REINCARNATION & KARMA
- 2. Author : Vrsabha das Email : [email protected] Date : January 3, 2010 Text editing : Lyn Welker (Labangalatika d.d.) Edited by : Sriman Subhananda Hari Das Serial No. : 17 of 54 Most of the text was taken from Stephen Knapp www.stephen-knapp.com
- 4. rere - ‘again’- ‘again’ inin – ‘enter into– ‘enter into’’ carnacarna ((latlat.) -.) - ‘‘ fleshflesh’ (’ (ie. bodyie. body))
- 5. ““ Asaperson putson newAsaperson putson new garments, giving up oldgarments, giving up old ones, similarly, thesoulones, similarly, thesoul acceptsnew materialacceptsnew material bodies, giving up theoldbodies, giving up theold and uselessones.”and uselessones.” Bhagavad-gita 2.22Bhagavad-gita 2.22
- 6. For many centuries, great thinkersFor many centuries, great thinkers and scientistsfrom thewholeand scientistsfrom thewhole world havebeen trying to fathomworld havebeen trying to fathom thephenomenon of lifeafterthephenomenon of lifeafter death and themysteriesofdeath and themysteriesof remembranceof previouslives.remembranceof previouslives.
- 7. Famouspersonswho wereawareof thelawsofFamouspersonswho wereawareof thelawsof reincarnation:reincarnation: 1)1) JesusChrist,JesusChrist, 2)2) FlaviusJosephus(Jewish historian fromFlaviusJosephus(Jewish historian from Jesus’ times),Jesus’ times), 3)3) Origen (achurch father from the2ndOrigen (achurch father from the2nd century),century), 4)4) Socrates,Socrates, 5)5) Jalalu Rumi (Islamic poet fromJalalu Rumi (Islamic poet from the13. century),the13. century), 6)6) Paul Gaugin,Paul Gaugin, 7)7) Arthur Schopenhauer,Arthur Schopenhauer, 8)8) Voltaire,Voltaire, 9)9) HonoreDeBalsac,HonoreDeBalsac, 10)10) H.D. Thoreau,H.D. Thoreau, 11)11) MahatmaGhandi,MahatmaGhandi, 12)12) Albert Einstein,Albert Einstein, 13)13) J.W. Goethe,J.W. Goethe, 14)14) Count Leo Tolstoy,Count Leo Tolstoy, 15)15) R.W. Emerson,R.W. Emerson, 16)16) WaltWalt Whitman,Whitman, 17)17) Benjamin Franklin,Benjamin Franklin, 18)18) Mark Twain,Mark Twain, 19)19) Jack London,Jack London, 20)20) Henry Ford,Henry Ford, 21)21) Carl Jung,Carl Jung, 22)22) GeorgeGeorge Harrison ...Harrison ... …… and many others.and many others.
- 8. JesusChrist in theJesusChrist in the Gnostic gospelGnostic gospel PistisPistis So phiaSo phia:: ““ Thesoulsin thisworldThesoulsin thisworld transmigratefrom onetransmigratefrom one body to anotherbody to another.”.”
- 9. Dueto political aspirations, atDueto political aspirations, at theinfamouscouncil in Nicaeatheinfamouscouncil in Nicaea in theyear 325 early Christianin theyear 325 early Christian textsabout reincarnation andtextsabout reincarnation and vegetarian diet were ruled outvegetarian diet were ruled out of theBible.of theBible. For centuriestheleadingFor centuriestheleading world religionshavenotworld religionshavenot taken thelawsoftaken thelawsof reincarnation seriouslyreincarnation seriously enough.enough.
- 10. In theyear 1600, prosecutorsof theInquisition tortured and burned theDominican priest and philosopher Giordano Bruno. Hewasproclaimed atraitor and aheathen becauseheHewasproclaimed atraitor and aheathen becausehe preached about lifeafter death.preached about lifeafter death.
- 11. Reincarnation isanReincarnation isan expression of God’sexpression of God’s mercy.mercy. God isnot so brutal asto throw sinnersinto eternal suffering in hell.
- 12. On thecontrary, Heisso mercifulOn thecontrary, Heisso merciful thatthat HeoffersnewHeoffersnew chancesforchancesfor redemption from accumulated sinsredemption from accumulated sins even to themost sinful.even to themost sinful.
