In the preceding chapter we have explained that the soul,
falling into the second soul-slumber, is caught up by the
currents of the Karmic attraction, and is carried on toward
re-birth in an environment, and with ties, in accordance with
the sum of its character and desires. As we shall see in the
succeeding chapter, some souls escape this current of rebirth,
and are, instead, carried on to higher spheres of activity and
being. But, by far, the great majority of the souls on the
Astral Plane move forward toward earthly re-birth—such being
their Karma.
But here, we must caution the student against falling into the
far too common error of supposing that this Karma is a stern
something meting out rewards and punishments according to some
established code. Instead, Karma is simply the law of spiritual
cause and effect—we are punished not because of our sins, but by
them; we are rewarded not because of our good deeds, but by
them. In short, our rewards and punishments arise by the very
nature of our character, and our character is the sum total of
our desires. Therefore, desire is the motive power of Karma,
and, through Karma, of our re-births.
To many, it seems as if re-birth upon earth is something forced
upon the soul in spite of its desires. The very opposite is
true, for the sum of the desires of the soul constitute the very
actual motive power leading to the re-birth. Those who are
re-born on earth are not re-born against their will or desire.
On the contrary, they are re-born because they actually desire
it. They are carried into the current of re-birth because their
tastes and desires have created longings that can be satisfied
only by renewed life in the flesh. Although they are not
conscious of it, they instinctively place themselves again
within the operations of the Law of Attraction, and are swept on
to re-birth, in exactly the environment best calculated to
enable them to live out and outlive these desires—to express and
exhaust the force of desire. They hunger to satisfy their
longings, and, until that hunger is appeased, the desires cannot
be discarded. This does not mean that every desire must
necessarily be lived out, for it happens frequently that new
insight and experience causes the soul to turn with loathing
from the former object of desire, and the desire thus dies a
natural death. But so long as the desire remains alive it tends
to attract the soul toward objects and environment which is
likely to satisfy it. This is true of the soul on the Astral
Plane, as well as in earth life. Desire is always the great
motive power of the soul in determining rebirth.
The soul, preserving its desire for material things—the things
of flesh and the material life—and not being able to divorce
itself from these things, will naturally fall into the current
of rebirth which will lead it toward conditions in which these
desires will flourish and become manifest. It is only when the
soul, by means of many earth-lives, begins to see the
worthlessness and illusory nature of earthly desires, that it
begins to become attracted by the things of the life of its
higher nature, and, escaping the flowing currents of earthly
re-birth, it rises above them and is carried to higher spheres.
The average person, after years of earthly experience, is apt to
say that he or she has no more desire for earth life, and that
his or her only desire is to leave the same behind forever.
These persons are perfectly sincere in their statements and
beliefs, but a glance into their inmost soul would reveal an
entirely different state of affairs. They are not, as a rule,
really tired of earth-life, but merely of the particular kind of
earth life which they have experienced during that incarnation.
They have discovered the illusory nature of a certain set of
earthly experiences, and feel disgusted at the same. But, they
are still full of another set of desires, and of hunger for
another set of experiences on earth. They have failed to find
happiness or satisfaction in their own experience, but they will
admit, if they are honest with themselves, that if they could
have had things “so and so,” instead of “this and thus,” they
would have found happiness and satisfaction. The “if” may have
been satisfied love, wealth, fame, gratified ambition, success
of various kinds, etc.—but, be it what it may, the “if” is
nearly always there and that “if” really is the seed of their
remaining desires. And the longing for that “if” is really the
motive for the re-birth.
Very few persons would care to live over their earth life,
according to their own statements—and they are honest enough in
the statement. But, like old Omar they would be perfectly
willing to remake the world according to their heart’s
desire—and then live the earth life. Do you see what we mean?
It is not earth life that is distasteful to them, but merely the
particular experiences of earth-life which are disdained. Give
to the average man and woman youth, health, wealth, talent, and
love, and they will be very willing to begin the round of earth
life afresh. It is only the absence of, or failure in, these or
similar things, which causes them to feel that life is a
failure—a thing to be joyfully left behind.
The soul, in its sojourn on the Astral is rested, refreshed and
reinvigorated. It has forgotten the weariness of life which it
had experienced during the previous incarnation. It is again
young, hopeful, vigorous, and ambitious. It feels within
itself the call to action—the urge of unfulfilled desires,
aspirations, and ambitions—and it readily falls into the
currents which lead it to the scene of action in which these
desires may be manifested.
We have many instances of this change of feeling in earth-life.
We feel tired, discouraged, nay, even disgusted, with our
earthly affairs, at the close of the day, the year, or the
exciting period. But rest, sleep, change of scene, and the
influx of new impressions, make a change, and before long we are
filled with longing for new activities and action. The majority
of persons are not really tired of life, or disgusted with the
things of life. They are merely experiencing the race impulse
toward “something else, some other place”—a change of scene and
occupation would work a speedy cure for them. They are not world
weary—they are merely mentally and emotionally tired. And thus
it is with the tired soul. Change its place of abode to the
Astral, and give it the Elixir of Life—and it is ready for
another part to play in the Drama of Life.
Another point upon which there is much misunderstanding is the
matter of the unconsciousness of the soul in the matter of
choice of the environment of the new birth. It is true that in
souls of low development, the process is almost wholly
instinctive, and there is practically no conscious realization
or choice in the matter. But when the soul begins to develop and
unfold in spiritual knowledge, it begins to have spiritual
insight and consciousness, and in many cases it sees dimly as in
a dream, (during the second soul-slumber) the conditions toward
which it is being drawn, and often exercises a decided choice.
In the case of a strong personality, provided the spiritual
development is there, there is often more than a dreamlike
choice, for such a soul does much to “make circumstances” for
itself in its new birth, always within the limitations of its
Karma, of course.
Another point, which should be cleared up, is that regarding the
character of the desires which serve as the motive power for
re-birth. It is not meant that these desires are necessarily low
or unworthy desires or longings. On the contrary, they may be of
the highest character, and might be more properly styled
aspirations, ambitions, or high aims, but the principle of
desire is in them all. Desires, high and low, are the seeds of
action. And the impulse toward action is always the
distinguishing feature of desire.
Desire always wants to have things, or to do things, or to be
things. Love, even of the most unselfish kind, is a form of
desire; so is aspiration of the noblest kind. A desire to
benefit others is as much a desire as its opposite. In fact,
many unselfish souls are drawn back into rebirth simply by the
insistent aspirations to accomplish some great work for the
race, or to serve others, or to fulfill some duty inspired by
love. But, high or low, if these desires are connected in any
way with the things of earth, they are re-birth motives and
rudders.
But, in conclusion, let us say that no soul which does not in
its inmost soul desire rebirth on earth will ever be so re-born.
Such a soul is attracted toward other spheres, where the
attractions of earth exist not. Its Karma carries it away from
earth—not toward it. But this is the condition of but few,
although, little by little, every soul will experience it in the
aeons to come. For all are on The Path, and spiritual evolution
moves surely though slowly. Those who are interested in this
higher life of the soul are invited to read the next, the last,
chapter. If its words appeal to you, you have already taken the
first steps toward the attainment.
