| Reincarnation is the idea that death is not the end. | | | | we do not feel like taking on fresh challenges. From a |
| After death the soul leaves the body, but, after a | | | | practical point of view the body declines, and it |
| temporary rest takes rebirth in a new body. | | | | becomes increasingly difficult to fulfil our desires and |
| Reincarnation is an integral belief of many spiritual | | | | aspirations. Reincarnation enables us to be reborn with |
| traditions. It is often asked why is reincarnation | | | | new hope and new life. Furthermore, because we do |
| necessary? The main reason is that Reincarnation | | | | not usually remember our previous incarnations, we |
| gives the soul chance to make slow steady progress | | | | can wipe our memory clear of our unfortunate past |
| towards fulfilling its highest goals. | | | | experience. We may have been a thief in the past, but |
| 1. Different Experiences. | | | | reincarnation gives us the chance to mend our ways. |
| From each incarnation the soul takes the quintessence | | | | No one is destined to remain imperfect forever. |
| of its experiences. From these different episodes in | | | | 3. The Law of Karma. |
| the evolution of the soul, it is possible to gain a | | | | The law of Karma is a fundamental underlying law of |
| comprehensive understanding of many different | | | | the universe. Basically, the law of karma says; "As you |
| experiences. In one incarnation we may have great | | | | sow so, shall you reap." The law of karma has been |
| fame, wealth and power. However, even in this kind of | | | | explained and emphasised, in many different religious |
| incarnation, we cannot achieve peace of mind and | | | | and spiritual traditions. It is the process of reincarnation, |
| abiding satisfaction. Therefore, in our next lifetime we | | | | which enables the law of karma to fully operate. In one |
| may have a more ordinary, humble incarnation. We will | | | | lifetime you may be born in unfortunate circumstances |
| view life from perspective of both powerful and weak. | | | | and be deceived by others. These unfortunate |
| This will give us greater understanding. These different | | | | experiences can be rectified in a future incarnation. |
| experiences also give us the opportunity to fulfil our | | | | Similarly, if a person was to profit from the exploitation |
| desires. | | | | of others, he may be able to escape the cosmic |
| "In one lifetime on earth we cannot do everything...Now | | | | justice in his current incarnation; but, in future |
| our dearest is God. Do you think that God will allow us | | | | incarnations he would experience the effects of his |
| to remain unfulfilled? No! God's very purpose is to fulfil | | | | actions. Nobody can hide forever from their own |
| each individual and Himself through us. He will have us | | | | actions. At the same time, not all karma is inevitable. If |
| come back again and again to fulfil our desires." | | | | we have done wrong things in previous incarnations, it |
| - Sri Chinmoy [2] | | | | is possible for the effects to be nullified or reduced by |
| 2. Fresh Start. | | | | God's grace, or the intervention of a Spiritual Master. |
| After a certain number of years we grow old and | | | | [1] From: Death and Reincarnation by Sri Chinmoy. |
| tired. Quite often people get stuck in a rut, and are | | | | [2] Excerpt from Death And Reincarnation by Sri |
| content with past memories. As we get older, usually | | | | Chinmoy. |