- 13. Along with making great progressin psychology and sciencein general, in modern timestherehavebeen many scientistswho, by their scientific research, have proven thecontinuation of lifeafter thedemiseof thematerial body.
- 14. That cycleof birthsand deaths isknown in thelanguageof ancient Vedasassamsarafrom thetimeimmemorial . It is depicted by thesymbol of a time-wheel.
- 15. Dr. Ian Stevenson (USA) Psychiatrist and author of several books about documented examples of proof of reincarnation. Dr. Brian L. Weiss(USA) Hypnotherapist and psychiatrist. Author of books about documented examples of proof of reincarnation. Tom Shroder (USA) Author of three books. The most prominent is Old Souls. Dr. Michael Newton (USA) Hypnotherapist and author of four books. ... and many others.... and many others.
- 16. Do you think you arethebodyDo you think you arethebody you seein themirror?you seein themirror?
- 17. In theoldest sacred booksin the world (theVedas), which originatefrom God Himself (Krishna), it iswritten that what weidentify with isnothing but ablend of subtleand gross material bodies.
- 18. Subtle(astral) bodySubtle(astral) body • MindMind • IntelligenceIntelligence • FalseegoFalseego
- 19. ThefunctionsofThefunctionsof themindthemind • FeelingFeeling • WillingWilling • ThinkingThinking
- 20. Thefunctionsof theThefunctionsof the intelligenceintelligence • ResourcefulnessResourcefulness inin new situationsnew situations •DistinguishingDistinguishing between good and badbetween good and bad • Control of thesensesControl of thesenses
- 21. FalseegoFalseego forcesusto think thatforcesusto think that thegrossmaterial orthegrossmaterial or subtlebody isour realsubtlebody isour real identity.identity.
- 22. FalseFalse egoego isthemost subtleisthemost subtle materialmaterial elementelement. D. Dueto falseueto false ego, wethink of ourselvesinego, wethink of ourselvesin termsoftermsof illusoryillusory identifiidentificationscations ......
- 23. ...... such asbody typesuch asbody type,, gendergender, ra, racece, na, nationalitytionality, relig, religionion,, profession, etcprofession, etc..
- 24. Forgetfulnessof our eternal spiritual natureand identification with illusory identitiesisknown in thelanguageof theVedas asmaya, ‘that which isnot’.
- 25. Thesubtlebody sometimesgetsThesubtlebody sometimesgets out of thegrossbody - forout of thegrossbody - for example, at thetimeof acarexample, at thetimeof acar accident, atrauma, during aaccident, atrauma, during a surgical operation, under thesurgical operation, under the influenceof narcotics, etc.influenceof narcotics, etc. In somecasesit isaclinical death ...In somecasesit isaclinical death ...
- 26. ... and sometimesastral projection –– exiting thebody during deep sleep orexiting thebody during deep sleep or consciousexiting in wakeful state.consciousexiting in wakeful state.
- 27. Thereisavast number ofThereisavast number of documented casesdocumented cases of peopleof people who could remember in greatwho could remember in great detail someof their previousdetail someof their previous incarnationsincarnations,, speak thelanguagespeak thelanguage from apast life,from apast life, or master someor master some skillsthey had learned long agoskillsthey had learned long ago (in somepreviouslives).(in somepreviouslives).
- 28. Thespirit soul (our real identity), covered by thesubtle body, transmigratesinto another material body at thetime of death.
- 29. If wearenot theIf wearenot the subtlebody, istheresubtlebody, isthere any point inany point in identifying with theidentifying with the grossmaterialgrossmaterial body...body...
- 30. ... which issubjected... which issubjected to variousdiseases,to variousdiseases, old ageand death?old ageand death?
- 31. Thebody hasitsbeginning ...Thebody hasitsbeginning ... ...... and itsfrequently unpredicted end.and itsfrequently unpredicted end.
- 32. It ismadeof fragileIt ismadeof fragile and perishableand perishable materials.materials.
- 33. It issubjected to endlessIt issubjected to endless diseases.diseases.
- 34. Thebeauty of thebody isonly skin deep.Thebeauty of thebody isonly skin deep.
