Hereafter, Thereafter Or Transcendental Existence
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
23 February
2023
While Mr S
Arshad elucidated the Doctrine
of Reincarnation in a lucid manner, I'm afraid, it doesn't explain many
phenomena of life. Life is too complex to be explained by certain theories and
doctrines. I agree with Mr Ghulam Mohiyuddin that it's the inherent
unwillingness of humans to accept that Death is the End.
The Eastern
belief system believes in the continuity of things and the continuation of
life. That's why, Hindu religion concocted the concept of 84 lakh yoni (84 lakh
lives).
All Puranas
(altogether 18) describe this journey of several lives and types to culminate
in human life, which's considered to be the ultimate. Hinduism and its
offshoots Buddhism and Jainism believe in rebirth.
But if you
look at all religions and their post-death philosophies, you'll realize that
it's because of our fear of death, we've concocted rebirth, Hereafter,
Thereafter or Transcendental existence. All these things are meaningless. If
Edwin Booth took birth as Amitabh, Nana Saheb as Indira Gandhi and Tipu Sultan
as APJ Abdul Kalam, where did all sorts of intervening lives (insects, worms,
animals etc.) go? If humans take birth as (only) humans, then there's no
meaning of the concept of 84 lakh (different) yonis.
Humans
unnecessarily make life complicated by fabricating terms like transmigration,
transmutation of soul. All scriptures further strengthened these baseless ideas
by institutionalizing them.
Gabriel
Marquez once said, ' An individual's life is a single and independent unit that
begins and ends here. The indomitable wish to live forever in whatever way
possible is the root to creating a medley of theological beliefs. '
This
convoluted perpetuation of human life witnessed only men and no women in the
Buddhist tradition of Dalai Lamas. Does soul (which actually doesn't exist)
also discriminate between sexes and favour only men?
The belief
that unfulfilled deeds and wishes get fulfilled in next birth and as a new
person is a wistful thinking. Claiming that Mozart's life was a continuation
from the previous birth because he composed his first symphony at the age of 4
and a half has no scientific basis.
But I must
add here (just for the sake of effect) that when someone asked the great English poet Keats, how he wrote such sublime
poetry at such a tender age, Keats said, " I'm living a posthumous life"
(one of the greatest lines in the annals of English literature). It's
worthwhile to mention that Keats died at the age of 26 in 1821! By the way,
today, Feb 23, is his death anniversary!
Coming back
to reincarnation, rebirth, heaven, hell or Hereafter, 'Dil Ke Bahlane Ko Ghalib
Ye Khayaal Acchha Hai...'
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic
Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism