125. Genesis of Fortune

Arjuna enquires, while practising ‘vairagya’ with ‘shraddha’ (trust), if one dies before attaining perfection in yoga (union) (6.37), does he have to start the practice all over again (6.38).

Krishna assures that such a person who has fallen from yoga will never get destroyed (6.40). He is born in the home of the pure or wealthy (6.41) or yogis, otherwise, such births are harder (6.42). United with the knowledge acquired in his former body, he strives for perfection (6.43) and transcends with practice (abhyaas) (6.44) to attain the supreme goal after many births (6.45).

An earthen pot is the best example to understand the intricacies involved. When a pot is made, it always encloses some space. An important point to note is that when the pot is moved from one place to another, the space enclosed by it does not move along with the pot. Instead, the pot encloses new space. Secondly, depending on the contents stored in it, the pot acquires certain characteristics like scent etc. Even after the pot is broken, the smell is likely to continue for some time. If that space with the scent is engulfed by another pot, it will carry the previous characteristics of that space.

If the metaphorical pot is taken to represent the human body, the space within it represents the atma (soul), and the all-pervading external space represents Paramatma (Supersoul). When the body becomes incapable of discharging its duties, the atma discards it and assumes another body, just as one changes worn-out clothes (2.22). This indicates that while the atma itself remains unchanged, it carries the acquired attributes and impressions forward.

In contemporary science, the mathematical model of reality suggests that there are about ten dimensions. The example of the pot is easy to grasp in our three-dimensional existence whereas Krishna’s assurance as Paramatma is at the level of multidimensional existence where many attributes are carried forward from one life to another. This assurance will help us to start the journey at any point of time in life.


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