Life after death: philosophical and scientific perspectives

Reincarnation

As a believer in the Baha" religion, I most definitely subscribe to the notion of reincarnation. It is folly to think that we are here of this earth only once. Rather, we are part of a universal aspect, if you will. We are parts of a greater whole and, as such, we become an intricate aspect of this life. The Baha" faith includes the concept of an ability to continue a life of perfection beyond this life. A key concept of this belief is that the outward expression of man reflects his inward nature. When we look at life in this way, we are more prone to do good because we have an overarching reason to do so. Reincarnation makes sense as a part of life because it contributes to the wholeness of life and the continuance of life as one.

We are not of this world to live wholly unto ourselves. Beyond the tangible, there are things that contribute to this life and many of them determine the afterlife. I believe that all living things exist in a physical body and possess an immaterial entity, most commonly referred to as a soul or life force. In fact, many people believe in a soul. What we must do as responsible beings is consider why we have soul. Is it merely to prove we are alive? I think not. It is meant to move us through life. Upon death, the physical body is the only thing that actually dies. The life force, or soul, takes a new physical form, which is subject to the law of karma. In other words, how one has lived his or her life will determine his or her afterlife. This belief makes the most sense out of the world and how we live. If we are to believe that this life is all that we have, we are to behave with less regard for others and the world, for that is all there is. In essence, that is a cop out.

To completely understand the aspect of reincarnation, one must completely disassociate him or herself from the teachings of the world because the world does not teach the complete and balanced teaching of reincarnation. In a world that is concerned with only the here and coupled along with instant gratification, it should not be a surprise that reincarnation is understood by few. What many fail to see is that reincarnation is actually makes more sense than many other teachings. For instance, with reincarnation, we can see how thing corresponds with one another. In this way, we can see how one generation is connected with another.

One aspect of reincarnation relies upon human recognition. It is clear that we cannot rely upon recognition or imagination when it comes to this concept because human recognition is limited to experience and that in and of itself is limited. When the mind is opened to the Baha" religion, other aspects other than the here and now are examined and considered. One of those aspects is reincarnation. When it is considered in its spiritual context rather than the physical one of this world, we are more apt to understand its significance. Once we open our spiritual eyes to the concept of reincarnation and can consider it without the minutia of the material world, we can explore its significance. Only then, will we become aware of all that exists in the world.