5 Lectures Reincarnation

12/7/2016
www.vivekananda.net/PDFBooks/5LecturesReincarnation.htm
VedantaPhilosophy
Five Lectures on
Reincarnation
By
Swami
Abhedananda
Authorof"IndiaandherPeople","SelfKnowledge","Howtobea
Yogi","DivineHeritageofMan",etc.
I.Reincarnation
Thevisiblephenomenaoftheuniverseareboundbytheuniversal
lawofcauseandeffect.Theeffectisvisibleorperceptible,whilethe
causeisinvisibleorimperceptible.Thefallingofanapplefroma
treeistheeffectofacertaininvisibleforcecalledgravitation.
Althoughtheforcecannotbeperceivedbythesenses,itsexpression
isvisible.Allperceptiblephenomenaarebutthevariousexpressions
ofdifferentforceswhichactasinvisibleagentsuponthesubtleand
imperceptibleformsofmatter.Theseinvisibleagentsorforces
togetherwiththeimperceptibleparticlesofmattermakeupthe
subtlestatesofthephenomenaluniverse.Whenasubtleforce
becomesobjectified,itappearsasagrossobject.Therefore,wecan
say,thateverygrossformisanexpressionofsomesubtleforce
actinguponthesubtleparticlesofmatter.Theminuteparticlesof
hydrogenandoxygenwhencombinedbychemicalforce,appearin
thegrossformofwater.Watercanneverbeseparatedfrom
hydrogenandoxygen,whichareitssubtlecomponentparts.Its
existencedependsuponthatofitscomponentparts,orinother
words,uponitssubtleform.Ifthesubtlestatechanges,thegross
manifestationwillalsochange.Thepeculiarityinthegrossformofa
plantdependsuponthepeculiarnatureofitssubtleform,theseed.
Thepeculiarnatureofthegrossformsintheanimalkingdom
dependsuponthesubtleformswhichmanifestvariouslyineachof
theintermediatestagesbetweenthemicroscopicunitofliving
matterandthehighestman.Thegrosshumanbodyiscloselyrelated
toitssubtlebody.Notonlythis,buteverymovementorchangein
thephysicalformiscausedbytheactivityandchangeofthesubtle
body.Ifthesubtlebodybeaffectedorchangedalittle,thegross
bodywillalsobeaffectedsimilarly.Thematerialbodybeingthe
expressionofthesubtlebody,itsbirth,growth,decayanddeath
dependuponthechangesofthesubtlebody.Aslongasthesubtle
bodyremains,itwillcontinuetoexpressitselfinacorresponding
grossform.
Nowletusunderstandclearlywhatwemeanbyasubtlebody.Itis
nothingbutaminutegermofalivingsubstance.Itcontainsthe
invisibleparticlesofmatterwhichareheldtogetherbyvitalforce,
anditalsopossessesmindorthoughtforceinapotentialstate,just
astheseedofaplantcontainsinitthelifeforceandthepowerof
growth.AccordingtoVedanta,thesubtlebodyconsists
ofAntahkaranam,thatis,theinternalorganorthemindsubstance
withitsvariousmodifications,mind,intellect,egoism,memory,the
fiveinstrumentsofperception:thepowersofseeing,hearing,
smelling,tastingandtouchingthefiveinstrumentsofaction,such
asthepowersofseizing,moving,speaking,evacuating,and
generating,andthefivePrnas.PrnaisaSanskritwordwhich
meansvitalenergyorthelifesustainingpowerinus.
AlthoughPrnaisone,ittakesfivedifferentnamesonaccountof
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thefivedifferentfunctionsitperforms.ThiswordPrnaincludes
thefivemanifestationsofthevitalforce:First,thatpowerwhich
movesthelungsanddrawstheatmosphericairfromoutsideintothe
system.ThisisalsocalledPrna.Second,thatpowerwhichthrows
outofthesystemsuchthingsasarenotwanted.Itiscalledin
SanskritApna.Third,ittakesthenameofSamna,asperforming
digestivefunctionsandcarryingtheextractoffoodtoeverypartof
thebody.ItiscalledUdnawhenitisthecauseofbringingdown
foodfromthemouththroughthealimentarycanaltothestomach,
andalsowhenitisthecauseofthepowerofspeech.Thefifthpower
ofPrnaisthatwhichworksineverypartofthenervoussystem
fromheadtofoot,througheverycanal,whichkeepstheshapeofthe
body,preservesitfromputrefaction,andgiveshealthandlifeto
everycellandorgan.Thesearethevariousmanifestationsofthe
vitalforceorPrna.Thesesubtlepowerstogetherwiththenon
compositeelementsofthegrossbody,ortheetherealparticlesof
subtlematter,andalsowiththepotentialitiesofalltheimpressions,
ideasandtendencieswhicheachindividualgathersinonelife,make
uphissubtlebody.Asaresultantofallthedifferentactionsofmind
andbodywhichanindividualperformsinhispresentlife,willbe
thetendenciesanddesiresinhisfuturelifenothingwillbelost.
Everyactionofbodyormindwhichwedo,everythoughtwhich
wethink,becomesfine,andisstoredupintheformof
aSamskraorimpressioninourminds.Itremainslatentforsome
time,andthenitrisesupintheformofamentalwaveand
producesnewdesires.Thesedesiresarecalledin
Vedanta,Vsans.Vsansorstrongdesiresarethemanufacturers
ofnewbodies.IfVsanorlongingforworldlypleasuresand
objectsremainsinanybody,evenafterhundredsofbirths,that
personwillbebornagain.Nothingcanpreventthecourseof
strongdesires.Desiresmustbefulfilledsoonerorlater.
Everyvoluntaryorinvoluntaryactionofthebody,senseormind
mustcorrespondtothedormantimpressionsstoredupinthesubtle
body.Althoughgrowth,theprocessofnourishmentandallthe
changesofthegrossphysicalbodytakeplaceaccordingtothe
necessarilyactingcauses,yetthewholeseriesofactions,and
consequentlyeveryindividualact,theconditionofthebodywhich
accomplishesit,nay,thewholeprocessinandthroughwhichthe
bodyexists,arenothingbuttheoutwardexpressionsofthelatent
impressionsstoredupinthesubtlebody.Uponthesereststheperfect
suitablenessoftheanimalorhumanbodytotheanimalorhuman
natureofone'simpressions.Theorgansofthesensesmusttherefore
completelycorrespondtotheprincipaldesireswhicharethe
strongestandmostreadytomanifest.Theyarethevisible
expressionsofthesedesires.Iftherebenohungerordesiretoeat,
teeth,throatandbowelswillbeofnouse.Iftherebenodesirefor
graspingandmoving,handsandlegswillbeuseless.Similarlyitcan
beshownthatthedesireforseeing,hearing,etc.,hasproducedthe
eye,ear,etc.IfIhavenodesiretousemyhand,andifIdonotuseit
atall,withinafewmonthsitwillwitherawayanddie.InIndiathere
aresomereligiousfanaticswhoholduptheirarmsanddonotuse
thematallafterafewmonthstheirarmswitherandbecomestiff
anddead.Apersonwholiesonhisbackforsixmonthslosesthe
powerofwalking.Therearemanysuchinstanceswhichprovethe
injuriouseffectsofthedisuseofourlimbsandorgans.
Asthehumanform,generally,correspondstothehumanwill,
generally,sotheindividualbodilystructurecorrespondstothe
character,desires,willandthoughtoftheindividual.Thereforethe
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outernatureisnothingbuttheexpressionoftheinnernature.This
innernatureofeachindividualiswhatreincarnatesorexpresses
itselfsuccessivelyinvariousforms,oneafteranother.Whenaman
diestheindividualegoorJva(asitiscalledinSanskrit),which
meansthegermoflifeorthelivingsoulofman,isnotdestroyed,
butitcontinuestoexistinaninvisibleform.Itremainslikea
permanentthreadstringingtogethertheseparatelivesbythelawof
causeandeffect.Thesubtlebodyislikeawaterglobulewhich
spranginthebeginninglesspastfromtheeternaloceanofReality
anditcontainsthereflectionoftheunchangeablelightof
Intelligence.Asawaterglobuleremainssometimesinaninvisible
vaporystateinacloud,theninrainorsnoworice,andagainas
steamorinmud,butisneverdestroyed,sothesubtlebody
sometimesremainsunmanifestedandsometimesexpressesitselfin
grossformsofanimalorhumanbeings,accordingtothedesiresand
tendenciesthatarereadytomanifest.Itmaygotoheaven,thatis,to
someotherplanet,oritmaybebornagainonthisearth.Itdepends
onthenatureandstrengthofone'slifelongtendencyandbentof
mind.ThisideaisclearlyexpressedinVedanta."Thethought,willor
desirewhichisextremelystrongduringlifetime,willbecome
predominantatthetimeofdeathandwillmouldtheinnernatureof
thedyingperson.Thenewlymouldedinnernaturewillexpressina
newform."(BhagavadGt.)Thethought,willordesirewhich
mouldstheinnernaturehasthepowerofselectingorattractingsuch
conditionsorenvironmentsaswillhelpitinitswayof
manifestation.Thisprocesscorrespondsinsomerespectstothelaw
of"naturalselection."
Weshallbebetterabletounderstandthatprocessbystudyinghow
theseedsofdifferenttreesselectfromthecommonenvironments
differentmaterials,andabsorbandassimilatedifferentquantitiesof
elements.Supposetwoseeds,oneofanoakandtheotherofa
chestnut,areplantedinapot.Thepowerofgrowthinboththeseeds
isofthesamenature.Theenvironments,earth,water,heatandlight
arethesame.Butstillthereissomepeculiarityineachoftheseeds,
whichwillabsorbfromthecommonenvironmentsdifferent
quantitiesofelementsandotherpropertieswhicharefittohelpthe
growthofthepeculiarnatureandformofthefruit,flower,leavesof
eachtree.Supposethechestnutisahorsechestnut.If,under
differentconditions,thepeculiarnatureofthehorsechestnut
changesintothatofasweetchestnut,then,alongwiththechangesin
theseed,thewholenatureofthetree,leaves,fruitswillalsobe
changed.Itwillnomoreattract,absorborassimilatethose
substancesandqualitiesoftheenvironmentswhichitdidwhenit
wasahorsechestnut.Similarly,throughthelawof"natural
selection"thenewlymouldedthoughtbodyofthedyingpersonwill
chooseandattractsuchpartsfromthecommonenvironmentsasare
helpfultoitsproperexpressionormanifestation.Parentsarenothing
buttheprincipalpartsoftheenvironmentofthereincarnating
individual.Thenewlymouldedinnernatureorsubtlebodyofthe
individualwillbythelawof"naturalselection"involuntarily
choose,orbeunconsciouslydrawnto,asitwere,itssuitableparents
andwillbebornofthem.As,forinstance,ifIhaveastrongdesireto
becomeanartist,andifafteralifelongstruggleIdonotsucceedin
beingthegreatest,afterthedeathofthebodyIwillbebornofsuch
parentsandwithsuchenvironmentsaswillhelpmetobecomethe
bestartist.
ThewholeprocessisexpressedinEasternphilosophybythe
doctrineoftheReincarnationoftheindividualsoul.Althoughthis
doctrineiscommonlyrejectedintheWest,itisunreservedly
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acceptedbythevastmajorityofmankindofthepresentday,asit
wasinpastcenturies.Thescientificexplanationofthistheorywe
findnowhereexceptinthewritingsoftheHindusstillweknowthat
fromveryancienttimesitwasbelievedbythephilosophers,sages
andprophetsofdifferentcountries.TheancientcivilizationofEgypt
wasbuiltuponacrudeformofthedoctrineofReincarnation.
Herodotussays:"TheEgyptianspropoundedthetheorythatthe
humansoulisimperishable,andthatwherethebodyofanyonedies
itentersintosomeothercreaturethatmaybereadytoreceiveit."
PythagorasandhisdisciplesspreaditthroughGreeceandItaly.
Pythagorassays:"Allhassoulallissoulwanderingintheorganic
world,andobeyingeternalwillorlaw."
InDryden'sOvidweread:
"Deathhasnopowertheimmortalsoultoslay,
That,whenitspresentbodyturnstoclay,
Seeksafreshhome,andwithunlessenedmight
Inspiresanotherframewithlifeandlight."
ItwasthekeynoteofPlato'sphilosophy.Platosays:"Soulisolder
thanbody.Soulsarecontinuallybornoveragainintothislife."The
ideaofReincarnationwasspreadwidelyinGreeceandItalyby
Pythagoras,Empedocles,Plato,VirgilandOvid.Itwasknowntothe
NeoPlatonists,PlotinusandProclus.Plotinussays:"Thesoul
leavingthebodybecomesthatpowerwhichithasmostdeveloped.
Letusflythenfromherebelowandrisetotheintellectualworld,
thatwemaynotfallintoapurelysensiblelifebyallowingourselves
tofollowsensibleimages...."Itwasthefundamentalprincipleofthe
religionofthePersianMagi.AlexandertheGreatacceptedthisidea
aftercomingincontactwiththeHinduphilosophers.JuliusCaesar
foundthattheGaulshadsomebeliefregardingthepreexistenceof
thehumansoul.TheDruidsofoldGaulbelievedthatthesoulsof
mentransmigrateintothosebodieswhosehabitsandcharactersthey
mostresemble.CeltsandBritonswereimpressedwiththisidea.It
wasafavoritethemeoftheArabphilosophersandmany
MahomedanSufis.TheJewsadopteditaftertheBabylonian
captivity.PhiloofAlexandria,whowasacontemporaryofChrist,
preachedamongsttheHebrewsthePlatonicideaofthepreexistence
andrebirthofhumansouls.Philosays:"Thecompanyof
disembodiedsoulsisdistributedinvariousorders.Thelawofsome
ofthemistoentermortalbodies,andaftercertainprescribed
periodsbeagainsetfree."JohntheBaptistwasaccordingtotheJews
asecondElijahJesuswasbelievedbymanytobethereappearance
ofsomeotherprophet.(SeeMatt,xvi,14,alsoxvii,12.)Solomon
saysinhisBookofWisdom:"Iwasachildofgoodnatureanda
goodsoulcametome,orratherbecauseIwasgoodIcameintoan
undefiledbody."
TheTalmudandCabalateachthesamething.IntheTalmuditissaid
thatAbel'ssoulpassedintothebodyofSeth,andthenintothatof
Moses.AlongwiththespreadoftheCabalathisdoctrine(whichwas
knownasTransmigrationandMetempsychosis)"begantotakeroot
inJudaismandthenitgainedbelieversevenamongmenwhowere
littleinclinedtowardsMysticism.JudabenAsher(Asheri)for
instance,discussingthisdoctrineinalettertohisfatherendeavored
toplaceituponaphilosophicalbasis."(JewishEncyclopedia,Vol.
