Beyond Reincarnation: Decoding the Soul's Path to Liberation
Key Takeaways
True reincarnation involves the return of an enlightened, unified individuality in a new body.
Ordinary people experience transmigration - the return of egoic defects seeking new forms.
Revolution of consciousness through eliminating the ego can lead to conscious reincarnation.
Fallen masters show a mixture of reincarnation and return. Vigilance is required.
Daily spiritual practice prepares us for the soul's journey in the macrocosm.
What awaits us beyond the veil of death? This question has haunted humanity since the beginning of time.
Many traditions speak of the soul incarnating again in a new physical body. But terms like reincarnation and transmigration carry nuances worth demystifying.
The ancient teachings reveal that ordinary souls experience something quite different from enlightened masters. Entangled in cycles of desire, most drift between realms yet unchanged within.
Only through inner revolution can we transform recursion into conscious rebirth. This wisdom offers not only solace about the continuity of consciousness, but maps for navigating the terrain between lives.
Understanding these soul journeys leads to living more presently, walking with lighter steps unburdened by the past.By exploring the mystical meanings of reincarnation and transmigration, we can orient our inner compass towards liberation.
The stakes are no less than transcendence versus eternal return.
The Mysteries of Reincarnation and Return
The doctrine of reincarnation has been obscured by misconceptions.
To clarify, we must distinguish between reincarnation of an individuality versus the return of aggregates.
True Reincarnation
True reincarnation is the descent of an immortal, sacred individuality into a new human organism. This only occurs for enlightened beings who have achieved perfection, eliminating all traces of ego.
The common person, harboring anger, pride, envy and other defects, does not reincarnate in this higher sense. For them, what continues after death is a sum of egos disconnecting from the physical body. Lacking unity, these egos return continually, caught in the wheel of karma.
Reincarnation implies the descent of a fully defined sacred individuality into a new human organism. True reincarnation applies only to masters who have achieved the development of a permanent ego.
"Reincarnation means that such a descent is repeated: divinity returns and takes shape in another human organism; divinity reincorporates."
Samael Aun Weor emphasized that reincarnation is for "holy individuals" - those pure, immaculate spirits who have eliminated all defects and animal ego. For the common person full of anger, pride, lust and other defects, we cannot speak of reincarnation.
Krishna affirms that only the gods, sacred titans and angels reincarnate - not the ordinary person still trapped in ego. Divine beings like Buddha, Jesus, Hermes and Krishna are examples of true reincarnation.
"Krishna, for example, says that "only the gods, the devas", the pitris or titans, etc. reincarnate. And that is obvious, brothers and sisters; because for there a reincarnation, there needs to be a totally defined sacred individuality."
Return of the Egos
This wheel of return, known as samsara, revolves mechanically. The disembodied egos roam in kamaloka seeking new forms, driven by attractions and repulsions.
Lacking conscience and reason, they gravitate blindly towards environments and parents with whom they have karmic affinities.
Eventually reincorporating into flesh, the returning egos re-energize their vices. As the Buddha taught, all suffering stems from desire. Thus samsara perpetuates itself through the return of the egos seeking to fulfill unquenched cravings.
"From an inconstruable beginning comes transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating & wandering on." - Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya XV.3 (Buddha, S. N. (2000). Connected Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications.)
This cycle only ceases through revolution - the death of the ego achieved by treading the inner path to the light. This requires tremendous self-observation, mercilessly judging and comprehending our defects. By sincerely asking the Divine Mother to disintegrate those dark impurities, we can free the essence from its cages.
“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” - Bhagavad Gita 2.20 (Prabhupada, A.C. B. (1986). Bhagavad Gita as it is. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.)
For the common person, what continues after death is a collection of egos - anger, pride, lust, envy. These egos or defects lack a permanent individuality, so they do not reincarnate. However, they do return incessantly to repeat dramas and tend to reincorporate in new bodies.
"After death what continues is a bunch of devils. I repeat: after death what continues is a bunch of devils."
This return of egos is mechanical, belonging to the wheel of Samsara. The egos rotate from life to life, imprisoned in their desires. This return must be comprehended through meditation and eliminated through comprehension and sacrifice for humanity.
"This samsara is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving." - Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya XV.2 (Buddha, S. N. (2000). Connected Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications.)
The Revolution of the Consciousness
"The soul comes to this world in an impure crude state, but evolves by transmigration and by studies human bodies to become an Angel." – Plutarch, On the Soul (Plutarch. (1957). Moralia Vol. 12. Harvard University Press.)
Jesus taught this revolutionary path, comparing it to the narrow gate that few find. This path unfolds through three factors:
First, we must sacrifice our inner animality, dying psychologically to the elements that chain us to sorrow.
