Reincarnation - Echoes Of The Journey Of The Soul

Many people in our modern times have what theygreater self, the former being perishable and the later
describe as memories of having lived past lives.enduring from life to life. Here is a selection from the
Remembering a past life has a potential profoundDhammapada: "I call him Brahmana [a true Brahmin]
healing effect on one's health, relationships, life work,who has destroyed his doubts by knowledge and had
spiritual understanding and sense of Self. A past lifeplumbed the depth of the Eternal....Him I call a
memory can also be an opening for one's spiritualBrahmana who knows the mystery of death and
evolution and growth. I know because I haverebirth of all beings, who knows his former lives, who is
remembered many of my own past life experiencesa sage of perfect knowledge and who has
and I have facilitated thousands of people while theyaccomplished all that needs to be accomplished."
were in a hypnotic state as they remembered theirIn the Diamond Sutra the opening paragraph refers to
past lives.a past life of the Buddha when he was born a king's
Both spiritual traditions, Hinduism and Buddhism, haveson and his raging father cut the infant into pieces:
versions of reincarnation in their theologies. In bothWhen the king of Kalinga cut my flesh from every limb,
traditions there is a belief that the soul is eternal andat that time I had no perception of self, of being a soul,
that it takes different forms through out the process ofor a person. And why? If at that time I had had a
birth, death and rebirth. In each tradition there is a beliefperception of self, I would have had a perception of
that the incarnate form and life experiences one has isill-will....With my superknowledge I recall that in the past I
the effect of past lives. The concept of Karma, causehave for five hundred births led the life of a sage
and effect, is also universal to these traditions. It isdevoted to patience.
interesting to me that in the class readingsIn the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama is
reincarnation is never addressed as a part of thechosen because of his ability to remember certain
spiritual precepts or beliefs. In both spiritual traditionsobjects and spiritual teaching from a prior lifetime as a
reincarnation is a basic component of the theology.Dalai Lama. He is put to tests to prove the authenticity
The ultimate expression of spiritual growth is movingof his reincarnational heritage before he is accepted
beyond the cycles of death and rebirth, to a state ofinto the role as the new Dalai Lama. His ability to
re-emergence with the divine.remember is a sign of his advanced spiritual state. The
HinduismTibetan Buddhists want to honor the past learnings and
Sacred Hindu texts use the term atman to refer to thewisdom of their spiritual leader; he can pick up where
spiritual essence of a human being. The atman is one'she left off in a prior life time.
true self because it connects each individual soul toBradford Smith of Colombia University writes:
one Source or Supreme Reality - Brahmin. In HinduismWhen the previous Dalai Lama dies, wise men who
life is a journey which takes each individual soul backhad gone to seek the new holy one, had found a little
to the oneness of Brahman from which everything isboy who recognized things that had belonged to his
born. On this journey we human beings tend to forgetpredecessor and could pick them out unerringly from
the truth of who we are: we tend to fall into samsaraamong similar objects...So here is a religion where an
the seemingly never-ending cycle of birth, death andinfant is born obscurely, recognized by wise men and
rebirth. Humans are destined to reincarnate over andworshipped: where a holy man prophesies that he will
over again until our atman, or spiritual essence as areturn from the dead......In Tibetan Buddhism, with its firm
human being, can remember that we are Brahman.faith in the rebirth of the soul, not only of the
Lifetimes give us on-going opportunities to reach aDalai Lamas but of all, and of a progress based upon
state of awareness called moksha or liberation. Webehavior during past lives, this impulse is dramatically
can only reach this state by realizing that we are notpresent.
our personalities and simply material beings. We mustThe Dalai Lama speaks of the effects of Karma and
follow a path of dharma, a path or moral and ethicalreincarnation in a poignant way in a discussion of the
conduct to become one with spirit.sad state of Tibet where suffering has been inflicted
The Hindu perspective on reincarnation also includesupon the people, and where the Chinese are
the concept of transmigration of the movement of theattempting to stamp out every vestige of Buddhism
soul from mineral, vegetable and animal forms beforemay wonder how the Dalai Lama views all this in the
becoming human. After going through the many humanlight of reincarnation.
