EXPLAINING REBIRTH
Do we have a
multiplicity of lifetimes? Is there anything called rebirth? If so, what is its
nature? What is the scriptural take as per Vedant on this matter? This is what
I would like examine in the light of such scriptures as the Upanishads and The
Krushnaarjun Sanvaad {SBG}, in an attempt both to deepen my understanding, as
well as to enable the reader to engage with these thoughts. References will be
provided in the Bibliography Section.
A QUESTION OF SMRUTI
It has been
taught to us that we have many lives; this is a a misinterpretation of the
reality. If the Aatma, the soul, is not born neither dies - where is the
question of rebirth? The Krushnaarjun Sanvaad {better known as Shrimad Bhagwad
Geeta} makes it clear that the soul is eternal. If the soul does not die, the question of rebirth does
not arise! Further, during one individual sensory cycle {which we western
influenced people call Lifetime}, all the senses, buddhi, smruti get left
behind on completion. Only the soul continues. Again - where is the question of
rebirth?
When one
cycle of life completes, our senses, our mind, our intellect, our smruti, our
knowledge are all burnt, and do not get carried forward. This is as per
scriptures – though it also makes a very practical perspective. Just think if
you had all memories of all your lives – and think of the myriad complications
that might have risen in that scenario! I do not deny that there have been many
unexplainable stories reported, many experiences that have no explanation apart
from rebirth; these are the exception. It is possible that some impressions of
a lifetime may be carried forward in rare cases {Only Parabrahm knows why this
happens!} but by and large, everything gets dissolved on the death of this body.
RECONCILING WITH THE SCRIPTURES
That being
the case, how can we reconcile the concepts of the scriptures? Let me put it
this way : Rebirth is only if you strive to connect with your soul, and then
with Unity,; then - rebirth exists. Because on death, only Karmic reactions -
the sanchit karm {Sum total of all karmphal of all lifetimes} - continues. All
else is burnt. Nowhere in all the scriptures I have read or heard does the
concept of Rebirth exist, spanning over 18 Upanishads, Ramayan, Mahabharat: all
that exists is Karm, and continuity of the eternal soul. In dvait belief - you {the
soul you} and God are different, and need to unite; in Advait - You ARE Brahm.
Parabrahm; but under the influence of Maya. Thus,
if you identify with your gross body – there is no rebirth; for your memories
will vanish on death.
In other
words, to realize eternity, one has to forget I, forget all – and connect with
Unity, God, Parabrahm. That is the simple concept of Vedant, as well as its
offspring, the more modern Hinduism... why then this confusion? This confusion
arises since we, in our mistaken beliefs, identify ourselves as being the body;
with the gross physical elements that constitute the body, and its subtler
emotions desires etc. We assume that to be the our true and only identity –
whereas that is only the outer sheath, a mechanism given to us such that we may
complete the path we are on since time immemorial.
THE KEY
The key is
that we need to rise above this material aspect, the bane of the modern
westernized society, and see ourselves in our deeper reality, our true reality
: a soul. All the rest is nashwar – from dust to dust, from ashes to ashes.
Nothing else will go with you, all of your family & relatives, your wealth,
your status, your position will be left here, in the material realm. There is
nothing you can do to prevent it. We pine for & grieve over the loss of
things that are certain to be taken from us; and conversely feel happy on
acquiring material things, {even relations, spouse, child are material} –
despite the fact that one day they will be snatched from you! That much is
certain.
It is this
materialism which prevents us from connecting to the deeper realms; none of
what we see is going with us. What does go – is simply our Karm. Here, we need
to appreciate that Karm refers not to action; a common fallacy. Every thought
deed action emotion desire creates Karm. In the human form, one creates a Karm
every second, and every millisecond. There is no escape – every impression and
every single thought counts. Until you reach Akarm – you are creating Karm
every nanosecond. How to reach Akarm is far beyond the scope of this article,
so let me leave it at that.
Just as you
change clothes, or cars, or vehicles – so do you change the body. You are not
your body; the Body, and all its relations {in their physical manifestations}
are mere tools or vehicles being used by, or clothes that are sheathing – the
individual souls that reside inside. Once you accept that, several things
happen; the entire hierarchies, relations, emotions vanish – and you begin to
see people in their true capabilities, their true evolution, and you begin to
be able to relate to all ages equally, as you are now untainted by the unreal
gloss of your own bodies’ age vis-Ã -vis the person you are talking to. Similarly,
hierarchies, status, ability etc simply ceases to matter…
REVISITING…
Question then arises, that being the case, why
not live it up and enjoy? Why not throw morals etc to the dustbin and live it
up? Answer- some karmaphal will mature in the current cycle, most of it in
fact; and secondly, if you do forget the soul, you are doomed to repeating the
pain again and again – until the day you realize your folly, which may even be
when the creation cycle hurtles towards parlay. Eventually you will end up
paying the price – though you not realize it now. Thus, rebirth does exist –
but not in the form appreciated by us, not in the large majority of cases…
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES {The above impression
and statement of my current understanding is basis a regular reading of the
following texts: }
1.
Chhandogyopanishad
2.
Shri Krushnaarjun Sanvaad {Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta}
3.
City of Nine Gates, Pankaj Rajput
4.
Karmacha Siddhant, Hirabhai Thakkar
5.
Shvetashwar Upanishad
6.
Prashnopanishad
7.
Aitereyopanishad
8.
Taittriyopanishad
9.
Mandukyopanishad
10.
Mahanarayan Upanishad
11.
Kenopanishad
12.
Kathopanishad
13.
Eeshavasyopanishad
14.
Mundakopanishad
15.
Kathhopanishad
Not all of
these have a direct bearing – but my current realization is basis swadhyay of
the above texts…
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