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