XII,p.232.)Wealsoread,"TheCabalistseagerlyadoptedthe
doctrineonaccountofthevastfielditofferedtomystic
speculations.Moreoveritwasalmostanecessarycorollaryoftheir
psychologicalsystem.Theabsoluteconditionofthesoulis,
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accordingtothem,itsreturn,afterdevelopingallthoseperfections,
thegermsofwhichareeternallyimplantedinit,totheInfinite
Sourcefromwhichitemanated.Anothertermoflifemusttherefore
bevouchsafedtothosesoulswhichhavenotfulfilledtheirdestiny
herebelow,andhavenotbeensufficientlypurifiedforthestateof
unionwiththePrimordialCause.Henceifthesoul,onitsfirst
assumptionofahumanbodyandsojournonearth,failstoacquire
thatexperienceforwhichitdescendedfromheavenandbecomes
contaminatedbythatwhichispolluting,itmustreinhabitabodytill
itisabletoascendinapurifiedstatethroughrepeatedtrials."Thisis
thetheoryoftheZohar,whichsays:"Allsoulsaresubjectto
transmigrationandmendonotknowthewaysoftheHolyOne,
blessedbeHe!Theydonotknowthattheyarebroughtbeforethe
tribunalbothbeforetheyenterintothisworldandaftertheyleaveit
theyareignorantofthemanytransmigrationsandsecretprobations
whichtheyhavetoundergo,andofthenumberofsoulsandspirits
whichenterintothisworldandwhichdonotreturntothepalaceof
theHeavenlyKing.Mendonotknowhowthesoulsrevolvelikea
stonewhichisthrownfromasling.Butthetimeisathandwhen
thesemysterieswillbedisclosed."(Zohar,II,99b.)
LikemanyoftheChurchFatherstheCabalistsusedastheirmain
argumentinfavorofthedoctrineofmetempsychosisthejusticeof
God.Butforthebeliefinmetempsychosis,theymaintained,the
questionwhyGodoftenpermitsthewickedtoleadahappylife
whilemanyrighteousaremiserablewouldbeunanswerable.Then
tootheinflictionofpainuponchildrenwouldbeanactofcruelty
unlessitisimposedinpunishmentofsincommittedbythesoulina
previousstate.IsaacAbravanelseesinthecommandmentofthe
Levirateaproofofthedoctrineofmetempsychosisforwhichhe
givesthefollowingreasons:(1)GodinHismercywilledthat
anothertrialshouldbegiventothesoul,whichhavingyieldedtothe
sanguinetemperamentofthebodyhadcommittedacapitalsin,such
asmurder,adultery,etc.(2)itisonlyjustthatwhenamandies
youngachanceshouldbegiventohissoultoexecuteinanother
bodythegooddeedswhichithadnottimetoperforminthefirst
body(3)thesoulofthewickedsometimespassesintoanotherbody
inordertoreceiveitsdeservedpunishmentherebelowinsteadofin
theotherworldwhereitwouldbemuchmoresevere.(Commentary
onDeuteronomy,XXV,5.)
Christianityisnotexemptfromthisidea.OrigenandotherChurch
Fathersbelievedinit.Origensays:"ForGod,justlydisposingofhis
creaturesaccordingtotheirdesert,unitedthediversitiesofmindsin
onecongruousworld,thathemight,asitwere,adornhismansion
(inwhichoughttobenotonlyvasesofgoldandsilver,butofwood
alsoandclay,andsometohonorandsometodishonor)withthese
diversevases,mindsorsouls.Tothesecausestheworldowesits
diversity,whileDivineProvidencedisposeseachaccordingtohis
tendency,mindanddisposition."Healsosays:"Ithinkthisisa
questionhowithappensthatthehumanmindisinfluencednowby
thegood,nowbytheevil.ThecausesofthisIsuspecttobemore
ancientthanthiscorporealbirth."TheideaofReincarnationspread
sofastamongsttheearlyChristiansthatJustinianwasobligedto
suppressitbypassingalawintheCouncilofConstantinoplein538
A.D.Thelawwasthis:"Whoevershallsupportthemythical
presentationofthepreexistenceofthesoul,andtheconsequently
wonderfulopinionofitsreturn,lethimbeAnathema."TheGnostics
andManichaeanspropagatedthetenetsofReincarnationamongst
themediaevalsectssuchastheBogomilesandPaulicians.Someof
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thefollowersofthissocallederroneousbeliefwerecruelly
persecutedin385A.D.
IntheseventeenthcenturysomeoftheCambridgePlatonists,asDr.
HenryMoreandothers,acceptedtheideaofrebirth.Mostofthe
Germanphilosophersofthemiddleagesandofrecentdayshave
advocatedandupheldthisdoctrine.Manyquotationscanbegiven
fromthewritingsofgreatthinkers,likeKant,Scotus,Schelling,
Fichte,Leibnitz,Schopenhauer,GiardanoBruno,Goethe,Lessing,
Herderandahostofothers.ThegreatskepticHumesaysinhis
posthumousessayon"TheImmortalityoftheSoul,""The
metempsychosisisthereforetheonlysystemofthiskindthat
philosophycanhearkento."ScientistslikeFlammarionandHuxley
havesupportedthisdoctrineofReincarnation.ProfessorHuxley
says:"Nonebuthastythinkerswillrejectitonthegroundof
inherentabsurdity.Likethedoctrineofevolutionitself,thatof
transmigrationhasitsrootsintheworldofreality."("Evolutionand
Ethics,"p.61.)
Someofthetheologicalleadershavepreachedit.Theeminent
GermantheologianDr.JuliusMllersupportsthistheoryinhis
workon"TheChristianDoctrineofSin."Prominenttheologians,
suchasDr.Dorner,Ernesti,Rckert,EdwardBeecher,HenryWard
Beecher,PhillipsBrooks,preachedmanyatimetouchingthe
questionofthepreexistenceandrebirthoftheindividualsoul.
SwedenborgandEmersonmaintainedit.Emersonsaysinhisessay
onExperience,"Wewakeandfindourselvesonastair.Thereare
stairsbelowuswhichweseemtohaveascendedtherearestairs
aboveus,manyaone,whichgoupwardandoutofsight."
Almostallofthepoets,ancientormodern,professit.William
Wordsworthsaysin"IntimationsofImmortality:"
"Thesoulthatriseswithus,ourlife'sstar,
Hathhadelsewhereitssetting,
Andcomethfromafar."
Tennysonwritesinthe"TwoVoices"
"Or,ifthroughlowerlivesIcame
Tho'allexperiencepastbecame,
Consolidateinmindandframe
Imightforgetmyweakerlot
Forisnotourfirstyearforgot?
Thehauntsofmemoryechonot."
WaltWhitmansaysin"LeavesofGrass:"
"Astoyou,Life,Ireckonyouaretheleavingsofmany
deaths,
NodoubtIhavediedmyselftenthousandtimesbefore."
Similarpassagescanbequotedfromalmostallthepoetsof
differentcountries.EvenamongsttheaboriginaltribesofAfrica,
Asia,NorthandSouthAmerica,tracesofthisbeliefintherebirth
ofsoulsistobefound.Nearlythreefourthsofthepopulationof
AsiabelieveinthedoctrineofReincarnation,andthroughitthey
findasatisfactoryexplanationoftheproblemoflife.Thereisno
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religionwhichdeniesthecontinuityoftheindividualsoulafter
death.
ThosewhodonotbelieveinReincarnationtrytoexplaintheworld
ofinequalitiesanddiversitieseitherbytheonebirththeoryorby
thetheoryofhereditarytransmission.Neitherofthesetheories,
however,issufficienttoexplaintheinequalitiesthatwemeetwithin
oureverydaylife.Thosewhobelieveintheonebirththeory,thatwe
havecomehereforthefirstandlasttime,donotunderstandthatthe
acquirementofwisdomandexperienceisthepurposeofhumanlife
norcantheyexplainwhychildrenwhodieyoungshouldcomeinto
existenceandpassawaywithoutgettingtheopportunitytolearn
anythingorwhatpurposeisservedbytheircomingthusforafew
days,remaininginutterignoranceandthenpassingawaywithout
gaininganythingwhatever.TheChristiandogma,basedontheone
birththeory,tellsusthatthechildwhichdiessoonafteritsbirthis
suretobesavedandwillenjoyeternallifeandeverlastinghappiness
inheaven.TheChristianswhoreallybelieveinthisdogmaoughtto
praytotheirheavenlyFatherforthedeathoftheirchildren
immediatelyaftertheirbirthandoughttothankthemercifulFather
whenthegraveclosesovertheirlittleforms.Thustheonebirth
theoryofChristiantheologydoesnotremoveanydifficulty.
Twogreatreligions,JudaismwithitstwooffspringChristianity
andMahomedanismandZoroastrianism,stillupholdtheone
birththeory.
Thefollowersofthese,shuttingtheireyestotheabsurdityand
unreasonablenessofsuchatheory,believethathumansoulsare
createdoutofnothingatthetimeofthebirthoftheirbodiesandthat
theycontinuetoexistthroughouteternityeithertosufferortoenjoy
becauseofthedeedsperformedduringtheshortperiodoftheir
earthlyexistence.Herethequestionariseswhyshouldamanbeheld
responsiblethroughouteternityfortheworkswhichhewasforced
orpredestinedtoperformbythewilloftheLordoftheuniverse?
Thetheoryofpredestinationandgrace,insteadofexplainingthe
difficulty,makesGodpartialandunjust.Iftheomnipotentpersonal
Godcreatedhumansoulsoutofnothing,couldHenotmakeallsouls
equallygoodandhappy?WhydoesHemakeonetoenjoyallthe
blessingsoflifeandanothertosufferallmiseriesthroughout
eternity?Whyisonebornwithgoodtendenciesandanotherwith
evilones?Whyisonemanvirtuousthroughouthislifeandanother
bestial?Whyisonebornintelligentandanotheridiotic?IfGodout
ofHisownwillmadealltheseinequalities,or,inotherwords,if
Godcreatedonemantosufferandanothertoenjoy,thenhowpartial
andunjustmustHebe!Hemustbeworsethanatyrant.Howcanwe
worshipHim,howcallHimjustandmerciful?
SomepeopletrytosaveGodfromthischargeofpartialityand
injusticebysayingthatallgoodthingsofthisuniversearethework
ofGod,andallevilthingsaretheworkofademonorSatan.God
createdeverythinggood,butitwasSatanwhobroughtevilintothis
worldandmadeeverythingbad.Nowletusseehowfarsucha
statementislogicallycorrect.Goodandevilaretworelativeterms
theexistenceofonedependsuponthatoftheother.Goodcannot
existwithoutevil,andevilcannotexistwithoutbeingrelatedto
good.WhenGodcreatedwhatwecallgood,Hemusthavecreated
evilatthesametime,otherwiseHecouldnotcreategoodalone.If
thecreatorofevil,callhimbywhatevernameyoulike,hadbrought
evilintothisworld,hemusthavecreateditsimultaneouslywith
GodotherwiseitwouldhavebeenimpossibleforGodtocreate
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good,whichcanexistonlyasrelatedtoevil.Assuchtheywillhave
toadmitthattheCreatorsofgoodandevilsattogetheratthesame
timetocreatethisworld,whichisamixtureofgoodandevil.
Consequently,bothofthemareequallypowerful,andlimitedby
eachother.Thereforeneitherofthemisinfiniteinpowersor
omnipotent.SowecannotsaythattheAlmightyGodoftheuniverse
createdgoodaloneandnottheevil.
AnotherargumentwhichtheVedantistsadvanceinsupportofthe
theoryofReincarnationisthat"Nothingisdestroyedinthe
universe."Destructioninthesenseoftheannihilationofathingis
unknowntotheVedanticphilosophers,justasitisunknowntothe
modernscientists.Theysay"nonexistencecanneverbecome
existenceandexistencecanneverbecomenonexistence"or,inother
words,thatwhichdidnotexistcanneverexist,andconverselythat
whichexistsinanyformcanneverbecomenonexistent.Thisisthe
lawofnature.Assuch,theimpressionsorideaswhichwenowhave,
togetherwiththepowerswhichwepossess,willnotbedestroyedbut
willremainwithusinsomeformorother.Ourbodiesmaychange,
butthepowers,Karma,Samskarasorimpressionsandthematerials
whichmanufacturedourbodiesmustremaininusinan
unmanifestedform.Theywillneverbedestroyed.Againscience
tellsusthatthatwhichremainsinanunmanifestedorpotentialstate
mustatsometimeorotherbemanifestedinakineticoractualform.
Thereforeweshallgetotherbodies,soonerorlater.Itisforthis
reasonsaidinthe"BhagavadGt":"Birthmustbefollowedby
deathanddeathmustbefollowedbybirth."Suchacontinuously
recurringseriesofbirthsanddeathseachgermoflifemustgo
through.Anotherconsiderationisthatthebeginning,endingand
continuingareconceptionsofthehumanmindtheirsignificance
dependsentirelyuponourconceptionoftime.Butweallknowthat
timehasnoabsoluteexistence.Itismerelyaformofourknowledge
ofourownexistenceinrelationtothatofnature.Theconceptionof
timevanishesatthesleepofdeath,justasitdoeseverynightwhen
weareinsoundsleep.Deathresemblesthestateofoursoundsleep.
Thesoulwakesupfromthesleepofdeathjustinthesamemanneras
theinsectsawakeinspringaftersleepingthelongandrigidwinter
sleep,asachrysalisinthebedofacocoonspunbyitselfinautumn.
Natureteachesusthegreatlessonofrebirthandthesimilarity
betweensleepanddeathbytherejuvenationofthechrysalisinthe
spring.Afterdeaththesoulwakesupandputsonormanufactures
thegarmentofanewbody,justinthesamemannerasweputon
newclothesafterthrowingawaytheoldandwornoutones.Thus
thesoulcontinuestomanifestitselfoverandoveragaineitheronthe
humanoranyotherplaneofexistence,beingboundbytheLawof
KarmaorofCauseandSequence.
"Death,socalled,isbutoldermatterdressed
Insomenewform.Andinavariedvest,
Fromtenementtotenementthoughtossed,
Thesoulisstillthesame,thefigureonlylost."
PoemonPythagoras,Dryden'sOvid.
Hereitmaybeasked,ifweexistedbeforeourbirthwhydowe
notremember?Thisisoneofthestrongestobjectionsoftenraised
againstthebeliefinpreexistence.Somepeopledenythe
existenceofthesoulinthepastsimplybecausetheycannot
remembertheeventsoftheirpast.Others,again,whohold
memoryasthestandardofexistence,say,ifourmemoryofthe
presentceasestoexistatthetimeofdeath,withitweshallalso
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ceasetobewecannotbeimmortalbecausetheyholdthat
memoryisthestandardoflife,andifwedonotrememberthen
wearenotthesamebeings.
Vedantaanswersthesequestionsbysayingthatitispossibleforusto
rememberourpreviousexistences.Thosewhohaveread"Raja
Yoga"willrecallthatinthe18thaphorismofthethirdchapteritis
said:"ByperceivingtheSamskrasoneacquirestheknowledgeof
pastlives."HeretheSamskrasmeantheimpressionsofthepast
experiencewhichliedormantinoursubliminalself,andarenever
lost.Memoryisnothingbuttheawakeningandrisingoflatent
impressionsabovethethresholdofconsciousness.ARajaYogi,
throughpowerfulconcentrationuponthesedormantimpressionsof
thesubconsciousmind,canrememberalltheeventsofhispastlives.
TherehavebeenmanyinstancesinIndiaofYogiswhocouldknow
notonlytheirownpastlivesbutcorrectlytellthoseofothers.Itis
saidthatBuddharememberedfivehundredofhispreviousbirths.
