Who dies with death?
A question arises as to whether individuality is retained after death. It’s impossible to answer this question based on experience. One needs to die to have experience. However, we can draw some parallels from the universe. Our own body is the biggest example. The body comprises around 30-40 trillion cells. Each cell is like a mini-human being in itself. Cells have their individuality but at the same time, they are part of the body. So long as these cells are our part, the consciousness keeps operating through them. The moment any cell dies, it is no longer our part. For example, the moment we cut nails, they are no longer our part. The moment an organ is amputated due to some surgery or an accident, it no longer remains our part.
Will this cell take the rebirth? The answer depends upon the fact of how the cell identifies itself and what is the meaning of death to it. If it identifies with the matter, it is made of, it has already died. There is no question of it being alive again or taking rebirth. If it identifies with the human being it is part of, there is no question of death. The human being is continuing and just withdraws himself from the cell. So long as the consciousness operates through that cell, the sense of “I” remains at the cellular level and after the death of the cell, there is no such “I”. The body produces other cells and the consciousness starts operating through the new cell. This new cell carries its own genetic map. It may be quite different from the genetic map of the dead cell.
Another example may be useful to get some insight into the concept. An ocean is comprised of a huge number of water drops. However, each drop of water has its own lifecycle. It evaporates from the ocean, takes the form of a cloud, and comes back to Earth in different forms. It flows with a river or stays in a lake or underground water, till it finally merges with the ocean. The individuality of the drop remains so long as it does not merge with the ocean. The moment, it merges with the ocean, there is no individuality left. Next time a drop is formed, it will not be the same drop at all. Thus, it is one consciousness manifesting in different forms. Everything in this world takes birth from consciousness but consciousness is different from all these things.
Similarly, all of us live life with a strong sense of “I” so long as we live. The moment the consciousness withdraws from the body, the body dies. However, so long as the consciousness operates through a human being, it will keep getting inputs from such a being. The stronger the desires and aspirations, the more likely will be their demand on the consciousness and more likely will be the manifestation of the consciousness in that direction. The strength of these desires and aspirations depends upon the degree of identification and fixation with the body and mind. This fixation is the result of the inability to remember the real nature of the self.
Since the sense of "I" itself is a myth, logically there should not be any continuity of the "individual" after the death of the body and mind. What continues after the death of a body is the experiences consciousness had while being in that body. The nature and strength of such experience decide the next manifestation of consciousness.
The entire human body operates with harmony and coordination. Each of the cells of the body carries out a different role and has its own specific place to ensure the smooth functioning of the body. None of the cells is greater or smaller than the other. It is out of ignorance that we start assigning different weights to different functions. The cell of the tip of the nail is as significant as the cell of the heart and brain. They operate with the same consciousness. We have seen that the diseases of any part of the body may be as painful and damaging as any other part. The more we operate with the awareness that this body and mind are just instruments to manifest the consciousness and “individuality” is a myth, the less we are worried as to what happens after death. With awareness, we understand that life is a continuum.
The following verse from Bhagwad Geeta is quite profound and very relevant to the discussion:
7.12 Whatever beings (and objects) that are Saatvik, Rajasik, or Tamasik, know that they are not me but I exist in them and they come from me.
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