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Life after Death đȘ The Eternal Journey of our Soul
Deciphering the Mystic Journey with Astrology
âWhen you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, youâre the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.â
The Cycle of Birth and Death
The Vedic culture, rooted in the ancient scriptures of the Vedas and Upanishads, teaches us that life and death are but two sides of the same coin, an eternal cycle that governs the natural order. In the words of the Bhagavad Gita (2.27):
âFor one who has taken birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable.â
This cycle, known as Samsara, is the endless loop of birth, death, and rebirth. It is driven by Karma, the law of cause and effect, which binds the soul to this material world.
The Subtle Essence: The Journey of the Soul
When we leave this physical body, not everything perishes. There is a subtle essence, the Atman or soul, which is eternal and indestructible. As the Mundaka Upanishad (2.2.7) elucidates:
âThe self within is not affected by death or decay. The knower of the self transcends death and attains immortality.â
This Atman carries forward the impressions of our actions, thoughts, and desires, traversing the realms of existence.
Departure from the Body: Upon death, the soul (Atman) leaves the physical body. The belief is that the soul is eternal and merely sheds the body, akin to discarding worn-out clothes.
Intermediate State (Antarabhava): The soul enters an intermediate state. Some texts, like the *Garuda Purana*, detail this period as a time when the soul reflects on its past life and awaits the next birth.
Karma and Rebirth: The soulâs next destination is determined by its accumulated karma (actions and deeds from past lives). Good karma can lead to a higher birth or a more favorable rebirth, while bad karma can result in a lower form of life or more challenging circumstances.