forms to samsara the soul evolved to become angelic.An answer is given in an interview with the Lama as
Some Hindus believe that transmigration can also bereported in the New York Times (November 12, 1967):
reversed: that the human soul can also become animalAs a Buddhist he said that he believes that the present
in its next life if the soul needs to experience theevents are determined by intricate sets of causes
karma of de-evolving.stretching back into the previous lives of those who
The Hindu practices follow the teachings in the Vedasare affected by them. "Thus", he said, "it was only an
which are believed to have been composed between'outward appearance' that the Tibetans were suffering
1200 BCE and 1000 BCE. The Bhagavad- Gita, atoday because of the Chinese aggression. The
Vedic text, is the story of prince Arjuna and hisaggression must have come because we did
charioteer Krishna, who turns out is the reincarnation ofsomething bad." "Similarly", he went on," it is only an
the supreme God, Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe. In'outward appearance' that Chinese rule in Tibet is now
the Gita , Krishna explains how spiritual knowledge ispermanent. The chain of causes that will eventually
attained. Knowledge is attained through the playing outundermine it, must already be lengthening, even if it
of karma, living out one's dharma, or spiritual duty, andcannot be seen." "Cause and effect, cause and effect,
through the perfection of one's soul's and learningcause and effect, " he said cheerfully in English, his
through reincarnation. The experience of life and all offingers darting in the air to join the links of an imaginary
its teachings is so vast that it is unlikely that in one lifechain. "There will certainly be change."
time the soul can move into perfection.Past life therapy is a spiritual process through which
The concepts of Karma and reincarnation are wovenyou can remember the Self and the truth of who you
throughout the Bhagavad-Gita and are more thanare as a spiritual being. Through direct experiences of
dogma to Hindus. In an article that appeared in India'semotions, body sensations and events one can come
Illustrated Weekly (September 26, 1971) is theto a profound understanding and acceptance of the
statement, "Karma and reincarnation are to themway it is. One has a direct experience of karma and
[Hindus] more than dogma, they are like the air thatthe bigger picture of the spiritual lessons that come
they breathe. And Hindus cannot help themselvesthrough the process of karmic experiences of cause
feeling that they are a part of a cosmic scheme that isand effect.
perpetually in a whirl. As Krishna says in the Gita, 'AllSixteen years ago a man came to see me to do a
worlds up to that of Brahma are subject to rebirthpast-life regression around his lack of ambition and
again and again.'"success in the field of music. The minute he walked
In past life regression therapy a client has theinto my office I was struck with a deep and profound
opportunity to directly experience the effects ofrecognition of him. This man is now my husband of
karma or cause and effect in one's own present andfourteen years. Through out our life and spiritual work
past lives. Through the life stories that unfold andtogether, I have come to understand so much about
through the associated state in the body, time andour connection and our karma.
place of the past life, the client experiences directIn a past life we shared in Ancient Egypt, Paul, my
emotions, sensations and soul awareness of thehusband now, was a man of spiritual responsibility. He
"hows" and "whys" of the past life in relation to currentwas to watch over the Priestess virgins who were to
circumstances in one's present life.be sacrificed whenever a pharaoh died. The Priestess
An example is from my own regression therapy work.spirits would accompany the dead pharaohs into the
I grew up with a physically and emotionally abusiveafterlife to protect them and care for them. I was
alcoholic mother. By the time I was an adolescent I hadchosen to be sacrificed. He chose me to die because I
given up on getting my mothering needs met by herwas the most evolved of the priestess. This choice
and I lived with resentment and fear. I rejected myinfuriated me. We had fallen in love and I wanted to be
mother with the same passion I felt with which shefree to be in relationship with him. This was not
rejected me until I accessed a past life memory whenpossible since I was a well- guarded virgin priestess. I
my mother was a child and I was her stepmother. Iwas furious that he would choose his spiritual
had the image and sensation of being angry andresponsibility to sacrifice the highest priestess over our
resentful toward my stepdaughter and beating her aspersonal love and that I was the victim of a spiritual
she crouched in a corner. I experienced that I beat herritual that I knew was based on superstition, not on the
often and that I was relentlessly emotionally cruel toreality of the power of love. When I died I was angry
her. I had the realization that in my current life myat the stupidity of personal religious sacrifices when I
mother and I carried the soul memory of the pastknew that love was the most important healing force
relationship and that karmically we were balancing outin the universe.
