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I have found ‘Reincarnation‘ and ‘Past Lives‘ to gain greater interest than most other articles I write about.
I have spent the week delving deeper into the doctrine and have created several posts covering the topic.
For a directory of all the Reincarnation and Past Life resources I have on Explore Meditation – please look at the bottom of this post.
But, before shining the spotlight of learning onto the origins of Reincarnation, I first wish to make one thing clear.
The Explore Meditation website combines the different elements of my study in a practical format. I am on a spiritual path – and am excited to share my learning’s with others. At no time do I intend to preach, or profess one philosophy is superior to another. At the very least I wish to be fuel for your thought. I wish for you to make up your own mind – Believe and practice what works for you.
The Reincarnation concept is simple; Birth – Life – Death – Rebirth.
We are spiritual beings having physical experiences. But where did this idea come from?
The History of Reincarnation
The following notes have been taken from Reincarnation – The Vedanta Philosophy, which is available in full by clicking the link.
“Reincarnation has been a belief carried from the ancient times, as it’s so well covered in the writings of philosophers, sages and prophets of all countries and cultures.
The ancient civilization of Egypt was built upon a crude form of the doctrine of Reincarnation.
Herodotus says: “The Egyptians propounded the theory that the human soul is imperishable, and that where the body of any one dies it enters into some other creature that may be ready to receive it.”
Pythagoras and his disciples spread it through Greece and Italy.
Pythagoras says: “All has soul; all is soul wandering in the organic world, and obeying eternal will or law.”
In Dryden’s Ovid we read: “Death has no power the immortal soul to slay, that, when its present body turns to clay, Seeks a fresh home, and with unlessened might, Inspires another frame with life and light.”
It was the keynote of Plato’s philosophy.
Plato says: “Soul is older than body. Souls are continually born over and over again into this life.”
Alexander the Great accepted this idea after coming in contact with the Hindu philosophers.
Julius Caesar found that the Gaul’s had some belief regarding the pre-existence of the human soul.
Celts and Britons were impressed by this idea, and it was a favorite theme of Arab philosophers and many Mohammedan Sufis.
The Jews adopted it after Babylonian captivity. John the Baptist was according to the Jews a second Elijah; Jesus was believed by man to be the reappearance of some other prophet. (See Matt, xvi, 24, also xvii, 12)
Solomon says in his Book of Wisdom: “I was a child of good nature and a good soul came to me, or rather because I was good I came into an undefiled body.”
The Talmud and Cabala teach the same thing. In the Talmud it is said that Abel’s soul passed into the body of Seth, and then into that of Moses.”
Even though the modern Bible and current Christian teachings say that Reincarnation isn’t true, most people alive today believe in some form of eternal life.
For those who say it’s ridiculous to believe that we are born again and again, I ask if it’s less ridiculous to believe that we are created from nothing, and judged by God on the efforts of this one life, which determines whether we are to spend eternity in Heaven or Hell.
Debating the process of life and death gives greater meaning to our existence. Forming opinions on the matter builds your strength of character. But as knowledge comes from experience and learning I offer the two following resources.
Try a Past Life Regression Meditation
My friends at the Unexplainable Store have created a meditation with the exact Binaural Beat and Isochronic Frequencies to put you in the perfect state-of-mind to connect with your past lives.
Don’t continually repeat the same mistakes!
Past Life Regression is the act of transcending normal memory, to experience memories from your previous incarnations.
You will better understand why you are here, and perhaps even discover what you need to acomplish in this lifetime to complete your karmic lesson.
Past Life Regression has changed the lives of so many people around the world who swear by its reality.
Jump to their website by clicking Past Life Regression Meditation
and benefit from this experience today!
Keep Exploring…
Past Life Regression Guided Meditation
This Past Life Regression allows you to access the Karmic lessons your soul has faced previously. Having an awareness of these lessons gives an amazing opportunity for immense spiritual growth in this one lifetime. It runs for 28 minutes.
Why can’t we remember our Past Lives?
Just because we can’t remember our past lives doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. These memories are held just below the conscious level and Can be accessed.
The One Birth Theory
To better understand reincarnation – we explore the Christian “One Birth” theory and compare their philosophical beliefs to Spiritualists.
Reincarnated Souls
Mozart, the great musician, wrote a sonata when he was four years old and an opera in his eight year. And there are many such instanced of wonderful powers exhibited by artists and painters when they were quite young. Do these child Prodigy’s carry forward skills from their Past Lives?
If you would like further information, Please Check Wikipedia for their definitions, read a well written Reincarnation article on The Mystica website, and for the complete picture, the Skeptics Dictionary tells you why The Concept of Reincarnation is rubbish.
I don’t think people should invest huge amounts of time thinking and probing into their past lives. This life is the life that matters. It is beautiful and perfect exactly the way it is. When we dwell in the past we are not living in the present. That said, it does not mean that it did not happen.
Additionally, it seems to be an ego trip for many, to claim they were a famous person in history in one of their past lives. I mean, come on, how many souls could really have been Joan of Arc or Cleopatra? I think they want to feel important, and so they really believe that they made a difference in the past.
I personally find it plausible, but do not see how it effects my life now. No matter what happened in the past, all I can control is my inner peace of mind now. I worry more about remaining with God today.
Nice Topic. It is No Doubt, important to live in the present & not hold on to the past, as we have no control over the past. we also say “Die to the past every moment”. But this is OK as long as we don’t face extreme upheavels in present life. Faced with intense sufferings & sorrows, we do start thinking why is this happening to me ? What actions have I commited knowingly or unknowingly that I am suffering to this extent ? At this point of time, If we are made to understand about our past lives, actions, tendencies, sufferings in past lives, it would surely help us to recognize that the cause of our sufferings lie somewhere in ourselves. Instead of blaming others for our sorrow, we would correct ourselves & even improve the quality of our actions, relationships in this lifetime. Many unresolved issues could also be settled by the help of this knowledge. We can even understand life and ourselves better. If we accept the theory of Karma, acceptance of reincarnation is inevitable. Thanks for inspiring more & more people to explore this subject.
Wow guys, GREAT COMMENTS! Very insightful. And to think, so many people never even question the theory. I’m happy for everyone to believe what they wish – but I do encourage them to consider it to form an opinion. Ignorance may be bliss… but so is enlightened thought!