The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c11.27

c11.27

Still even in the Upanishads so important a doctrine must be established on reason. There are two questions to be asked. First, why must the soul wander from life to life; secondly, why does its habitation differ from life to life, liable to reincarnation: at one time as an animal high or low; at another as a human being of various degrees; and at yet another even as a god? For our convenience we may answer the second question first. The celebrated Law-Book of Manu, at a time when this doctrine has become cut and dried, teaches that a Brahman priest who steals the substance which has been entrusted to him for sacrifice to the gods will in his next existence become a vulture or a crow.¹ Why? Because the vulture and the crow make their living by stealing food. Briefly, man is what he does.