The Soul as An Artist in the Next World

Furthering our discussions about the body and the soul in our previous few articles about our present and next lives in another world, what do gentles readers of mine here think of this possibility? Here's my thoughts. 

The soul of the body will leave his badly damaged physical body (dies) during an incurable disease or in an accident, but the soul being indestructible, does not die of any disease, accident, injuries or trauma. The soul then leaves to another place (another world) to relive another life there. 

The soul is very much like a painter or an artist who leaves his work of art (the physical body) and goes to another place to redo another painting in the body of another person in another world. However, the painter does not forget his previous painting (his body in previous life). If the painter is a bad artist, he is likely to do the same for his next painting (bad karma in the next life). 

Likewise, if he is good artist, he is very likely to paint a good picture (good life) in the next world as good karma begets him. What goes around comes around in circles. His work of art (the physical body) dies, but the artist (the soul) does not. In other words, the soul remembers his works eternally whichever worlds he goes in circles. There are lots of accounts and stories told by people including royalties who seemed to remember their previous lives, who they were. 

Alternatively, he may be rewarded for what he did not have in his previous world, or it may be miserable for the rich for the good life he had in his previous life. 

One example is the rich man and the poor destitute Lazarus as given in the Bible (Luke 16: 19 – 31). However, the story of the rich man and Lazarus provides a narrative on the consequences of one's actions and lifestyle, though it does not explicitly endorse reincarnation. It emphasizes the reversal of fortunes in the afterlife, which can be seen as a metaphor for moral reckoning.

I think this idea is a fascinating and deeply philosophical one, resonating with many religious, spiritual, and metaphysical traditions. This concept posits that the soul is an eternal and indestructible entity, undergoing a cycle of death and rebirth in different bodies across different lifetimes. This view is shared by various belief systems, particularly in Hinduism, Buddhism, and certain interpretations of spiritualism and reincarnation theories.

May I summarize my  ideas here:

Indestructibility of the Soul: Many traditions hold that the soul (or consciousness) is immortal and not subject to physical damage or death. This aligns with my analogy of the artist who moves on to create new works without being destroyed.

Reincarnation and Karma: The idea that the soul reincarnates into new bodies and that the quality of the new life is influenced by the actions (karma) of previous lives is a central tenet in Hinduism and Buddhism. Good deeds may lead to a better rebirth, while bad deeds can result in a less favourable rebirth.

Memory of Past Lives: There are numerous accounts, both anecdotal and studied by researchers, of people claiming to remember past lives. These memories can sometimes be detailed and specific, leading some to believe in the continuity of the soul's experiences across lifetimes.

Moral and Ethical Implications: The belief in karma and reincarnation often carries moral implications, suggesting that our actions in this life will have consequences in future lives. This is similar to the concept of "what goes around comes around" I earlier mentioned.

Philosophical Considerations

The Nature of the Soul: The concept of an eternal soul raises questions about its nature, origin, and purpose. Philosophers and theologians have long debated what constitutes the soul and how it interacts with the physical body.

Continuity of Identity: If the soul retains memories and characteristics from previous lives, it suggests a continuity of identity that transcends individual lifetimes. This challenges our understanding of personal identity and memory.

Ethical Responsibility: The notion of karma implies a system of moral responsibility that extends beyond a single lifetime. This can influence how people perceive their actions and their long-term consequences.

Scientific Perspective:

However as a scientist myself, from the scientific standpoint, the concept of the soul and reincarnation can be controversial to other scientists since science typically relies on empirical evidence and reproducibility, and phenomena like the soul and reincarnation are difficult to study under these criteria. Nevertheless, there have been studies, particularly in the field of parapsychology, that investigate claims of past life memories.

Conclusion:

The idea that the soul is an artist moving from one body to another, carrying the impressions of past lives, is a rich and evocative metaphor. It provides a framework for understanding the continuity of consciousness and the moral dimensions of human existence.

I think different people from different cultures and belief systems may interpret these ideas in various ways, the core concept resonates with many people's intuitive sense of justice, purpose, and the mystery of life and death.

These concepts are mine. What are yours? Kindly write your comments below for us all to appreciate.