Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth.
- The New Testament, Luke
Blessed are the wicked: For they shall inherit the heaven.
- The 21st Century Testament, Kbg

I have always been wondering if there is life after death. Rebirth. I know, however, there is death after life (birth). We see living organisms and beings propagating their species with births, in multiples, as if to make up for the deaths. Which is why, human beings are surviving on this planet and the number is increasing in geometric progression.

The question before me is: Will I, if not physically as I am, at least in some other form, be reborn? If so, where? In which bloodline? In which race? As a woman or as a man or a eunuch? Physically challenged or as an Atlas or Hercules? These are questions no master has answered with certainty. Not even Osho (Rajneesh) who had the last laugh when he somewhere disclosed to his listeners that indeed he was born in Tibet and fought a war as a foot soldier and had lost one hand…. well, well.

I have always been wondering if the concept of Paapa and Punya is logical or merely an exercise in self-delusion or a trickery practised by our religions. Some doubt haunts me as much as amuses me when religions brag about Heaven and Hell. At least these are “ideas” to instil fear in the mind and heart of the human beings to make them behave in a socially conducive manner — specially when man came to live as a member of a society. The fear of hell and hell-fire is enough to discipline the brave heart or a criminal. The “idea” of Paapa (sin) and Punya (grace) makes one to do good deeds in this world so that he will not suffer pain or deprivation in this and future life. The belief is that if a man is suffering pain and deprivation in this life, it is because of the sins he committed in his past life or may be lives. No proof. Yet it is believed. So?

But what do we see today? The evil man is seen leading a happy life in this very life and seems to carry this happiness to his (supposed) future life too. After all, assuming that his “soul” will find a new “vehicle”, it is not sure he will know that he was so and so in the last life. A case of self - delusion.

Paradoxically, the fundamental principle of religions like Hinduism and Buddhism is that man must strive to put an end to the cycle of birth and death, thereby believing that there indeed is life after death. It is, thus, believed that a wicked man will suffer hell here and hereafter a good man will enter Paradise to the music and the caressing of heavenly beauties, doe - eyed with gossamer, long tresses. Let us examine the following cases:

Take Charles Taylor of Liberia (Africa). He spent a dozen years destroying the country. History says that he kidnapped children to fight in his armies, presided over the rape, tortured and murdered thousands of civilians and stole from people whatever he wanted. When well-armed rebel groups advanced towards his house, he fled. American war ships did nothing, though they were there in the coast. UN had troops at the scene. They did not arrest Taylor but allowed him free passage! He went to Nigeria, whose regime offered him asylum. A case of one sinner helping another sinner.

Taylor lived in luxury – lounging by the pool with beauties, ordering drinks. What price for his inhuman acts of crimes and sin? No wonder we have ever-increasing number of Taylors amongst us, secure in the belief more inhuman and corrupt they are, more are they assured of happiness and fun in this world. No need to fear hell and hell fire here in this and in the life next!

Similarly, take that demon of a communist, that bloodthirsty Marxist Pol Pot, who took over Cambodia in 1975 and exterminated a quarter of his country's population with mountainous heaps of skeleton strewn across the country as a trophy for his inhuman acts. Yet he died of old age in his own bed. Where is our God or Gods of justice, our nemesis? Sleeping or colluding with these demons?

In this present world and I presume in the past world too, for which I am no witness, the wicked, like our terrorists, get off easily. You are hungry. Rob a bakery. You are almost certain to go to jail. But commit genocide or rob in millions, it is likely you enjoy a placid retired life. Even illness or poor health will not touch you. Yes, old age is something you can't avoid, mercifully.

Take yet another case: That cannibal of a dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin. In 1970s, he was a living symbol of a maniac, mentally deranged despot. If he did not feed his political rivals to crocodiles, he ate them. And when he was overthrown in 1979, he fled the country and was given asylum in Saudi Arabia, a holy land, where he continued to enjoy the joy and ecstasy of Arabian nights till his end!
If indeed there is a God or there was a God monitoring each and every human being, these people mentioned above would not have had their last days in good health, spending the years in great comfort, enjoying life.

Now consider the present day terrorists and their Guru Osama – bin - Laden. Eventually, he will not be caught [his followers will attribute it to the grace of God] or he too will be allowed to flee, as in the case of Liberia's Taylor I mentioned in the beginning, under the eyes of the US - led Combined Alliance Army or UN if it is there for humanitarian service and seek asylum in some rogue country, live comfortably till old age and die in peace.

Now the question is: What kind of God we are talking about and what kind of retribution we are expecting? Is there rebirth for these wicked men? If there is, it is a frightening thought.

Dust thou art, and to dust thou shall return. END.