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thats why we say that the soul which attains to the ultimate freedom steps out of the cycle of birth and death。
there is indeed no birth and death for the soul …… it was never born； nor will it ever die。
the cycle of birth and death stops with the end of the subtle body； because it is the subtle body that causes a new birth。
the subtle body is an integrated seed consisting of our thoughts； desires； lusts； longings； experiences； knowledge。
this body is instrumental in taking us on our continuing journey。
however； one whose thoughts are all annihilated； whose passions have all vanished； whose desires have all disappeared； who has no desire left within him； there is no place for him to go； there is no reason left for him to go anywhere。
then there is no reason for him to take birth again。
there is a wonderful story in the life of ramakrishna。
those who were close to him； who knew him to be a paramhansa； an enlightened one； used to be deeply troubled about one thing。
it bothered them greatly to see an enlightened person such as ramakrishna …… one who had attained samadhi …… craving food so much。
ramakrishna used to bee very anxious about food。
he would often enter the kitchen； asking his wife sharada devi； 〃whats cooking today？ its getting so late！〃 right in the middle of a serious talk on spiritual matters he would get up abruptly and rush towards the kitchen asking what was being cooked； start looking for food。
feeling embarrassed； sharada would politely chide him； 〃what are you doing？ what must people think …… dropping the talk on brahman so suddenly and starting to talk about food！〃 ramakrishna would laugh and remain silent。
even his close disciples remonstrated with him。
they would say； 〃its giving you a bad name。
people say； how can such a person have attained knowledge when his desire for food is so overwhelming？〃
one day his wife sharada got very upset and reproached him。
ramakrishna told her； 〃you have no idea； but the day i show aversion to food； know that i shall not live more than three days afterwards。
〃
sharada asked； 〃what do you mean？〃
ramakrishna said； 〃all my desires and passions have disappeared； all my thoughts are gone …… but for the good of mankind i am deliberately holding on to this one desire for food。
its like a boat tied down with one last rope。
once that rope is cut loose the boat will move on to its endless journey。
i am staying on with effort。
〃
perhaps those around him did not give much thought to this at the time。
but three days before ramakrishnas death； when sharada entered with a dish of food； ramakrishna looked at it； shut his eyes； and lay with his back turned towards her。
in a flash she remembered ramakrishnas words about his death。
the dish fell from her hands and she began to weep bitterly。
ramakrishna said； 〃dont cry。
you wished i should not crave for food …… your wish has e true。
〃 exactly three days after this incident ramakrishna died。
he was holding on with effort to just a little bit of desire。
that little desire had bee the support for the continuation of his life…journey。
with the disappearance of that desire； the entire support ceased to exist。
those whom we call the tirthankaras； those whom we call the buddhas； the sons of god； the avataras …… they hold on to only one desire。
they keep the desire solely out of passion； for the good and wellbeing of all mankind。
the day this desire is lost they cease to live in the body； and an endless journey towards the infinite begins。
after that there is no more birth； no more death。
after that there is neither one nor many。
what remains after that cannot； in any way； be counted in numbers； hence those who know dont even say； 〃brahman is one； the divine is one。
〃 to call it one is meaningless when there is no way to follow it with two； when one cant count any further in the sequence of two and three。
saying one is meaningful only as long as two； three and four are also there。
one is significant only in the context of other numbers。
thats why those who know dont even say brahmanan is one； they say brahman is non…dual； he is not two。
they are saying something quite remarkable。
they are saying； 〃god is not two； there is no way you can count god in terms of numbers。
〃 even calling him one we are attempting to count him in terms of numbers； which is wrong。
but to experience that one is still a long way。
right now we are still at the level of the gross body； of the body which endlessly takes multiple forms。
when we enter this body we find another body …… the subtle body。
going beyond this subtle body； we attain that which is not a body； that which is bodiless …… the soul。
what i said yesterday is not contradictory； is not paradoxical。
question 2
a friend has asked： once the soul has left a body； can it enter into another dead body？
yes it can。
but there no longer remains any meaning； any purpose in entering another dead body： the other body was dead because the soul had found it unsuitable to reside in。
the body was discarded because it had bee useless； hence there is no point in entering that body。
nevertheless； it is indeed possible to enter another body。
its no use asking； however； how one can enter another body when we dont even know how we exist in the body we are already in。
what can be gained by thinking about such worthless things as entering another body？ we dont even know how we entered the body we have now。
we dont even know how we are living in our body。
we have never had the experience of seeing our own body separate from us。
in any case； there is no reason for entering another body； however； in scientific terms； it can be said that it is possible to enter another body …… because； basically； a body cannot be seen in terms of yours and mine。
all bodies are external。
when a soul enters a mothers womb it is actually entering a body …… a very small body； an atomic body； but entering a body nevertheless。
the cell that is created on the first day in a mothers womb contains the whole inbuilt program in itself。
for example； the possibility t