Outlines of Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Paul Deussen
Publisher: Crest Publishing House

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PHILOSOPHY OF THE UPANISHADS
Vedic creed of rewards and punishments in the other world. The two views combined led to a complicated system, which taught a two- fold reward and punishment, the first in the world beyond, the second in a succeeding life on earth. This theory is fully explained in the so-called "doctrine of the Five Fires", an important text found both in Chând. 5 and in Brih. 6. This combined theory of compensation distinguishes three ways after death (1) the way of the fathers, (2) the way of the gods, and (3) the "third place".
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(1) The way of the fathers, destined for the performer of pious works, leads through the smoke of the funeral pyre and a series of "dark" stations to the placid realm of the moon, where the soul in commerce with the gods, enjoys the fruit of its good works, until they are consumed. As soon as the treasure of good works is exhausted, the soul, through the intermediate stations of ether, wind, fog, rain, plant, semen and womb passes to a new human existence, in which once more the good and evil works of the previous life find their reward.
(2) The way of the gods is destined for those who have spent their life in worshipping Brahman. They go through the flame of the funeral pyre and a series of "luminous" stations first to the sun, thence "to the moon, from the moon to the lightning; there is a spirit, he is not like a human being; he leads them to Brahman. For them there is no return". This passage evidently teaches that by the way of the gods is attained the highest goal, the union with Brahman. The later system, however, teaching