Meher Baba - Death & Reincarnation

This is a beautiful Video on Meher Baba's view of the process of Death and Reincarnation. This video wonderfully explains the enigma of the cycle of birth and death.

“The association with the gross forms is termed birth & the disassociation from the gross forms is termed death. However there is no death. The consciousness of the soul retains & experiences the impressions of the dropped or the disassociated human form through it subtle & mental bodies. The state of the soul in the apparent gap between death & birth is generally called hell or heaven. These are states of intensive experiences of the impression of events gathered from the lifetime just terminated. The soul itself doesn’t actually go to a place called heaven or hell as is the general belief because the soul is eternally infinite & internally within the Over-soul . If the predominate impressions are virtue or goodness then the soul is said to be in heaven, if the predominate impressions are vice & evil then the soul is said to be in hell. It is the consciousness of the soul which experiences the impressions & these impressions are retained by the subtle & mental bodies. Although the soul frequently & consciously disassociates itself from the finite gross forms it never disassociates itself from its finite subtle form & its finite mental form. After experiencing either heaven or hell & when a complete balance of experiences of opposites is just about to be maintained the consciousness of the soul takes another birth to experience and exhaust the residual opposite impressions of the last incarnation. Complete balance is lacking in death as well as in birth it can only be achieved in the gross world. Therefore an endless chain of lives in the gross sphere is sustained by residual impressions until the consciousness succeeds in establishing itself in impression less echo poise . The process of association & disassociation of consciousness is termed as reincarnation process. “

It is worth noting that Meher Baba's use of the word "reincarnation" does not correlate precisely with what is described as "transmigration of the soul" in theosophy and other esoteric New Age schools of thought. For Meher Baba the soul does not actually 'migrate' because it doesn't go anywhere, since it is eternally within the Over-soul and has nowhere to go. Rather, for Meher Baba, "reincarnation" refers only to identification and dis-identification with forms conceived in illusion, or association and dissociation with forms.

Belief in reincarnation is an ancient phenomenon. This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism (including Yoga, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism), Jainism, and Sikhism. The idea was also entertained by some Ancient Greek philosophers. Many modern Pagans also believe in reincarnation as do some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, practitioners of certain African traditions, and students of esoteric philosophies such as Kabbalah, Sufism and Gnostic and Esoteric Christianity. The Buddhist concept of Rebirth although often referred to as reincarnation differs significantly from the Hindu-based traditions and New Age movements in that there is no "self" (or eternal soul) to reincarnate.

Few interesting comments this video from the you tube :

* Excellent excerpt.

* Highly thought provoking.

* Great vid, thanks for uploading :)

* Until you discard firstly & consciously the "i am the body" idea which only one in millions can do at any given historic time in the physical realm & gain access to consciousness bordering on cosmic with minds eye opened & can read minds from any distance...but yeah you're right unless you're trying to convey that meher baba has a "theory" about reincarnation.

* You have to keep learning lessons until u learn that the world is about love, and how you treat and help people. Many things play into your "karma" stealing, lying, miserly, etc etc. It can take up to 30 timesback to get back to god.Thats what you want. Jesus himself had aprx. 8 reincarnations. its the person u are, not what u do

* The BIBLE teaches of a key resurrection and the CHURCH preaches about 'life everlasting'. One billion HINDUS believe in reincarnation. A central doctrine of the KORAN is the Last Day, on which the world will be destroyed and Allah will raise all people and jiin from the dead. Buddha spoke of having many lives and was able to recount stories of his past lives. Reincarnation is consistent with Chinese Taoism, Native Americans, Incans, Aztecs, Vikings and ancient Egyptians.

* This soul has lived in many wombs. Enticed by sweet attachment, it has been trapped in reincarnation. This Maya has subjugated beings through the three qualities. Maya has infused attachment to itself in each and every heart. O friend, tell me some way, by which I may swim across this treacherous ocean of Maya.
The Lord showers His Mercy, and leads us to join the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.
O Nanak, Maya does not even come near.