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Vedanta Philosophy

Five Lectures on Reincarnation

By

Swami Abhedananda

Author of "India and her People", "Self-Knowledge", "How to be aYogi", "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 lawof cause and effect. The effect is visible or perceptible, while thecause is invisible or imperceptible. The falling of an apple from atree is the effect of a certain invisible force called gravitation.Although the force cannot be perceived by the senses, its expressionis visible. All perceptible phenomena are but the various expressionsof different forces which act as invisible agents upon the subtle andimperceptible forms of matter. These invisible agents or forcestogether with the imperceptible particles of matter make up the subtlestates of the phenomenal universe. When a subtle force becomesobjectified, it appears as a gross object. Therefore, we can say,that every gross form is an expression of some subtle force actingupon the subtle particles of matter. The minute particles of hydrogenand oxygen when combined by chemical force, appear in the gross formof water. Water can never be separated from hydrogen and oxygen, whichare its subtle component parts. Its existence depends upon that of itscomponent parts, or in other words, upon its subtle form. If thesubtle state changes, the gross manifestation will also change. Thepeculiarity in the gross form of a plant depends upon the peculiarnature of its subtle form, the seed. The peculiar nature of the grossforms in the animal kingdom depends upon the subtle forms whichmanifest variously in each of the intermediate stages between themicroscopic unit of living matter and the highest man. The gross humanbody is closely related to its subtle body. Not only this, but everymovement or change in the physical form is caused by the activity andchange of the subtle body. If the subtle body be affected or changed alittle, the gross body will also be affected similarly. The materialbody being the expression of the subtle body, its birth, growth, decayand death depend upon the changes of the subtle body. As long as thesubtle body remains, it will continue to express itself in acorresponding gross form.

Now let us understand clearly what we mean by a subtle body. It isnothing but a minute germ of a living substance. It contains theinvisible particles of matter which are held together by vital force,and it also possesses mind or thought-force in a potential state, justas the seed of a plant contains in it the life force and the power ofgrowth. According to Vedanta, the subtle body consists ofAntahkaranam, that is, the internal organ or the mind substancewith its various modifications, mind, intellect, egoism, memory, thefive instruments of perception: the powers of seeing, hearing,smelling, tasting and touching; the five instruments of action, suchas the powers of seizing, moving, speaking, evacuating, andgenerating, and the five Prânas. Prâna is a Sanskrit word whichmeans vital energy or the life-sustaining power in us. AlthoughPrâna is one, it takes five different names on account of thefive different functions it performs. This word Prâna includesthe five manifestations of the vital force: First, that power whichmoves the lungs and draws the atmospheric air from outside into thesystem. This is also called Prâna. Second, that power whichthrows out of the system such things as are not wanted. It is calledin Sanskrit Apâna. Third, it takes the name of Samâna,as performing digestive functions and carrying the extract of food toevery part of the body. It is called Udâna when it is the causeof bringing down food from the mouth through the alimentary canal tothe stomach, and also when it is the cause of the power of speech. Thefifth power of Prâna is that which works in every part of thenervous system from head to foot, through every canal, which keeps theshape of the body, preserves it from putrefaction, and gives healthand life to every cell and organ. These are the various manifestations