Oursubliminalself,orthesubconsciousmind,isthestorehouseof
alltheimpressionsthatwegatherthroughourexperiencesduring
ourlifetime.Theyarestoredup,pigeonholedthere,intheChitta,as
itiscalledinVedanta."Chitta"meansthesamesubconsciousmind
orsubliminalselfwhichisthestorehouseofallimpressionsand
experiences.Andtheseimpressionsremainlatentuntilfavorable
conditionsrousethemandbringthemoutontheplaneof
consciousness.Hereletustakeanillustration:Inadarkroom
picturesarethrownonascreenbylanternslides.Theroomis
absolutelydark.Wearelookingatthepictures.Supposeweopena
windowandallowtheraysofthemiddaysuntofalluponthescreen.
Wouldwebeabletoseethosepictures?No.Why?Becausethemore
powerfulfloodoflightwillsubduethelightofthelanternandthe
pictures.Butalthoughtheyareinvisibletooureyeswecannotdeny
theirexistenceonthescreen.Similarly,thepicturesoftheeventsof
ourpreviouslivesuponthescreenofthesubliminalselfmaybe
invisibletousatpresent,buttheyexistthere.Whyaretheyinvisible
tousnow?Becausethemorepowerfullightofsenseconsciousness
hassubduedthem.Ifweclosethewindowsanddoorsofoursenses
fromoutsidecontactanddarkentheinnerchamberofourself,then
byfocusingthelightofconsciousnessandconcentratingthemental
raysweshallbeabletoknowandrememberourpastlives,andall
theeventsandexperiencesthereof.Thosewhowishthereforeto
developtheirmemoryandremembertheirpastshouldpracticeRaja
Yogaandlearnthemethodofacquiringthepowerofconcentration
byshuttingthedoorsandwindowsoftheirsenses.Andthatpower
ofconcentrationmustbehelpedbythepowerofselfcontrol.That
is,bycontrollingthedoorsandwindowsofourownsenses.
Thesedormantimpressions,whetherwerememberthemornot,are
thechieffactorsinmouldingourindividualcharacterswithwhich
weareborn,andtheyarethecausesoftheinequalitiesand
diversitieswhichwefindaroundus.Whenwestudythecharacters
andpowersofgeniusesandprodigieswecannotdenythepre
existenceofthesoul.Whateverthesoulhasmasteredinaprevious
lifemanifestsinthepresent.Thememoryofparticulareventsisnot
soimportant.Ifwepossessthewisdomandknowledgewhichwe
gatheredinourpreviouslives,thenitmattersverylittlewhetheror
notweremembertheparticularevents,orthestruggleswhichwe
wentthroughinordertogainthatknowledge.Thoseparticular
thingsmaynotcometousinourmemory,butwehavenotlostthe
wisdom.Now,studyyourownpresentlifeandyouwillseethatin
thislifeyouhavegainedsomeexperience.Theparticulareventsand
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thestruggleswhichyouwentthrougharepassingoutofyour
memory,buttheexperience,theknowledgewhichyouhavegained
throughthatexperience,hasmouldedyourcharacter,has
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selvaraj/Desktop/Library/Reincarnation.html(6of20)2/25/2007
8:23:43PM
shapedyouinadifferentmanner.Youwillnothavetogothrough
thosedifferenteventsagaintorememberhowyou
acquiredthatexperienceisnotnecessarythewisdomgainedisquite
enough.
Then,again,wefindamongourselvespersonswhoarebornwith
somewonderfulpowers.Take,forinstance,thepowerofself
control.Oneisbornwiththepowerofselfcontrolhighly
developed,andthatselfcontrolmaynotbeacquiredbyanother
afteryearsofhardstruggle.Whyistherethisdifference?Bhagavan
SriRamakrishnawasbornwithGodconsciousness,andhewent
intothehigheststateofSamdhiwhenhewasfouryearsoldbut
thisstateisverydifficultforotherYogistoacquire.Therewasa
YogiwhocametoseeRamakrishna.Hewasanoldmanand
possessedwonderfulpowers,andhesaid:"Ihavestruggledforforty
yearstoacquirethatstatewhichisnaturalwithyou."Thereare
manysuchinstanceswhichshowthatpreexistenceisafact,andthat
theselatentordormantimpressionsofpreviouslivesarethechief
factorsinmouldingtheindividualcharacterwithoutdepending
uponthememoryofthepast.Becausewecannotrememberourpast,
becauseofthelossofmemoryoftheparticularevents,thesoul's
progressisnotarrested.Thesoulwillcontinuetoprogressfurther
andfurther,eventhoughthememorymaybeweak.
Eachindividualsoulpossessesthisstorehouseofprevious
experiencesinthebackground,inthesubconsciousmind.Takethe
instanceoftwolovers.Whatislove?Itistheattractionbetweentwo
souls.Thislovedoesnotdiewiththedeathofthebody.Truelove
survivesdeathandcontinuestogrow,tobecomestrongerand
stronger.Eventuallyitbringsthetwosoulstogetherandmakesthem
one.Thetheoryofpreexistencealonecanexplainwhytwosoulsat
firstsightknoweachotherandbecomeattachedtoeachotherbythe
tieoffriendship.Thismutuallovewillcontinuetogrowandwill
becomestronger,andintheendwillbringtheseloverstogether,no
matterwheretheygo.Therefore,Vedantadoesnotsaythatthedeath
ofthebodywillendtheattractionortheattachmentoftwosouls
butasthesoulsareimmortalsotheirrelationwillcontinueforever.
TheYogisknowhowtodevelopmemoryandhowtoreadpastlives.
Theysay,timeandspaceexistinrelationtoourpresentmental
conditionifwecanriseabovethisplane,ourhighermindseesthe
pastandfuturejustasweseethingsbeforeoureyes.Thosewhowish
tosatisfytheidlecuriosityoftheirmindsmayspendtheirenergyby
tryingtorecollecttheirpastlives.ButIthinkitwillbemuchmore
helpfultousifwedevoteourtimeandenergyinmouldingour
futureandintryingtobebetterthanwearenow,becausethe
recollectionofourformerconditionwouldonlyforceustomakea
baduseofthepresent.Howunhappyhemustbewhoknowsthatthe
wickeddeedsofhispastlifewillsurelyreactonhimandwillbring
distress,misery,unhappinessorsufferingwithinafewdaysorafew
months.Suchamanwouldbesorestlessandunhappythathewould
notbeabletodoanyworkproperlyhewouldconstantlythinkin
whatformmiserywouldappeartohim.Hewouldnotbeabletoeat
orevensleep.Hewouldbemostmiserable.Thereforeweoughtto
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regarditasagreatblessingthatwedonotrecollectourpastlives
andpastdeeds.Vedantasays,donotwasteyourvaluabletimein
thinkingofyourpastlives,donotlookbackwardduringthe
tiresomejourneythroughthedifferentstagesofevolution,always
lookforwardandtryfirsttoattaintothehighestpointofspiritual
developmentthenifyouwanttoknowyourpastlivesyouwill
recollectthemall.Nothingwillremainunknowntoyou,theKnower
oftheuniverse.WhentheallknowingDivineSelfwillmanifest
throughyou,timeandspacewillvanishandpastandfuturewillbe
changedintotheeternalpresent.ThenyouwillsayasSriKrishna
saidtoArjuna,inthe"BhagavadGita:""BothyouandIhavepassed
throughmanylivesyoudonotrecollectany,butIknowthemall."
(Ch.iv.,5.)
II.HeredityandReincarnation.
Thosewhoacceptthetheoryofhereditydenytheexistenceofthe
humansoulasanentityseparablefromthegrossphysicalorganism.
Consequentlytheydonotdiscussthequestionwhetherthe
individualsoulexistedinthepastorwillcontinuetoexistafterthe
deathofthebody.Thiskindofquestiondoesnotdisturbtheirminds.
Theygenerallymaintainthattheindividualsoulisinseparablefrom
thebodyorthebrainornervoussystemconsequentlywhatwecall
soulortheconsciousentityorthethinkerisproducedalongwiththe
birthoftheorganismorbrain,lastsaslongasthebodylastsanddies
whentheorganismisdissolvedintoitselements.Butthose,onthe
otherhand,whoacceptthetheoryofReincarnationadmitthe
existenceofsoulasaconsciousentitywhichisindependentofthe
physicalorganism,thatitcontinuestoliveafterdeathandthatit
existedbeforethebirthofthebody.Thetheoryofheredityhas
alwaysbeensupportedbythematerialisticscientists,atheistsand
agnosticsofallagesandalsobythosewhobelieveinthespecial
creationofthefirstmanandwomanatacertaindefinitetimeand
thattheirqualities,character,lifeandsoulhavebeentransmittedto
allhumanitythroughsuccessivegenerations.Thecommonly
acceptedmeaningofthetheoryofheredityisthatallthewell
markedpeculiarities,bothphysicalandmental,intheparentsare
handedontothechildrenor,inotherwords,heredityisthat
propertyofanorganismbywhichitspeculiarnatureistransmitted
toitsdescendants.
Inthewholehistoryofhumanitytherehasneverbeenatimewhen
thisquestionofheredityhasbeendiscussedsominutelyandinso
manydifferentwaysasithasbeeninthepresentcentury.Although
thistheorywasknownintheEastbytheancientVedanta
philosophers,bytheBuddhistsofthepreChristianeraandbythe
GreekphilosophersintheWest,stillithasreceivedanewimpetus
andhasgrownwithnewstrengthsincetheintroductionofthe
Darwiniantheoryoftheevolutionofspecies.Alongwiththelatest
discoveriesinphysiology,biology,embryologyandotherbranches
ofmodernscience,thepopularsimplemeaningofhereditythat
theoffspringnotonlyresembletheirparentsamonganimalsaswell
asamongmen,butinheritalltheindividualpeculiarities,lifeand
characteroftheirparentshastakentheshapeofthemost
complicatedanddifficultproblemwhichitisalmostimpossibleto
solve.OurmindsarenolongersatisfiedwithHaeckel'sdefinition
thatheredityissimplyanovergrowthoftheindividual,asimple
continuityofgrowthbutwewanttoknowtheparticularmethodby
whichhereditarytransmissiontakesplace.Weask,howcanasingle
cellreproducethewholebodyoftheoffspring,itsmind,character
andallthepeculiaritiesofanorganism?Outofthemyriadsofcells
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ofwhichabodyiscomposed,whatkindofcellisthatwhich
possessesthepowerofreproducingthepeculiarities,bothmental
andphysical,whicharetobefoundintheformofthenewborn
babe?Thisisthemostpuzzlingofalltheproblemswhichthe
scientificmindhaseverencountered.Thefundamentalquestion
connectedwiththetheoryofheredityis:Howcanasinglecellofthe
bodycontainwithinitselfallthehereditarytendenciesofthe
hypothesisofthecontinuityofthegermplasmgivesanidentical
startingpointtoeachsuccessivegeneration,andthusexplainshowit
isthatanidenticalproductarisesfromallofthem.Inotherwords,
thehypothesisexplainsheredityaspartoftheunderlyingproblems
ofassimilationandofthecauseswhichactdirectlyduringontogeny.
(Vol.I,p.170.)
AccordingtoWeismann,allthepeculiaritieswhichwefindinan
organismarenotinheritedbytheorganismfromthatofthe
parents,buthesays:"Nothingcanariseinanorganismunlessthe
predispositiontoitispreexistent,foreveryacquiredcharacteris
simplythereactionoftheorganismuponacertainstimulus."(Vol.
I,p.172.)Thereforethegermcellsdonotinheritallthe
peculiaritiesoftheparents,butpossessthepredispositionora
potentialityofthetendencieswhichgraduallydevelopinto
individualcharacters.
Wewillbeabletounderstandhistheorybetterfromthefollowing
quotations,whichgivehisownwords.Hesays:"Ihavecalledthis
substance'germplasm,'andhaveassumedthatitpossessesahighly
complexstructure,conferringuponitthepowerofdevelopingintoa
complexorganism."("Heredity,"Vol.I,p.170.)Againhesays:
"Thereis,therefore,continuityofthegermplasmfromone
generationtoanother.Onemightrepresentthegermplasmbythe
metaphorofalong,creepingrootstockfromwhichplantsariseat
intervals,theselatterrepresentingtheindividualsofsuccessive
generations.Henceitfollowsthatthetransmissionofacquired
charactersisanimpossibility,forifthegermplasmisnotformed
anewineachindividual,butisderivedfromthatwhichprecededit,
itsstructure,and,aboveall,itsmolecularconstitution,cannot
dependupontheindividualinwhichithappenstooccur,butsuchan
individualonlyforms,asitwere,thenutritivesoilattheexpenseof
whichthegermplasmgrows,whilethelatterpossessedits
characteristicstructurefromthebeginning,viz.,beforethe
commencementofgrowth.Butthetendenciesofheredity,ofwhich
thegermplasmisthebearer,dependuponthisverymolecular
structure,andhenceonlythosecharacterscanbetransmitted
throughsuccessivegenerationswhichhavebeenpreviously
inherited,viz.,thosecharacterswhichwerepotentiallycontainedin
thestructureofthegermplasm.Italsofollowsthatthoseother
characterswhichhavebeenacquiredbytheinfluenceofspecial
externalconditions,duringthelifetimeoftheparent,cannotbe
transmittedatall."(Vol.I,p.273.)Inconclusion,Weismannwrites:
"Butatalleventswehavegainedthismuch,thattheonlyfacts
whichappeartodirectlyproveatransmissionofacquiredcharacters
havebeenrefuted,andthattheonlyfirmfoundationonwhichthis
hypothesishasbeenhithertobasedhasbeendestroyed."(Vol.I,p.
461.)
Thusweseehowfarthetheoryofheredityhasbeenpushedbythe
greatscientificinvestigatorsofthepresentage.Wehavenolonger
anyrighttobelieveintheoldoftrefutedhypothesiswhichassumes
thateachindividualorganismproducesgermcellsafreshagainand
againandtransmitsallitspowersdevelopedandacquiredbythe
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parentsbut,onthecontrary,wehavecometoknowtodaythat
parentsarenothingbutmerechannelsthroughwhichthesegerm
plasmsorgermcellsmanifesttheirpeculiartendenciesandpowers
whichexistedinthemfromtheverybeginning.Themainpointis
thatthegermsarenotcreatedbytheparents,butthattheyexistedin
previousgenerations.
Now,whatarethosegermslike?Wherefromdotheyacquirethese
tendencies,thesepeculiarities?Thatisanotherverydifficult
problem.Dr.Weismannandhisfollowerssaythatthesepeculiarities
aregainedorinherited"fromthecommonstock,"butwhatthat
commonstockistheydonotexplain.Whereisthatcommonstock
andwhywillcertaingermsacquirecertaintendenciesandother
germsretainotherpeculiarities?Whatregulatesthem?These
questionsarenotsolved.SofarwehavegatheredfromDr.
