What does it mean by reincarnation of a soul? Do we really reincarnate or what is the doctrine of rebirth. Most of the human race holds this belief that due to cyclic changes the soul discards the old body and after passing through several planes takes it resting place again to descent on earth among the same people known to him. This soul is considered to be indestructible and when it takes rebirth, he becomes unconscious of his previous births but proceeds to take new birth under law of attraction. It does contain memories and traits of his past life and hence as per strict divine law it attracts the body according to divine justice to take birth as per it traits. But does his old karma’s dissolve after taking this new birth? This theory says that the life which is taken by soul is not new but due to his previous existence on earth and the new birth gives him chance to transform. This transformation is nothing but cleansing process due to inheritance of past karmas. These karmas take shape sometimes at the time of birth but sometimes during its journey of life. There is no favoritism shown by divine law. The king may become a pauper and pauper may become a king. He may be beggar in this life but could become a king in next life.
This belief has hint not only in Greek, Egypt, and India but is also found in China, Africa and many parts of the world as well. It goes back some five thousand years ago in some countries and in some it is one thousand, two thousand and in some three thousand years. The ancient roman people believed that soul was very complex. It is indestructible. At the time of death, it is the body that gets destroyed but the balance portion called soul survives. This portion passes through different planes which are subtle and spiritual and remains in a state of bliss and purity to some extent. When their term of bliss gets complete, it returns back to take another birth to start its journey of life again to attain the life of fulfillment. The worthy soul may not take rebirth. It is also being believed that unworthy soul pass through the river, where they forget and do not have recollection of past earthy life. The laws of the higher world say that whatever action, thoughts or traits we possess in our former life; we get birth in those circumstances, environment and conditions. The Supreme Being is the authority who decides the fate taking into account the karmas of his former life. Those unblemished by material life rise and are given the state of bliss. But those who are guilty and tainted by the material world have to take rebirth and are allowed to rise step by step towards divinity. They are given new body so that they can attempt to get rid of these karmas. In doing so they are unaware of their previous birth but may sometimes get the flashes of recollection, intuition or an instinctive feeling of previous birth.
Christian Church also has guiding religious principles of that time that says soul is pure and the bodies are deceitful and impermanent. The soul enjoys the joy of freeing himself from the prison of the body after the death. After much of migrations from one body to another and rebirths after rebirths, it attains perfection. Some may call it as punishment but some may see it as a way of perfection of soul. The absolute matter from where the soul originates returns back to it in perfect bliss to the place called highest divine kingdom.
In India this doctrine was held in high esteem when the human race was still in Stone Age stage of existence and its foundation were laid four thousand years ago by religious thinkers, philosophers and great rishis. These philosophers firmly established their philosophies and fundamental thoughts in the form of writing in Upanishad and Vedas also people at that time firmly believed them and accepted them as fact. Even today most Hindus and Muslims firmly believe the truth of soul and carried out acts as per religious adherence to fulfill the last wishes of the departed soul. They also believed that present life is step towards purification process of the soul. Today this process has become more complicated dominated by various ceremonials, rituals, cults and creeds sacrificing the original simple form of worship of one life denoting the spirit of nature. Adhering to this modern form is still the fundamental idea of rebirth of the soul being one with the purest form.
There are several references in religious books to the doctrine of rebirth especially in Bhagavad-Gita where Krishna says to Arjuna” There was not a time when you or I were not there. Nor we going to be remain permanent in this world. As the soul understand this material body which experiences infancy, adulthood and old age, which it discards and pass on to the new body in the form of rebirth. It will again live and play its own part. Hence the spirit of a man neither takes birth nor does it die. It is eternal. As the man throws his old garments and wears new, this spirit throws this old body and wears new bright one. You and I have taken many births but the difference is you remember none and I am conscious of all of them.”
It is said in Mahabharat that even if the soul takes new birth, he has to avoid the path of hell and should work out the path of salvation.
