[Advaita-l] Karma and Reincarnation

[Sridhar Babu]

                         || Aum Sri Gurubhyo Namah ||
                               || Hari: Aum ||

Aum Namah Sivaya Advaitins

These two question and answer messages were truly giving light on the
Karma and Reincarnation which is, of course, the most intricate noose from
which only Sathguru can help released.

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:30:49 -0700 (PDT)
> From: kuntimaddi sadananda <kuntimaddisada at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Karma and Reincarnation - Birth as a Brahmin

> Padmaji - My PraNAms.
>
> First Vedanta does not endorse any accidents in life. All are
> incidences, the causes for which could be unseen or adRiShTa, for us
> with limited vision.
>
> The law of karma is impartial and operates until jiiva realizes his true
> state.  Death is not the end of the life and birth is not the beginning
> of the life either. The law of cause and effect is valid from birth to
> death and therefore does not just disappear before birth or after death.
> Hence Vedanta says your birth is the result of your past actions.  We
> are borne in a particular family, as male or female, in an environment
> dictated by our purva janma vaasanas.
>
> If we have sAtvic vasanas we will be borne in an environment for the
> further evolution of these.
> A Brahman is one who has predominately sAtvic vasanas – not just the one
> who is born in Brahman’s parents.
>
> A xatriya is one who has predominately rajasic with sAtvic vAsanas as
> second.
>
> A Vaisya is one with rajasic and tamasic vasanas.
>
> And a Sudra is one with predominately tamasic vasanas.
>
> These are mental make up of individuals - hence based on guNa which then
> propels one to act according to his guNa  his actions (karma) differs.
> This is the basis for classification of mental makeup.  This is
> extensively discussed in Vajrasuchi Upanishad.
>
> This classification is universal - and applies to all human beings who
> have mind and intellect to feel and to think.
>
> This classification is intended not to judge others, whether the other
> is Brahman or Sudra but to judge oneself to see what type of shadhana
> would help for one to progress.
>
> Marrying another that is compatible with one’s vAsanas would help, but
> that is not guaranteed!
>
> Hence classification is not by birth.
>
> Although the birth in a given environment would help to evolve the
> particular guNas and therefore one's birth can be dictated by previous
> vasanas.
>
> Krishna answers to Arjuna question in Ch. 6 - what happens to the one
> who is on his way to evolution and dies suddenly?  Krishna answers that
> he will be born in the next life in an environment that is conducive for
> his rapid growth.  Hence nothing will be lost.
>
> Castes are developed latter on the basis of birth - but that is only
> secondary compared to the evolution of the mind and intellect.  As one
> evolves and developed saatvik vasanas and tunes his mind to Brahman, he
> becomes Brahmana by guNa and karma.
>
> Hope this answers your question.
>
>
> Hari OM!
> Sadananda

>> --- Anbu sivam2 <anbesivam2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Sri Sadananda,
>>
>> My wife has the following question.  Could you pl. help her.
>>
>> Pranaams,
>> Anbu
>>
>> Dear Sri Sadananda,
>>
>> Many Pranaams to you.  I was reading a discussion thread  in
>> Kanchiforum.orgin which a person is saying that there is no scriptural
>> proof (either in
>> Sruthi or Smrithi) to the effect that poorva punya causes a person to
>> be
>> born as a Brahmana or a Kshathriya or a Vaisya or Sudhra.  Even though
>> it
>> was pointed that if it was not the case of a person's birth in a
>> particular
>> varna would be an accident and not caused (by poorva punya).  Such
>> accidents
>> are impermissible in the theory of cause and effect that constitute
>> Karma
>> and reincarnation.  However that gentleman seem to be insisting on
>> proof
>> from the scriptures.  The only person with a ocean of knowledge that I
>> could
>> turn to is you.  Could you please help me.
>>
>> Pranaams again,
>> Padma
>> _______________________________________________


                        || Aum Shanthih Shanthih Shanthih ||


*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
Sri Paada Sevayam
sridhar

                     || Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavanthu ||



                         *************************

                  Oh! Mother of Truth, Thou be alone my Guide.

                               ***********


***********************************************************************************************
This email was sent using Amrita Mail.
   "Maintained by IT Enabled Services"
http://ites.amrita.ac.in