Our bodies are temporary housing for our immortal soul, which is the image of universal, imperishable spirit. If, upon death, our soul identifies with the ego and body and retains desires for earthly pleasures, these attachments and identifications will prevent the soul from returning to spirit. Then the immortal soul must return to another body to work out those attachments and identifications.
Unfulfilled desires and traces of past karma created by egoic action lodge as samskaras, as impressions, within the astral body (active samskaras) and causal body (inactive samskaras). They compel the soul to return to another earthly body. The actor puts on new robes to continue his role in the play of realization. The main desires that force rebirth are egoic ambitions, our links to friends and family, and attachments to things, pleasures and conditions.
Non-attachment and desire-lessness release us from the ego and its attachments. Our egoic ambition and egoic desires are transformed when they shift from selfishness to compassion intended to please God, to know God and to become one with God. Ambition and desire can elevate us when they are held with the highest spiritual intention and attitude.
When we desire to please God and not the ego, when we have realized that the small desires on earth pale in comparison to the bliss of spirit, and when we have purified our samskaras, then upon our death we return to God and there is no more attachment or desire compelling us to return to this play on earth that swirls in the bittersweet pairs of opposites.
Reincarnation is a part of our evolution to return to full realization of oneness with God. Through progressive stages, God impels us to return home. There is no eternal damnation. All souls will return to God. We decide how quickly.
Blessings,