- 35. And yet most peopleAnd yet most people think that thebody …think that thebody …
- 36. ... ismeant exclusively for enjoyment.... ismeant exclusively for enjoyment.
- 37. Thus, they aretoo concerned about thebodyThus, they aretoo concerned about thebody and disregard their real identity.and disregard their real identity.
- 38. It isjust likeIt isjust like polishing abirdcagepolishing abirdcage without feeding thewithout feeding the bird withinbird within.. In thisallegory thecageIn thisallegory thecage representsthebodyrepresentsthebody andand thebird, thesoul.thebird, thesoul.
- 39. TheVedasinform usthat thereare8.400.000TheVedasinform usthat thereare8.400.000 speciesof living beingsspeciesof living beings in theuniverse.in theuniverse.
- 41. So, if weareneither subtlenorSo, if weareneither subtlenor grossmaterial body – who aregrossmaterial body – who are wein thefirst place?wein thefirst place?
- 42. Thespirit soulThespirit soul located in theheart isof anlocated in theheart isof an atomic size.atomic size. “For thesoul thereisnever birth nor death. Nor, having oncebeen, does heever ceaseto be. Heisunborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. Heisnot slain when the body isslain.” Bhagavad-gita 2.20
- 43. Thesymptom of presenceof thesoul isThesymptom of presenceof thesoul is consciousnesswhichconsciousnesswhich animatesthebody and givesit life.animatesthebody and givesit life.
- 44. Without thesoul, thebody isnothing but alump of lifelesschemicals.
- 45. ““ Astheembodied soul continually passes, in thisbody, fromAstheembodied soul continually passes, in thisbody, from boyhood to youth to old age, thesoul similarly passesintoboyhood to youth to old age, thesoul similarly passesinto another body at death. Theself-realized soul isnot bewilderedanother body at death. Theself-realized soul isnot bewildered by such achangeby such achange.“.“ Bhagavad-gita 2.1 3.Bhagavad-gita 2.1 3.
- 46. By acertain law, thesoul transmigratesfrom one typeof thebody into another.
- 47. That law iscalled Thelaw of action and reaction
- 48. Example1.Example1. According to theinfalliblelaw of karma,According to theinfalliblelaw of karma, thosewho kill andthosewho kill and eat animalshaveto takean animal body in thenext lifeineat animalshaveto takean animal body in thenext lifein order to go through thesameexperience.order to go through thesameexperience.
- 49. Example2.Example2. Thosewho arepiousand do good thingsto other living beingsThosewho arepiousand do good thingsto other living beings arerewarded by variousconveniencesin thenext life.arerewarded by variousconveniencesin thenext life.
- 50. Example3.Example3. Good and bad karmaconstantlyGood and bad karmaconstantly intertwine.intertwine.
- 51. “It issaid that thesoul isinvisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grievefor the body.” Bhagavad-gita 2.25
- 52. Thebody ismerely avehiclefor thesoul, which movestheThebody ismerely avehiclefor thesoul, which movesthe body just asadriver movesacar.body just asadriver movesacar. According to our karma, we driveagood car or abad car.
- 53. Right beforeor at thetimeof death, peoplesee‘theRight beforeor at thetimeof death, peoplesee‘the movieof lifemovieof life’...’... What happenswhen thesoul leavesthebody?
- 54. ... thelight... thelight at theend ofat theend of atunnel,atunnel,
- 55. ...... and somesubtlebeingsand somesubtlebeings.. According to theactivitiesduring lifeAccording to theactivitiesduring life,, at thetimeof deathat thetimeof death somepeoplemeet angelic beingssomepeoplemeet angelic beings and somemeet monstrousand somemeet monstrous ones.ones.
- 56. Why do wehavetoWhy do wehaveto constantly changebodies?constantly changebodies? It isdueto universal law of karma,It isdueto universal law of karma, which forcesusto enjoywhich forcesusto enjoy or sufferor suffer theoutcomesof our activitiestheoutcomesof our activities ((goodgood or bad deedsor bad deeds).).
- 57. Thislaw isalso known asThislaw isalso known as ““ asyou sow, so shallasyou sow, so shall you reapyou reap.”.”
- 58. Sinful activitiesarethemain reason for suffering. Thesemay becategorized into four groups. They are...
