Slokam 7

A question that has often been asked regarding reincarnation, is the reason for us not being able to recall the events of the past life.  So there is often a doubt raised as to whether reincarnation is factually correct or not.

In this slokam, Sri Bhattadri provides a clear answer.  At the point that we enter the womb of our mother, we are conscious of our previous birth and we are actually in grievance about re-birth. We however forget all of these at rebirth. 

It may appear that if we are given the benefit of the knowledge of the  errors committed in prior lives, maybe we may not make the same mistakes again. 

However, it must be borne in mind that as beings that are not even able to live with the unpleasant memories of the events of this life, what will our mental state be, if the events of our prior lives are also carried with us?  Remorse and regret will overwhelm us and we will not be able to perform our duties in this life. 

That is why the Paramathma clearly states in the Bhagavath Gita that we should never look at our past. We should always use the lessons from the past, but stay focused only on the future.

We do carry the lessons learnt from past lives to the present, although we may not be aware of it. The lessons learnt in the past determine the environment and circumstances into which we are born in the present life.  So we are given an advantage, or a disadvantage, over other souls that habitate this planet.  This advantage may not be in the form of health or wealth.  It is usually in the form of matching the obstacles we face to the capabilities that we are endowed with. 

Remember Krishna’s Paramathma’s statement in the Bhagavath Gita that if He wants to punish someone, He showers them with worldly wealth, which can only  prevent them from realizing the ultimate truth about themselves.

The slokam also mentions that although we suffer in our childhood, in trying to learn the ways of this world, we again fall into worldly indulgences and traps in our youth, which sets the stage for another rebirth.

May we use all the lessons learnt, in the past to set our minds firmly on the Paramathma.