Do We Reincarnate?

You have read a number of stories in my books that suggest that reincarnation is a fact and yet have also read of cases that suggest that there is an afterlife. Although these two ideas may seen diametrically opposed I believe that both beliefs can be brought together as one.

The Hindus believe that everyone has an eternal soul called the Jiva. It has never been born and can exist forever- a concept similar to the Spiritualist fourth principle that says: 'The continuous existence of the human soul'. The Jiva's nature is innately pure but by evil deeds it has become clothed in ignorance.

After death the Jiva leaves the material body and goes to the solar regions of which there are spheres upon spheres. (This corresponds with the 'many mansions' of Christianity, the spheres of the afterlife as described by Spiritualists or the Bardos of the Tibetan Buddhists)

Reincarnation and Brahmaloka

The earth is the world sphere in which there are moons, suns and stars but beyond this is the Lunar sphere and beyond this is the sphere of lightning. In this high realm the Jiva is taken to the highest heaven called the Brahmaloka where it can live for eternity and never be born or die again. Only the perfected souls who have given up all desires can live in this exalted state. This differs somewhat from the Spiritualist precept that there is 'Eternal progress open to every human soul' which suggests that there is no final goal to existence.

The less high souls may enter the lunar sphere as an angelic being where it may enjoy a prolonged period of happiness but this last only for as long as the effect of its good deeds endures. Once this good karma is exhausted it descends again into the earth sphere and takes a new human birth. The person in the spirit world dies and is reborn in human form. Also, in these realms there is a hierarchy of beings which corresponds with the third spiritualist principle of there being a 'Ministry of Angels'. Furthermore the fact that our sojourn in the spirit world is dictated by our karma agrees with the Spiritualist belief that we must take 'personal responsibility' for our destiny.

Reincarnation and Karma

In short, I believe that our stay in the Afterlife worlds is only temporary. Whilst in these ethereal worlds we do not accumulate either good or bad karma. However our period in the afterlife is fuelled by the karma accumulated on earth prior to our death.  When the soul's good Karma is worked out, then the remaining Karma begins to take effect, and the soul comes down to earth to become a human again. If the person continues to do spiritual work and purifies himself then they may finally go to Brahmaloka and need come back no more.

Do we reincarnate?