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I can believe in karma in Hinduism (as law of cause and effect) to some extent but I cannot believe in Rebirth (or reincarnation). Rebirth of human to different life forms does not sound logical or scientific. Is there scientific explanation for rebirth in Hinduism or does God play role in rebirth?Thank you
Johnson (Name changed), USA |
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It is perfectly okay if someone does not believe in Law of Karma or direct relation between karma fruits and rebirth. Everything is fine as long as you get logical answers to events that happen in your life (and others). The problem arises when people start asking “why do I not get (or get) what other have (or don’t have). There is also an issue of illogical explanations of some religions when they claim that God’s Will is random and your life is at the mercy of God’s random will. That is simply not true.
Hinduism: Karma is cause of Rebirth
According to Hinduism, life is an infinite chain of results of actions (Karma) in the past. In simple words this works as "Law of Cause and Effect" or "As you sow, so you reap". The way the results of Karma are delivered in the life is the “Law of Karma”. In the Law of Karma even though an individual is considered to be the sole doer and enjoyer of his Karmas and their 'fruits', according to Vedanta, the Divine plays a major role as the dispenser of the 'fruits' of Karma. Many Hindus see God's direct involvement in this process; others consider the natural laws of causation sufficient to explain the effects of Karma.
The cycle of birth, life, and death will continue until all Karma is fully consumed. When one revolution of the wheel (one life) is completed, life begins again with a rebirth. This is how law of Karma works. Karma leads us in the journey of life from the first manifestation as an amoeba to the last manifestation... Hinduism considers 8.4 million manifestations. The process of rebirth continues until there is balance in Karmic account. The soul is liberated from the karmic bondage when the Karmic balance is consumed totally.
Is life Random or Is God biased?
Life is random or accident for those who do not believe in Karma and rebirth. For them there is no reasoning for the events that happen in our lives. For them the reasoning is simple – Its God’s will. Good luck to those who run their lives on such baseless foundations. Why do people even need to be good if life is so random and God’s will unknown. If life and God’s will is random why do we even need religion?
If you take any individual life (human or otherwise) as an isolated event which begins with birth of the individual physical body and terminates with its death you cannot find any correct explanation or solution for the events of life. You will be groping in darkness and despair.
If every life is considered as an isolated event then there is absolutely no explanation of why one gets what they get. There is no explanation why someone is born in wealthy family while other spends entire life in hunger. There is no explanation why one child is born with heart defects while other one enjoys benefits of healthy body. There is no explanation why one person dies in an accident on the road at the age to 2 while other lives over hundred years. There is no explanation why some criminals are living free while those who did not do the crime end-up in a jail. There is no explanation why one is rewarded in life while others get punishes apparently without a reason.
If someone claims that the life and events happening in our life are God’s will or desire then that means God is either random and he punishes people or rewards them at his sweet will. That also means God is either biased or he has no idea of and have no control over what is happening in this universe. That is not true.
God is NOT unfair; God gives exactly what we deserve
The fact is: God is PERFECT and God’s system (Law of Karma) works absolutely PERFECTLY. God does not punish or reward people based on his will and fancies. God is neither partial nor unjust. God is not responsible for the wealth of one man or the poverty of another. You suffer on account of your own actions (Prabdha karma). There is nothing chaotic or capricious in this world. Things do NOT happen in this universe by accident or chance in a disorderly manner or with God’s Random Will. They happen in regular succession and events follow each other in a regular order. They happen exactly as per the perfect system laid down by the God called Law of Karma.
Some people (generally from Abrahamic religions – Christianity and Islam) are hurt when we say ‘Law of karma’ because karma is a concept given by Hinduism and such a concept is not acceptable to these religions. If you are one of those, feel free to call it as a ‘law of retribution’ or ‘law of nature’ or ‘law of action and reaction’ or ‘law of causation’ or ‘law of compensation’. Whatever name you call it by, it works exactly the same. Every wrong action brings its own punishment (and good action its own reward) in accordance with the law of karma. He who hurts others, has already hurt himself in the future.
Connection between cause and effect
There is a kind of definite connection between what is being done now by you and what will happen in the future (distant future). Therefore, sow always the seeds that will bring pleasant fruits and which will make you happy.
Your present life is nothing, when compared with the full life of soul. It is momentary - a mere fragment. If you want to find the cause for anything, you will have to go deep into the affairs of the eternal soul-life. Then alone there will be perfect balance of cause and effect, actions and consequence. Life does not end with the death of this physical body alone. There is rebirth (reincarnation). There had been countless previous lives. There will be countless future lives - until you free yourself from the cycle of life and death. You will have to take into consideration the widest view of the life of the soul. Then you will find a perfect, satisfactory and scientific explanation for all intricate and complicated affairs of life.
Thank you.
Mahendra Joshi
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