It is hard for any living creature to achieve birth in a human form. Strength of body and will are even harder to obtain; purity is harder still; harder even than these is the desire to live a spiritual life; and an understanding of the scriptures is the hardest of all.
As for discrimination between the Atman and the non-Atman, direct perception of the Atman itself, continuous union with Brahman, and final liberation – these cannot be obtained except through the merits of 100 billion well-lived incarnations.”
Viveka Chudamani, The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, written perhaps by Shankara around 700 CE
Let’s just relax for a moment, put down the tools and settle the energies that our egos continuously engage. Let’s relax and remember how lucky we are, how fortunate to have been incarnated here and now and in this body.
I’ve been taught not to inquire too closely into the nature of past lives and reincarnation. There are many reasons not to focus on past incarnations. They are not real, they are not here, their lessons are already with us if we listen carefully, these reasons and more. Adi Shankara’s words above point to the impossible immensity, scale and scope of the whole affair. It’s not something that we will comprehend with our very limited minds and egos.
So let’s relax and feel just how fortunate we are. We may not understand how or why, but here we are, here and now. It’s a good start.