Weismann'sexplanationthattheparentsarenotthecreatorsofthe
germsbut,onthecontrary,thatthegermsexistedbeforethebirthof
thebody,beforethegrowthofthebody,inpreviousgenerations,or
inthecommonstockoftheuniverse.Thepreviousgenerationsare
deadandgone,sowemaysaythattheyexistedintheuniverse.We
cannotnowbelievetheold,crude,oftenrefutedideathatGod
createsthegermatthetimeofbirthandputsintoitallthepowers
andpeculiaritiesoftheparents.ThistheorymakesGodunjustand
partial,soitdoesnotappealtousanymore.Weneedbetterand
morerationalexplanations.Theonebirththeory,whichhasbeen
preachedbyChristianministersandotherreligionistsforsomany
years,doesnotremovethedifficulties,doesnotexplainthecauseof
theinequalitiesanddiversities,doesnotanswerthequestionwhether
weacquireallthetendenciesandpeculiaritiesoftheparentsor
whetheracquiredcharacterscannotbetransmitted.Wehavealready
seenthatthesequestionsareleftunsolvedbytheonebirththeoryof
ChristianityandofJudaism.Butthistheoryof"continuityofthe
germplasm"pushesthequestionofhereditytothedoorof
Reincarnation.Ifmodernsciencecanexplainwhatthatcommon
stockisandwhyandhowthesegermsretainthosepeculiaritiesand
tendencies,thentheanswerwillbecompleteandnotuntilthen.The
Vedantaphilosophy,however,hasalreadyexplainedthecauseofthe
potentialityinthegermoflifeor"germplasm"orgermcell.
Vedantasolvesthisdifficultybysayingthateachofthesegerm
plasmsorgermcellsisnothingbutthesubtleformofa
reincarnatingindividual,containingpotentiallyalltheexperiences,
characters,tendencies,anddesireswhichonehadinone'sprevious
life.Itexistedbeforethebirthofthebodyanditwillcontinueafter
thedeathofthebody.Thisgermorsubtlebodyisnotthesameasthe
astralbodyoftheTheosophists,orthedoubleofthemetaphysical
thinkersorthedisembodiedspiritoftheSpiritualistsbutitisan
etherealcenterofactivityphysical,mentalandorganic.Itisacenter
whichpossessesthetendencytomanifestthesepowersondifferent
planesofexistence.Itcontainstheminuteparticlesofmatteror
etherealsubstanceandthelifeprincipleorvitalenergybywhichwe
liveandmove.Italsopossessesthementalpowersandsensepowers
butalltheseremainlatent,justasinaseedweseethatthepowersof
growth,ofassimilationandofproducingflowersandfruitsare
latent.
Atthetimeofdeaththeindividualsoulcontractsandremainsin
theformofagermoflife.Itisforthisreason,Vedantateaches,
thatitisneitherthewillofGodnorthefaultoftheparentsthat
formsthecharactersofchildren,buteachchildisresponsiblefor
itstendencies,capacities,powersandcharacter.Itisitsown
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"Karma"orpastactionsthatmakeachildamurdererorasaint,
virtuousorsinful.Thestoreduppotentialitiesinasubtlebody
manifestinthecharacterofanindividual.
Theargumentadvancedbythesupportersofthetheoryof
hereditarytransmissiondoesnotfurnishasatisfactoryexplanation
ofthecauseoftheinequalitiesanddiversitiesoftheuniverse.Why
isitthatthechildrenofthesameparentsshowamarked
dissimilaritytotheirparentsandtoeachother?
Whydotwinsdevelopintodissimilarcharactersandpossess
oppositequalities,althoughtheyarebornofthesameparentsatthe
sametimeandbroughtupundersimilarconditionsand
environments?Howcanheredityexplainsuchcases?Supposeaman
hasfivechildrenoneishonestandsaintly,anotherisanidiot,the
thirdbecomesamurderer,thefourthageniusorprodigy,andthe
fifthacrippleanddiseased.Whomadethesedissimilarities?They
cannotbeaccidents.Thereisnosuchthingasanaccident.Every
eventoftheuniverseisboundbythelawofcauseandeffect.There
mustbesomecauseoftheseinequalities.Whomadeonehonestand
saintly,anotheranidiot,andsoforth?Parents?Thatcannotbe.They
neverdreamedthattheywouldbegetamurdereroravillainoran
idiot.Onthecontrary,allparentswishtheirchildrentobethebest
andhappiest.Butinspiteofsuchdesirestheygetsuchchildren.
Why?Whatisthecause?Doesthetheoryofheredityexplainit?No,
notatall.Supposeaman,twentyfouryearsold,whohascertain
traits,likemusicalorartistictalents,suchaspaintingandsoon,hasa
crookednoseandotherpeculiarities,likecrosseyes,whichresemble
thoseofhisgrandfather.Supposehisgrandfatherdiedsixyears
beforehewasborn.Now,thosewhobelieveinthetheoryof
hereditywillsaythatthisyoungmaninheritedallthesepeculiarities
fromhisgrandfather.Whendidheinherit?Hisgrandfatherhaddied
sixyearsbeforehewasborn.Heinherited,ofcourse,intheformof
thatgerm.Whatisthatgermlike?Aminuteprotoplasm,ajellylike
substance,andifyouexamineitwithapowerfulmicroscopeyou
willhardlyfindanydifferencebetweenitandtheprotoplasmic
germofadog,orofacat,orofatree.Itissmallerthanapin'shead.
Andinthatstatethisyoungmaninheritedallthesepeculiarities
fromhisgrandfatheror,inotherwords,beforehehadanose,hegot
acrookednosebeforehehadeyes,heinheritedcrosseyes,and
beforehehadanybrain,heinheritedallthewonderfulpowershis
musicalandartistictalents.Doesitnotseemabsurdtoyou?Evenif
weadmitthistheoryofheredity,thenwhatdoweunderstand?That
thewholeofthisyoungmanexistedintheformofaprotoplasm
beforehewasborn.Hiscrosseyes,hiscrookednose,hisartistic
talentsallthesepreexistedintheformofaprotoplasmiccell.This
leadsuptothesamethingwhichistaughtbythetheoryof
Reincarnation,or,inotherwords,ifitbepossibleforthisyoung
mantoremainintheformofaprotoplasmandinheritallthese
thingsbeforehisbirth,whycannotwebelievethatthesoulorthe
subtlebodyofthisyoungmanpossessedthemfromthevery
beginning?AccordingtoVedantathisyoungmanwasnotthe
creatureofhisgrandfather,buthehadhisownindependent
existenceonlybycomingthroughthechannelofhisparentshehad
receivedcertaincharacteristicimpressions,justasatreeinits
processofgrowthwillreceivefromtheenvironmentscertain
peculiaritieswhenitassimilatesthoseproperties.
ThedoctrineofReincarnationalonecanexplainsatisfactorilyand
rationallythediversitiesamongchildrenandthereasonofthemany
instancesofuncommonpowersandgeniusdisplayedinchildhood.
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Thetheoryofheredityhasuptothistimefailedtogiveanygood
reasonforthem.WhyisitthatPascal,whentwelveyearsold,
succeededindiscoveringforhimselfthegreaterpartofplane
geometry.HowcouldtheshepherdMangiamelo,whenfiveyears
old,calculatelikeanarithmeticalmachine.ThinkofthechildZerah
Colburn:whenhewasundereightyearsofagehecouldsolvethe
mosttremendousmathematicalproblemsinstantlyandwithout
usinganyfigures."Inoneinstancehetookthenumber8andraised
itupprogressivelytothesixteenthpowerandinstantlymentioned
theresultwhichcontained15figures28l,474,976,710,656."Of
coursehewasrightineveryfigure.Whenaskedthesquarerootof
numbersconsistingofsixfigures,hewouldstatetheresultinstantly
withperfectaccuracy.Heusedtogivethecuberootofnumbersin
thehundredsofmillionstheverymomentwhenitwasasked.
Somebodyaskedhimoncehowmanyminutestherewerein48
years,heanswered,25,288,800.
Mozart,thegreatmusician,wroteasonatawhenhewasfouryears
oldandanoperainhiseighthyear.TheresaMilanollaplayedthe
violinwithsuchskillthatmanypeoplethoughtthatshemusthave
playedbeforeherbirth.Therearemanysuchinstancesofwonderful
powersexhibitedbyartistsandpainterswhentheywerequite
young.Sankarcharya,thegreatcommentatoroftheVedanta
philosophy,finishedhiscommentarywhenhewastwelveyearsold.
Howcansuchcasesbeexplainedbythetheoryofhereditary
transmission?Manyofyouhaveheardofthewonderfulmusical
talentsofBlindTom.Thisblindnegroslavewasbornonhismaster's
plantationandwasbroughtupasatypicalnegro.Hereceivedno
traininginmusicorinanyotherline.Onedaywhenhismaster's
familywereatdinnerhehappenedtocomeintohismaster'sparlor
anddisplayedhismarvelousmusicalpowerforthefirsttimeby
playingonhismaster'spiano.Afterwardshewasexhibitedin
differentstatesofthiscountry.Physicallyhewasnothingbuta
typicalnegro.Hisintellectwasverypoor,butinmusichewasa
master.Hismusicaltalentsweresogreatthathecomposedmusicfor
himselfandplayedhisowncompositions.Sometimesafterhearinga
newpieceofrapidmusiconce,hecouldreproduceitnotefornote.
Wheredidhegetallthesepowers?Fromwhomdidheinheritthem?
Hisparentsperhapsneverheardofapiano.Heneverhadalessonin
hislife,andhecouldnothaveunderstoodevenifhehadhadany.
NotlongagoIsawagirlofaboutsixyears,whoplayedthepiano
mostbeautifullyandwhocouldreproducethemostdifficultmusic
afterhearingitonce.Itseemstomethatshemusthaveplayedthe
pianoinherpreviousincarnation.Thisistheonlyexplanationthat
wecangive.
Doesheredityexplainsuchcases?No.Theseillustrationsare
sufficienttodisprovethetheoryof"cumulativeheredity".
"Cumulative"meansgradualness.Thebelieversinthistheorysay
thatageniusistheresultofcumulativeheredity,thatis,itpresents
itselfbydegreesfromlessgeniustogreaterandstillgreaterandso
on.Inthewholehistoryofthegenealogyofgeniuses,likeHomer,
Plato,Shakespeare,Goethe,Raphael,thereneverwasintheir
familiesalmostPlato,almostShakespeare,oralmostGoethe.
Neitherisitpossibletotracetheextraordinarypowersofanyof
thesebacktoanymemberoftheirancestralline.Thereforewecan
saythatnoothertheorythanthatofReincarnationcanexplain
satisfactorilythecauseswhichproducegeniusesandprodigiesin
thisworld.
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ThosewhoacceptthetruthofReincarnationdonotblametheir
parentsfortheirpoortalents,orfornotpossessingextraordinary
powers,buttheyremaincontentwiththeirownlot,knowingthat
theyhavemadethemselvesastheyaretodaybytheirown
thoughtsanddeedsintheirpreviousincarnations.Theyunderstand
themeaningofthesaying"whatthousowestthoumustreap,"and
alwaysendeavortomouldtheirfuturebybetterthoughtsandbetter
deeds.Theyexplainalltheinequalitiesanddiversitiesoflifeand
characterbythelawof"Karma,"whichgovernstheprocessof
Reincarnationaswellasthegradualevolutionofthegermsoflife
fromlowertohigherstagesofexistence.
III.EvolutionandReincarnation.
Theamazingachievementsofmodernsciencehavebeenopening
everydaynewgatesofwisdomandslowlybringinghumanminds
nearerandnearertotheultimaterealityoftheuniverse.Thefireof
knowledgekindledbysciencehasalreadyburntdownmanydogmas
andbeliefs,heldsacredbythesuperstitionofthepast,whichstood
inthewayoftruthseekingminds.Inthefirstplacesciencehas
disprovedthetheoryofthecreationoftheuniverseoutofnothing
bytheactionofsomesupernaturalpower.Ithasshownthatthe
universedidnotappearinitspresentformorcomeintoexistenceall
ofasuddenonlyafewthousandyearsago,butthatithastakenages
topassthroughdifferentstagesbeforeitcouldreachitspresent
condition.Eachofthesestageswasdirectlyrelatedtoaprevious
stagebythelawofcausation,whichalwaysoperatesinaccordance
withdefiniterules.Thephenomenaoftheuniverse,accordingto
science,aresubjecttoevolution,orgradualchangeandprogressive
developmentfromarelativelyuniformconditiontoarelative
complexity.Fromthegreatestsolarsystemdowntothesmallest
bladeofgrass,everythingintheuniversehastakenitspresentshape
andformthroughthiscosmicprocessofevolution.Ourplanetearth
hasgraduallyevolved,perhapsoutofanebulousmasswhichexisted
atfirstinagaseousstate.Thesun,moon,stars,satellitesandother
planetshavecomeintoexistencebygoingthroughinnumerable
changesproducedbytheevolutionaryprocessoftheCosmos.
Throughthesameprocessplants,insects,fishes,reptiles,birds,
animals,man,andalllivingmatterthatinhabitthisearthhave
evolvedfromminutegermsoflifeintotheirpresentforms.The
theoryofEvolutionsaysthatmandidnotcomeintoexistenceallof
asudden,butisrelatedtoloweranimalsandtoplants,eitherdirectly
orindirectly.Thegermoflifehadpassedthroughvariousstagesof
physicalformbeforeitcouldappearasaman.Thatbranchof
sciencewhichiscalledEmbryologyhasprovedthefactthat"manis
theepitomeofthewholecreation."Ittellsthatthehumanbody
beforeitsbirthpassesthroughallthedifferentstagesoftheanimal
kingdomsuchasthepolyp,fish,reptile,dog,ape,andatlast,man.
Ifwerememberthatnatureisalwaysconsistent,thatherlawsare
uniformandthatwhateverexistsinthemicrocosmexistsalsointhe
macrocosm,andthenstudynature,weshallfindthatallthegermsof
lifewhichexistintheuniverseareboundtopassthroughstages
resemblingtheembryonictypesbeforetheycanappearintheform
ofman.
InexplainingthetheoryofEvolution,sciencesaysthattherearetwo
principalfactorsintheprocessofevolutionthefirstisthetendency
tovary,whichexistsinalllivingformswhethervegetableor
animalthesecondisthetendencyofenvironmenttoinfluencethat
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variation,eitherfavorablyorunfavorably.Withoutthefirst,
evolutionofanykindwouldbeabsolutelyimpossible.Butthecause
ofthatinnatetendencytovaryisstillunknowntoscience.Uponthe
seconddependsthelawofnaturalselection.Thevariationmustbe
adaptedtofavorableconditionsoflifeconsequentlyeitherthegerm
oflifewillselectsuitableenvironmentsorvaryitselfinordertosuit
thesurroundingconditions,iftheyareunfavorable.Buttheagentof
thisselectiveprocessisthestruggleforexistence,whichisanoless
importantfactor.ThusEvolutiondependsonthesethreelaws:
Tendencytovary,orvariation,naturalselection,andstrugglefor
existence.Sciencetriestoexplainthroughthesethreelawsthe
physical,mental,intellectual,moralandspiritualevolutionof
mankind.ButthetheoryofEvolutionwillremainunintelligible
untilsciencecantracethecauseofthatinnate"tendencytovary"
whichexistsineverystageofalllivingforms.
