On Hinduism

Death is inevitable and deterministic (uncontrollable) according to the Hindu religion. 

Death does not imply the cessation of our existence, but it means a new beginning. Death is just a small milestone on the journey of infinite miles of eternal existence. Thus the phenomena of death is linked to the concept of rebirth.

Hinduism has a deep rooted belief in the theory of rebirth; the idea of rebirth is connected to the idea of the ‘Atman’ or the Soul, the individual’s non-material inner self that is eternal. The Atman cannot be experienced with the five sense organs but it does exist as a spiritual substance. When a human dies, the Atman from his body detaches itself from the literal body and moves out in search of another body and there occurs rebirth. 

How does the Atman decide what it wants to be reborn again as? This question takes us to one of the most basic philosophical theories of Hinduism; the concept of Karma. Karma is the accumulated past actions waiting to come to fruition. One’s rebirth depends on past actions (Karma), good deeds taking you towards better births and immoral deeds taking you towards birth in lower category creatures like animals. 

Thus Hinduism gives a highly positive interpretation to the concept of death and the journey beyond this life. We will always live in the form of an Atman and death is a milestone on the journey of the Atman.

In Bhagavad Gita, Supreme GOD Sree Krishna says to Arjun (Chapter 2, Sloka 22):

vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya

navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi

tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya

nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī

As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.

Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand What happens when we die?, What is Reincarnation?, 

Contributor: Mona Raval

Location of this post (14b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-happens-when-we-die/

According to Hinduism, Yes!

Hinduism is deeply rooted in the concept of Karma and reincarnation. Destiny is defined as a predetermined course of events (in general or in an individual’s life) as planned by Divine will. Hindus believe that such a predetermined course is created by an individual through his or her actions or “karma” in one’s present life or past lives; as choosing good karma produces good effects on the actor, while choosing the bad karma produces bad effects in present or future lives.

Destiny therefore is the result of the past exercise of the actor’s choice. By choosing the actions in the past, an individual brings on the resultant destiny in this life. Similarly, by choosing good actions in the present, one can change the course of present life and in future reincarnations.

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Sri Aurobindo, wrote (Dec 16, 1936): “We ourselves are our own fate through our actions, but the fate created by us binds us; for what we have sown, we must reap in this life or another. Still we are creating our fate for the future even while undergoing old fate from the past in the present. That gives a meaning to our will and action…”.

In Mahabharata, destiny and karma are explained with examples of seeds: “Without seeds, fruits do not grow. Good seeds when sown yield good fruits. Bad seeds when sown yield weeds and bad fruits. If no seeds are sown, there are no fruits. Without exertion in this life, destiny is meaningless. One’s exertion now is like a tilled soil; the seeds are like destiny. The union of tilled soil and seeds, that is one’s present effort and destiny inside the seed, produces the harvest. 

He who exerts with initiative is his own best friend, he who relies solely on destiny is his own worst enemy.” [Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Hidden Forces of Life, Ch. 1 Life Through the Eyes of the Yogin, pp.13-14].

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Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: Can Destiny be Changed

Contributor: Ashis Khan

Location of this post (14c): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/can-destiny-be-changed/

Hindus believe that the Atman (soul) is immortal passing through the process wherein the Atman reincarnates into different physical bodies through cycles of birth and death. Guided by the Laws of Karma, the Atman continues on its path of spiritual evolution. The ultimate aim of Hindus is for the Atman to attain freedom from this continuous cycle of birth and rebirth and discover its divine origin.

Imagine a single tennis game where the person who has the serve, also has been given an ability to serve an Ace 100% of the time.  What are the rules for success where the coin toss can determine game outcomes? Would you believe there is any merit in learning to play the game well? What if you just play one game, a single event? Would you think the game is fair? 

If you answer is NO, then you have just made an argument in favor of reincarnation. You just have to conclude that for the world to be non-random, there have to be multiple games played, and the success in one game improves the beginning odds in the next game.

If you disagree, then you have just concluded that all life is random, and there is very little advantage in learning to live better. 

Despite the dogma against it in the western world, there are still scientific studies done on remembering past lives. The Medical School at University of Virginia maintains a site and has written several scientific papers journaling reported pre-birth experiences that are very analogous to the detailed descriptions in the Hindu Tradition. Just read with an open mind.

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Other reading material: HAF: Do Hindus believe in reincarnation? Division of Perceptual Studies | University of Virginia School 

Back When I Was Older : Invisibilia , Reincarnation: WHO is it that Travels? Atma? Jiva? Subtle body?

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand What is Reincarnation?, What happens when we die?, Can I be born as a plant or animal? Swami Tadatmananda on reincarnation: Reincarnation: WHO is it that Travels? Atma? Jiva? Subtle body?

Contribution: Gaurav Rastogi

Location of this post (15b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/do-hindus-believe-in-reincarnation/