Our journey through birth and death is inevitable, we must therefore detach ourselves

We should do it because evidence is overwhelming that we are eternal souls. We are in a birth and death cycle getting different bodies life after life. What will you say about Shanti Devi’s rebirth? She was born in Delhi but recalled details of her past life in Mathura. Her recollections were so compelling that Mahatma Gandhi got interested. He appointed a committee of 15 prominent persons to study the case. They took Shanti Devi to Mathura and she was able to recollect all the relevant details even though she had never been to Mathura in her present life. Dr Ian Stevenson, a leading authority on reincarnation, came to India to interview her. He wrote that at least 24 statements of her memories matched verifiable facts.

These days TV channels have become interested in the rebirth phenomenon. They are producing evidence from all over the world to confirm the same. Then, the Bhagavad-Geeta – the book of eternal wisdom is full of detailed information about us being souls. I will cite just one verse. “Just as childhood, youth and old age are changes in the body of this soul, getting another body is a similar change. (2.93) And the ultimate confirmation is God saying it. Isn’t He omniscient, who knows past, present and future also?

Having convinced ourselves of this reality, let us see how we can prepare for a transfer or relocation from our present life. There are two main parts. The first one is getting mentally ready. Personally speaking, when the time came for me to go to the USA for higher studies, I visualised how my life would change for the better in the coming years. I also realised that there will inevitably be many challenges in the new country. The second was to take with me whatever I could to make my life there as comfortable as possible.

I took the necessary clothes and a little money, which was allowed at that time. But mainly it was my certificates and what I had learnt by that time. Similar preparations are required for the bodily change, though they are quite different in detail. The first one has to be the mental preparation for such a change. We should accept the fact that such a change is inevitable. And it can be a lot better than our present. Lord Krishna has assured, “Those who have begun their spiritual journey take birth in a family of pure and prosperous.” (6.41) Therefore, it is essential that we do so too before our time comes to leave the present body. We must be in the shelter of God at that time by doing spiritual activities.

Surely, we must be following dharma in our activities as far as possible. We should be mainly in the mode of goodness, which is illuminating and free from diseases on account of purity. (14.6) We should be in control of bad emotions like lust, greed, anger, hate, etc. We should have accumulated a lot of good ‘karmas” (acts) because this is all we are allowed to take with us.

But we shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves because we can make improvements gradually only. Whatever, we are presently doing, we should do it better. As the present determines the future, the present has to be safeguarded fully. Are we inclined to make the necessary preparations? We should get started right away at least mentally. It will be such a shame not to do so when we have time to do so. Those wanting to do so are encouraged by God; one will succeed.

(The writer is a spiritual teacher; views are personal)