Where do people of other religions go when they die?

[Guest guest]

Are there different afterlife realms/lokas for followers of the different faiths? Like do Muslims have their own special afterlife locales? and likewise Catholics, Mormons, Buddhists, Wiccans, Taoists, etc?

 

I have read about some spiritual explorers who have been gifted to visit the astral planes and have out of body experiences into the afterlife realms, and they discovered various "belief system" territories in the afterlife realms. Many have confirmed thry astral exploration that there are many realms that people are drawn toward when they die, depending on their states of consciousness and beliefs. This confirms what the vedic teachings state about all the various lokas, and that there is not just one heaven and hell like the Muslims and Christian sects teach.

 

Of course I know about reincarnation, but I am speaking about the celestial resting places, and various realms of the demigods.. and time spent between lives. Do the various religions have their own lokas?

 

Thanks.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

There are countless heavenly realms within the universe, and even more spiritual realms beyond the material existence. But according to Hinduism, most people in the world are sinful and will not be going to those places immediately. For example, killing animals for food results in one having to undergo a birth as an animal and undergo the same suffering.

[Guest guest]

There is time spent in a loka before they enter another body.

 

Until you become "perfect" you will continue to experience desires even in the spiritual realm and thus go to various lokas, and then take birth on Earth again. By "perfect" I mean that to be the absence of desire, the state of equanimity.

[Guest guest]

 

There are countless heavenly realms within the universe, and even more spiritual realms beyond the material existence. But according to Hinduism, most people in the world are sinful and will not be going to those places immediately. For example, killing animals for food results in one having to undergo a birth as an animal and undergo the same suffering.

Dear jndas,

 

Thanks for your reply. But if you could elaborate - are you saying animal killers reincarnate immediately (as animals) and do not have any rest/experiences in the astral lokas (whether hellish or heavenly) between lives? what about devotees of the demigods, don't they spend some time in their realms when they die.

 

For example those devout practioners of other other religions, such as those who follow the african gods or the taoist gods, even though they have not attained moksha, do they not go to some afterlife realm for a period, even the realm of the ancestors, as a result of their devotion and good karma? before they reincarnate?

 

thanks again for your answers.

[nekozuki]

You do go to a spiritual realm before you are reborn, past life regressions confirm this and so do near death experiences. As far as you going to the realm of God probably not, that's what enlightenment is for. Until you reach moksha will you be with the Divine, am I right?

[Guest guest]

 

You do go to a spiritual realm before you are reborn, past life regressions confirm this and so do near death experiences. As far as you going to the realm of God probably not, that's what enlightenment is for. Until you reach moksha will you be with the Divine, am I right?

Dear nekozuki,

 

this has been my understanding as well, based on people who have had near death experience, past life regressions, and astral excursions into the afterlife realms.

 

I was not asking if these various religious devotees will go straight to the Vaikuntha planets when they die (I did not assume they would); but rather specific heavenly planets in the material universe (for a time), according to their karma?

 

I was really wanting more detail on whether there are specific heavenly planets for devotees of the various respective religions? I mean Muslims would be shocked to wake up in a realm like the Buddhist Western Pureland, and likewise one who practices Pure Land Buddhism, would be shocked to wind up in a Norse heaven, with Thor and Freia. No?

 

Christians expect to go to a heaven where Jesus Christ is the Supreme Lord; the Pureland Buddhist sect strives to reach the Western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha, where they can more easily seek Nirvana; Muslims expect a paradise populated by celestial virgins; Wiccans expect to go to the Summerlands, where they rest inbetween incarnations; and so many other traditions have there own expectations. Won't these expectations lead the sincere devotees of these religious traditions to specific lokas?

 

I remember reading a book by one mystic, that said there is actually a place in the afterlife realms, where people are said to be worshipping a white-haired bearded figure on a large throne, much like the typical version of God as portrayed in Michaelangelo's work. This book said souls in this locale had not ascended to a very high realm, but they were deluded because of afterlife expectations into this trance like state, where everything was as they had pictured the Christian heaven to be. And the book said it would be some time before they'd wake up and realize that this was not the highest reality.

 

With all the different beliefs and religions, one could expect there are many realms like this, where likeminded souls are attracted because of their state of consciousness.

[Guest guest]

 

Dear jndas,

For example those devout practioners of other other religions, such as those who follow the african gods or the taoist gods, even though they have not attained moksha, do they not go to some afterlife realm for a period, even the realm of the ancestors, as a result of their devotion and good karma? before they reincarnate?

 

thanks again for your answers.

Obviously it will depend on the tenets of that religion. If the religion in question does not support the concept of reincarnation and vegetarianism (christianity, islam, etc) then the above logic does not apply to them. They will not reincarnate nor will they go to lesser realms for eating meat. As an example, a Hindu will not hover around in mid-air after death until judgement day - as this concept is not part of his religion.

 

This also explains why although Japanese have hunted whales almost to the point of extinction, the species does not really increase in count. Since their religion does not prohibit meat eating, they are not reborn as whales.

