LIFE AFTER DEATH

man, know theyself! ~ 24 ~ form, which ceases to exist after death, in fact denotes a separate entity which remains intact even after the scattering of the different elements of the body. The fact that the body alters, whereas the soul does not, is conclusive proof of the transitional nature of the body and the eternal nature of the soul. There is the view that life and death are the accumulation and subsequent diffusion of countless particles of matter. Those who hold this view, are, of course, misguided. It has been expressed thus by the Urdu poet Chakbast: “Zindgi kya hai anaasir ka zuhoore tarteeb. Maut kya hai inhi ajza ka pareshan hona.” (What is life? Elements arranging themselves in order. And death? Their diffusion). But this statement is simply not borne out by fact. If life were simply “elements arranging themselves in order,” then it ought to follow that so long as this order endured, life should continue to survive, and conversely, it should be possible for scientists to create life by Causing elements to accumulate in a particular way. Quite obviously both these propositions are false.