Expert: Aupmanyav - 1/16/2012

Question
QUESTION: Sir, i have read your after life answers ( 2007 ). My question is what do you mean by saying that we are eternal? Do you mean to say that the atoms (elements) that make up the body ( as a matter of fact any other object ) are eternal ? If so then i feel that it has nothing to do with We being eternal. As once we die we lose our identity and there is no possible way of retaining our memories or knowing what we were before what we learned all along in life and we have to relearn if we are born as humans again and this too if there is a rebirth at all  ( or is there a way of knowing what we were before that I am not aware of ).And even if there is after life how are we to sat that it is We who are living the afterlife and not somebody or something else? . Please enlighten me.

ANSWER: Dear Ahem,

There is no way to prove one way or the other if there is a rebirth. More than that, it is a matter of belief. Some people believe in existence of soul (christians and muslims) and some other people believe in soul as well as rebirth (hindus, jains, and sikhs. The buddhist concept of rebirth is quite different as they do not believe in soul but in 'karmas'. That would be a separate question).

According to hindu, jain, or sikh belief, in rebirth the identity is not lost neither is the load of past 'karmas'. But there is no memory of past life and one has to learn again by new experiences.

Among atheists, there is no concept of soul or of transfer of 'karmas'. When we die, we cease completely with our identity and memory. What remains of us are the atoms which combine to form a part of millions of living and non-living things. This exchange of atoms is what continues for eternity. Now, some people take that humorously as a rebirth.

So, it depends what one's views are. Theists will believe in God and soul and some in rebirth also, while atheists will refute all this. My views have not changed in the last five years. With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Aupmanyav

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sir, does that mean there is no absolute truth or are we not evolved enough to know it, if there is one ? And I also wanted to know about your views on taking non vegetarian food , killing of mosquitoes or other beings knowingly or unknowingly.

Are there any absolute standards of morality ? And what do you believe is the ultimate aim of our existence and what was the need of our existence in first place. And does it help to have a belief system at all in the first place ?

Yours sincerely,

Ahem

Answer
Dear Ahem,

Sure, there is absolute truth, but people do not accept it, as it breaks down their ego and identity. Atheists accept that with death we cease to exist leaving behind nothing but atoms. Your second question was decided thousands of years ago in the 'Dharma-vyadha' story of SrimadBhagawat Purana, when the butcher said that it is impossible to live without killing other lives. Are not the plants of grain and vegetables that we eat, living? Do we know how many microbes are killed by our body during the course of living. It is accepted that to avoid killing or giving pain to others knowingly is, but there is a limit to what can be achieved.

The standard of morality is what helps to sustain the family and society. That is our 'dharma'. I leave having a belief system to you. Hinduism does not interfere in that. It is your choice. 'Mata' - opinion. You can be a polytheist, a monotheist, an atheist, or whatever kind of theism that satisfies you. The least common multiple (LCM) in hinduism is to follow your 'dharma'. With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Aupmanyav