1. STRESS
AND
REBIRTH
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. One of the worst kinds of STRESS results from
imminent death and thought of death of ours; and our
near dear ones. Usually we remain occupied in
something or other and keep on escaping from such
thoughts, calling them negative. Even while we are in
hospital, intensive care units; we prefer to remain
engaged in “positive thinking”! We are afraid of
rebirth; as it force us into; an unforeseen dreadfully
“miserable individual or animal”.
The fear of death is a common phenomenon; with a
physiological basis. Thus the fear is actually a sensation
that results from autonomic outflow (impulses) causing
visceral activities; such as pain in the chest, throbbing
of heart, sinking of stomach, cold clammy extremities,
and giddiness due to reduction in blood supply to
brain.
The fear of death is actually because we identify
strongly with these phenomena causing unpleasant
sensation. The fear is more as and when we experience
these unpleasant sensations (till we are able to detach
ourselves from them). Hence the children are possibly
not afraid due to inexperience; and the old ones are too
experienced to be afraid; as compared to us!

3. In other words; the STRESS is due to the fact that
death of “our body” is considered to be or actually
deeply convinced to be “our” death. In fact many of us
believe that everything in life comes to an end after the
death of the body. According to them the idea of
rebirth is merely a vain imagination and excuse; to
deny the sovereignty and supremacy of nature “our”
inevitable mortality.
Let us understand the death and rebirth little more; so
that our STRESS is reduced.
Let us appreciate that; the death (rebirth) does not
always refer to the whole body. Our body cells are dead
and lost to a variable extent; and renewed (reborn)
from time to time. Even our passions, emotions and
thoughts are undergoing changes; in terms vanishing of
the old ones and appearance of the new ones. But we
remain the same individuals!
Thus without denying our association with the
changing existence, we can; to start with at least
imagine; and later experience that we are changeless
backdrop or background or substratum on which the
changing bodies are born, grown and perished. The
consciousness is constant and the cycles of birth and
rebirth continue on and within it!

4. In fact; the birth and rebirth; as we see and perceive;
are the product of our physiological senses, our
cerebral cortical capabilities and their limitations. The
consciousness however “exists” beyond our limitations!
Rebirth; thus is not a matter of belief or disbelief. It is
not a hypothesis, a postulation or a theory and
certainly not a wild imagination or bluff; to explain the
results of good deeds and bad deeds; or anything else.
It is not a psychological tool for consoling or pacifying
the suffering of people.
Rebirth of identities pertains to concurrent
consciousness and memories. This is observed in case of
certain historical figures such as Shripad Shrivallabh
and Narasimha Saraswati (1378 to 1458). Others do not
have the memory or consciousness to endorse rebirth.
The proof of the rebirth; through science; needs an
accurate identification, definition and understanding of
consciousness as a separate entity. Because; we have to
show; birth (easy), death (easy) and the individual
consciousness and its relation to the individual who is
born and dead; that “persists” after death (very

5. difficult; unless we have a gadget that can capture the
existence of individual consciousness).
So far; we do not have such a gadget. Moreover; our
consciousness can not capture our consciousness in its
entirety. Our consciousness can not identify
demonstrate our consciousness as a separate entity; to
some other entity! Hence currently; it is not possible to
“prove” rebirth!
However; we can practice NAMASMARAN and verify;
whether it is really a golden opportunity; that enables
us to outgrow our subjectivity and body consciousness;
and merge into our own, universal, absolute, cosmic,
trans-temporal and immortal consciousness; and
experience; the otherwise mysterious and esoteric
aspects of birth, death, rebirth and immortality and
thus overcome all the associated STRESS!