Is There Life After Death?

[kcp1982]

An article from www.gitamrta.org

 

Is There Life After Death?

 

What will happen to me after death?

 

The non-Vedic religions preach that this is the only life and after this life, we wait in our grave for the day of judgement and on that day we are either sent to hell or heaven forever. This means that for the sinners there is no second chance, as they will go to hell forever. They also preach that those who don’t follow their religion will go to hell forver.

 

This philosophy raises some serious questions:

 

· What happens to those who die in fires? Are they gone forever through no fault of their own?

 

· What happens to those who are cremated? Are they gone forever?

 

· If this is the only life, then why is everyone born in different conditions? Some are born rich, some poor, some healthy, some diseased, some die at an early age, some live longer, some suffer more than others, and so on.

 

· Out of the billions who have been dead and buried, has anyone risen (resurrected) from their grave yet?

 

· When will the dead rise from their grave (be resurrected)?

 

The good news is that there is a religion, which preaches that God is merciful to all and thus know-one, is sent to hell forever. Everyone gets not one but unlimited chances.

 

According to the Vedic scriptures, the oldest known to mankind. There is hell, heaven, and something beyond them, the spiritual universe called Vaikuntha. Hell and heaven are temporary but the spiritual universe is permanent.

 

What happens to the sinners?

 

After this life the sinners will take birth on one of the hellish planets and after their punishment is over they will again return to this or other Earthly planets in a suitable body (human or animal) and conditions of life (rich, poor, diseased, healthy etc..).

 

What happens to the good?

After this life the pious will take birth on one of the heavenly planets and when their pious credit is over, they will again return to this or other Earthly planets in a suitable body (human) and conditions of life (rich, poor, diseased, healthy etc..).

 

What happens to those who are very good?

 

After this life those who are god conscious will take birth in the spiritual universe, Vaikuntha, and will never return to the material world unless they really want to. There is no death, no disease, no anxiety, no taxes, no killing (no meat), no sex, no speculation, and no intoxications in the spiritual universe.

 

We are not the body

 

The main teaching of the Bhagavad-Gita is that we are not this body, but the soul, which is eternal.

 

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain."

 

(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

Living beings are souls covered in a particular material body. Being material, the body is by nature temporary, and must at some point deteriorate and die. The soul on the other hand is spiritual in nature, which can never be destroyed. Material life is temporary, full of ignorance, and suffering. The soul is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.

 

What goes up will come down. Similarly, anything that has a beginning will also have an end. Thus the body, which has a beginning, will inevitably have an end, but the soul, which has no beginning, will continue to exist after the body is slain.

 

"One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

Lord Krishna describes death in the Bhagavad-Gita as being nothing more than a change of dress:

 

"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

This body is nothing but a vehicle, and the soul is the passenger. When this vehicle is no longer suitable for the soul, due to old age and decay, the soul is given a new vehicle. Thus death is simply the transition from one vehicle to the next.

 

"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

What determines the next body that one will get after this body?

 

Lord Krishna answers this question as follows:

 

"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

According to our consciousness at the time of death we receive a suitable body. What we remember at the time of death is not just a matter of the momentary thought that occurs. What we have done throughout our entire life will naturally come to our mind as we leave our body. Just prior to death, our entire life is flashed before our mind's eye in a split second. One particular event will be very attractive to us, and we will focus on that. Based on that desire we will be given our next body, sometimes higher and sometimes lower.

 

If our mind focuses on an activity, which is very ignorant, we will receive a suitable body among the lower species of life - as a plant, a fish, a tree, or an animal.

 

If our mind focuses on an activity, which is passionate, we will be given a body within the human categories of life.

 

If our mind focuses on an activity, which is primarily within the mode of goodness, we will receive a body on one of the higher planets – Brahmaloka, Indraloka etc.

 

At death our mind will focus on an activity based on how we have lived our entire life. It is not possible to suddenly make our consciousness pure if we have spent our entire life engaged in sinful activities.

 

Lord Krishna describes this entire universe as temporary and full of suffering. No matter which body one has, these two qualities are there. But there is an alternative, a solution to this seemingly endless cycle. Lord Krishna says:

 

"And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

If we are able to remember Lord Krishna at the time of death, we will become free from the external covering of the body and attain His eternal abode. This sounds very simple, but again it is not such an easy thing. Death is the ultimate test we must all face. What will be our consciousness at that moment? For those who are attached to the body due to identifying the body as the self, death is the most difficult occurrence.