Ifwestudycloselywefindthatman's"self"consistsoftwonatures,
oneanimalandtheothermoralorspiritual.Animalnatureincludes
alltheanimalpropensities,desireforsenseenjoyments,loveofself,
fearofdeathandstruggleforexistence.Eachoftheseistobefound
inloweranimalsaswellasinhumanbeings,thedifferencebeing
onlyindegreeandnotinkind.Inasavagetribetheexpressionof
thisanimalnatureissimpleandnatural,whileinahighlycivilized
nationitisexpressednotinasimpleandstraightforwardmanner,
butinanartfulandrefinedway.Inacivilizedcommunitythesame
natureworkingthroughvarieddevice,policyandplanbringsthe
sameresultsinamorepolishedform.Inthestruggleforexistence
amongstloweranimalsandsavagetribes,thosewhoarephysically
strongsurviveandgainadvantageoverthosewhoarephysically
weakwhileinthecivilizedworldthesameresultisobtained,notby
displayingphysicalforce,butbyart,diplomacy,policy,strategyand
skill.Variouskindsofdefensiveandoffensiveweaponshavebeen
inventedtoconquerthosewhoarelessskillfulinusingthem,
althoughtheymaybephysicallystronger.Thesimpleexpressionof
animalnaturewhichwenoticeinsavagesandloweranimals,bythe
naturalprocessofevolutionhasgraduallybecomemoreandmore
complex,aswefindinthecivilizednationsoftheworld.Theenergy
ofthelowerhumannatureisspentchieflyinthestrugglefor
materialexistence.
Butthereisanothernatureinmanwhichishigherthanthis.It
expressesitselfinvariousways,butonahigherplane.Loveof
truth,masteryoverpassion,controlofthesenses,disinterestedself
sacrifice,mercyandkindnesstoallcreatures,desiretohelpthe
distressed,forgiveness,faithinaSupremeBeinganddevotionall
thesearetheexpressionsofthathighermoralandspiritualnature.
Theycannotbeexplainedasdevelopedfromanimalnatureby
meansofthestruggleformaterialexistence.Forthesequalitiesare
nottobefoundinloweranimals,althoughthestrugglefor
existenceisthere.Themoralandspiritualnatureofhumanbeings
cannotbetracedastheoutgrowthorgradualdevelopmentofthe
animalnature.ThereisadisputeamongtheEvolutionistsastothe
methodofexplainingtheircause.Somesaythatthesehigher
facultieshaveevolvedoutoftheloweronesandhavedevelopedby
variationandnaturalselectionwhileothersholdthatsomeother
higherinfluence,laworagencyisrequiredtoaccountforthem.
ProfessorHuxleysays:"AsIhavealreadyurged,thepracticeofthat
whichisethicallybestwhatwecallgoodnessorvirtueinvolves
acourseofconductwhichinallrespectsisopposedtothatwhich
leadstosuccessinthecosmicstruggleforexistence.Inplaceof
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ruthlessselfassertion,itdemandsselfrestraintinplaceofthrusting
asideortreadingdownallcompetitors,itrequiresthattheindividual
shallnotmerelyrespect,butshallhelphisfellowsitsinfluenceis
directednotsomuchtothesurvivalofthefittestastothefittingof
asmanyaspossibletosurvive.Itrepudiatesthegladiatorialtheory
ofexistence.Itdemandsthateachmanwhoentersintothe
enjoymentoftheadvantagesofapolityshallbemindfulofhisdebt
tothosewhohavelaboriouslyconstructedit,andshalltakeheedthat
noactofhisweakensthefabricinwhichhehasbeenpermittedto
live.Lawsandmoralpreceptsaredirectedtotheendofcurbingthe
cosmicprocess,andremindingtheindividualofhisdutytothe
community,totheprotectionandinfluenceofwhichheowes,ifnot
existenceitself,atleastthelifeofsomethingbetterthanabrutal
savage."("EvolutionandEthics,"pp.8182.)
Prof.Calderwoodsays:"Sofarashumanorganismisconcerned,
thereseemnooverwhelmingobstaclestobeencounteredbyan
evolutiontheory,butitseemsimpossibleundersuchatheoryto
accountfortheappearanceofthethinking,selfregulatinglife
distinctlyhuman."Thus,accordingtosomeofthebestthinkers,the
explanationofthemoralandspiritualnatureofmanasa
developmentoftheanimalnature,isquiteinsufficientand
unsatisfactory.Thetheoryofnaturalselectioninthestrugglefor
existencecannotexplainthecauseofthehighernatureofman.We
cannotsaythatatheoryiscompletebecauseitexplainsmanyfacts.
Onthecontrary,ifitfailstoexplainasinglefact,thenitisprovedto
beincomplete.Assuch,thetheorythatcannotexplainsatisfactorily
thecauseofthemoralandspiritualnatureofmancannotbe
acceptedasacompletetheory.Thatexplanationwillbeconsidered
ascompletewhichwillexplainmostsatisfactorilyallthevarious
manifestationsoftheanimal,moralandspiritualnature.Moreover,
supposingthe"tendencytovary"hasevolvedintothemoraland
spiritualnatureofman,sciencedoesnotexplainthecauseofthat
tendencytovary,norhowanimalnaturecanbetransformedinto
moralandspiritualnature.Isthat"tendencytovary"indefinite,oris
itlimitedbyanydefinitelaw?Sciencedoesnotsayanythingabout
it.
Theexplanationofthetheologians,thatthespiritualnaturehasbeen
superaddedtotheanimalnaturebysomeextracosmicspiritual
agencyisnotscientific,nordoesitappealtoourreason.Nowletus
seewhatVedantahastosayonthispoint.Vedantaacceptsevolution
andadmitsthelawsofvariationandnaturalselection,butgoesastep
beyondmodernsciencebyexplainingthecauseofthat"tendencyto
vary."Itsays,"thereisnothingintheendwhichwasnotalsointhe
beginning."Itisalawwhichgovernstheprocessofevolutionas
wellasthelawofcausation.Ifweadmitthisgrandtruthofnature,
thenitwillnotbedifficulttoexplainbythetheoryofEvolutionthe
gradualmanifestationofthehighernatureofman.Thetendencyof
scientificmonismistowardsthatend.
Someofthemodernscientistswhoholdthemonisticpositionhave
foundoutthesametruthwhichwasdiscoveredlongagobythe
VedanticphilosophersinIndia.J.ArthurThomson,aneminent
Englishscientistofthepresentday,inhisbookon"TheStudyof
AnimalLife,"says:"Theworldisone,nottwofold,thespiritual
influxistheprimalrealityandthereisnothingintheendwhichwas
notalsointhebeginning."Buttheevolutionistsdonotacceptthis
truth.Letusunderstanditclearly.Itmeansthatthatwhichexisted
potentiallyatthetimeofthebeginningofevolutionhasgradually
manifestedinthevariousstagesandgradesofevolution.Ifweadmit
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thataunicellulargermoflifeorabioplasm,afterpassingthrough
variousstagesofevolution,hasultimatelymanifestedintheformof
ahighlydevelopedhumanbeing,thenweshallhavetoadmitthe
potentialityofallthemanifestedpowersinthatgermorbioplasm,
becausethelawis"thatwhichexistsintheendexistedalsointhe
beginning."Theanimalnature,highernature,mind,intellect,spirit,
alltheseexistpotentiallyinthegermoflife.Ifwedonotadmitthis
lawthentheproblemwillarise:Howcannonexistencebecome
existent?Howcansomethingcomeoutofnothing?Howcanthat
comeintoexistencewhichdidnotexistbefore?Eachgermoflife,
accordingtoVedanta,possessesinfinitepotentialitiesandinfinite
possibilities.Thepowersthatremainlatenthavethenatural
tendencytomanifestperfectlyandtobecomeactual.Intheirattempt
theyvaryaccordingtothesurroundingenvironments,selecting
suitableconditionsorremaininglatentaslongascircumstancesdo
notfavorthem.Thereforevariation,accordingtoVedanta,iscaused
bythisattemptofthepotentialpowerstobecomeactual.Whenlife
andmindbegantoevolve,thepossibilitiesofactionandreaction
hithertolatentinthegermoflifebecamerealandallthingsbecame,
inasense,new.Nobodycanimaginetheamountoflatentpower
whichaminutegermoflifepossessesuntilitexpressesingross
formonthephysicalplane.ByseeingtheseedofaBanyantree,one
whohasneverseenthetreecannotimaginewhatpowersliedormant
init.Whenababyisbornwecannottellwhetherhewillbeagreat
saint,orawonderfulartist,oraphilosopher,oranidiot,oravillain
oftheworsttype.Parentsknownothingabouthisfuture.Alongwith
hisgrowthcertainlatentpowersgraduallybegintomanifest.Those
whicharethestrongestandmostpowerfulwillovercomeothersand
checktheircourseforsometimebutwhenthepowersthatremain
subduedbystrongeronesgetfavorableconditionstheywillappear
inmanifestedforms.As,forinstance,chemicalforcesmayslumber
inmatterforathousandyears,butwhenthecontactwiththere
agentssetsthemfree,theyappearagainandproducecertainresults.
Forthousandsofyearsgalvanismslumberedincopperandzinc,
whichlayquietlybesidesilver.Assoonasallthreearebrought
togetherundertherequiredconditionssilverisconsumedinflame.
Adryseedofaplantmaypreservetheslumberingpowerofgrowth
throughtwoorthreethousandyearsandthenreappearunder
favorableconditions.SirG.Wilkinson,thegreatarchaeologist,
foundsomegrainsofwheatinahermeticallysealedvaseinagrave
atThebes,whichmusthavelainthereforthreethousandyears.
WhenMr.Pettigrewsowedthemtheygrewintoplants.Some
vegetablerootsfoundinthehandsofanEgyptianmummy,which
musthavebeenatleasttwothousandyearsold,wereplantedina
flowerpot,andtheygrewandflourished.Thus,wheneverthelatent
powersgetfavorableconditions,theymanifestaccordingtotheir
nature,evenafterthousandsofyears.
Similarly,therearemanyinstancesofslumberingmentalpowers.
Afterremainingdormantforalongperiodinournormalcondition,
theymay,incertainabnormalstatessuchasmadness,delirium,
catalepsy,hypnoticsleepandsoforthflashoutintoluminous
consciousnessandthrowintoabsoluteoblivionthepowersthatare
manifestinginthenormalstate.Talentsforeloquence,music,
painting,anduncommoningenuityinseveralmechanicalarts,traces
ofwhichwereneverfoundintheordinarynormalcondition,are
oftenevolvedinthestateofmadness.Somnambulistsindeepsleep
havesolvedmostdifficultmathematicalproblemsandperformed
variousactswithresultswhichhavesurprisedthemintheirnormal
wakingstates.Thuswecanunderstandthateachindividualmindis
thestorehouseofmanypowers,variousimpressionsandideas,some
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ofwhichmanifestinournormalstate,whileothersremainlatent.
Ourpresentconditionofmindandbodyisnothingbutthe
manifestedformofcertaindormantpowersthatexistinourselves.If
newpowersarerousedupandbegintomanifestthewholenature
willbechangedintoanewform.Themanifestationoflatentpowers
isatthebottomoftheevolutionofonespeciesintoanother.This
ideahasbeenexpressedinafewwordsbyPatanjali,thegreatHindu
evolutionistwholivedlongbeforetheChristianera.[Footnote:The
readeroughttoknowthatthedoctrineofEvolutionwasknownin
IndialongbeforetheChristianera.Abouttheseventhcentury,B.C.,
Kapila,thefatherofHinduEvolutionists,explainedthistheoryfor
thefirsttimethroughlogicandscience.SirMonierMonier
Williamssays:"IndeedifImaybeallowedtheanachronism,the
HinduswereSpinozitesmorethan2,000yearsbeforetheexistence
ofSpinozaandDarwiniansmanycenturiesbeforeDarwinand
EvolutionistsmanycenturiesbeforethedoctrineofEvolutionhad
beenacceptedbythescientistsofourtimeandbeforeanywordlike
Evolutionexistedinanylanguageoftheworld."(P.12,"Hinduism
andBrahminism.")Prof.Huxleysays:"TosaynothingofIndian
SagestowhomEvolutionwasafamiliarnotionagesbeforePaulof
Tarsuswasborn."(P.150,"ScienceandHebrewTradition.")]Inthe
secondaphorismofthefourthchapter(see"RajaYoga,"bySwami
Vivekananda,p.210)itissaid,"TheEvolutionintoanotherspecies
iscausedbytheinfillingofnature."Thenatureisfillednotfrom
withoutbutfromwithin.Nothingissuperaddedtotheindividual
soulfromoutside.Thegermsarealreadythere,buttheir
developmentdependsupontheircomingincontactwiththe
necessaryconditionsrequisiteforpropermanifestation.We
sometimesseeawickedmansuddenlybecomesaintlike.Thereare
instancesofmurderersandrobbersbecomingsaints.Areligionist
willexplainthecauseoftheirsuddenchange,bysayingthatthe
graceoftheAlmightyhasfallenuponthemandtransformedtheir
wholenature.ButVedantasaysthatthemoralandspiritualpowers
thatremainedlatentinthemhavebeenrousedup,andtheresultis
thesuddentransformation.Nonecantellwhenorhowthe
slumberingpowerswillwakeupandbegintomanifest.Thegermof
life,ortheindividualsoulasitisordinarilycalled,possessesinfinite
possibilities.Eachgermoflifeisstudying,asitwere,thebookofits
ownnaturebyunfoldingonepageafteranother.Whenithasgone
throughallthepages,or,inotherwords,allthestagesofevolution,
perfectknowledgeisacquired,anditscourseisfinished.Wehave
readourlowernaturebyturningeachpage,or,inotherwords,by
passingthrougheachstageofanimallifefromtheminutest
bioplasmuptothepresentstageofexistence.Nowwearestudying
thepageswhichdealwithmoralandspirituallaws.Ifanyonewants
toreadanypageoveragainhewilldoit.Justasinreadingabook,if
anybodyfeelsparticularlyinterestedinanypageorchapterhewill
readitoverandoveragainandwillnotopenanewpageoranew
chapteruntilheisperfectlysatisfiedwithit.Similarly,inreading
thebookoflife,iftheindividualsoullikesanyparticularstage,he
willstaythereuntilheisperfectlysatisfiedwithitafterthathewill
goforwardandstudyotherpages.Onemayreadveryslowly,and
anotherveryfastbutwhetherwereadslowlyorrapidlyeachoneof
usisboundtoreadthewholebookofnatureandattaintoperfection
soonerorlater.
AccordingtoVedanta,theendandaimofEvolutionisthe
attainmentofperfection.Physicalevolutionofanimallifereached
itsperfectioninhumanform.Therecannotbeanyotherformhigher
thanhumanonthisearthunderpresentconditions.Itisthe
perfectionofanimalform.Fromthiswecaninferthatthetendency
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ofthelawofEvolutionistoreachperfection.Whenitisattainedto,
thewholepurposeisserved.Doweseeinnatureanyotherhigher
formevolvedoutofthehumanbody?No.Shallwenotbejustified
ifwesaythattheendofphysicalevolutionistheattainmentofthe
perfectionofanimalform?Againasthepurposeandmethodof
naturallawsareuniformthroughouttheuniverse,theendof
intellectual,moralandspiritualevolutionwillbeattainedwhen
intellectual,moralandspiritualperfectionareacquired.Intellectual
perfectionmeansperfectionofintellectandintellectisperfect
whenweunderstandthetruenatureofthingsandnevermistakethe
unrealforthereal,matterforspirit,noneternalforeternal,orvice
versa.Moralperfectionconsistsinthedestructionofselfishnessand
spiritualperfectionisthemanifestationofthetruenatureofspirit
whichisimmortal,free,divineandonewiththeUniversalSpiritor
God.Evolutionattainstothehighestfulfilmentofitspurposewhen
thespiritmanifestsperfectly.Thetendencyofnatureistohave
perfectmanifestationofallherpowers.Whencertainpowers
predominatetheymanifestfirstwhiletheothersremaindormant.As
wefindintheprocessofevolution,whenanimalnaturemanifests
perfectlythemoralandspiritualnatureremainlatent.Againwhen
moralandspiritualnaturemanifestfully,theanimalisinabeyance.
