Abid Anas

Comparative Religion

18/11/2012

Essay 1

Subject: Reincarnation (Hindu perspective)

The katha Upanishad contains the popular tale of Nachiketas, the boy who ventures into the abode of the god of Death, Yama. After being granted three boons by the god of Death as an apology for making him wait while he was away, Nachiketas uses his first boon to make sure his father does not worry over him and recognize him upon his return, his second boon to understand to the truth of fire sacrifice and his third boon to ask Yama the truth of death: When a man dies, this doubt arises: some say he is and some say he is not. Teach me the truth. The admission by Yama that even gods doubt their knowledge of death brings forth a long and intricate conversation about the nature of death. Before I go into more detail, I feel I must clarify a point about the Hindu belief in reincarnation: the popular perception of reincarnation points to KARMA as being the center of the cycle, IE every soul is reborn according to their actions in life, pointing therefore to KARMA as a system of divine justice; although there is some truth to that, Im afraid this perception is somewhat tainted by the popularity of Abrahamic religions, in which the concept of divine justice is very much at the center, and is an essential foundation to the concept of an intelligent, all knowing, and all caring God. However it is important to note the eastern philosophies in general and the Dharmic faiths in particular do not share that trait, the concepts of divine reward and divine punishment, although existing, are not central, and offer more room for salvation: where the Abrahamic religions speak of one eternal punishment (hell) or one eternal reward (heaven) based on the actions of one life, their eastern counterparts mention many punishment, many rewards, based on the actions of many lives. Another difference, if not the most important, is that Abrahamic faiths view death as a finality in itself, as a matter effect the expression returning to god is often used, meaning we are only borrowed to the realm of the living; Whereas Dharmic faiths believe that the cycle of life and death is an intermediary in the understanding and the fusing with

Abid Anas

Comparative Religion

18/11/2012

BRAHMAN, The Spirit, defined as the infinite source and end to every fabric of the universe, the Mundaka Upanishad describes it so: This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again. The point here being, in Hinduism, returning to the Brahman is the ultimate spiritual goal to be achieved over the course of many lives, and not and inevitable end to all life. So as we can see Reincarnation in Hinduism is not the center of existence, each reincarnation is in itself a failure to reach the ultimate spiritual illumination, a failure to becoming ATMAN, a universal self beyond death and therefore beyond reincarnation, a universal self, immortal and pure. Back to Nachiketases story, after trying to avoid answering the young boys question by promising wealth and pleasure instead, Yama realizes that boy is beyond the earthly quest for pleasure and is seeking the wisdom of joy and knowledge; and decides to teach him all he can about death, from that conversation emerge many ideas that are crucial to understanding Hinduisms approach to death and reincarnation. Yama explains that liberation comes through the Atman, he defines it as such: Atman, the spirit of vision, is never born and never dies. Before him there was nothing, and he is ONE for evermore. Never-born and eternal, beyond times gone or to come, he does not die when the body dies..Concealed in the heart of all beings is the Atman, the spirit, the self; smaller than the smallest atom, greater than the vast spaces..The Atman is beyond sound and form, without touch and taste and perfume. It is eternal, unchangeable, without beginning or end: indeed above reasoning. When consciousness of the Atman manifests itself, man becomes free of the jaws of death. At this point of my reflection I found myself confronted with the limitation of the spiritual vocabulary, from what I have read, I came to two different conclusions depending how I read things: -The idea that illumination means a return to Brahman, like a water drop returning to a pond, or a sparkle returning to a flame, the spirit elevates itself above both life and death, and upon seeing the Brahman, the fabric of the universe, as it really is, becomes part of it, adding and element of collective consciousness to the Brahman. -Or the idea that Illumination means reaching a level of all-out consciousness that means death is no longer felt as a spiritual termination, it becomes no more than changing bodies when one is withered the same way we change a shirt that is old and ripped, a more earthly and less metaphysical view.

Abid Anas

Comparative Religion

18/11/2012

Of course as I said the differentiation Ive just made is purely based on vocabulary, its make a certain visualization difference in the appreciation of the phenomenon but actually means very little to the practice of the dogma, as the two ideas I mentioned are but two ways of depicting immortality and the eternal soul; they might even coexist on a philosophical level where you could argue that these are just two different ways of saying the same thing. As to how to reach illumination and get in touch with Atman and Brahman, the way is through meditation and a practice we are all familiar with: Yoga; although today yoga is being depicted all throughout the world as a neutral practice, we must not forget that it starts out as Hindu ceremonial practice, as a way to commune with the world and with ones self. The Svetesvatara Upanishad describes the correct practice of yoga: With upright body, head, and neck lead the mind and its powers into thy heart; and the OM of Brahman will then be thy boat with which to cross the rivers of fear. And when the body is in silent steadiness, breathe rhythmically through the nostrils with a peaceful ebbing and flowing of breath..Find a quiet retreat for the practice of yoga, sheltered from the wind, level and clean, free from rubbish, smoldering fires, and ugliness, and where the sound of waters and the beauty of the place help thought and contemplation. So in conclusion, reincarnation in Hinduism is the center of the life and death cycle, as oppose to Abrahamic religions in which god is the center of the cycle, as the divine is depicted as an intelligent willful being who creates and ends life as an extension of his omnipotence. We will also note that reincarnation in Hinduism describes a concept of soul attached to the self, a soul that can be nurtured and developed towards illumination and full consciousness, as oppose to Buddhism for example where reincarnation uses soul as a neutral energy without an element of self to it.

Abid Anas

Comparative Religion

18/11/2012

References:

Novak, Philip. The world's wisdom : sacred texts of the world's religions. San Francisco, Calif: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. (2001). Encountering religion : an introduction to the religions of the world. Oxford, UK Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publishers.