145. A Relook at Rebirth


Krishna said that my noble devotees, having obtained Me, are no longer subject to punar-janma (rebirth) (8.16) which otherwise is the abode of grief (8.15). Understanding punar-janma or rebirth is important in this context.

In line with its literal meaning, rebirth is commonly understood as the attainment of a new life after death; however, it can also be interpreted as the birth of a new situation around us.

Situations keep evolving around us on a regular basis which are perceived by the senses with their cognitive biases. When a situation ends, the ripples generated by it in us would give birth to many more situations because of our responses or behaviour. For example, a bad day at work can carry over and spoil the evening with family. Krishna called this cyclic process an ‘abode of grief’. But for those who attained Paramatma, these sense inputs disappear like rivers in an ocean. Hence there is no scope for creating new situations.

We have no control over external situations, but we can transform ourselves so that they lose their power over us, allowing us to remain a sakshi (witness). The path for this change is often described as ‘param-path’ or supreme path. The entrance for this path is ‘veet-raag’ or free of attachments (8.11) which is shedding both longing and aversion to situations and people (7.27). The next step is to control the senses, confining the mind in the heart and remembering the Lord (8.12-8.13). Krishna assures that He is easily attainable when this path is followed (8.14).

We try to change the situations and people as we assume that they are responsible for our miseries and blame them. The real change should happen within us where the situations or people lose their ability to influence us which is the state of no rebirth.


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