An old colleague from IITK (my alma mater) sent the following opinion to a bunch of old friends. I think it is worth publishing here for a discussion:
Note: “In my opinion the elements of the body (atoms and molecules) as well as the elements of the soul (memories and pictures) get recycled. Neither the body nor the soul (identity) gets passed on as such.” ~ Vinaire
See Theta, MEST and Death.
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During one of the discussions a point was raised – what is rebirth? Is it a truth of life or pure figment of imagination? Is it a pure hypothesis to explain some unexplained phenomena related to fate? Is it just to satisfy the people who are poor so that they do not rebel? Is it propounded to direct the mankind on the path of virtue and create an orderly peaceful progressive society? Is it to befool people who are oppressed to work harder and harder? Well so many questions arise. Most of the time negative gets more prominence over positive. So rational thinking is abandoned.
At first instance, it is to be clarified that Hindu religion makes fine distinction between Reincarnation and Rebirth. Reincarnation is generally referred to as God coming to Earth in human form to give message and do correction in the society which deviates from path of truth. Rebirth is different – it refers to continuous journey of soul of a man – entering in flesh again and again. I shall delve upon it in greater detail. But rebirth cannot be interchangeably used with reincarnation as per Hindu Philosophy.
Abrahamic Religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam do not believe in theory of rebirth but some groups within these religions do refer to rebirth/reincarnation.
Greek philosopher Plato makes his teacher Socrates, prior to his death, state – “I am confident that there truly is in such a living again and that the living spring from the dead.”
Pythagoreans say – “The souls of men are immortal and that after a fixed number of years, they will enter into another body.”
Julius Caesar recorded that druids of Gaul, Britain and Ireland had metempsychosis as one of the core doctrines —
The principal point of the doctrine is that the soul does not die and that after death it passes from one body to another – the main object of this education is, in their opinion to imbue their scholars with a firm belief in the in-destructivity of the human soul – which robs death of all its terror – can the highest form of human courage be developed.
According to Tao –
Birth is not the beginning, death is not the end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without starting point. Existence without limitation is space. Continuity without a starting point is Time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there is entering in.
According to Plato number of souls must be finite because souls are indestructible.
Carl Gustav Jung, a well-known Western Philosopher said –
This concept of rebirth necessarily implies the continuity of personality – that one is able at least potentially to remember that one has lived through previous existences and these existences were one’s own.
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Hindu Point of View –
In nutshell, so many around the World believe in philosophy of Rebirth but Hindu Religion has propounded the theory in great detail. In fact it is the backbone of the Hindu Philosophy.
- Like all religions, Hindu religion also establishes a God – Great Infinite Indestructible Source of Energy. He is Supreme and controls everything directly or indirectly. Something beyond our comprehension. Beyond time and all-pervading in space. As per science – There is a law of conservation of energy. So it applies to cosmos also. Total sum of cosmic energy has to be constant all the time.
- He wishes to play a game. No answer can be given why He is doing so. He creates Souls out of his part – pure, sublime.
- Soul starts journey in this universe with ultimate aim to reach Him and to again get immersed in Him. At this point one more quality of God may be enumerated – He is source of Supreme Ultimate Bliss – Paramananda (permanent bliss). It is desired of Soul to get to ultimate bliss so as not to go into the pain of cycles of birth and death – Moksha (ultimate salvation).
- Soul enters into body. Soul being part of God is real – (indestructible) whereas body which it acquires is unreal – destructible.
- Soul somehow gets distracted and starts thinking body as its own. It is supposed to have its own clear identity. Swami Vivekananda says Hindu admits that he does not know why pure soul (real) starts thinking body (unreal) as its own.
- Body consists of five indriyas, five jnanendriyas, mind and intelligence. Here the game begins. Intelligence is supposed to control indriyas, jnanendriyas and mind so as to put Soul on the right path – to reach God – ultimate bliss-moksha.
- Now Theory of Karma needs to be explained. Soul (as per Hindu philosophy it can be called as Atman which emanates from Paramatman – God) manifests in this Universe in flesh—body from time to time – birth. In which place? In which form? — all depends upon theory of Karma .
- If we say in nutshell, Theory of Karma says – you reap what you sow. There is a bank account (fate). Good and bad acts (karma) accordingly create credit and debit on continuous basis for the account holder Soul. Good credit history ensures that Soul gets healthy body and good place to live. Ultimately if Soul gets on collecting good credit points – scores enough brownie points – it qualifies to merge with God – the ultimate residence – ultimate bliss – happy ending to journey .
- If soul fritters away its credit and goes into bad debts by doing bad Karmas, its credit history becomes bad. Soul deviates from its path (poor use of Intelligence to control mind and indriyas and jnanendriyas) and it has to suffer.
- Soul may have to go to Bhog yoni or Karma yoni. Do not know who decides? Some auto subtle mechanism? Do not think that God has time to take care of micro-details .
- Bhog yoni means other than human form – some creature. In this Bhog yoni there is no intelligence. It is only punishment period. Let us say heavy debt and bad loans so soul is put in jail for specific period.
- In Karma yoni, soul manifests in human form. He is given intelligence to redeem Himself. He is again given opportunity to create good credit history towards his ultimate goal.
- There is one more form in which soul can get manifested .One can aspire to join the ranks of Devtas – Dev lok – all good things but no ultimate bliss. Dev also suffer from pain and sorrow. It is like very rich people having all worldly pleasure but still not happy at times. Dev have also to come down to Human form to get redemption after they have completed their term. So to say vacation gets over and come down to work again. (Dev- Lok being imaginary some say it stands for all those who are born with silver spoon in their mouth.)
- So as per Hindu Philosophy, it is very fortunate that one is born as Human because it is only yoni which allows to improve and go for Salvation – moksha –ultimate bliss and permanent happiness – the final goal .
So it is all mixed bag of actuals, imaginary, deep rooted thinking, and conjectures. But our rishis and munis have a final word. They went into deep meditation and fathom deep into the deep sea of intelligence and mind and they have come out with the truth. It is question of faith and belief only. However, Hindu religion gives a wide rope and you can question everything; but underlying principal is let us work for the good of the Mankind. Work is worship.
~ Written by R. K. Dixit
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