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