| Reincarnation means that the soul is changing bodies. | | | | How is Our Next Body Determined? |
| This change of bodies occurs not only at death, but | | | | There are two factors that determine which body we |
| throughout life; from boyhood to youth to old age, then | | | | shall obtain in the next birth. The first is our karma -the |
| to a baby's body. These moment by moment changes | | | | reactions to our good and bad activities that were |
| are too small for the person to be aware of, but when | | | | performed in this life and in previous lives. The second |
| we consider greater amounts of time, then the change | | | | factor is our desire to enjoy particular sense objects. |
| of bodies is obvious. The change of body known as | | | | The example of a man purchasing a car is appropriate |
| death is the most apparent. | | | | in this regard. He has a desire to enjoy in a particular |
| The Bhagavad-gita compares the change of body at | | | | way with his car, and he also has a certain amount of |
| the time of death to a person discarding old and | | | | money to spend. He takes both factors into account |
| useless clothes, and putting on new garments. | | | | to determine which model to purchase. |
| Regardless of whatever plans and adjustments we | | | | Krishna tells us that the state of consciousness that |
| make, our body eventually wears out, and we are | | | | we have upon leaving the present body determines |
| obliged to accept a new one. | | | | the type of body that we will have in the next birth.' |
| Although everyone must die, still we are making plans | | | | This is our "final exam" which we should study for |
| as though death was not certain. Saints have | | | | throughout this life by cultivating remembrance of |
| described this as the most amazing thing in this world. | | | | Krishna. One may think that at the time of death he will |
| That is, even though we see that everyone is dying | | | | suddenly make up for the rest of his life by "getting |
| and getting old, we think that it will not happen to us, | | | | religion." However, things don't work that way. The |
| and we neglect the real purpose of human life: | | | | thoughts, desires and attachments that one has |
| self-realization. One must inquire as to what happens | | | | cultivated throughout his life will be reflected in those |
| at the time of death. | | | | final moments. There is no way to cheat on this |
| Although one may have the body of a man in this life, | | | | "exam." |
| the soul may take the body of a woman in the next. | | | | As far as activities are concerned, we should only |
| One may have an oriental body in one birth, a western | | | | perform activities that carry no karmic weight |
| body in the next; or one may take birth in an animal or | | | | (technically called "akarmic" activities), so that we will |
| insect species as a result of one's activities and | | | | not have to return to this world either to receive bad |
| desires in this life. It is important to understand how the | | | | or good results. Then we will return to the spiritual |
| soul transmigrates from one body to the next. | | | | abode of the Lord. |