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Five Lectures on Reincarnation By: Swami Abhedananda (1866-1939) |
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FIVE LECTURES ON REINCARNATION BY SWAMI ABHEDANANDA Author of "India and her People", "Self Knowledge", "How to be a
Yogi", "Divine Heritage of Man", etc.
CONTENTS
I. REINCARNATION II. HEREDITY AND REINCARNATION III. EVOLUTION AND REINCARNATION IV. WHICH IS SCIENTIFIC, RESURRECTION OR REINCARNATION? V. THEORY OF TRANSMIGRATION
I. REINCARNATION
The visible phenomena of the universe are bound by the universal law
of cause and effect. The effect is visible or perceptible, while the
cause is invisible or imperceptible. The falling of an apple from a
tree is the effect of a certain invisible force called gravitation.
Although the force cannot be perceived by the senses, its expression
is visible. All perceptible phenomena are but the various expressions
of different forces which act as invisible agents upon the subtle and
imperceptible forms of matter. These invisible agents or forces
together with the imperceptible particles of matter make up the subtle
states of the phenomenal universe. When a subtle force becomes
objectified, it appears as a gross object. Therefore, we can say,
that every gross form is an expression of some subtle force acting
upon the subtle particles of matter. The minute particles of hydrogen
and oxygen when combined by chemical force, appear in the gross form
of water. Water can never be separated from hydrogen and oxygen, which
are its subtle component parts. Its existence depends upon that of its
component parts, or in other words, upon its subtle form. If the
subtle state changes, the gross manifestation will also change. The
peculiarity in the gross form of a plant depends upon the peculiar
nature of its subtle form, the seed. The peculiar nature of the gross
forms in the animal kingdom depends upon the subtle forms which
manifest variously in each of the intermediate stages between the
microscopic unit of living matter and the highest man. The gross human
body is closely related to its subtle body. Not only this, but every
movement or change in the physical form is caused by the activity and
change of the subtle body. If the subtle body be affected or changed a
little, the gross body will also be affected similarly. The material
body being the expression of the subtle body, its birth, growth, decay
and death depend upon the changes of the subtle body. As long as the
subtle body remains, it will continue to express itself in a
corresponding gross form. Now let us understand clearly what we mean by a subtle body. It is
nothing but a minute germ of a living substance. It contains the
invisible particles of matter which are held together by vital force,
and it also possesses mind or thought force in a potential state, just
as the seed of a plant contains in it the life force and the power of
growth. According to Vedanta, the subtle body consists of
Antahkaranam , that is, the internal organ or the mind substance
with its various modifications, mind, intellect, egoism, memory, the
five instruments of perception: the powers of seeing, hearing,
smelling, tasting and touching; the five instruments of action, such
as the powers of seizing, moving, speaking, evacuating, and
generating, and the five Prânas. Prâna is a Sanskrit word which
means vital energy or the life sustaining power in us. Although
Prâna is one, it takes five different names on account of the
five different functions it performs. This word Prâna includes
the five manifestations of the vital force: First, that power which
moves the lungs and draws the atmospheric air from outside into the
system. This is also called Prâna . Second, that power which
throws out of the system such things as are not wanted. It is called
in Sanskrit Apâna . Third, it takes the name of Samâna ,
as performing digestive functions and carrying the extract of food to
every part of the body. It is called Udâna when it is the cause
of bringing down food from the mouth through the alimentary canal to
the stomach, and also when it is the cause of the power of speech... Continue reading book >>
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Philosophy |
Religion |
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