Spiritual Questions and Answers .

August 28, 2008

Hare Krishna !

Sri Muralidhara swamy Answers to Questions on Prarabda Karma , Soul, Death ,Moksha , etc .

1. What is * Prarabdha Karma* ? How does it interfere in one's life? Everything in one's life happens because of *Prarabdha Karma* ( accumulated Karmic reactions of the past) and nothing else. So it is not a question of interference in one's life, it is that which drives one's life. --2. Do thoughts that do not translate into actions count towards Karma? That is, does a bad thought count towards a negative Karma? Also, do good thoughts and intentions that do not necessarily translate into actions count towards good Karma?In this Kali-Yuga, there are no punishments for bad thoughts. However, a continuous stream of bad thoughts will make a strong impression in you (vasana), which will harm you at a later point in time, if not immediately. How ever good thoughts will always result in good results. ______3. Is Karma applicable to animals too? Is there any difference on Karma effects on man and women separately?Karma is the same for men and women. As for animals, the animal birth occurs only to experience the effects of the Karma carried over from the previous birth. During the lifetime of the animal, the Karma is not accumulated. ______4. When every soul is independent and governed by its own Karma takes rebirth accordingly, what is the need for performing * Pithru Karma* for the Parents who are only instruments for our birth ? Every action, from the minutest to the largest, happens according to the will and wish of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.Still, even in our day-to-day life, as we travel in a bus, when someone offers us a seat, we immediately thank them.Thus, for all the incidents in our life - mundane to major, we thank others to show our gratitude. The same holds good for our Parents too.-------------------------5. At what stage in the birth process does the soul attach to the body? Is it at the moment of conception, the moment of delivery, or sometime in between? Does a soul start to wield its Karma on the new body even when the fetus is inside the mother's womb? If so, shouldn't the astrological time of birth be the time when the soul attaches to the body?This has been clearly spoken about in Srimad Bhagavatam in the chapters where the conversation between Kapila Vasudevan and his mother Devahuti takes place. There is astounding similarities between what is mentioned in the Scriptures and what is discovered by modern science. As far as Vedic Astrology is concerned, it is bothered only about the time when the baby comes to earth, that is the time of delivery. The other factors don't matter in Astrology. ______6. Where does the soul reside in the human body and the body of plants, animals and other creatures?Soul is not an object or organ to identify a place in the body of humans or other creatures. It is an infinite source of energy.A comparison, though not the most appropriate, could be drawn to the electric current that passes through a device. However there is an origin for that power. In human body, it has been said that the location of that point is the region just medial the right nipple, if a line can be drawn connecting the two nipples. At this point, it appears spiral in shape.In the same way, the location varies for different creatures.-----------------------------7. What is the form of the 'Soul'? Does it have a gender?The soul is like a small flame in size and shape. It does not have a gender. Having said this, it is also true that it can be manifested to you as a form, based on the power of your mind.______8. I want to know about my death. What is death? I want to experience my death. I want to be aware of my death. As long as the life-force (`Prana') is inside your body, you are said to be alive. The moment that the *Prana* leaves your body to take another body is called death. The death of the body is not the real death. Even in medical science, it has been proved that real death is not the death of the body, but the death of the mind. From a spirituality perspective, real death is when you realize God, or realize the Self within you. That is because, it is only after then that you are not born anymore. Hence that is the real death. ______ 9. I understand that when a person dies, he will be reborn depending on his merits. Do ceremonies like `Shrarddha' or `Tarpanam' go to him? It is true that the Soul takes rebirth based on the Karma. However, it resides in the *Pitru Loka* before taking rebirth. As long as it is in one of the different Lokas, these ceremonies will benefit it. Once the soul takes rebirth, these ceremonies will not benefit it. These ceremonies will help the soul only to some extent. It cannot help the soul attain liberation. ---------10. "We showed the horoscopes of all in the family to a good astrologer. After reading through all the horoscopes he says that an unnatural death (`dur-marana') has occurred in the family. But, to our knowledge no such death has taken place in our family. What is the reason for the astrologer to say this?In today's world unnatural deaths can occur even without our knowledge. Having conceived a child many people abort it, through modern medical aid, as they decide against having a child. Even these are certainly murders; unnatural deaths; murder of a fetus. Such occurrences might have taken place in your family without your knowledge; or even if you had knowledge of it you would not have considered it as a murder." ______11. "If it were so what is the expiation for this?Normally, the only expiation for such unnatural deaths that take place knowingly or unknowingly is the `shrãddha' that is performed in Gaya Kshetra. The `pinda' offered in `Vishnu Pãda' here is given to the `pitrus' by none other than Vishnu Himself and He takes them ashore. Moreover, in Gaya we can offer `pinda' for anyone - to someone known to us, friends, teachers, neighbours, co-travellers, orphans, etc. It is said that a man begets many sons only with the thought, `Atleast one of them would certainly go to Gaya and offer `pinda' for me.' " ______12. "Has anything been said in the Vedas about the `gati' (state) that a `jiva' attains after death?"

"The different states that are attained by the `Jiva' is detailed in the Upanishads. There are two kinds of state (`Avasthai') for all creatures, beginning from Brahma to a tiny insect. One is drinking and the other is eating. The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the `Sarîra' (body) is reborn as any one of these creatures. The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the `Prãna' (breath), i.e. those who control their mind and take it on the path of dharma and thus earn `punya (good merits), attains the heaven (`swarga'). The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the `arivu' (intellect) attains the higher worlds (`Lokãs'). The one who goes beyond this and annihilates the mind realizing that he is verily the `Ãtma' becomes Jivan Mukta (Liberated while yet living in the body). All these have been said in the Upanishads!" ______13. Is organ donation after death acceptable according to Vedic religion? Organ donation is done as a social cause, with the welfare of someone in mind. So from this viewpoint, it is acceptable. ______14. Are Mukti and Moksha one and the same?Yes they are one and the same.______15. When do we get Moksha? Which is better -- Family Life ('Illaram') or Ascetic Life ('thuravaram')?You are already in Moksha. You have to just remove that veil of ignorance ('that you are not in Moksha'). This is possible by chanting the Maha Mantra – Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Continuously, which was verily propagated by Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu. Illaram ('family life') is the best. Om Namo Narayanaya !!!!

Krishnadaya