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The Cycle of Reincarnation
by James Otis
“Reincarnation is not an exclusively Hindu or Buddhist concept, but it is part of the history of human origin. It is proof of the mindstream’s capacity to retain knowledge of physical and mental activities. It is related to the theory of interdependent origination and to the law of cause and effect.”
— Dalai Lama
More than one third of the world’s population, over 1.5 billion people, accept reincarnation as an irrevocable fact of life. There are many perspectives on reincarnation, here-within; the Vedic understanding is illustrated.
“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change. As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.”
—Sri-Krishna
The body has no permanent connection with the soul (atma), an original constituent of God. The soul is covered on many levels with physical, emotional, mental and intellectual bodies. The subtle bodies are where experiences we’ve accumulated in past reincarnations are stored, carrying the soul to its next destination. These bodies, of the temporary quality of matter, are full of ignorance and suffering. Therefore, due to association with matter from time immemorial, we’ve misunderstood. The subtle body is cast off as liberation is attained.
“The spirit soul, the living entity, has no death, for he is eternal and inexhaustible. Being free from material contamination, he can go anywhere in the material or spiritual worlds. He is fully aware and completely different from the material body, but because of being misled by misuse of his slight independence, he is obliged to accept subtle and gross bodies created by the material energy and thus be subjected to so-called material happiness and distress. Therefore, no one should lament for the passing of the spirit soul from the body.”
—Srimad-Bhagavatam
According to our consciousness at the time of death the soul transmigrates to a suitable body. At death, the state of being you remember is that which you’ll acquire. What enters the mind at this time isn’t just a matter of momentary thought. Our mind will naturally focus on how we’ve lived and what we’ve done throughout our life as we die. As life is flashed before our mind’s eye, one particular event will be attractive, and we’ll focus on that. If the event or activity is ignorant, we’ll receive a body among the lower species of life as a plant, fish, tree, or an animal. For those focused on a passionate mode of activity, a human body follows. Access to higher planets, where pleasure is experienced many times greater then on earth, is granted when the mind is in the mode of goodness. This is how it’s arranged, being obligated to a womb of your choice, depending on karma, actions and consciousness of your past lives.
“The soul returns to earth in a body similar to its last one and has similar talents and inclinations.”
—Plato
With attachment of identifying the body as the self, death is the most difficult occurrence. The soul is forced out despite attempts to remain, a painful separation. Identification with the body or mind will limit you, but if it’s on the level of the spirit soul situated beyond matter, there’s no limitation. For the self-realized devotee who knows the body as a temporary abode, death is a simple process and the soul transmigrates with ease.
We enjoy or suffer due to reactions of our previous lives, while our present activities create reactions for future lives. Committing good karma leads one to have a fortunate birth or attain celestial abodes, but one is still bound by the cycle of reincarnation and suffering is there, birth, old-age, death, etc. Using intelligence properly, fix your mind on the Lord at the time of death and return to His supreme abode, freed from the cycle of reincarnation.
“From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.”
—Dalai Lama
The spiritual progress one accumulates toward realization is recorded by karma, or rather by a minimal quantity of karmic debt. Consciousness in pure love of God with true devotion is beyond karma, this spiritual practice leads one directly to liberation, freedom from reincarnation. By the mercy of the Lord we’re given forgetfulness at the time of birth so that the attachments of previous lives are buried deep within our consciousness. The most recent past lives have a stronger influence, shape who we are, our material body and consciousness as we experience our karma.
Human life is precious and it is intended for God-realization. One who desires and only looks to satisfy the senses, draws consciousness toward sense gratification and being reincarnated as an animal. Though activities such as self, yoga, meditation and devotional service will purify the heart and lead one to being reincarnated with a natural disposition toward religious life. The path back to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
“Believing as I do in the theory of rebirth, I live in the hope that, if not in this birth, in some other birth, I shall be able to hug all humanity in friendly embrace.”
—Gandhi
Recommended reading: Coming Back and Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
James Otis teaches Traditional Thai Massage, Yoga, Ayurveda and Kitesurfing. Contact him at (616) 990-5709 otis@indiadivine.com; geocities.com/east_west_healing |
