Sunday, February 1, 2015

Reincarnation of whom?

Reincarnation of whom?

Reincarnation (to come back on earth in new body after death) is a subject of mystery for many. Literate world always argued in its favour and against. And there is no uniform answer given by religions. New world of 'no religion' is growing fast with a Goal of fulfillment of materialistic desires, likely to end up in wars and destruction of mankind. Instead of searching the Self (bliss) within, they are searching the happiness through "bhog" from outside.

The doctrine of reincarnation is the foundation of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The Greek, Egyptian and Celtic Druids were believers of rebirth.

Islam believes in temporary state of waiting in heaven/hell till Kayamat (last judgment) and depending on the verdict of Allah he/she is then sent to eternal paradise or else eternal damnation.

The Bible teaches that at death, while man’s body is mortal, decays and returns to dust, his soul and spirit continue on either in a place of torments for those who reject Christ or in paradise (heaven) in God’s presence for those who have trusted in the Savior. Both categories of people will be resurrected, one to eternal judgment and the other to eternal life with a glorified body (John 5:25-29).

Jews believe in resurrection (gilgul), changing from present world to the New world to come. Christianity and Islam believes in resurrection.

The Buddhist believe in a Stream of Consciousness that links life with life. The Jain and Buddhist cosmology posits that people are reborn into many worlds, in which they take on varied forms. And attain salvation, ending birth and rebirth process after reaching the stage of Nirvana/Kaivalya.

In Hinduism the soul (atman) is immortal while the body is subject to birth and death. At death one drops off the physical body and continue evolving in subtle body, until again enter into birth, which goes from birth to birth following principle of Karma, until it attains salvation, that ends the rebirth process.

Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita explained in Chapter 2 regarding the eternal existence of all (verse 12), transmigration (v.13), eternal Soul (v. 19), no birth or death of the Soul (v.20), and immediately in v.22 said, the Soul changes body like tattered clothes. And again in v. 23 said that the Soul is eternal, can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

JagadGuru Adi Shankracharya, in Bhaj Govindam Stotram said, Born again, death again, again to stay in the mother's womb ! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsaara without the mercy of Murari (the GOD). (Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam, Punarapi Jananeejathare Sayanam; Iha Samsaare Bahudustaare, Kripayapaare Paahi Murare... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam)

What is reincarnated? The Soul or Body?

When the physical body has been destroyed through cremation or buried then how can it be reborn?

In one verse, Lord Krishna said that the Soul neither born nor die and in another verse said that it changes the body like changing the tattered clothes. If Soul neither born not die then who born again and again, who die again and again, who stay in mother's womb?

Let us understand the live body. It is an union of a Soul and bodies. Bodies? Yes, there are three bodies identified; physical body (sthoola sharir), subtle body (sukshma sharir) and the causal body (karan sharir). The physical body get destroyed after the death. But the subtle body (made of mind, wisdom, memory, ego) like in form of vapour moves with its causal body to new physical body for fulfillment of unfulfilled desires. As the Universes are full of seamless energy called the Self, the Brahman, the subtle body survives with its causal body. The causal body is nothing but the ignorance of the Self. The Self, the Brahman (Knowledge/Consciousness) exists within in the form of bliss but the ignorant subtle body search it in worldly matters outside, and keep on passing through birth and death cycle as per "anta mati" till it attain salvation through the knowledge of the Self.

The Soul does not take birth and the Soul does not die. He is eternal. The subtle body with its causal body born and die. Keep on changing bodies till attain salvation. The eternal Soul is the power (electricity) making the subtle body to exist in live form. The subtle body while in connection with the Soul, gathers an impression self life but it is an delusion in reality. Only the Brahman persist.

If a sadhak is able to detach him/herself from the senses of physical body and experience his/her union (Aparoksha) with the Universal Soul (Bindu merged in Sindhu), he is the Brahman, the live expression/presence of the Self in that human body. The Brahman is everywhere seamlessly but that physical body will manifest the power of the Almighty so that others looking at him/her will believe in the existence and power of the Almighty. As well as make us known to the purpose of life. They are called GURU in India.

ॐ नमः शिवाय गुरवे
सच्चिदानन्द मूर्तये ।
निष्प्रपञ्चाय शान्ताय
निरालम्बाय तेजसे ॥

Punamchand
1 February 2015

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