 

A good idea would be to have hindus who desire to eat meat to focus on endangered species like swordfish, etc. Since this is a sin for a hindu, he can then be reborn as a swordfish and then at least the species will stay alive.

 

Cheers

[Guest guest]

 

Obviously it will depend on the tenets of that religion. If the religion in question does not support the concept of reincarnation and vegetarianism (christianity, islam, etc) then the above logic does not apply to them. They will not reincarnate nor will they go to lesser realms for eating meat. As an example, a Hindu will not hover around in mid-air after death until judgement day - as this concept is not part of his religion.

 

This also explains why although Japanese have hunted whales almost to the point of extinction, the species does not really increase in count. Since their religion does not prohibit meat eating, they are not reborn as whales.

 

A good idea would be to have hindus who desire to eat meat to focus on endangered species like swordfish, etc. Since this is a sin for a hindu, he can then be reborn as a swordfish and then at least the species will stay alive.

 

Cheers

Our beliefs do not determine if we reincarnate, since reincarnation is a law of nature for souls who have not attained liberation.

 

In many of our past lives we probably did not believe in reincarnation, and yet here we are now.

[Guest guest]

 

Our beliefs do not determine if we reincarnate, since reincarnation is a law of nature for souls who have not attained liberation.

 

In many of our past lives we probably did not believe in reincarnation, and yet here we are now.

 

Assuming you did live before. If you take this approach, then you have to also accept the possiblity that you may hover in mid-air after death until judgment day although this is not part of hinduism. The probability is equal to the probability of reincarnation, mathematically speaking.

 

Cheers

[Guest guest]

 

Assuming you did live before. If you take this approach, then you have to also accept the possiblity that you may hover in mid-air after death until judgment day although this is not part of hinduism. The probability is equal to the probability of reincarnation, mathematically speaking.

 

Cheers

Assuming? Obviously you do not believe the Bhagavad Gita and think Krsna is a liar?

 

Chapter 2, verse 22

 

vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grhnati naro'parani

 

tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi

 

Translation

 

As a person gives up old and worn out garments and accepts new apparel, similarly the embodied soul giving up old and worn out bodies verily accepts new bodies.

 

.. and you must think all those who have remembered past lives, and the great sages who have spoken about reincarnation, are also liars?

 

If you are skeptic, but also are a man of investigation, check out this link.

 

Investigating cases of reincarnation in India:

education.vsnl.com/reincarnation/cases.html

[Guest guest]

I think those of other religions will reincarnate, due to the karma they have aquired. We all need to achive a certian level of perfection for us to attain Moksha, non-Hindus included. It doesn't matter if non-Hindu doesn't believe in reincarnation, as it is a spiritual law it will affect every living thing.

 

We were probably not Hindu before this birth or maybe we were, but as long as we don't act on the spiritual knowledge we have aquired, we will not progress.

[Guest guest]

 

There are countless heavenly realms within the universe, and even more spiritual realms beyond the material existence. But according to Hinduism, most people in the world are sinful and will not be going to those places immediately. For example, killing animals for food results in one having to undergo a birth as an animal and undergo the same suffering.

Does one have to pay the karmic price for meat eating even if one repents and becomes a vegetarian devotee?

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Karmic reactions are burnt up by engaging in devotional service to Lord Krishna. If we are sincere, our karma will also be removed. But this will happen in proportion to how sincere we are.

[Guest guest]

 

Assuming? Obviously you do not believe the Bhagavad Gita and think Krsna is a liar?

The two largest religions in the world do not to the concept of reincarnation. China, the largest populated country in the world is comprised mostly of atheists who also do not believe in reincarnation.

 

In short, the majority of the world's population does not believe in reincarnation (and also vegetarianism). Where is the logic in saying only the small fraction of Indians have got it right and the rest of the world has it wrong? Nothing, except for personal bias.

 

Cheers

[krishnadasa]

there is a verse in the garuda purana , which says in kaiyuga even if eat meat and incase we worship Lord Sri hari then all the sins of meat eating will be burnt in ashes ,

 

any comments

 

hari hari bol

[krishnadasa]

here are the transaltions for the verses from garuda purana

 

1.96.72 "By eating garlic and onion one becomes sinful and as atonement one should perform Candrayana. If one takes meat after worshiping deities and manes in Sraddha one does not acquire sin."

 

1.96.73 "If one kills animals otherwise (and eats their flesh) he will fall into hell and remain there for as many days as there are hairs on that animal. Eschewing flesh a devotee attains God Hari after due prayer."

 

1.97.10 "...[for purification] he should touch his right ear. Gods of Fire, etc. stay in the right ear of a brahmana.

[Guest guest]

 

The two largest religions in the world do not to the concept of reincarnation. China, the largest populated country in the world is comprised mostly of atheists who also do not believe in reincarnation.

 

In short, the majority of the world's population does not believe in reincarnation (and also vegetarianism). Where is the logic in saying only the small fraction of Indians have got it right and the rest of the world has it wrong? Nothing, except for personal bias.

 

Cheers

Since you obviously don't believe in the Bhagavad Gita or the Vedic religion, what are you here for? just to be a scoffer?

