Download CU Hindu Cultural Society Information Sheet

CU Hindu Cultural Society
Information Sheet
Reincarnation: Background
It is fair to say that reincarnation is a common tenet of all the diverse strands of Hinduism. In general,
Hindus believe that after death, their soul will transmigrate to a new body in order to be reborn. This
obviously requires a belief in a non-physical entity (the soul). The circumstances into which one is
reborn are believed to be based upon one’s actions in previous lives. This is Karma. The body into
which one is reborn need not be human. One can be reborn as an animal, for example.
The purpose for Hindus is to live such a life as to escape the cycle of rebirth. However pleasurable
human life is, there will always be at least some pain and misery. By living a dutiful and devoted life, it
is believed that one can leave the cycle. This process is sometimes known as ‘attaining salvation, or
moksha’. Some refer to it as merging with the Ultimate, or Absolute. Whichever terms are used, the
meaning is the same; the soul has been freed from the shackles of earthly life. Whilst reincarnation is
referred to in the Vedas and Upanishads, the most fundamental references to reincarnation occur in the
Bhagavad-Gita. The following were all said by the Lord Krishna;
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us
cease to be.
No-one is able to destroy the imperishable soul.
As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood, to youth, to old age, the soul
similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.
Just as a man discards old clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears
new ones.
Reincarnation is enjoying increasing popularity in the West, especially amongst scientists, who see
reincarnation as THE solution; the way to unite science and religion. For example, the theory of
evolution is compatible with the notion of reincarnation, but not the Old Testament Creation. There are
others who see reincarnation as fantastic as many other religious claims, and therefore do not believe in
reincarnation. Many people define reincarnation in subtly different ways. For example, some believe
that transmigration of souls is confined within the human species, but such an argument is out of favour;
as the growing world population would suggest that new souls are constantly being produced. It is fair to
say that most definitions of reincarnation are more similar than they are different, however.
The important point to note is that there are arguments both for and against the concept of reincarnation.
Certain arguments are convincing for some, but not for others. On one hand, there are people who find
the idea of reincarnation intuitive; but on the other, there are those who find it just too incredible. Not
everyone is at one of these extremes, however, as many are unsure or are intermediate in their beliefs.
First published for Epics on Trail Debate, 25th October 2004
www.cuhcs.org.uk