Reincarnation: Fact or Fantasy?

Chaitanya Charan Das – An Introduction I Chaitanya Charan Das is a monk and spiritual teacher at ISKCON, Pune He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He subsequently served as a software engineer in a multinational software company, Patni Computer Systems. He also secured 2350 out of 2400 in the GRE exam, bagging the top rank in Maharashtra. Seeing the prevalent problems of stress, depression, addiction and overall misdirection - all caused by a lack of spirituality, he felt inspired to dedicate his life to the cause of jnana daan, offering systematic spiritual education, under the aegis of VOICE / ISKCON. He is the associate-editor of ISKCON’s global magazine, Back to Godhead. He is a member of the Shastric Advisory Council, the topmost intellectual body within ISKCON. Presently he conducts seminars at various reputed educational institutes all over India including IITs and NITs as well as leading MNCs like Tech Mahindra. He has presented papers on the interface of science and spirituality as an invited ISKCON delegate at national and international conferences, including World Peace Conference, 2006 and World Peace Congress, 2008. He runs an international cyber magazine called ‘The Spiritual Scientist’, in which he has written nearly three hundred articles that give a scientific and logical presentation of Vedic philosophy.

Chaitanya Charan Das – An Introduction II   His website www.thespiritualscientist.com is one of the top spiritual educational websites of India. It offers multiple popular features including daily inspiring reflections on the Bhagavad-gita and an interactive question-answer forum. His writings have been published in newspapers like Times of India, Indian Express, Economic Times, Hindustan Times, and Sakaal Times as well as global spiritual magazines including Back to Godhead. His writings in English have been translated into several foreign languages including German, Chinese and Romanian and several Indian languages including Kannada, Telgu, Bengali, Hindi and Marathi. He is the author of eight books with several more in the pipeline: ENERGY – Your Sutra for Positive Thinking, Science and Spirituality ‘The Spiritual Scientist’ series, volume 1 ‘The Spiritual Scientist’ series, volume 2. Recession – Adversity or Opportunity? Why do we need a temple? Frequently Unanswered Questions Idol Worship or Ideal Worship? The Mystery of Reincarnation (coming soon) The Mystery of Karma (coming soon)

Overview Scientific Evidence Logical Analysis Philosophical Basis Scriptural Explanation

Dr. Wilder Penfield – Canadian surgeon, Noble Laureate Soul in the Body “The brain is a computer…But it is programmed by something that is outside itself.” Dr. Wilder Penfield – Canadian surgeon, Noble Laureate

Famous Works by Professor Stevenson

Past-life memories Recollections Recognitions Behaviors Birthmarks Four types of evidences: Recollections Recognitions Behaviors Birthmarks Dr. Ian Stevenson - BG 2.22

The Case of Mushir Ali Shah Naresh Kumar Unknown Location Unknown People Liking

Answering life’s questions Multiplicity of forms and circumstances Differing abilities and talents Differing inclinations, habits, fears etc. Problem of evil JUST CHANCE?

Famous Quotes "There is no death. How can there be death if everything is part of the Godhead? The soul never dies and the body is never really alive." (Isaac Bashevis Singer) "I know I am deathless. No doubt I have died myself ten thousand times before. I laugh at what you call dissolution, and I know the amplitude of time." (Walt Whitman)

Famous Quotes "I did not begin when I was born, nor when I was conceived. I have been growing, developing, through incalculable myriads of millenniums. All my previous selves have their voices, echoes, promptings in me. Oh, incalculable times again shall I be born." (Jack London, The Star Rover) "I look upon death to be as necessary to the constitution as sleep. We shall rise refreshed in the morning." (Benjamin Franklin)

What is reincarnation? “The process of coming into flesh again”

2) Discontinuous Reincarnation Reincarnation to another chapter of existence Changing bodies like changing clothes

Scientific Evidence Logical Analysis Philosophical Basis Scriptural Explanation

Which body next? Desires, aspirations and goals in life Our activities - Karma

How to break out Jnana – Understanding the self, the world, and God Vijnana – Realising such knowledge, and acting by it

Conclusion Spiritual life means: Transformation of consciousness Don’t have to give anything up – just aim it correctly

Diwali

Arguments / doubts / questions Is there any scientific evidence for it or is it just a belief? If I had a past life why don’t I remember it? And if I can’t remember it what’s the point of reincarnation? If reincarnation is true why is the population increasing? Isn’t reincarnation just a comforting idea, so you don’t have to worry so much about death? Why doesn’t God just take us out of the situation? What are the different destination of the soul?

Story & Significance The Ramayana: historical fact not mythology - Bala Khandha Ayodhya Khandha Aranya Khandha Kishkindha Khandha Yuddha Khandha

Story & Significance Diwali is the story of: - light over darkness - good over bad - knowledge over illusion “Enlightenment over blind faith, prosperity over poverty, knowledge over ignorance, good health and well being over disease and ill health, and freedom over bondage.“ - Nelson Mandela