- 59. Eating meat, fish and eggs Illicit sex
- 60. Intoxication Gambling and cheating
- 61. In spiteof numerous,In spiteof numerous, indisputableproofsof lifeindisputableproofsof life after death, many peopledoafter death, many peopledo not believein reincarnation.not believein reincarnation. They areguided by slogan:They areguided by slogan: ““ II believeonly thosethingsIbelieveonly thosethingsI can perceiveby my sensescan perceiveby my senses.”.”
- 62. But our sensesareextremely limited andBut our sensesareextremely limited and imperfect.imperfect. Eye can see mostly gross matter. It cannot see micro- organisms, distant objects, nor anything in pitch darkness. Ear can hear only sounds in the frequency between 20Hz and 20.000Hz. We cannot hear hyper-sounds and ultrasounds. Nose cannot perceive scents perceivable by dogs, who have 15 times better sense of smell. The same limitations are applicable to senses of touch and taste.
- 63. Theworld weperceiveisbutTheworld weperceiveisbut asmall part of reality, just asasmall part of reality, just as wecan seeonly thetip of anwecan seeonly thetip of an iceberg.iceberg. Just asthelarger part of anJust asthelarger part of an iceberg ishidden under theiceberg ishidden under the water, likewise, thelarger partwater, likewise, thelarger part of our (spiritual) individualityof our (spiritual) individuality cannot beperceived by ourcannot beperceived by our imperfect material senses.imperfect material senses.
- 64. Who governstheuniversal lawsWho governstheuniversal laws of karmaand cycleofof karmaand cycleof reincarnation?reincarnation? God (Krishna) issituated inGod (Krishna) issituated in theheart oftheheart of everyevery livingliving being asthewitnessofbeing asthewitnessof allall ourour activities, thoughtsandactivities, thoughtsand desires. Heisnot partial todesires. Heisnot partial to anyone, and Heawardsanyone, and Heawards everyoneasthey deserve.everyoneasthey deserve.
- 65. According to our desiresand activities, wereceiveand changeour bodiesjust asactorschangerolesand costumes.
- 66. What happenswith thesinful and thepiousWhat happenswith thesinful and thepious peopleat theend of life?peopleat theend of life?
- 67. Thesinnersarecast into oneof 28 hellish planetssituated atThesinnersarecast into oneof 28 hellish planetssituated at thebottom of theuniverse.thebottom of theuniverse. After suffering on thehellish planets, theyAfter suffering on thehellish planets, they takebirth in somelowertakebirth in somelower speciesspecies or asahuman being who will continuetoor asahuman being who will continueto suffer dueto badsuffer dueto bad karmic reactions.karmic reactions.
- 68. Thepiousarenot thosewho merely pray in thechurch, mosque, synagogueor temple. Neither arethey thosewho merely believein God. (Nor arethey thosewho aresimply dressed in priestly garb). Who istrulyWho istruly pious?pious?
- 69. Thepiousarethosewho according to theprinciplesof their religion,Thepiousarethosewho according to theprinciplesof their religion, whowho do good deedsto other living beings,do good deedsto other living beings, and who arefreefrom angerand who arefreefrom anger and greedand greed -- i.ei.e.. thosewho indeed understand and closely adheretothosewho indeed understand and closely adhereto thethe fundamental principlesof thereligion they follow.fundamental principlesof thereligion they follow.
- 70. How to get out from an unending cycleof birth and death and achievethemeaning of human life?
- 71. Every living being (thesoul) havetheir eternal spiritual form (either maleor female), which becomesfully manifested when weachieve theperfection of human life...
- 72. ... unending and selflessloveof... unending and selflessloveof Krishna.Krishna.
- 73. Thesoul in theform of atiny spark whichThesoul in theform of atiny spark which givesconsciousnessand lifeto thematerialgivesconsciousnessand lifeto thematerial bodies...bodies... ...... in thespiritual worldin thespiritual world resumesitseternal bodyresumesitseternal body,, full offull of transcendental knowledgeand bliss- abody which istranscendental knowledgeand bliss- abody which is not subjected to thelawsof thenot subjected to thelawsof the materimaterialal energenergyy..
- 74. However, aperfect spiritual body cannot beachieved merely by piousactivities. At best, piousactivitiescan takeusonly to heaven (which isapart of thistemporary material world).
