Reincarnation and the Universal Cycles

The Transitory State We Call Death

Death, the ultimate initiation, is something that has been the focus of many great thinkers throughout the ages. They have explored through elevated states of being and through the practice of mysticism, oftentimes through the use of mind altering substances or deep meditative states. The great answers to the mysteries of the cosmos are not found without, rather they have existed within since time immemorial. What sort of insight can we gain from those who have traveled the spiritual path so many others of tread?

The most consistent across all religions is the concept of reincarnation, even in the Judaeo-Christian faiths in their original teachings, some of which are still in the current versions and translations of the Bible. Those will be discussed later in this post with theosophical and philosophical interpretations based in their appropriate texts. This concept is based in the understanding of the cycles reflected throughout nature and the cosmos and is the teachings at the heart of every spiritual teachings of old.

When we look at existence, it is broken down into three points of being when looked at with time. They are past, present. and future, which is nothing new but is being stated to lay the foundation of the sacred expression of the number three. The enigma of the Sphinx was broken down into the number three and referred to the three states of mankind in ages, they being a being that walks by four (child), walks by two (adult), and by three (old age with cane). This also refers to life, death, rebirth, birth being removed since it is implied under the concept of life as was never intended to be a part of the equation since it is also implied under the cause and effect of death, it causing the direction of rebirth. This can be seen in flowers and many other plants that go through these cycles, however, the planet is the most profound with the expressions of its seasons going through life and death in a cyclic fashion. In a previous post, it should be remembered that it was explained the nature of the outside world in proportion to the human being, which should start making sense at the extreme level it takes effect, this just being the tip of the iceberg with what Mother Earth can teach us about ourselves.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna (Vishnu) tells Arjuna about the nature of their existence when he says, "Never truly, have I never not existed--nor you, nor these kings who protect the people, and never shall any of us ever cease to be, now or forevermore." The Self is not the body that envelopes it, it is nothing more than a shell, a husk, a sepulcher of sorts that is shed in the same way a seed is shed to give life to the plant. Krishna goes on to explain, "Just as the embodied while in this body passes through childhood, youth, and old age [hint at Sphinx Riddle], so also the embodied attains another body--the wise person is not bewildered by this." Not feeling wise in your bewilderment? Don't feel bad. It is referring to have the individual gnosis of the transitory nature of the cosmos, ie knowing that nothing ever ends but simply transitions into another state of being, which is the occult truth that Einstein was referring to when he say that matter can not be created nor destroyed. To give reference, here's another picture showing the concept expressed symbolically:

Oddly enough, this image actually reveals the seat of the spirit (Self incarnate) in the human body, which is in the heart, not the mind. It also reveals another secret that is not often spoken about even in philosophical and theosophical societies, the secret of consciousness existing before matter, matter being the animated expression of spirit, even the vehicle of it. All is alive, even in "death", throughout the universe as it is always "vibrating".

What about the Bible? Surely the bible which speaks of eternal damnation surely believes that death is in fact the end and that you don't come back, right? Well, no, and the notion of Hell is in fact a modern addition to the Christian and Catholic faiths and was created by the Catholic Church. Even the images of what we think about today when the thought of Hell is brought up aren't in the Bible, rather are from Milton and Dante Alighieri. There is no mention of anything that either of them writ about in the Bible or any of the Gnostic texts which predate and post date it. Sorry to be the one to tell you Santa Clause isn't real with this one, but this is one of the biggest lies perpetuated by a religious organization. That being said, the reality of what it really means would shock most, since if there was an actual Hell, you and I are smack dab in it, which the Cathars believed and is what got them removed from the Catholic Church, amongst other things deemed heresy by the Church.

 

We find in the Zohar (Kabbalistic Text), "The Soul and the Form when descending on Earth put on an earthly garment," This is also a reference to the three fold nature of the Self, it being Atma, Buddhi, and Manas, or Spirit, Soul, and Mind respectively. This confirms that the original understanding of the Semitic Tribes being that spirit existed before the body and that consciousness existed before the material as well, although it still leaves the room for damnation based upon said incarnation, but if you remember, the Bible talks about the fall happening, and guess who was a part of that fall? Mankind as a whole, but not for sin, rather for desire to life, which theosophically speaking means cause and effect of  Karma. In that system, morality is removed in the same way that nature doesnt have a morality; mankind is the one that created morality. This is also where the Cathars get the notion of Hell being here on Earth because they understood the esoteric teachings of Christianity.

Even Jesus was recognized in the book of Joshua as a reincarnated being. That isn't even mentioning what was already explained in another post about Jesus teaching yoga, a spiritual tradition he picked up on his travels to India, which is still debated in some academic circles. Either way, the parallels are unmistakable and the teachings show the existence of reincarnation even with their messiah. Those who know more about the life of the historical Jesus (yes, the is an actual historical Jesus), it should be know that Jesus was taught by the Essenes and initiated into their mysteries. Some of those teachings were centered around reincarnation and the transitory existence of this life. It is also known by reading the Book of John that the God of Jesus was not the same God of the Old Testament, which Jesus makes the distinction with his arguments with the Pharisees. That should be sufficient to understand that even Jesus, and the Semites for that matter, both believed in reincarnation, and taught it to their followers, even if they didn't pray to the same God.

All that is well and good, but how is it reflected in the cosmos? This is best explained with the Days and Nights of Brahma, since they refer to cosmic life, death, and rebirth. When Brahma breathes out, this is considered a day and is shown in science with the expansion of the universe; when Brahma breathes in (night), the universe is reabsorbed into a point of singularity. This is the Macro to the Micro being shown from the universal point all the way down to life here on Earth. Why would humans be so egotistical to assume they are the exception to a cosmic law? In short, we're not and we are bond under the same laws.

Since it seems fitting, I'll post the Theosophical motto: Satyan Nasti paro dharmah!