Preparing for the next life now
Someone asked me how I’ve been spending my time since my voluntary retirement. I casually replied, “I’m preparing for my next life. I am almost done with this life.”
Is it truly possible to work for the next life right now?
At that time, it was just an offhand remark, but when I reflected on it later, I realized how deeply meaningful and true it is for me.
Spiritual progress in this life extends beyond it, continuing into future lives. One of the key measures of spiritual evolution is the expansion of consciousness toward the highest state—Cosmic Consciousness. Even if one does not attain the supreme state in this life, every step forward remains and carries over.
Another significant aspect of spiritual growth is finding a true Master. If one establishes a deep, devoted connection with a Master in this life, that same Master will continue to guide them in future lives. The guru-disciple bond transcends physical existence, remaining intact beyond the boundaries of life and death.
Spiritual practices, such as Kriya, have the power to burn Sanchita Karma—the accumulated backlog of karma from past lives. Additionally, through purification of the mind and disciplined practice, one can reduce Agami Karma, the karma generated through present actions, thus lessening the overall karmic burden. Reducing karma is progress toward the final goal of liberation.
Effort toward spiritual progress in this life is an investment that carries forward into future lives. It is essentially the same as working for the next life in the present, much like investing in education to create a better future in this life.
What prevents us from doing this? In my view, the key reasons could be:
- A lack of belief in the existence of a next life.
- Too busy with the responsibilities of this life, leaving no time to focus on spirituality.
For me, this doubt does not exist. Reading spiritual books, learning about numerous enlightened beings who have attained the supreme goal, and engaging in spiritual practices have helped me realize that spirituality is not mystical—it is scientific. (I have written about this in my earlier blogs.)
Two key realizations that have greatly helped me in this regard are:
- Understanding the limitations of human intelligence opens the door to exploring what lies beyond it. Intuitive learning is far more powerful than perceptive learning.
- Realizing that I don’t truly know who I am. While I can recognize who I am not, comprehending my true self remains beyond my grasp.
Those who truly grasp the importance of spiritual progress will make it a priority. Investing in the future—our next life—may hold greater significance than many of the activities that currently consume our time. This is not about renouncing the world but about consciously prioritizing how we spend our time.
When a Harvard professor asked Swami Sarvapriyananda, “Why do you practice spirituality?” he simply replied, “What else can I do?” Those who truly realize that they do not know who they are have no choice but to seek the truth.
Those who have secured the basic necessities of this life have the opportunity to invest their time in preparing for the next. Who knows when they will find themselves in a similar position again?
The law of karma connects our past, present, and future lives. Whether we act consciously or not, our actions shape our future. So why not prepare consciously for our next life?