Lessons in Theosophy


Lesson 8, Death And
The Reincarnation Cycle



      Reincarnation is such a key part of Theosophy, we need to examine the reincarnation cycle in detail. Let's look at a chart. The story begins in the lower left-hand of the chart, with human birth.




      A person lives a life, and then dies. At that time, the determination is made whether or not to have another reincarnation. Let's follow along as another life is planned, and the person passes through the reincarnation cycle.

      At death, the physical body is put aside, but the astral body is as active as ever. The person then becomes conscious in their astral body, and continues to “live on.” The person spends time in Hell if necessary, in Purgatory if necessary, or time in “Astral Heaven.”


-- The “Second Death” --


When time in Astal Heaven is concluded, the astral body disintegrates and is discarded. This is called the “Second Death.” The person then becomes conscious in their mental body.
“... the ‘dead’ live in astral bodies in the astral world; ‘temporarily’, ... since after a period of time they finally pass on to life in the heaven world [Devachan].” (Jinarajadasa, C., The First Principles of Theosophy, pages 138-139 online or hardcopy)

“Kama-loka [the astral world] and Devachan [the heaven world] are the two after-death states. The first state represents the condition immediately following death, in which the disincarnated entity after a time undergoes the separation of the still remaining perishable principle from the higher, immortal triad. This separation is referred to as the ‘second death.’ When this has been accomplished the entity then experiences the second state, that of Devachan — the blissful, dream-like condition of rest — a passive cycle.” (Barborka, Geoffry, The Divine Plan, p. 26)

“After the second death [the dissolution of the astral body] when Ego is freed from the encumbrance of the impure remains of its last personality, consciousness slowly returns to it. As this happens it awakes slowly to find itself in a state or condition of unadulterated bliss: it is in surroundings where, and with those with whom, it would most have wanted to be. It is in the state known as Devachan, a blissful but purely subjective state: one quite private to the Devachanee. It is as a dream which no-one else can share.” (Farthing, Geoffrey, After-Death Consciousness and Processes, Chapter IV)

“...the passing into the heaven-life is called a death on the astral plane and a rebirth at the higher level.” (Leadbeater, Charles, The Inner Life, paragraph 49 online or page 237 hardcopy)
      It should be noted that entrance into Devachan is only possible when the impurities gathered during the previous incarnation have been burned off.
      “After the second death [the dissolution of the astral body] when Ego is freed from the encumbrance of the impure remains of its last personality, consciousness slowly returns to it. As this happens it awakes slowly to find itself in a state or condition of unadulterated bliss: it is in surroundings where, and with those with whom, it would most have wanted to be. It is in the state known as Devachan, a blissful but purely subjective state: one quite private to the Devachanee. It is as a dream which no-one else can share.” (Geoffrey Farthing, After-Death Consciousness and Processes, Chapter IV)
      Time is spent in Devachan, or Heaven, also called the Lower Mental Plane. It is a time of rest and reflexion. The life just finished is analyzed, to see what lessons were learned, and what lessons to plan for in the next life.

      The Lower Mental Body is evetually discarded, and the person rests in their Causal Body (also called the Higher Mental Body), which exists on the Higher Mental Plane. Here the person rests, until time for the next incarnation.

      The desire for another reincarnation arises.
      “... it is the longing for [physical life,] this keen realization which is spoken of as trishna (the thirst for manifested life, the desire to feel oneself really vividly alive), the force which draws the ego down again into reincarnation.” (Charles Leadbeater, The Inner Life, pages 185-186 online or hardcopy)
      The preparation for the next incarnation begins. Mental material is gathered from the Lower Mental Plane, and a new lower mental body is created. Astral material is gathere, and a new astral body is created.

      The parents are chosen, and the preparation of the new physical body is begun. Various factors are considered in the building of the new body, most important of which is karma.

      The person is then born, beginning a new reincarnation cycle.

For further reading on death and the reincarnation cycle:





Next: Lesson 9, Evolution (Theosophy-Style); The Upward Arc



   

 
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2005, 2006, & 2007
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