- 75. Theheavenly planetsareTheheavenly planetsare located in thetop of thelocated in thetop of the material universematerial universe,, and theirand their inhabitantsarealso subjected toinhabitantsarealso subjected to birthsand deathsbirthsand deaths.. Enjoyment inEnjoyment in theheaven isnot eternaltheheaven isnot eternal..
- 76. According to their original nature, theliving beingsareAccording to their original nature, theliving beingsare satsat -- eternal,eternal, citcit – full of perfect knowledge, and– full of perfect knowledge, and anandaananda –– unlimitedly blissful.unlimitedly blissful.
- 77. When eternal living being getsentangled in Krishna’s lower, material energy - it identifiesitself with thematerial body which is asat - perishable, acit - full of ignoranceand anxiety , and nirananda - full of miseries.
- 78. Every living being isfreeto choosetheworld in which they wish to live. ... theworld of vanity, evil and avarice. Thechoiceisalwaysours. Theworld of selflessnessand loving service, or ...
- 79. Krishnaisthecreator and owner of all opulence, spiritual and material. If we approach Krishnawith an attitudeof humbleservice and with apureheart, all divineopulencewill be availableto us, too.
- 80. If weselfishly approach Krishna’sopulence, neglecting itstrueowner, our every attempt at enjoyment will be asephemeral asasand castle.
- 81. Finally, how can weachievetheperfection of life-Finally, how can weachievetheperfection of life- awaken our dormant lovefor Krishnaand return back toawaken our dormant lovefor Krishnaand return back to thespiritual world?thespiritual world?
- 82. By theexchangeof selflessBy theexchangeof selfless spiritual love.spiritual love.
- 83. Krishnacreated all living beingsin order to exchangepure,Krishnacreated all living beingsin order to exchangepure, unselfish lovewith them. Thosewho by freechoiceagreetounselfish lovewith them. Thosewho by freechoiceagreeto such an exchangeof lovearecalledsuch an exchangeof lovearecalled bhaktasbhaktas (devotees) who(devotees) who render devotional service(render devotional service(bhaktibhakti) to Him.) to Him.
- 84. BhaktiBhakti can beexpressed through prayers, music,can beexpressed through prayers, music, dance, writing, speech, listening about spiritualdance, writing, speech, listening about spiritual topics, etc.topics, etc.
- 85. Please visit our website www.krishna.com and read some of our books which convey the ancient wisdom that has been preserved by generations of saints through thousands of years. This slide presentation has been made according to the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita and the teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a genuine spiritual master who made the spiritual tradition of the ancient Vedic literatures available to the whole of humanity. Author of thepresentation: Vladimir PavićVladimir Pavić (Vrsabhadas)(Vrsabhadas) ISKCON “International Society for Krishna Consiousness” (Founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)(Founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
- 86. The end?
- 87. This slide presentation has been made according to the philosophy of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita and the teachings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a genuine spiritual master who made the spiritual tradition of the ancient Vedic literatures available to the whole of humanity. Author of thepresentation:Author of thepresentation: Vladimir Pavic (Vrsabhadas)Vladimir Pavic (Vrsabhadas) [email protected]@gmail.com Special thanksto SyamasundaradasSpecial thanksto Syamasundaradas (Stewart Coyle) for permission to use(Stewart Coyle) for permission to use excerptsfrom hisbook on cow protectionexcerptsfrom hisbook on cow protection and bull training.and bull training. Text edited byText edited by Lyn Welker (Labangalatikad.d.)Lyn Welker (Labangalatikad.d.) ISKCON “International Society for Krishna Consiousness” (Founder His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)(Founder His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
- 88. VRSABHA DAS
- 89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Name Vrsabha das (Vladimir Pavic) Age and Gender 50 / Male Country/Province of Origin Croatia Educational Degree and Year Mechanical Engineer, 1986 Educational Institution High Mechanical School Affiliation with ISKCON 1988 Present Service in ISKCON Pujaree for Sri Sri Prahlada Narasimhadeva, Germany Farm
Editor's Notes
- #72: Unclear – material form is temporary (illusory identity/covering), spiritual form is eternal (true identity) – “First of all, we have to know that as souls, our identity in material form is only temporary.”