 

A lot more people believe in reincarnation than just a small fraction of Indians. People of all races have had past life memories and many sects have reincarnation as a basic tenet of their faith. Have you heard of the Buddhism, which also teaches a form of rebirth? what about the Hasidic Jews? What about Wiccans? What about the Druze of the Middle East? What about the Essene Christians? and the Druids? and the Rosicrucians? and the Greek Hermeticists?

 

Please don't make such ignorant statements that reincarnation is only believed in India. Most of the books I have read on reincarnation have not been written by Indians. Reincarnation is not just a Hindu belief, by any means. All kinds of people in the west believe in reincarnation. Recent studies show 1 in 4 westerners believe they've lived before. Please get your facts straight before you claim to be an authority on reincarnation.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

The two largest religions in the world do not to the concept of reincarnation.

 

In short, the majority of the world's population does not believe in reincarnation (and also vegetarianism). Where is the logic in saying only the small fraction of Indians have got it right and the rest of the world has it wrong?

Foolish people look for comfort in numbers. Truth is not judged by the number of followers.

[Guest guest]

 

The two largest religions in the world do not to the concept of reincarnation. China, the largest populated country in the world is comprised mostly of atheists who also do not believe in reincarnation.

 

In short, the majority of the world's population does not believe in reincarnation (and also vegetarianism). Where is the logic in saying only the small fraction of Indians have got it right and the rest of the world has it wrong?

 

So what if the two largest world religions don't believe in reincarnation? they are only the two largest religions because they are obsessed with power and have grown by either converting or killing throughout history. Would you say that's a way to go? They haven't grown by any 'truth' they have. The world has gone through many religions before two thousand years ago. By the way, the early Christian gnostics did believe in reincarnation, it was taken out of Christianity because Constantine ordered so. Kabbalists believe in reincarnation and some sufis do also as well as some Greek philosophers like Pythagoras. Some Native American tribes also believed in reincarnation.

 

For your information, for most of it's history China believed in reincarnation and you would find Chinese that still do. Buddhism which dominated China's history believes in reincarnation. Maoism is recent and although he forced the Chinese to be Atheists, many still kept their beliefs in secret. Only with communism did China become atheists. Now that Mao is dead the Chinese are trying to reclaim their heritage that they destroyed in the cultural revolution.

 

Many in the west do not follow Christianity, although they have be born into Christian familes. There are many westerners who have adopted beliefs from different religions (e.g. karma and reincarnation) and give more importance to spirituality than religion. So there are alot more people in the world who believe in reincarnation than you would like to believe.

[nekozuki]

Shiv, most religions believe in reincarnation. obviously, that says something. There's only three that don't believe in it: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Notice how Christianity stemmed from the one religion that didn't believe in reincarnation? As compared to paganism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and certain tribal religions.It has nothing to do with numbers.

[Sephiroth]

 

Shiv, most religions believe in reincarnation. obviously, that says something. There's only three that don't believe in it: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Notice how Christianity stemmed from the one religion that didn't believe in reincarnation? As compared to paganism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and certain tribal religions.It has nothing to do with numbers.

 

Correction ... Christianity and Islam doesn't believe in Reincarnation. Judaism HAVE belief in Reincarnation. Get your facts straighten. Thank you.

[nekozuki]

Okay, give me the old testament Bible verses that say they do.

[Sephiroth]

by nekozuki

 

Okay, give me the old testament Bible verses that say they do.

 

Source : http://www.askmoses.com/qa_list.html?h=614

 

Source : http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen03.html

[nekozuki]

Hmmm, interesting. Even Jesus said John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated but why did Christians stray away from that belief? And Islam too?

[Sephiroth]

 

Hmmm, interesting. Even Jesus said John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated but why did Christians stray away from that belief? And Islam too?

 

Earlier Christians are not Jewish people but Romans. In 1st Century A.D, Romans and Jewish people mingled in Middle-East. Romans faced tough opponents in Europe and its own politics become weakened. So, Rom turn south for invasion and tried to invade the Promised Land.

 

Same way how Americans begins to learn about Islam and many took to become Muslims as Christians wage war with Muslim in Middle East now, many Romans become "Jewish" in the same manner. But Jewish traditions were a bit different from Roman culture.

 

Romans didn't like the idea of Circimcision, Sabbath and such, so they were taught that Jesus came to save man and therefore, died in Man's behalf. In this way, Jesus nullfied the needs for Circumcision (which originally intention was to demonstrate the nullifying of the Original Sins). This new people are called Christians (Ones who believe in Christ).

 

However, over the time being, the very statement that Jesus died for Man's sins begins to corrupt the teachings. They begin to question - WHY must Man reborn again and again (till he reach perfection) IF Jesus already died for their sins? Thus, reincarnation was left out in the New Testament which was written around 3rd Century A.D.

 

No idea about Islam though. I have many time asked them why they don't believe in reincarnation, they never say why. I guess they are disqusted with the idea that Man can come back as animals, or many view that it will be useless for Muslims to pray 5 times a day if they required to reborn again and again.

 

In my opinion, Islam is just "buying" heaven and "selling" time and effects (in form of prayers).