“Those who merely leave their physical bodies and attain the state of celestial deities, or those who get merged in Nature, have rebirth.”
–The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Sutra (Thread) or Lesson 19: Bhavapratyayo Videha Prakrtilayanam
Bhava: existence, birth | Pratyayah (pratyayo): content of mind (mental modification) | Videha: bodiless (gods/spirits) | Prakrtilayanam: merged into nature
When union with the Prakrti/true self is obtained in the physical body, our consciousness leaves the Earthly plane in what can somewhat be described as an “out-of-body experience.”
Patanjali calls this experience “rebirth” for the Yogic practitioner.
Read More