Second, we must be spiritually born again, transforming the creative energy to build imperishable solar bodies.
Third, we must sacrifice ourselves for humanity, using our light to illuminate those lost in darkness.
Through death of the ego, birth of the soul, and sacrificing for others, we light the revolutionary path that leads out of samsara.
While mechanical evolution and devolution of the wheel of Samsara occur, we must take advantage of human life to walk the revolution of the consciousness. This revolution implies the death of the ego, the birth of the soul, and sacrifice for others.
Jesus taught this path in the words: Jesus: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.”
This strait gate is the path of the revolution of the consciousness that few find.
"Die, because you have to die, the ego must die, it must be reduced to dust." "You have to be born, yes, we need to become true children of light, masters of the temple of the twice born." "And we have to sacrifice ourselves for humanity."
The Three Factors for the Revolution
"I am the owner of my karma. I inherit my karma. I am born of my karma. I am related to my karma. I live supported by my karma. Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit." - Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 (Buddha, A. N. (2012). Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications.)
There are three factors for the revolution of consciousness:
Death of the ego
Through comprehension, we must reduce the ego to dust. This requires tremendous self-observation, merciless judgment of our defects, and asking the divine mother to disintegrate those aggregates.
“The eternal know their own eternal forms; the Blessed recognize the nature of the soul. But he who does not comprehend does not see this at all.” – Bhagavad Gita 15.11 (Prabhupada, A.C. B. (1986). Bhagavad Gita as it is. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.)
Birth of the soul
We must become true children of light - twice born masters possessing the gold of the spirit. This second birth occurs through the work in the flaming forge of Vulcan - alchemical work with the Kundalini, the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Sacrifice for humanity
We must imitate Christ, taking up our cross for humanity. This means giving up our own life to guide others to the light.
“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.” – Bhagavad Gita 2:13 (Prabhupada, A.C. B. (1986). Bhagavad Gita as it is. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.)
Fallen Bodhisattvas: Reincarnation and Return
“From a non-existent state came transmigration of life; human beings with good and evil deeds, of good and evil births, of high and low status were differentiated.” - Faxian, The Travels of Faxian (Faxian. (1829). The Travels of Faxian.)
There are rare cases where enlightened masters fall again into egoic desire. These fallen bodhisattvas illustrate the nuances between reincarnation and return.
The bodhisattvas possess the golden embryo - a permanent vehicle of consciousness that reincarnates. Yet falling into desire, dormant egos resurrect, producing a mixture of reincarnation and return.
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” - Bhagavad Gita 2:22 (Prabhupada, A.C. B. (1986). Bhagavad Gita as it is. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.)
These masters suffer immensely until eliminating the resurrected egos. But their golden embryo allows them to eventually regain enlightenment. This highlights the importance of vigilance - without it, even advanced initiates can fall.
The fallen bodhisattvas demonstrate the complexities of reincarnation versus return. The bodhisattvas are masters who achieved the second birth in the past, but fell later on.
"The fallen bodhisattvas demonstrate the complexities of reincarnation versus return. The bodhisattvas are masters who achieved the second birth in the past, but fell later on. Thus, they have a real individuality that reincarnates. However, having fallen, their previously eliminated egos resurrected. Thus, they also exhibit return. There is a mixture of reincarnation and return in them."
Thus, they have a real individuality that reincarnates. However, having fallen, their previously eliminated egos resurrected. Thus, they also exhibit return. There is a mixture of reincarnation and return in them.
Transmigration: The Devolutions of the Wheel
"O son of Kuntī, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." - Bhagavad Gita 2:14 (Prabhupada, A.C. B. (1986). Bhagavad Gita as it is. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.)
There are 108 required existences on the wheel of Samsara. One who fails to achieve liberation in these 108 lives enters the submerged devolution of the infernal worlds. The essence descends through animal, plant and mineral states, recapitulating the entire evolution through time.
"There are 108 required existences on the wheel of Samsara. One who fails to achieve liberation in these 108 lives enters the submerged devolution of the infernal worlds."
Upon completing this descent, the essence is liberated from the ego which is reduced to ashes in the second death. The essence then re-emerges to restart evolutionary progress up through matter, regaining human state.
"This process of descents and ascents is transmigration or metempsychosis. It differs from reincarnation of an individual ego. Transmigration involves the evolution of collective life, not defined individuals."
It differs from reincarnation of an individual ego. Transmigration involves the evolution of collective life, not defined individuals.
Our Soul's Nightly Journeys
To understand reincarnation, we must comprehend what occurs each night with our soul. Upon sleeping, the virtuous soul may ascend to the divine regions, converse with angels and visit the temples of the Lord.
