the last in the cosmic life cycle! The moment human beings gain enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation (moksha)... all is over for the soul atman within. No further life (body) to manifest... the liberated soul atman enters the kingdom of God (aka Vaikuntha in Hinduism).

Travel in the human form is the most pleasant experience for the soul atman within. Every soul atman looks forward to its permanent release from the cycle of birth and death. Gaining the human form means the soul atman having manifested 7.3 million forms in the insect, plant and animal life. In the human form alone we have 1.1 million manifestations.

Reincarnation as explained above must be replaced by manifestation of the body by a soul atman. The journey of 96.4 million earthly years being a single continuous life span for the soul atman... the rebirth or reincarnation of the soul is totally ruled out. The soul atman is and would always exist. The death always occurs of the body that eventually decays and dies!

Bhagavad Gita... the foremost of all sacred scriptures... the most sacred Scripture of Hinduism was presented to mankind by Lord Krishna in Mahabharata. Bhagavad Gita explains the gist of life in a very subtle manner. The knower of Bhagavad Gita finally becomes the knower of all. The knower of Bhagavad Gita gains enlightenment and salvation at the end of the journey.

No two manifestations by the soul atman are connected. Every single manifestation is independent of the other even though the residual balance of karma from one manifestation gets carried to the next manifestation. The closing balance of the present manifestation becomes the opening balance of the next manifestation.

By: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"

Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains the concept of Reincarnation Hinduism. For more on reincarnation proof, Hindu Reincarnation Hindu Beliefs on Reincarnation visit - reincarnation facts. Send Your Query - click here Ref. 071016

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