 

For a self-realized person the situation is completely different. He understands he is not the body. He knows the body is just a vehicle, a machine, and as such he has no attachment to the external body. And because his consciousness is always fixed on the Lord, his destination is complete freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

"After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

"That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend." (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)

 

Is There Any Evidence of Reincarnation?

 

There is over whelming evidence to support the reincarnation theory. Millions of humans around the world have had past life memories. There are numerous books and video documentaries with supporting evidence.

 

 

[Guest guest]

what are vedic relgions and what are non vedic relgions ?

[Guest guest]

Christianity, Islam

[Guest guest]

kcp kcp kcp !!! I really don't understand what are you trying to accomplish by comparinig vedic and non vedic religions. why don't you understand Srila Prabhupad mood and mission. He didn't come to west to put down any this religion or that religion. He came to west to preach love of God which He was very successfull by all means. Thank God He didn't preach like you otherwise nobody would have listened to Him. So for God sake give up this secatarian mentality and try to understand Srila Prabhupad's mood and mission and preach accordingly.

Thanks and good luck.

Hare Krishna

[kcp1982]

Hare Krishna.

 

I am only preaching the truth for the benefit of all.

 

In Kali Yuga people are very ignorant and don't know what is right and what is wrong. I am preaching the truth to dispel the ignorance in everyone. It's due to ones religion that he is kept in darkness or light. That is the absolute truth.

 

All humans are born pure and God consciouss, but because of their association with the values of their parents. They remain pure or become impure.

 

It's a fact that all religions are not the same. There are many differences and it's very important to know and understand the differences.

 

The animal mentality is that this is the only life, there was no life before this one and no life after this life. Unfortunately most humans also have this mentality. They can only come out of this mentality if they are made aware of the truth.

 

A cow killer is simply following his religious scripture which will take him to hell. He can only stop killing if he knows of alertnatives.

[Guest guest]

Kcp who is your Guru ?

[Guest guest]

Who ever Kcp's Guru is, Kcp is not doing any service to him by preaching in this secatarian way. Kcp is rather doing diservice to him, because no bonafide guru will approve this kind of secatarian preaching which spread hatered in the society instead of spreading love and compassion. I sincerely pray to Supreme Lord Krishna that kcp understand this and adjust his preaching style. Srila Prabhupad never intended to make His movement a secatarian movement. By reading all the kcp's posts one get very wrong preception of Srila Prabhupad's Krishna Conscious movement and this is doing a lot of harm. I'm sure that's not kcp's intention. Any way I pray and hope that kcp's preaching style chages to reflect love and compassion towards everyone. Thanks.

[kcp1982]

Hare Krishna.

 

Are any of my statements false? Their are in fact 100% accurate and the conclusion of the Bhagavad-gita is to abandon all varieties of religion and that's what I am preaching.

 

Most Gurus preach what the people want to hear, which is not allways the truth. I am preaching the truth and based on the Gita, not my concotion.

 

The reason why so many people are giving up a meat free life for values that order cow killing is that they are in darkness. How will know this unless someone tells them?

 

People in darkness are like children. They will do things that will make them suffer. If you allow your children to eat candies all day then you are heartless. As they will suffer afterwards. If you stop them from eating candies then they will protest but that's being compassionate. As they will be saved from the dentist.

 

Those who object to my views should go to Saudi Arabia and live there. You won't be able to take your beads with you, nor you BG, nor your dieties, you can't wear a tilak, you can't chant in public, and so on.

 

Because of mass ignorance the rules of Saudi Arabia will be forced upon India too, in the future. You fools.

[Guest guest]

Kcp are you a member of Iskcon ?

[Guest guest]

Mr. Moderator, Is kcp's views should be taken as Iskcon's views? Pls. clerify.

[Guest guest]

Kcp why are you calling people fools. This is too much. I have no idea who is teaching you all this.

[Guest guest]

It appreas that Kcp is a fanatic.

[Guest guest]

I think kcp is a member of Hindu Shiv Sena !!

[kcp1982]

Hare Krishna.

 

The Shiv Sena has done more for Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON then any of you. If it wasn't for the Shiva Sena, the ISKCON temple in Mumbai would not exist. The dieties were on the verge of being destroyed by ignorant Hindus. But Bal Thakery of the Shiv Sena stopped this and saved the dieties and the temple. You call this being fanatic or Saving own's dharma?

 

Bal Thakery ki jai.

 

Srila Prabhupada himself was very greatful to Bal Thakery for saving the dieties and the temple. Are you going to call Srila Prabhupada a fanatic and member of Shiv Sena? He would be very proud of this.

