Essential Philosophy of Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Z_Selected_Speeches_of_V_R_Gandhi_002018.pdf

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in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee." This shows that the prophets too had existed before. Even in the New Testament there is sufficient evidence for reincarnation. In John IX. 2 a question is put to Jesus by his disciples-Which did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? This refers to two popular theories of the time-one that of Moses who taught that the sins of fathers would descend on the children to the third and the fourth generation and the other that of reincarnation doctrine. He merely says that neither that man's sin nor his father's sin was the cause of his blindness; he does not deny the pre-existence of that man. For in Galatians VI. 7 we find Whatever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Paul does not here mean that what a man soweth in this physical existence that he shall reap in spiritual existence. For in the next passage he says: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. Even the words of Jesus confirm the doctrine. In St. Mathew XI he says: Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied unto John, and if ye will receive it this is Elias, which was far to come." Does not Jesus mean that John
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