Itisforthisreasonwedonotfindexpressionsofmoralandspiritual
natureinloweranimalsorinthosehumanbeingswholivelike
them.Manistheonlyanimalinwhomsuchperfectexpressionsof
moralandspiritualnaturearepossible.Whentheindividualsoul
beginstostudyitsspiritualnature,itsloweroranimalnatureis
graduallyeclipsed.Asthehighernaturebecomespowerfulthelower
naturedwindlesintoinsignificanceitsenergyistransformedinto
thatofthehighernature,andultimatelyitdisappearsaltogetherand
risesnomore.Thenthesoulbecomesfreefromtheloweroranimal
nature.Therearemanystagesinthehighernature,aswellasinthe
lower.Eachofthesestagesbindstheindividualsoulsolongasit
staysthere.Asitrisesonahigherplanethelowerstagesdisappear
andceasetobind.Butthemomentthatanyindividual,afterpassing
throughallthestagesofthespiritualnature,reachestheultimate
pointofperfection,herealizeshistruenaturewhichisimmortaland
divine.Thenhistrueindividualitymanifests.Forlackoftrue
knowledge,heidentifiedhimselfwitheachstagesuccessivelyand
thoughtthathisindividualitywasonewiththepowerswhichwere
manifestedineachstage.Consequentlyhethoughtbymistakethat
hewasaffectedbythechangesofeachstage.Butnowherealizes
thathisrealindividualityalwaysremainedunaffected.Heseesthat
histrueindividualityshinesalwaysinthesamemanner,althoughthe
limitingadjunctsmayvary.Asthelightofalampappearsof
differentcolors,ifitpassesthroughglassesofdifferentcolors,sothe
lightofthetrueindividualappearsasanimalorhumanwhenit
passesthroughtheanimalorhumannatureofthesubtlebody.The
subtlebodyofanindividualchangesfromanimalnaturethrough
moralandspiritualintodivine.Asthisgradualgrowthcannotbe
expectedinonelifeweshallhavetoadmitthetruthof
Reincarnation,whichteachesgradualevolutionofthegermoflife
ortheindividualsoulthroughmanylivesandvariousforms.
OtherwisethetheoryofEvolutionwillremainimperfect,
incompleteandpurposeless.ThedoctrineofReincarnationdiffers
fromtheacceptedtheoryofEvolutioninadmittingagradualbut
continuousevolutionofthesubtlebodythroughmanygrossforms.
Thegrossbodymayappearordisappear,butthesubtlebody
continuestoexistevenafterthedissolutionofthegrossbodyandre
manifestsitselfinsomeotherform.
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ThetheoryofReincarnationwhenproperlyunderstoodwillappear
asasupplementtothetheoryofEvolution.Withoutthismost
importantsupplementtheEvolutiontheorywillneverbecomplete
andperfect.Evolutionexplainstheprocessoflife,while
Reincarnationexplainsthepurposeoflife.Therefore,bothmustgo
handinhandtomaketheexplanationsatisfactoryineveryrespect.
JamesFreemanClarkesays:"Thatmanhascomeuptohispresent
stateofdevelopmentbypassingthroughlowerforms,isthepopular
doctrineofsciencetoday.WhatiscalledEvolutionteachesthatwe
havereachedourpresentstatebyaverylongandgradualascent
fromthelowestanimalorganizations.ItistruethattheDarwinian
theorytakesnonoticeoftheevolutionofthesoul,butonlyofthe
body.Butitappearstomethatacombinationofthetwoviews
wouldremovemanydifficultieswhichstillattachtothetheoryof
naturalselectionandthesurvivalofthefittest.Ifwearetobelievein
Evolutionletushavetheassistanceofthesoulitselfinthis
developmentofnewspecies.Thusscienceandphilosophywillco
operate,norwillpoetryhesitatetolendheraid."(P.190,"TenGreat
Religions,"II.)Evolutionofthebodydependsupontheevolutionof
thegermoflifeortheindividualsoul.Whenthesetwoarecombined
theexplanationbecomesperfect.
ThetheoryofReincarnationisalogicalnecessityforthe
completionofthetheoryofEvolution.Ifweadmitacontinuous
evolutionofaunitofthegermoflifethroughmanygross
manifestationsthenweunconsciouslyaccepttheteachingsofthe
doctrineofReincarnation.Inpassingthroughdifferentformsand
manifestationstheunitoflifedoesnotloseitsidentityor
individuality.Asanatomdoesnotloseitsidentityorindividuality
(ifyouallowmetosupposeanatomhasakindofindividuality)
althoughitpassesfromthemineral,throughthevegetable,intothe
animal,sothegermoflifealwayspreservesitsidentityor
individualityalthoughitpassesthroughthedifferentstagesof
evolution.
Thereforeitissaidinthe"BhagavadGt,"asinourordinarylife
theindividualsoulpassesfromababybodytoayoungoneandfrom
ayoungtoanold,andcarrieswithitalltheimpressions,ideasand
experiencethatithasgatheredinitsformerstageofexistenceand
reproducestheminpropertime,sowhenamandiestheindividual
soulpassesfromanoldbodyintoanewone,andtakeswithitthe
subtlebodywhereinarestoredupallthatitexperiencedand
gatheredduringitspastincarnations.Knowingthis,wisemenare
neverafraidofdeath.Theyknowthatdeathisnothingbutamere
changefromonebodyintoanother.Therefore,ifanyonedoesnot
succeedinconqueringthelowernaturebythehigher,hewilltry
againinhisnextincarnation,afterstartingfromthepointwhichhe
reachedinhispastlife.Hewillnotbeginagainfromthevery
beginning,butfromthelaststageatwhichhearrived.Thuswesee
thatReincarnationisthelogicalsequenceofevolution.Itcompletes
andmakesperfectthattheoryandexplainsthecauseofthemoral
andspiritualnatureofman.
IV.WhichisScientificResurrectionorReincarnation?
Thestudentsofhistoryareinterestedtoknowwheretheideaof
resurrectionfirstaroseandhowitwasadoptedbyothernations.If
wereadcarefullythewritingsascribedtoMosesandotherwritersof
theOldTestamentwefindthattheancientIsraelitesdidnotbelieve
intheChristianheavenorhell,norinrewardorpunishmentafter
death.Itisdoubtfulwhethertheyhadanyclearconceptionofthe
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existenceofsoulafterthedissolutionofthehumanbody.Theyhad
nodefiniteideaofthehereafter.Theydidnotbelieveinthe
resurrectioneitherofthesoulorbody.Joblongedfordeaththinking
thatitwouldendhismentalagony.InPsalmsweread,"WiltThou
shewwonderstothedead?ShallthedeadariseandpraiseThee?"
(Ps.lxxxviii,10.)"IndeaththereisnoremembranceofTheeinthe
gravewhoshallgiveTheethanks?"(Ps.vi,5.)Again(Ps.cxlvi,4)it
issaidaboutprincesandthesonofman,"Hisbreathgoethforth,
hereturnethtohisearth,inthatverydayhisthoughtsperish.""The
deadpraisenottheLord,neitheranythatgodownintosilence."(Ps.
cxv,17.)Solomonspeaksboldly:"Allthingscomealiketoallthere
isoneeventtotherighteousandtothewicked,tothegoodandtothe
cleanandtotheunclean...asisthegood,soisthesinner."(Eccl.ix,
2.)"Gothyway,eatthybreadwithjoy,anddrinkthywinewitha
merryheart....Livejoyfullywiththywife...forthereisnowork,nor
device,norknowledge,norwisdominthegrave,whitherthou
goest."(Eccl.ix,7,9,10.)Againinverse5itissaid:"Thedeadknow
notanything,neitherhavetheyanymoreareward,forthememory
ofthemisforgotten."Solomonsays:"Forthatwhichbefalleththe
sonsofmenbefallethbeastsevenonethingbefalleththemasthe
onedieth,sodieththeotheryea,theyhaveallonebreath,sothata
manhathnopreeminenceaboveabeast.""Allgointooneplaceall
areofthedustandallturntodustagain.""Whoknoweththespirit
ofmanthatgoethupwardandthespiritofthebeastthatgoeth
downwardtotheearth?"(Eccl.iii,1921.)Therearemanysuch
passageswhichshowclearlythatbeforetheBabyloniancaptivitythe
Israeliteshadnobeliefinrewardorpunishment,neitherinheaven
norhellnorintheresurrectionofthesoul.Somesaythattheyhada
beliefinasheolorpitwheredepartedsoulsremainedafterdeath,
butwereneverresurrected.ButwhentheancientJewswere
conqueredbythePersians,536B.C.,theycameincontactwitha
nationwhichhaddevelopedabeliefinoneGod,inaheavenanda
hell,intheresurrectionofthedead,inrewardandpunishmentafter
death,andinthelastdayofjudgment.UnderthedominionofPersia,
whoserulebeganwiththecaptureofBabylonandlastedfrom536
333B.C.,theJewsweregreatlyinfluencedbythePersianreligion.
Theygaveuptheiridolatry,graduallydevelopedsocialorganization
andhadconsiderableliberty.AboutthattimetheJewsweredivided
intotwoclasses,thePhariseesandSadducees.Thosewhoadopted
thereligiousideasoftheParseeswerecalledPharisees(accordingto
someauthoritiesthewordPhariseewastheHebrewformofParsee),
andthosewhofollowedstrictlytheJewishideas,ceremonies,rituals
andbeliefswerecalledSadducees.Theformerweresharplyopposed
tothelatterintheirdoctrinalbeliefs.Theybelievedinangelsand
spirits,theyexpectedtheresurrectionofthedeadandbelievedin
futurerewardandpunishmentandalsoinDivinepreordination.
TheSadduceesdidnotstepbeyondtheboundsofancientJudaism.
TheywereOrthodoxandveryconservativeintheirviews.They
deniedtheexistenceofangelsandspirits,theresurrectionofthe
dead,andrewardandpunishmentafterdeath.InMatt,xxii,23,we
read,"ThesamedaycametohimtheSadduceeswhichsaythatthere
isnoresurrection."TheSadduceeswerefewerinnumberthanthe
Pharisees.Graduallythelattergrewverypowerfulandafterthe
deathofJesustheirdoctrinesoftheresurrectionofthedead,andof
rewardandpunishmentafterdeath,andthebeliefinangelsand
spirits,becamethecardinalprinciplesofthenewChristiansect.
ThusweseethattheideaofresurrectionfirstaroseinPersiaand
afterwardstookaprominentplaceinthewritingsoftheNew
Testament,andsincethenithasbeenlargelyacceptedbythe
ChristiansoftheWesterncountries.TheZoroastriansbelievedthat
thesoulofthedeadhoversaboutthebodyforthreenightsanddoes
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notdepartfortheotherworlduntilthedawnafterthethirdnight.
Thentherighteousgotoheavenandthewickedtohell.Therethe
wickedremainuntilthetimeofrenovationoftheuniverse,thatis,
thejudgmentday.Aftertherenovation,whenAhrimanorSatanis
killed,thesoulsofthewickedwillbepurifiedandhaveeverlasting
progress.[Footnote:"SacredBooksoftheEast,"Vol.xvii,pp.27,
34,46.]Thequestionwasasked,"Howshalltheyproduce
resurrection?"AhuraMazdasays:"Thereplyisthis,thatthe
preparationandproductionoftheresurrectionareanachievement
connectedwithmiracle,asublimity,andafterwardsalsoawondrous
appearanceuntothecreaturesuninformed.Thesecretsandaffairsof
thepersistentCreatorarelikeeverymysteryandsecret."
[Footnote:Ibid.,p.80.]
TheZoroastriansbelievedintheresurrection,notofthephysical
body,butofthesoul,andthatitwasanactofmiracle.Similarly
miraculouswastheresurrectionofJesus.AlthoughJesusHimself
nevermentionedwhatkindofresurrection,whetherofbodyorof
soulthatHemeantandbelievedin,theinterpretationofthewriters
oftheGospelsshowsthatHisdisciplesunderstoodHimtomean
bodilyresurrectionandthereappearanceofHisphysicalform.
Thethreedaysremained,justastheZoroastriansbelieved.The
miraculousandwondrousappearanceofJesusbeforeHisdisciples
waspreachedmostvigorouslybyPaul.InhisEpistletothe
Corinthians,Pauldeclaresemphaticallythatthewholeofthe
Christianreligiondependsuponthemiraculousresurrectionand
reappearanceofJesus.AlthoughPaulsaidthespiritualbodyofthe
risendeadisnotthesameasfleshandbloodbody(ICor.,XV),still
thatimportantpointisgenerallyoverlooked,andtheresultisthe
beliefwhichwefindamongstsomeoftheChristiansectsthatat
thecalloftheangels,thebodywillrisefromthegraveandthe
moulderingdustofbonesandfleshwillbeputtogetherbythe
miraculouspoweroftheAlmightyGod.Paulsays:"Butnowis
Christrisenfromthedead,andbecomethefirstfruitsofthemthat
slept"(ICor.,XV,20).HepreachedthatChristwasthefirstborn
fromthedead,thatthosewhobelieveinChristwouldriseasHedid
andthatthosewhowouldnotbelieveinHimorinHisresurrection
shouldnotrise.
WehavealreadynoticedthattheParseesbelievedinamiraculous
resurrectionthatthesamemiraclebecamemoredefiniteinthe
caseofJesusandthattheChristianfaithwasafterwardsfounded
uponthatmiraculousevent.BoththeParseesandthefollowersof
Christdidnotmeanbyresurrectionanyuniversallaw,buta
miracledonebycertainsupernaturalpowers.Theydidnotgiveany
scientificreasonsforsuchamiracle.
Butmodernsciencedeniesmiracles.Itteachesthatthisuniverseis
guided,notbymiraclesastheoldthinkersusedtobelieve,butby
definitelawswhicharealwaysconsistentanduniversal.There
cannotbeanyexceptiontothoselawswhichareuniform
throughout.Ifresurrectionbeoneofthoselaws,thenitmusthave
existedbeforethebirthofJesusassuch,howcouldHebethefirst
bornfromthedead,asdescribedbyPaul.Conversely,ifJesuswas
thefirstwhorosefromthedead,thenresurrectioncannotbea
universallaw.Scientistswouldnotbelieveinanythingwhichisnot
baseduponuniversallaws.Someoftheagnosticsandmaterialists
havegonesofarastosaythatJesusdidnotdieonthecross,buthis
animationwassuspendedwhenhisbodywastakendownfromthe
crossbyJosephofArimathsea.WhenJosephwenttoPilateand
cravedthebodyofJesus,PilatemarvelledifHeweredead(Mark
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XV,44),becauseitwasonlysixhoursafterthecrucifixion.Someof
themodernphysiologistsareofopinionthattemperateandstrong
menmightliveforseveraldaysonthecross.Theseheretical
agnosticsandskepticalscientistssaythatthebodyofJesusrevived
afterafewhoursinthecool,rockcuttomb,thathewalkedoutof
thetomb,wenttoGalileeandappearedbeforehisdisciples.
