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 the 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 Baikuntha 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
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Chakravayuha of Life Reincarnation:
the concept of reincarnation myths cleared... The Truth behind taking Re-birth?
Present Life, part of Bigger Whole. The "Eternal truth governing the entire system
of Universe is par excellence. No Human Being ever fully comprehends the system
built by Creator. |
Rebirth ritualistic death
re-birth procedure The
concept of rebirth does not exist in the cosmic system. The Atman does not take
a rebirth. It only manifests one body after another depending upon the residual
Karma. If our Karma in present life demands we be born as an animal in next manifestation
then even God Almighty cannot change that. And having taken birth as an animal
and by practicing a virtuous life it is possible that this animal manifests the
form of a human being in very next life. All is dependent upon karma we perform
in our daily life.
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Bhagvad Gita shloka IX/2 and becoming
Immortal There
is no cause for any fear either ... knower of Bhagvad Gita always and ever is
permanently rid of all fears including death. (Immortality is something which
can never be gained in the physical form ... one becomes immortal only after one
reaches the end of the cosmic Life ... that is when the travel of atman the soul
within ceases to exist.
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Bhagvad Gita shloka IX/3 and achieving
Immortality There
are many who want to gain Immortality in the present life yet, they do not seem
to practice and follow the dictates of Bhagvad Gita ... if you really want to
become immortal in the present life you have to follow the path taken by Arjuna.
In his times, Arjuna was the only person who was fit enough to grasp the inner
meaning of Bhagvad Gita
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Immortality
meaning and concept
Immortality ... a word framed by Lord and not coined by a Human Being has altogether
a different meaning than we self centered understand! Who becomes immortal? |
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