"Upon sleeping, the virtuous soul may ascend to the divine regions, converse with angels and visit the temples of the Lord. The soul returns to the body connected by the silver cord."
The soul returns to the body connected by the silver cord.
But souls stained by evil cannot ascend and are plagued by delusions. The soul remains dreaming falsehoods until re-entering its body.
This demonstrates that without eliminating defects, we remain far from our divine source. But the one who perfects him or herself through the death of the ego comes into harmony with the heavenly spheres.
The Three Souls of the Kabbalah
The goal is to lift the Nephesh and Ruach into harmony with the Neshamah, reuniting with our Divine Monad. But those who fail in their evolution descend into the infernal worlds, traversing the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms through millennia of recursion.
Upon completing this submersion, the ego is reduced to ashes. The liberated essence then re-emerges from matter, climbing back through the kingdoms to redeem the human state once again.
The Kabbalah explains that we have three types of soul:
Nephesh - The animal soul, related to instincts
Ruach - The thinking soul, related to the mind
Neshamah - The spiritual soul, related to our inner Being
These three souls are parts of our inner Ruach Elohim, the divine Monad. The goal is to perfect ourselves by lifting the Nephesh and Ruach into harmony with the Neshamah, until being reabsorbed into the divine spirit.
"These three souls are parts of our inner Ruach Elohim, the divine Monad. The goal is to perfect ourselves by lifting the Nephesh and Ruach into harmony with the Neshamah, until being reabsorbed into the divine spirit."
Abraham's Three Angels
"The book of Genesis depicts Abraham encountering three angels, relating them to three solar aspects of the divine spirit. This symbolizes the initiation process of integrating the three souls to reunite with our innermost Being."
The Path to Self-Realization
The fundamental choice facing each soul is whether to remain adrift in unconscious transmigration or actively revolutionize the self toward conscious reincarnation.
Unlike the first path which is passive and deterministic, the second requires focused spiritual work transforming the very fabric of one's consciousness.
Yet what is required to escape the gravitational pull of samsara?
The mystics point to daily practice unraveling threads of ego that tether us to lower realms. Through rigorous self-observation, we begin witnessing the impulses and automatic reactions that dictate our thoughts, words, and deeds.
This impartial awareness leads to comprehension - perceiving the emptiness underlying each defect.
We recognize how our envies, fears, and hatreds create suffering, binding us to recurrence. Shedding light on this darkness through meditation, we come to view the ego as separate from our essential nature.
Now the path opens to consciously relinquish these fractured parts, invoking a higher power to disintegrate their formations.
Replacing lower vibrations with unconditional love, the soul's true essence shines brighter.
In due time, as the ancient teachings foretold, the chrysalis of ego gives way to emergence of the divine human. With no distortions left reflecting duality, the twice-born realize their eternal nature.
Focusing solely on benefitting others, these living masters continue animating human forms out of pure compassion. Their reincarnations transcend time, ceasing only when all lost sheep are returned to the fold.
While this stage remains distant for most, the mystics assure us the journey begins with the first steps. By dedicating each moment to refining our state of consciousness, we pull ourselves from the inertia of transmigration.
The trials along this path are necessary and integral to breaking entrenched patterns. With patience and perseverance, we drink from the eternal waters, our divine nature growing stronger. And one day we shall awake from the dream altogether.
Distilling this complex lecture into its core insights, we find:
Reincarnation and return have different meanings.
For the ordinary person, there is return of egos from life to life.
But for the one who perfects him or herself, there is true reincarnation of the sacred individuality.
Daily introspection on our ego and meditation on the divine is required.
By eliminating defects and harmonizing our three souls, we can attain self-realization and escape the wheel of Samsara.
The goal is to move from unconscious transmigration to conscious reincarnation by revolutionizing ourselves spiritually. We must devote ourselves to comprehending and dissolving the ego in order to incarnate the divine within.
References
Aun Weor, S. (2004). The Revolution of the Dialectic. Glorian Publishing.
Aun Weor, S. (2009). Tarot and Kabbalah. Glorian Publishing.
Aun Weor, S. (2010). The Three Mountains. Glorian Publishing.
In summary, these mysteries reveal that ordinary humans experience return and metempsychosis, repeating cycles unaware. But the spiritually disciplined tread the straight path of conscious reincarnation, annihilating the ego to incarnate their Divine Monad without end.
While this requires profound sacrifice, no greater joy exists than the glory of unification with our eternal Being.
Today we take one step closer.
Let us walk boldly towards the light.
Join us on this unforgettable adventure!
