So, when one performs bad deeds in his/her life he is reincarnated into a lower being such as a bug (if I'm wrong let me know). Then how does he return to human form? Does he return right after that life or does he assume a form based on his deeds of his life as a bug? Do Hindu's believe that lower beings have a conscience or logical mind? Any help is appreciated.
Really, it is only fundamentalists who believe that humans reincarnate as lower animals. Life in animal forms is thought of as being mechanistic in nature. Animals don't have any moral code to follow, they are creatures of instinct. It is only humans, with their higher capacities and developed intellect who can choose how to act on a moral basis, or on a basis leading to liberation. Only in humans is the capacity for a conscious inner development present. This is not to say that animals don't have intelligence, but it is a quite different form of intelligence than we have, or the same intelligence in a different and less developed form. Thus, if we believe that animals reincarnate, the progression from spieces to higher spieces would be automatic. Humans though can raise themselves up, or degrade themselves, and they do have some conscious choice. They can seek the god inside themselves, or follow blindly the impulses of the animal side.
I am no expert, but from what I have heard, I will share it with you : whatever you think of when you die, thats what you are born into... and whatever karma you already have... well thats what decides what position you are born into... If I had a good karma in the past, I probably am well off now... with wealth or a compassionate heart... or with people treating me well etc. If I had an evil karma , I might still be born as a human being, but I might have so many troubles in my life that it would be very hard for me to do the things that a person with good karma can do / achieve. but... if you think about being an animal when you die, you will beome that animal no matter what your karma. There is a story in Hindu scriptures somewhere when a very virtuous King named Bharata thought of a deer when he died and he was born as a deer in his next life.
Oh yea, some also say that when some one wishes to reincarnate as an animal, that soul has to go through all the animal births and finally become human again to choose what it wants. Thats why they tell us 'not to waste' this life and start self realization before the curious mind thinks of something and throws you into the cycle all over again.
So do the moderate/liberal hindus believe that one is born back into a human body with his/her human characteristics reflecting his karma? So when people have negative karma they will have a harder time reaching liberation due to there negative traits.
The idea is that we are born with certain samskaras - tendencies based on the karma we created in our previous existences. In this life we create further karma. Doing good deeds results in good karma, but all karma, good and bad is a cause for bondage to the cycles of ignorance and illusion. Nonetheless, good deeds tend to point one in the right direction - towards seeking liberation, whilst evil just gives rise to more evil. Through the results of good karma we may experience much worldly happiness and pleasure, but always this is mixed with pain, and none of it is permanent or long lasting. That is why one is advised to seek Divine Realization, to transcend all karmas. It is said that in nirvikalpa-samhadi -the highest liberated state, all the samskaras are burned to ashes - the soul is freed from the cycle of karmic action and reaction forever. But it continues to exist and to enjoy the supreme knowledge, love and bliss, even whilst still here in the body.
? I don't understand, They are said to be true in the scriptures... even bhagavad gita says that whatever one thinks of when he dies, that is what he achieves.
There is also the story of Ajamil in Simad Bhagavatam. He was attached to his son, named Narayana, so at death he called out the name Narayana and bhagawan came and blessed him with Vaikuntha loka.
There is also the story of Puranjan raja who died thinking of his wife and was reborn as a woman, although that story is not historical, it is used by Narada muni as a metaphor.
What is meant in the Bhagavad Gita: If a person lives his life with life with predominantly animal level consciousness and accumulates very bad karma as a result, he will usually be thinking like an animal when he dies, which will automatically lead to an animal rebirth. Objectively and unsentimentally observe the human condition and this will make sense.