[Footnote:Vide"ScienceandChristianTradition,"byProf.Huxley,
pp.279280.]Whateverthefactsmaybe(nobodycannowtell
exactlywhatactuallyhappened),itisclearthatthescientistsarenot
readytotakeanythinguponauthority.Theydonotcaretobelievein
anythingbecauseitiswritteninthisbookorthat.Theymusthave
convincingproofsandarationalexplanationofeveryphenomenon
ofnature.Theywanttopenetrateintomiraclesinordertodiscover
theuniversallawsthatgovernthem.Iftheydonotfindanysuch
laws,theywillsurelyrejecteveryeventthatissupposedtobecaused
bymiraculousorsupernaturalpowers.
Thetheoryofamiraculousresurrectionisattendedwiththebelief
thattheindividualsouldoesnotexistbeforebirth.Thesupportersof
thistheoryholdthatatthetimeofbirth,theindividual,being
createdoutofnothing,comesfreshintoexistence.Butsciencetells
usthatsuddencreationoutofnothingandatotaldestructionof
anythingarebothimpossible.Matterandforceareindestructible.
Scienceteachesevolutionandnotcreation,anddeniesthe
interventionofanysupernaturalbeingasthecauseofphenomenal
changes.ThetheoryofResurrectionignoresalltheseultimate
conclusionsofmodernscience.Onthecontrary,thedoctrineof
Reincarnation,afteracceptingallthetruthsandlawsofnaturethat
havebeendiscoveredbymodernscience,carriesthemtotheir
properlogicalconclusions.Reincarnationisbaseduponevolution.It
meansacontinuousevolutionofanindividualgermoflife,anda
gradualremanifestationofallthepowersandforcesthatexistinit
potentially.Moreover,thedoctrineofReincarnationisfoundedon
thelawofcauseandeffect.Itteachesthatthecauseisnotoutsideof
theeffect,butliesintheeffect.Thecauseisthepotentialor
unmanifestedstateoftheeffect,andeffectistheactualor
manifestedcause.Thereisonecurrentofinfiniteforceorpower
constantlyflowingintheoceanofrealityoftheuniverse,and
appearingintheinnumerableformsofwaves.Wecallonesetof
wavesthecauseofanotherset,butinfactthatwhichisthecauseis
thepotentialityofthefutureeffectandtheactualityofaprevious
potentialcause.Theunderlyingcurrentisoneandthesame
throughout.Reincarnationdeniestheideathatthesoulhascomeinto
existenceallofasuddenorhasbeencreatedforthefirsttime,butit
holdsthatithasbeenexistingfromthebeginninglesspast,andwill
existallthrougheternity.Theindividualsoulenjoysorsuffers
accordingtotheactsitperforms.Allenjoymentandsufferingare
butthereactionsofouractions.Actionsarethecausesandthe
reactionsaretheresults.Ourpresentlifeistheresultofourpast
actions,andourfuturewillbetheresultofthepresent.Theactions
whichwearenowdoingwillnotbelost.Doyouthinkthatthe
thoughtforcesofonelifetimewillendsuddenlyafterdeath?No.
Theywillbeconservedandremainpotentiallyinthecenterandre
manifestundersuitableconditions.Eachhumansoulisnothingbuta
centerofthoughtforce.ThiscenteriscalledinSanskritSkshma
Sarraorthesubtlebodyofanindividual.Thesubtlegermoflifeor,
inotherwords,theinvisiblecenterofthoughtforces,will
manufactureaphysicalvehicleforexpressingthelatentpowersthat
arereadyformanifestation.Thisprocesswillcontinueuntilthe
germcanexpressmostperfectlyallthepowersthatarecoiledupin
itsinvisibleform.AsthedoctrineofReincarnationisinagreement
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withallthephysicallaws,soitisbaseduponpsychical,moraland
ethicallaws.Asontheobjectiveplanethelawofactionandreaction
governstheobjectivephenomena,soonthesubjectiveplaneof
consciousness,ifthementalactionorthoughtbegood,thereaction
willbegood,andthereactionwillbeevilifthementalactionbe
evil,becauseeveryactionproducesasimilarreaction,Agood
reactionisonewhichmakesushappyandbringspleasantsensations
orpeaceofmind,whileanevilreactionbringssuffering,unpleasant
sensations,andmakesonemiserable.ThusReincarnationmakesus
freeagentsforaction,aswellasforreapingtheresultsorreactions
ofthoseactions.Infact,wemouldourownnature,accordingtoour
desires,tendenciesandworks.
ThetheoryofResurrection,ascommonlyunderstood,doesnot
explainwhyonemanisbornwithasinfulnatureandanotherwitha
virtuousone.ItcontentsitselfwithsayingasLuthersaid:"Manisa
beastofburdenwhoonlymovesashisriderorderssometimesGod
rideshimandsometimesSatan."ButwhyGodshouldallowSatanto
rideHisowncreaturenobodycantell.Atanyrate,manmustsuffer
eternallyforthecrimeswhichheisforcedbySatantocommit.
Moreoverthistheorypresupposespredestinationandthatthe
individualsoulisforedoomedtogoeithertoheavenortohell.St.
AugustinefirststartedthisdoctrineofPredestinationandGraceto
explainwhyoneisbornsinfulandanothersinless.Accordingtothis
theory,God,themerciful,favorssomebodywithHisgraceatthe
timeofhisbirthandthenhecomesintothisworldreadytobesaved,
butthemassofhumanityisbornsinfulanddestinedforeternal
damnation.Veryfewindeedreceivethegiftofgraceandare
predestinedtobesaved.Moreover,thisdoctrinetellsusthatGod
createsmanoutofnothing,forbidshimsomething,butatthesame
timeHedoesnotgivehimthepowertoobeyHiscommands.
UltimatelyGodpunisheshimwitheternaltortureonaccountofhis
weakness.Thebodyandsoulwillnotbeseparated.Hewillnotbeset
freefromhisbody,because,ifitbeso,therewillbetheendofhis
suffering,whichGoddoesnotlike.Allthesesufferingsand
punishmentsarepredestinedbeforehisbirth.Thus,St.Augustine's
dogmaofPredestinationandGraceinsteadofexplainingthe
difficultysatisfactorilybringshorroranddreadtohumanminds,
whilethedoctrineofReincarnationteachesgradualprogressfrom
lowertohigher,throughagesuntiltheindividualreachesperfection.
ItholdsthateachindividualwillbecomeperfectlikeJesusor
BuddhaorliketheFatherinheavenandmanifestdivinityeitherin
thislifeorinsomeother.Onespanoflifeistooshortfordeveloping
one'spowerstoperfection.Ifyoushouldtrytotrainanidiotto
becomeagreatartistoraphilosopher,wouldyoueversucceedin
yourattempttomakehimsoduringhislifetime?No.Andwillyou
punishhimbecausehecannotbecomeso?Canamanwhopossesses
theslightestcommonsensebesounreasonable?Similarlywhat
wouldyouthinkifGodpunishesamanbecausehecannotbecome
perfectwithinalifetime?ItisapoorargumenttosaythatGodhas
givenusfreewilltochoosebetweenrightandwrong,andweare
responsibleforourchoiceifwechoosewronglywemustbe
punished.Theadvocatesofsuchanargumentforgetthatatthesame
timeGodhasletlooseHispowerfulSatantocorruptHiscreatures.
Itremindsmeofanoldstory.Onceonatimeatacertainplacea
prisonerwasreleasedandsetfreethroughthekindnessofatyrant.
Thetyrantsaidtotheprisoner"Lookhere,wickedman,Igiveyou
freedom,youcangotoanyplacebutthereisoneconditionif
youareattackedbyanywildanimalyouwillbeputinthe
dungeonandtherewillbenoendtoyourtorture."Sosayinghe
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gavehimfreedom,butatthesametimeorderedhisservantstolet
looseahungrywolftochasetheman.Youcanimaginewhat
becameoftheprisoner.Canwecallthisanactofmercy!
ThedoctrineofReincarnationsaysthateachindividualsoulis
potentiallyperfectandisgraduallyunfoldingitspowersand
makingthemactualthroughtheprocessofEvolution.Ateverystep
ofthatprocessitisgainingdifferentexperienceswhichlastonly
foratime.ThereforeneitherGodnorSatanisresponsibleforour
goodorevilactions.Goodandevilareliketheupanddownorthe
crestandhollowofawaveinthesea.Awavecannotrisewithout
makingahollowsomewhereinthesea.Sointheinfiniteoceanof
realityinnumerablewavesareconstantlyrising.Thesummitof
eachwaveiscalledgood,whilethehollowbesideitisevilor
miseryandthecurrentofeachindividuallifeisconstantlyflowing
towardstheultimatedestinationwhichwecallperfection.Whocan
tellhowlongitwilltaketoreachthatgoal?Ifanybodycanattainto
perfectioninthislife,heisnolongerboundtoreincarnate.Ifhe
failshewillcontinuetoprogressbytakingsomeotherbody.
Reincarnationdoesnotteach,asmanypeoplethink,thatinthenext
incarnationonewillbeginfromtheverybeginning,butitsaysthat
onewillstartfromthatpointwhichonereachesbeforedeathand
willkeepthethreadofprogressunbroken.Itdoesnotteachthatwe
gobacktoanimalbodiesafterdeath,butthatwegetourbodies
accordingtoourdesires,tendenciesandpowers.Ifanypersonhas
nodesiretocomebacktothisworldortoanyotheranddoesnot
wanttoenjoyanyparticularobjectofpleasure,andifheis
perfectlyfreefromselfishnessthatpersonwillnothavetocome
back.ThetheoryofReincarnationislogicalandsatisfactory.While
thetheoryofResurrectionisneitherbasedonscientifictruthsnor
canitlogicallyexplainthecauseoflifeanddeath,Reincarnation
solvesalltheproblemsoflifeandexplainsscientificallyallthe
questionsanddoubtsthatariseinthehumanmind.
"Reincarnationisnoteasilyunderstoodbyathoughtlesschild
deludedbythedelusionofwealth,nameorfame.Everything
endswithdeath,hethinks,andthusfallsagainandagainunder
theswayofdeath."
V.TheoryofTransmigration.
Thetheoryoftransmigrationisoneoftheoldesttheoriesaccepted
bythepeopleoftheOrienttosolvetheproblemsconcerninglifeand
deathaswellastoexplainthecontinuityofexistenceafterdeath.
Thistheorypresupposestheexistenceofthesoulasanentitywhich
canliveevenwhenthegrossmaterialbodyisdeadordissolvedinto
itselements.Thosewhodenytheexistenceofthesoul,oftheself
consciousthinkerandactor,asanentitydistinctfromthegross
materialbody,necessarilydenythistheoryoftransmigration.The
materialisticthinkersofallageshaverefusedtoacceptthistheory,
becausetheydonotadmittheexistenceofasouloraselfconscious
thinkerandactorasanentity,separatefromthegrossmaterialbody.
Consequentlytheydonotaskordiscusswhetherthesoulwillexist
afterdeathornot,whetheritwillcontinuetoliveornot.Such
materialistsarenotthecreaturesofthetwentiethcentury,butthey
havelivedinallages,inallcountries.InIndiaandinothercivilized
countriesofancienttimesyouwillfindthatmaterialisticthinkers
prevailedandtheygavethesameargumentswhichwehearnow
fromtheagnosticsandscientistsoftoday.Theirargumentsare
generallyonesidedandunsatisfactory.Theytrytodeducethesoul
orselfconsciousentityfromthecombinationofmatterormaterial
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forces,buttheyhavenotsucceededingivingascientificproofofit.
Noargumentsinfavoroftheexistenceofasoulasanentitywill
convincethem,becausetheydenytheexistenceofanythingthat
cannotbeperceivedbysensepowers.Ifwecouldbringthesoul
downonthesenseplaneandmakeitvisibletothesematerialistic
thinkers,andiftheycouldmakeexperimentsuponit,thenperhaps
theywouldbeconvincedtoacertainextent,butnotuntilthen.But
howcanwebringthesouldownonthesenseplanewhenitis
etherealandfinerthananythingthatwecanperceivewithour
senses?
Thosewhotrytoexplainthecauseofourearthlylifebythe
theoryofhereditydonotbelieveinthetruthoftransmigration.
Themodernscientists,agnosticsandmaterialistsgenerallyaccept
thetheoryofheredityandendeavortoexplaineverythingbyit
butifweexaminetheirargumentsforthetheoryofheredity,we
shallfindthatthetheoryoftransmigrationismuchmore
satisfactory,muchmorerationalthanthatofheredity.
Amongthefollowersofthegreatreligionsoftheworld,the
majorityofChristians,Jews,MohammedansandParseesdenythe
truthoftransmigration.Ofcourse,therewasatimewhenthe
Christiansbelievedinthistransmigrationtheory.Origenandother
ChurchFathersacceptedituntilthetimeofJustinian,who
anathematizedallthosewhobelievedinReincarnationorthepre
existenceofthesoul.AmongtheJewswefindthatintheCabalathis
ideaoftransmigrationplaysthemostimportantpart.Infactthe
Cabalistsacceptedthistheorytoexplainallthedifficultiesthat
couldnotbeexplainedbyanyothertheory.ButthoseJews,
Christians,MohammedansandParseeswhodonotbelieveinthe
theoryoftransmigrationaccepttheonebirththeorythatis,that
Godcreatesthesoulsatthetimeofbirthoutofnothing,andthese
souls,havingcomeintoexistenceoutofnothing,continuetolive
foreverthatthisisourfirstandlastbirththatwereceivewedidnot
existbefore,wearesuddenlycreatedbyGod,andafterdeatheach
oneofuswillcontinuetoliveeitherinheavenorhelltoenjoyorto
sufferthroughouteternity.AmongthemodernSpiritualistswefind
thatthosewhoarebornandbroughtupwiththisideaofonebirthdo
notacceptthetheoryoftransmigration.Stilltherearemillionsand
millionsofpeopleallovertheworldwhodobelievein
transmigrationandwhohavefoundcomfortandconsolationintheir
livesaswellasasatisfactorysolutionoftheproblemsoflifeand
death.
ThetheoryofTransmigration,orMetempsychosis,asithasbeen
calledbymanyphilosophers,originallymeantthepassingofasoul
fromonebodyafterdeathintoanotheror,inotherwords,itmeant
thatthesoulafterdwellinginoneparticularbodyforacertain
lengthoftimeleavesitatthetimeofdeath,andinordertogain
experienceentersintosomeotherbody,eitherhuman,animalor
angelic,whichisreadytoreceiveit.Itmaymigratefromthehuman
bodytoanangelicbodyandthencomedownonthehumanplane,or
totheanimalplaneandbebornagainasananimal.Sotheoriginal
meaningoftransmigrationor
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selvaraj/Desktop/Library/Reincarnation.html(17of20)2/25/2007
8:23:43PM
metempsychosiswastherevolutionofthesoulfrombodyto
bodywhetheranimal,human,angelicorofthegods.The
migratingsubstancebeingafixedquantity,withfixedqualities,
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choosesitsformaccordingtoitstaste,desireandbentof
character.ThisideaprevailedamongtheancientEgyptians,
accordingtowhomthesoul,afterleavingthedeadbody,would
travelfromonebodytoanotherforthousandsandthousandsof
yearsinordertogainexperiencesineachofthedifferentstages
oflife.
