Indian philosophy of reincarnation takes humankind towards idea of basic morality: SC judge

The Indian philosophy of reincarnation takes humankind towards the idea of basic morality, Supreme Court judge R F Nariman on Saturday said.

Delivering the 7thDr L M Singhvi Memorial Lecture here on the topic "Reincarnation: Comparative Religious Perspectives", he said reincarnation and karma were like Newton's third law.

"Indian philosophy of reincarnation takes us towards the idea of basic morality. It explains that you should be compassionate to every living being. It further explains the lives of heroes and stalwarts," Justice Nariman said.

He, however, said there are some pitfalls in the idea of reincarnation.

"The idea that you are being punished. It is entirely earth centric - Ostrich-like. There is no law of karma which attaches to animals and plants. To be born as a human is the best life form," he said.

He also said that all the three indic religions - Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism - talk about the idea of 'transmigration' and that the "karma model by and large tends to explain everything".

He said there are three great faiths that permeate India talk about reincarnation.

"The first is Jainism. Mahavira went to the eternal essence of 'Jeeva'. There is a wheel through you transmigrate, and the curator of the wheel is Karma!