Right Here, Right Now

Is there life after death? I had never really thought about it until I read that Sikhism also subscribes to the theory of reincarnation. I was a bit surprised because this young religion of mine is so non-regressive. Suddenly the chatter on karmic connections, past life regressions, spirits that talk to you ,reincarnations and paying karmic debts became too loud in my head.

So when I chanced upon ‘Many Masters , Many Lives’ that many friends had recommended , I was happy to read it. And read it in one evening. 

And then had a nightmarish night. I dreamt of all those souls, floating in the universe around me, waiting till the Masters came to give them gyaan and till they found another life. It was eerie - to think of those billions of souls shifting in and out of bodies -the sound they seemed to make was like the sound of a message sent from an Iphone -zoop . And of the  hierarchy of planes that the souls could be on - much like a caste system, except that it depended on how evolved your soul is. What the Masters said is what I can happily preach too! 

I am definitely not an evolved soul and my disbelief in reincarnation and life after death is strong as ever. 

Belief in re-incarnation seems like an emotional crutch - I may not have got what I desire in this life - maybe a job ,a guy , a house or diamonds  - so it soothes me to think that in another life time I may have had them, or will have them. To think there is a karmic connection with people in my life is to try and establish bonds that don’t exist. If I think there is another life in which I am going to realise my potential, then am I not wasting what I have right now?

There is no such thing as a Karmic debt from another life. I believe strongly in Karma, but Karma is fairly instant for me - I am punished (or rewarded) instantly. If I pay for my actions in this very life, why would I be carrying other baggage? And like me, other people also pay for their actions in this lifetime - sometimes it is visible, sometimes it is not - but they do. So that ‘Karmo ka Phal’ is right here, right now. 

There is no justification for relationships I have in this present life - happy or rocky, they are part of my now.  I may connect with some people deeply, but that is because humans tend to do that - bond selectively with some people. 

When I lose a beloved one to death, it hurts me and leaves a vacuum in my life. But the person stays on with me, in my thoughts , in what I learnt and in the legacy I might carry forward. If I can feel them after death, it is because they stay in my heart. That’s it. 

What I do believe in very strongly is destiny. You might plan stuff, but life turns out pretty different. When I was young, I thought I would be this super cracko corporate head honcho, and everything in my life was geared for that. But life turned out differently for me - and for the better! I am doing things I love and would not trade those for any corporate job ever . I was destined to marry Praneet , even though it took two years and heartache before I met him.

I also believe in the power of thought. What you send out into the Universe comes back to you. So if you believe that you are good and good stuff will come your way, it truly will. If you think negative, you attract negativity. What you visualise - you receive!

Sometimes though I do wish, I would not be so hard on myself. I wish I could believe in reincarnation and karmic connections and karmic debts. That would ease the pressure on me and make me surrender to a higher power. And not make me feel so responsible for my actions all the time. 

But for me  - Life is Now. This is the life I have -  to share with people I love, to do things I want to do. Everyone in my life is meant to be there, no matter for how long and I am grateful for that. I have earned all I deserve . And I bear the fruit of my actions - fortunately there has been more sweetness than bitterness. I approach life with a passion- whether in loving, eating, talking, running, reading or writing - there is no other way I know. And the happiness, sadness, bitterness, love - everything I feel is related to events in my life - right now!

And if there is indeed reincarnation - then I am at my best life yet!!