AmongtheGreekphilosopherswefindthatPythagoras,Platoand
theirfollowersbelievedinthistheoryofMetempsychosisor
Transmigrationofsouls.Pythagorassays:"Afterdeaththerational
mind,havingbeenfreedfromthechainsofthebody,assumesan
etherealvehicleandpassesintotheregionofthedeadwhereit
remainstillitissentbacktothisworldtoinhabitsomeotherbody
humanoranimal.Afterundergoingsuccessivepurgations,whenitis
sufficientlypurified,itisreceivedamongthegodsandreturnstothe
eternalsourcefromwhichitfirstproceeded."Platoalsobelievedin
thistheory.Ofcoursewecannottellexactlyfromwhence
PythagorasandPlatogottheseideas.Somesaythattheylearned
thesedoctrinesfromEgyptothersbelievedthat,eitherdirectlyor
indirectly,theylearnedthetheoryoftransmigrationfromIndia.
Platodescribesin"Phaedrus,"inmythologicallanguage,whyand
howthesoulstaketheirbirthuponthisplane,eitherashumanor
animal.Hesays:"IntheheavenZeus,theFatherandLordofall
creatures,driveshiswingedcar,orderingallthingsand
superintendingthem.Ahostofdeitiesandspiritsfollowhim,each
fulfillinghisownfunction.Whoeverwillandcanfollowsthem.
Aftertakingthisround,theyadvancebyasteepcoursealongthe
innercircumferenceoftheheavenlyvaultandproceedtoabanquet.
Thechariotsofthegods,beingwellbalancedandwelldriven,
advanceeasilyotherswithdifficultyforthevicioushorse,unless
thecharioteerhasthoroughlybrokenhim,weighsdownthecarby
hisproclivitytowardstheearth,whereuponthesoulisputtothe
extremityoftoilandeffort.Thesoulsofgodsreachthesummit,go
outsideandstanduponthesurfaceofheaven,andenjoycelestial
bliss.SuchisthelifeofthegodsothersoulswhichfollowGodbest
andarelikesttoHimsucceedinseeingthevisionoftruthandin
enteringintotheouterworldwithgreatdifficulty.Therestofthe
soulslongingaftertheupperworldallfollowbutnotbeingstrong
enough,theyarecarriedroundinthedeepbelow,plunging,treading
ononeanother,strivingtobefirst,andthere,inconfusionand
extremityofeffort,manyofthemarelamedandhavetheirwings
broken.Thuswhenthesoulisunabletofollowandfailstobehold
thevisionofTruth,sinksbeneaththedoubleloadofforgetfulness
andvice,herfeathersfallfromherandshedropstoearthandisborn
againandagainashumanbeingsorasanimals."Platosays:"Ten
thousandyearsmustelapsebeforethesoulcanreturntotheplace
fromwhenceshecame,forshecannotgrowherwingsinless.""At
theendofthefirstthousandyears,thesoulsofthegoodandofthe
evilkindcometogethertodrawlots,andchoosetheirbodies
accordingtotheirtendenciesandthebentoftheircharacters.They
maytakeanytheylike.Insteadofreceivingthenatural
consequencesoftheirdeedsandmisdeedsoftheirpreviouslives
theyareallowedtochoosetheirownlot,accordingtotheir
experienceandbentofcharacter.Some,beingdisgustedwith
mankind,prefertobebornasanimals,suchaslionsandeaglesor
someotheranimals.Othersdelightintryingtheirluckashuman
beings."FromthismythologicaldescriptionwegatherwhatPlato
meantbytransmigration.
ThisPlatonicideaoftransmigrationorofsuccessivelivesofthose
whoinhabitthisearthhasbeencriticizedbyvariousthinkersof
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moderntimesandreferringtothisideathelateDoctorMyers,of
thePsychicalResearchSocietyofLondon,writesinhissecond
volumeof"HumanPersonality":"Thesimplefactthatsuchwas
probablytheopinionofbothPlatoandVirgilshowsthatthereis
nothingherewhichisalientothebestreasonortothehighest
instinctsofmen.Nor,indeed,isiteasytorealizeanytheoryof
thedirectcreationofspiritsatsuchdifferentstagesofadvancement
asthosewhichenterupontheearthintheguiseofmortalman.
Theremust,onefeels,besomekindofcontinuitysomeformof
spiritualpast."(P.134.)WhydoesHenotcreateallsoulsequal?
Whywillonesoulbehighlyadvancedspirituallywhileanotheris
entirelyignorantandidiotic?Thisquestioncannotbeanswered,this
problemcannotbesolvedbythespecialcreationtheory,and
thereforeDoctorMyerssaysthatthereisnodoubtthattherewas
somepreviouscontinuityorspiritualpastofeachindividualsoul,
andthereforehetacitlyadmitsthetheoryofTransmigration.
Althoughfromascientificviewpointhecouldnotgiveanydirect
proofregardingthisideaofapreexistenceofthesoul,stillhecould
notdenyitentirelywhenhesaid:"Theshapingforceswhichhave
madeourbodiesandourmindswhattheyaremayalwayshavebeen
psychicalforcesfromthefirstlivingslimespecktothecomplex
intelligencesoftoday.""Theoldtransmigrationist'sviewwould
thuspossessashareoftruthandtheactualmanwouldbethe
resultantnotonlyofinterminglinghereditiesonfather'sand
mother'ssides,butofinterminglingheredities,oneofplanetaryand
oneofcosmicscope."("HumanPersonality,"Vol.II,p.267.)
ButthistheoryofTransmigration,asdescribedbyPlato,isalittle
differentfromasimilartheorywhichexistedinIndiabeforehis
time.InthePlatonicideaoftransmigration,aswehavealreadyseen,
thesoulswereallowedtochoosetheirownlotaccordingtotheir
experienceorbentofcharacter,butnottoreceivethenatural
consequenceoftheirdeedsandmisdeeds.Platodidnotsayanything
aboutthelawwhichgovernssoulsbutinancientIndiathegreat
thinkersandphilosophersexplainedthateachindividualsoulis
boundbytheinexorablelawofnaturetoreceiveitsbodyasanatural
consequenceofitsformerdeedsandmisdeeds,andnottohavefree
choiceofitslotaccordingtoitsbentofcharacter.Thegreatthinkers
andphilosophersofancientIndiadiscoveredtheuniversallawof
causeandeffect,ofactionandreaction,andcalleditbytheSanskrit
term"Karma,"whichmeansthelawofcauseandsequencethat
everycausemustbefollowedbyaneffectofasimilarnature,that
everyactionmustproducesimilarreaction,andconverselyevery
reactionoreffectistheresultofanactionorcauseofasimilar
character.Thusthereisalwaysabalanceandharmonybetween
causeandeffect,betweenactionandreaction.ThislawofKarmahas
nowbecomeafundamentalverityofmodernscience.Itiscalledby
differentnames:thescientistscallitthelawofcausation,thelawof
compensation,thelawofretribution,thelawofactionandreaction,
buttheyallrefertothesameidea,thateverycausemustproducea
similarresultandeveryactionmustproduceasimilarreaction.
NowtheseancientthinkersofIndiaappliedthislawofKarmato
explainthedestinyofhumansouls,anditwasuponthislawthey
basedthetheoryofTransmigration.Theymaintainedthathuman
soulsareboundbythisirresistiblelawandcannotgetoutofittheir
thoughtsanddeedsarethecauseswhichproduceresultsofsimilar
nature.Sotheirfuturebirthdoesnotdependupontheirwhimsical,
freechoice,butitislimitedbythethoughtsanddeedsormisdeeds
oftheirpreviouslives.InthePlatonicideawefindthatthesoulsgo
accordingtotheirchoice.Theymaynottakeahumanformifthey
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preferananimalform,butintheHinduideaoftransmigrationwe
findthatitisnotaresultoffreechoice,but,ifourthoughtsand
deedsforceustotakeaparticularform,thenwearesubjecttothe
lawofKarma,whichgovernsourfuturebirthandtheevolutionof
oursouls.ConsequentlytheHindutheoryofTransmigrationdiffers
fundamentallyfromthePlatonicaswellasfromtheEgyptianidea
ofTransmigration.InthePlatonicandEgyptiantheoriesweseethat
thesouls,afterleavingthebody,enterintoanotherbodywhichis
waitingtoreceivethemigratingsoul,butintheHindutheoryof
Transmigrationthebodyisnotwaitingtoreceivethemigratingsoul,
butonthecontrarythesoul,beingsubjecttothelawsofevolution,
manufacturesthegrossmaterialbodyaccordingtoitsdesiresand
tendencies.Justasagermoflifewilldevelopagrosserformby
cellularsubdivision,bygrowth,andbyassimilationofthe
environmentalconditions,sothegermofthehumansoulwill
manufacturethebodybyobeyingthelawswhichgovernthe
physicalplane.Parentsarenothingbutthechannelsthroughwhich
themigratingsoulsreceivetheirmaterialforms.Parentsdonot
createthesoulstheyhavenopowertocreate.Theycanonlygive
thesuitableenvironmentsnecessaryformanufacturingagross
physicalbody.Thesoulscomewiththeirtendencies,withtheir
desires,andtheyremainasgermsoflife.
Nowthesegermsoflifecontainvitalforces,sensepowers,psychic
powers,andetherealparticlesofmatter.Atthetimeofdeaththesoul
contractsandwithdrawsallitspowersfromthesenseorganstoits
innermostcenter,andinthatcontractedstateitleavesthebody.But
thesepowersdonotleavethesoul.Bythelawofpersistenceofforce
andconservationofenergytheyremainlatentinthatcenteruntil
environmentalconditionsbecomefavorablefortheir
remanifestation.Rebirthmeansthemanifestationofthelatent
powerswhichexistinthegermoflifeorintheindividualsoul.
Thesegermsoflifearecalledbydifferentnames.Leibnitzcalled
themmonadsandmodernscientistscallthembioplasmsorsome
suchname,buttheVedantaphilosophersdescribethemassubtle
bodies.Thesegermsorsubtlebodiesaresubjecttoevolutionand
growththeyarisefromlowertohigherstagesofdevelopment,from
themineralthroughthevegetabletotheanimalkingdomand
eventuallytheybecomehumanbeingsandthentheygoon
progressing.
InthePlatonictheorytheideaofprogress,growthorgradual
evolutionofthesoulfromthelowertohigherstagesofexistenceis
entirelyexcluded,because,asIhavealreadysaid,themigrating
substanceisofafixedquantitywithfixedqualities,thatis,these
qualitiesdonotchangeandarenotaffectedbyeithergrowthor
evolution.Theyareconstantquantities.Inordertodifferentiate
thesetwoideasweshouldcalltheHindutheoryofTransmigration
bytheterm"Reincarnation."TheHinduorVedantictheoryof
Reincarnation,however,isnotthesameastheBuddhistictheoryof
Rebirth,fortheBuddhistsdonotbelieveinthepermanenceofthe
soulentity.ThereisanotherpointwheretheReincarnationtheory
differsfromPlatonictransmigration.Accordingtothistheoryof
Reincarnationthereisgrowthandevolutionofeachindividualsoul
fromthelowertohigherstagesofdevelopment.Thesoulorgermof
life,afterpassingthroughthelowerstages,comestothehuman
planeandgainsexperienceandknowledgeandaftercomingtothe
humanplane,itdoesnotretrogradetoanimalbodies.ThePlatonic
theoryteachesthathumansoulsmigrateintoanimalbodiesor
angelicbodiesandreturnfromtheangelictothehumanorthe
animal,andthatsomeofthemprefertobecomeanimalswhilethe
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theoryofReincarnation,takingitsstanduponthescientifictruthof
gradualevolution,teachesthatthehumansoulshavealreadypassed
throughdifferentgradesoftheanimal,nay,ofthevegetable
kingdom,bythenaturalprocessofevolution.Afterhavingonce
receivedthehumanorganism,whyshouldasoulchoosetogoback
tothelesserandmoreimperfectorganismofananimal?Howisit
possibleforalessermanifestationtoholdagreaterone?Whyshould
agreatermanifestationchoosemorelimitedformsinpreferenceto
thoseofothers?ThisquestionarisesinthePlatonictheoryof
Transmigration.Therefore,theReincarnationtheory,orthetheory
ofTransmigrationaccordingtotheHindus,rejectsthisideaofthe
goingbackofhumansoulstoanimalforms.Wehavealreadypassed
intheevolutionaryprocessthroughthelowergradeofanimal
organisms.Nowthatwehaveoutgrownthemwhyshouldwego
backtothem?
Itistrue,however,thatinIndiatherearemanyuneducatedpeople
amongtheHinduswhobelievethathumansoulsdomigrateinto
animalbodiesafterdeathtogainexperienceandreaptheresultsof
theirwickeddeeds,beingboundbythelawofKarmabutinthe
PlatonictheorythelawofKarmaplaysnopartinthetransmigration
ofsouls.TheeducatedandthoughtfulmindsofIndia,however,
acceptthemorerationalandscientifictheoryofReincarnation.
AlthoughtherearepassagesinthescripturalwritingsoftheHindus
whichapparentlyrefertotheretrogressionofthehumansoulinto
animalnature,stillsuchpassagesdonotnecessarilymeanthatthe
soulswillbeobligedtotakeanimalbodies.Theymaylivelike
animalsevenwhentheyhavehumanbodies,aswemayfindamong
usmanypeoplelikecatsanddogsandsnakesinhumanformand
theyareoftenmoreviciousthannaturalcats,dogsorsnakes.They
arereapingtheirownKarmaandmanifestingtheiranimalnature,
thoughphysicallytheylooklikehumanbeings.Thiskindof
retrogressionispossibleforonewhoafterreachingthehumanplane
goesbackwardonaccountofwickedthoughtsanddeedsonthe
animalplane.Suchatemporaryretrogressionbringsknowledgeand
helpsitinitsonwardprogresstowardthemanifestationofhigher
powersonthehigherplaneofconsciousness.Allthewicked
thoughtsandwickeddeedsarenothingbuttheresultsofourown
mistakes.Whatissin?Sinisnothingbutamistakeanditproceeds
fromignorance.Forinstance,ifIdonotknowthatfireburns,Imay
putmyfingerintoitandgetburned.Theresultofthismistakeisthe
burningofthefingerandthishastaughtmeonceforallthatfire
burnsIshallneveragainputmyfingerintofire.Soeverymistakeis
agreatteacherinthelongrun.Nooneisbornsohighandperfectas
nottocommitanymistakeoranysin.Everymistakelikethisopens
oureyestothelawsoftheuniversebybringingtoussuchresultsas
wedonotdesire.Asonelifeisnotenoughtogainexperienceinall
thestagesofevolution,wemusthavetoadmitthedoctrineofthe
Reincarnationofthesoulforthefulfillmentoftheultimatepurpose
ofearthlylife.ProfessorHuxleysays:"Nonebuthastythinkerswill
rejectitonthegroundofinherentabsurdity.Likethedoctrineof
evolutionitselfthatoftransmigrationhasitsrootsintheworldof
reality."
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12/7/2016

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