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It is said that if we medidate and remember GOD always, we will reach Vaikunth i.e. the abode of Lord Vishnu. We can become Eternal and Immortal. Basically we will live with the GODs. Does that mean we are immortal or eternal?

Also, Asuras meditated a lot and got many boons but why were they not immortal since they meditated a lot? Why did Lord Brahma not grant them a wish to become immortal wherein by going to Vaikunth by praying and meditating we supposedly become immortal. We don't suffer as human being.

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    Some people believe going to Vaikunth is Moksha but most others believe that when bodily consciousness becomes universal consciousness, you become liberated.
    – Pinakin
    Dec 3, 2015 at 4:10
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    Mere Meditation will not make you immortal. Asuras do "Tapa" for attaining materialistic desires but no Asura got boon of immortality from Brahma, as Brahma himself is mortal. Atma is eternal and "Yoga" (Meditation is just part of Yoga) helps to mingle Atma with Paramatma
    – The Destroyer
    Dec 3, 2015 at 4:59

1 Answer 1

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1. What is meant by eternal

Right now you are thinking that eternal means that the physical body will never die. However this is a wrong notion. The BODY IS ALWAYS MORTAL. The physical body is subject to birth, decay and death. There is no body that can live forever (except in case of certain incarnations which are supposed to exist forever).

Gita 2:18

The material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is sure to come to an end; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.

Then what is eternal?

Eternal implies that the soul becomes eternal. However, the soul is always eternal! The soul is never subject to death or dissolution!

Gita 2:16, 18

In the unreal there is no duration and in the real there is no cessation; indeed the conclusion between both the two has been analyzed by knowers of the truth.

But know that by whom this entire body is prevaded (Atma), is indestructible. No one is able to cause the destruction of the imperishable soul.

This is so confusing. If body always dies and soul is always eternal then what is meant by immortality?

Right now we think we are the body. However this is a wrong association. We are not the body, we are the immortal soul.

Shri Adi Shankaracharya says in Nirvana Shatakam:

Mano buddhya-hankara chittani naham

Na cha shrotra jihve, na cha ghrana netre

Na cha vyoma bhumirna tejo na vayuhu

Chidananda rupah shivoham shivoham

I am not the mind, intellect, thought, ego, or some form of the supreme being; I neither have ears, nor tongue and I neither have nose (nostrils) nor eyes; I am not the sky, earth, light or the wind; I am the fortunate, joyful, supreme being who is the very emblem of truth, knowledge and eternal bliss. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva, I am Shiva.

So immortality implies removing this association from body and realizing that we are the soul.

According to Vaishnavas, this self-realization (called Kaivalya) is not the Ultimate liberation (Moksha). There is a level above it called reaching Vaikunta. But this is a separate discussion. Whatever you believe as the highest level or not, the physical body is never eternal and self-realization leads to immortality according to Advaitic beliefs (because the soul has always been eternal).

Thus this self-realization makes one immortal.

2. What about Asuras?

The Asuras performed rigorous tapas, they meditated on the Lord. Although they had evil intentions they did pray to God.

That is why, after being killed by the Lord Vishnu, they reached Him!

In other words, they were granted IMMORTALITY! It is just that they were not granted bodily immortality!

In this beautiful answer, the user @BeHappy explains how the Asuras worshipped Lord Vishnu in the mode of enimity and therefore they reached Him:

So Ravana was no ordinary soul. He was previously one of the two gatekeepers at Vishnu's abode Vaikuntha. Due to stopping the four Sanat kumaras they got cursed and had to take birth in demonic families as the Lord had desired:

The Lord replied: O brāhmaṇas, know that the punishment you inflicted on them was originally ordained by Me, and therefore they will fall to a birth in a demoniac family. But they will be firmly united with Me in thought through mental concentration intensified by anger, and they will return to My presence shortly. [SB - 3.6.26]

Some more excerpts from that answer:

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ bhayaṁ sneham aikyaṁ sauhṛdam eva ca nityaṁ harau vidadhato yānti tan-mayatāṁ hi te [SB - 10.29.15]

Meaning

Persons who constantly direct their lust, anger, fear, protective affection, feeling of oneness and friendship toward Lord Hari are sure to become absorbed in Him.

Therefore in conclusion,

If you pray to God with good intentions, you will reach God in a good way. If you pray to God with bad intentions, you will reach God in a bad way (eg. Ravana, Kamsa. Bad in the sense that they were used as bad examples of reaching God by opposing Him). However you will reach God by sincerely thinking about Him.

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  • So Ravana was no ordinary soul. He was previously one of the two gatekeepers at Vishnu's abode Vaikuntha. Due to stopping the four Sanat kumaras they got cursed and had to take birth in demonic families as the Lord had desired: --> I thought the two gatekeepers were hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha ? Dec 9, 2015 at 5:20
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    Also, so is the conclusion , self realization means immortality? Dec 9, 2015 at 5:21
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    @user3750229 I think the story goes that the two gatekeepers were cursed to take birth repeatedly for X number of times and each time they would perform the yoga of anger and reach Vishnu's abode by being killed by Lord Hari. As for 'self realization means immortality'. The conclusion is this: 'Do not seek body immortality, for that is impossible [refer Gita verses] but rather seek to realize who You really are (i.e. the Immortal Brahman)'. Hope its clear. All the besx.
    – Sai
    Dec 9, 2015 at 15:30
  • Very helpful answer, thx for posting this 🕉 Jan 14 at 21:22

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