 

As soon as a Hindu preaches Hindu values, straight from the scriptures. He is called a fanatic.

 

This is the stupidity and foolisness of the ignorant followers of the Vedic dharma.

 

If preaching the truth is called being a fanatic then I am very proud of it.

 

Srila Prabhupada created ISKCON to spread Krishna consciousnes not to spread cow killing and crosses. Lord Chaitanya's mission is to stop cow killing and promote Krishna consciousness, not to pamper cow killers and promote their cow killing values.

 

Srila Prabhupada called those who opposed the truth, fools and raskals. Thus those who oppose the truth are fools and raskals.

 

"The Sastras of the yavanas, or meat-eaters, are not eternal scriptures. They have been fashioned recently, and sometimes they contradict one another. The scriptures of the yavanas are three: the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Koran. Their compilation has a history; they are not eternal like the Vedic knowledge. Therefore

although they have their arguments and reasonings, they are not very sound and transcendental. As such, modern people advanced in science and philosophy deem these scriptures unacceptable." Lord Chaitanya (C.C. Adi lila chapter 17 verse 169)

 

Pampering cow killers is not being compassionate to the cow is it? I am for saving the cow and the cow killers. This is real compassion.

[Guest guest]

There is no use of arguing with Kcp because he'll not rather doesn't want to understand what we are trying to say. so let him do what he wants to do ultimately Krishna is in control.

But I definately say this thank God Srila Prabhupad didn't preach like him otherwise nobody would have listened to him and followed Him. He was full of love and compassion, very practical and visionary. He preached the Truth but in a very humble, compassionate and creative way. Hare Krishna

[Guest guest]

Kcp, what is your problem ? why are you so arrogant? what do you think of yourself. Do you consider yourself more smarter than Srila Prabhupad ? Why are you cuasing damage to His movement by preaching so arrogantly. Pls. think with a cool head what are you doing. No body is against you but there is something wrong with your preaching style. I have read all of your posts. You always only one point which putting down and critisizing other religions. You are not going to achieve anything by doing this. Pls. try to understand Srila Prabhupad's mood and mission. Pls. seek help in doing so.

Hare Krishna

[kcp1982]

Hare Krishna.

 

It's because of so many bogus preachers of Sanatan Dharma who preach what the people want to hear rather then the truth, that the Vedic culture is now a minority in the world.

 

If you don't want to preach the truth then don't open your mouth. This is my advice to all the bogus preachers.

[Guest guest]

Kcp are you the controler ? Don't think you can change the world, Everything happen for a reason. Remember Krishna is the ultimate conroler of everything. You should do your part nicely rest leave upto Krishna.

[Guest guest]

when Krsna says to Arjuna to give up all different types of religion etc He is saying that because Arjuna is a great soul, and that is what he should do.

not everyone is ready to give up their religion.

all religions are there, for differnt types of people, who are at different stages of development.

of course, when one has developed to the highest stage, one just surrenders to Krsna.

[Guest guest]

Kcp, come on, why don't you understand what everybody trying to tell you. Give up the sense of false ego. Don't be so puffed up. Be humble and preach nicely with love and compassion. All right. Don't let Srila Prabhupad down with your arrogant preaching. Come on you know better . O.K. my friend.

Good luck. Hare Krishna

[Guest guest]

Mr. Kcp, your preach Bhagwad Gita but you are not practising. Remember what Lord Krishna says in Gita," Ahankara vimudh atamah---" So, pls. give up ahankar. The way you preach it shows you are so puffed up and think yourself sothething special and always putting down other people. I understand majority of the population is in ignorence but the way you are approaching the problem isn't the effective way. I strongly suggest you to study Srila Prabhupad preaching style and learn from it. I don't know you have a guru or not but it is essential to take shelter of a bonafide guru, who can guide you properly.

Hare Krishna

 

[Nicolas_Bhai]

Prabhupäda´s disciples being pure disciples of the Supreme, shal take one to His will directly...

 

www.backtohome.com --Sankarshan Das aDhikari is doing & guiding an e-mail self realization course.. so maybe for you to take advantage of his mercy also.

 

I think this KCP is Krsna Conciouss People--- maybe for u to sign up !

 

ok

Hari BOl & Hare Krsna, Prabhujis !

[Guest guest]

I think this KCP is Krsna Conciouss People-- ?

[Guest guest]

Krishna consciousness is not about putting down this religion or that religion. Krishna consciousness is very sublime.

Hare Krishna

[Guest guest]

I agree. People like Kcp have no idea what Krishna consciousness is all about.