the drama by reversing the roles.Well, in this life time we get to be together to explore
This experience explained to me so clearly why I waspersonal and spiritual love. I feel that Paul is very
the one out of four daughters she abused. In an instantdedicated to exploring the experience of personal and
not only did I understand the cause and effect of herspiritual love with me. And I am exploring more lessons
abuse, but I also came to a place of forgiveness ofabout personal sacrifice: what it is and when it feels
my mother this life time and for myself in the past. Ourappropriate and inappropriate. We have both moved
relationship changed dramatically after this regression.beyond religious dogma and adopting external authority
The anger and resentment were gone. I was able towhere our spiritual life is concerned and we both are
accept her and my relationship with her with moreinvolved with the dharma of supporting others in being
compassion. Understanding the karma between myin relationship with their own spiritual power. We are
mother and myself supported my ability to acceptconsciously working on freeing ourselves from the
what is and to come to a place of peace and healing. Ikarmic wheel that keeps us caught up in the suffering
have no way of knowing to what degree this healingand entrapment of mind.
of my relationship with my mother has supported myAs stated by the Buddhist scholar Bassui Tokusho:
spiritual evolution. I do know, however, that in this lifeIf you would free yourself of the sufferings of
time I feel more able to be present with what is and Isamsara [rebirth], you must learn the direct way to
felt less reactive and judgmental where my mother isbecome a Buddha. This way is no other than the
concerned.realization of your own Mind. Now what is this Mind? It
I have also committed to the dharma of helping othersis the true nature of all sentient beings, that which
to come to a more accepting and compassionateexisted before our parents were born and hence
place in their lives through understanding the "whybefore our own birth, which presently exists,
me?" of difficult situations in their lives. When oneunchangeable and eternal. So it is one's Face before
comes to the karma of the "why me?" as it is relatedone's parents were born...When we are born it is not
to the past life connection to current life effects,newly created, and when we die it does not perish. It
awareness shifts and healing takes place. Past lifehas no distinction of male or female, nor has it any
regression work can help one do the spiritual work ofcoloration good or bad. It cannot be compared to
Chanda in the Hindu tradition: " This is the wholesomeanything, so it is called Buddha nature....
desire of Chanda- to be free, the desire to relieveShould your yearning be too weak to lead you to this
suffering, to be healthy, to promote well-being." Past lifestate in your present life time, you will undoubtedly gain
regression therapy brings into the current life theSelf-realization easily in the next, provided you are still
spiritual practice of liberation, and basic self-esteemengaged in this questioning at death, just as
and equality with others.yesterday's work half done was finished easily today.
BuddhismPast life therapy is a tool that will support the soul's
Reincarnation is also a basic part of the theology in thespiritual work in moving towards one's Buddha hood,
Buddhist tradition. The Buddha, Siddhartha, at histoday. Past life therapy can give one the direct
moment of enlightenment saw all of his pastunderstanding and experience of cause and effect
incarnations as he looked into his reflection in the river.and can help one to more consciously choose
One effect of enlightenment is that the wheels ofthoughts and actions that will support the lessening of
karma are broken and one no longer must reincarnatepersonal and planetary suffering. Through doing the
to perfect one's Being. A Boddhisattva, however, iswork of past-life therapy one can realize more fully
one who reaches enlightenment or Nirvana andthat we are all Buddhas in the process of
chooses to incarnate to assist all others incarnated inSelf-realization.
reaching nirvana through teaching how one canBibliography
release suffering and attachment. Reaching perfectionBuddism and Taoism and Indigenous Religions, Volume
is the goal of Buddhists and perfection is reached byI, Hana Matt, no information.
incarnating over and over again to experience andHinduism, W. Owen Cole and V.P. (Hemant) Kanitkar,
learn how to let go of all attachment and sufferingHodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London, UK, 1995.
created by the mind. The schools of Mahayana andHunduism, Hana Matt, no information.
Zen Buddhism hold the belief in personal reincarnationReincarnation: The Phoenix Fire Mystery, Sylvia
and those who practice these forms of Buddhism areCranston, Theosophical University Press, Pasadena,
focused on stopping the karmic pull that bring us backCA, 1977.
into a body in human form.Reincarnation: A New Horizon in Science, Religion and
The original Buddhist scriptures, known as the PaliSociety, Sylvia Cranston and Carey Williams,
Canon, were recorded several hundred years afterTheosophical University Press, Pasadena, CA, 1993.
Buddha's death. The most celebrated of these is theReincarnation, Nevill Drury, Barnes and Noble Books,
Dhammapada. Here Buddha plainly speaks of twoSingapore, 2002.
selves within the human being, the lesser self and the