Reincarnation, literally "to be made flesh again", is a doctrine or metaphysical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. Metaphysics is the branch of Philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific This essential part is often referred to as the spirit or soul, the "higher" or "true" self, "divine spark", or "I". The English word " spirit " comes from the Latin " spiritus " (breath The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living According to such beliefs, a new personality is developed during each life in the physical world, but some part of the self remains constant throughout the successive lives. "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place ^[1]

Belief in reincarnation is an ancient phenomenon. This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism (including Yoga, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism), Jainism, and Sikhism. Indian religions, also called Dharmic religions, are the related religious traditions that originated in the Indian subcontinent, namely Hinduism, Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Yoga ( Sanskrit: योग, IAST: yóga, joːgə refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India, to the Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century The idea was also entertained by some ancient Greek philosophers. Ancient Greek philosophy focused on the role of Reason and Inquiry. Many modern Pagans also believe in reincarnation as do some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, practitioners of certain African traditions, and students of esoteric philosophies such as Kabbalah, Sufism and Gnostic and Esoteric Christianity. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world New Age ( New Age Movement and New Age Spirituality) is a Social Collective Phenomenon and a Spiritual Nature Spiritism is a Christian philosophical Doctrine, established in France in the mid-nineteenth century Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Esoteric Christianity is a term which refers to an ensemble of spiritual currents which regard Christianity as a Mystery religion, and profess the existence The Buddhist concept of Rebirth although often referred to as reincarnation differs significantly from the Hindu-based traditions and New Age movements in that there is no "self" (or eternal soul) to reincarnate. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas While in the popular mind eternity often simply means existing for a limitless amount of Time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside of

During recent decades, a significant minority of people in the West have developed a belief in reincarnation. ^[2] Feature films, such as Kundun and Birth, contemporary books by authors such as Carol Bowman and Vicki Mackenzie, as well as popular songs, regularly mention reincarnation. Kundun is a 1997 film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. Birth is a 2004 Film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Danny Huston and Children's Past Lives: How Past Life Memories Affect Your Child is a 1997 book by Carol Bowman Vicki Mackenzie (born 1947 an author and journalist was born in England and spent much of her early life in Australia.

Some researchers, such as Professor Ian Stevenson, have explored the issue of reincarnation and published suggestive evidence. Ian Pretyman Stevenson, MD, (born October 31, 1918, in Montreal, Canada, died February 8, 2007, in Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation is a Book written by Ian Stevenson on the phenomena of spontaneous recall of information about Some skeptics are critical of this work and others say that more reincarnation research is needed. In ordinary usage skepticism or scepticism ( Greek 'σκέπτομαι' skeptomai, to look about to consider see also spelling differences Reincarnation research is a field of inquiry that records and analyzes the discourse of people who claim to have had Past lives. ^[3]

Contents 1 Eastern religions and traditions 1.1 Hinduism 1.2 Jainism 1.3 Sikhism 1.4 Buddhism 1.5 Taoism 2 Western religions and traditions 2.1 Classical Greek philosophy 2.2 Judaism 2.3 Gnosticism 2.4 Christianity 2.5 Islam 2.6 Native American nations 2.7 Norse mythology 3 Contemporary perspectives 3.1 Modern thinkers 3.2 Anthroposophy 3.3 Theosophy 3.4 Scientology 3.5 Edgar Cayce 3.6 Eckankar 3.7 Seth and Jane Roberts 3.8 Henry Ford 3.9 George S. Patton 3.10 The New Age movement 3.11 Popular western culture 4 Scientific research 5 See also 5.1 Concepts 5.2 Themes 5.3 Traditions 5.4 Persons 6 Footnotes 7 References 8 External links

Eastern religions and traditions

Eastern philosophical and religious beliefs regarding the existence or non-existence of an enduring 'self' have a direct bearing on how reincarnation is viewed within a given tradition. Self is broadly defined as the essential qualities that make a person distinct from all others There are large differences in philosophical beliefs regarding the nature of the soul (also known as the jiva or atman) amongst Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living In Hinduism and Jainism, a jiva (जीव jīva alternate spelling jiwa) is a living being or more specifically the immortal essence of a living being Some schools deny the existence of a 'self', while others claim the existence of an eternal, personal self, and still others say there is neither 'self' nor 'no-self', as both are false. Each of these beliefs has a direct bearing on the possible nature of reincarnation, including such concepts as samsara, moksha, nirvana, and bhakti. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" In sramanic philosophy Nirvana (निर्वाण| Nirvāṇa; निब्बान Nibbāna; Prakrit: णिव्वाण Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion.

Hinduism

Main article: Reincarnation and Hinduism

In India the concept of reincarnation is first recorded in the Upanishads^[4] (c. Reincarnation is a core belief within Hinduism. In most Indian philosophical traditions including the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings 800 BCE), which are philosophical and religious texts composed in Sanskrit. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

According to Hinduism, the soul (atman) is immortal, while the body is subject to birth and death. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The Ātman ( IAST: Ātman Sanskrit: आत्मन्‍ is a philosophical term used within Hinduism and Vedanta to identify the Soul The Bhagavad Gita states that:

Worn-out garments are shed by the body; Worn-out bodies are shed by the dweller within the body. New bodies are donned by the dweller, like garments. ^[5]

The idea that the soul (of any living being - including animals, humans and plants) reincarnates is intricately linked to karma, another concept first introduced in the Upanishads. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Karma (literally: action) is the sum of one's actions, and the force that determines one's next reincarnation. The cycle of death and rebirth, governed by karma, is referred to as samsara.

Hinduism teaches that the soul goes on repeatedly being born and dying. One is reborn on account of desire: a person desires to be born because he or she wants to enjoy worldly pleasures, which can be enjoyed only through a body. ^[6] Hinduism does not teach that all worldly pleasures are sinful, but it teaches that they can never bring deep, lasting happiness or peace (ānanda). According to the Hindu sage Adi Shankaracharya - the world as we ordinarily understand it - is like a dream: fleeting and illusory. Adi Shankara ( Malayalam: ആദി ശങ്കരന്‍ Devanāgarī: आदि शङ्कर Ādi Śaṅkara, aːd̪i ɕaŋkərə (see below To be trapped in Samsara is a result of ignorance of the true nature of our existence.

After many births, every person eventually becomes dissatisfied with the limited happiness that worldly pleasures can bring. At this point, a person begins to seek higher forms of happiness, which can be attained only through spiritual experience. When, after much spiritual practice (sādhanā), a person finally realizes his or her own divine nature—ie. For Sadhana the actress see Sadhana (actress Sadhana (Sanskrit sādhanam) is a Sanskrit term for "a means of accomplishing something" , realizes that the true "self" is the immortal soul rather than the body or the ego—all desires for the pleasures of the world will vanish, since they will seem insipid compared to spiritual ānanda. When all desire has vanished, the person will not be reborn anymore. ^[7]

When the cycle of rebirth thus comes to an end, a person is said to have attained moksha, or salvation. In Indian religions, Moksha ( Sanskrit: sa मोक्ष mokṣa) or Mukti ( Sanskrit: sa मुक्ति literally "release" ^[8] While all schools of thought agree that moksha implies the cessation of worldly desires and freedom from the cycle of birth and death, the exact definition of salvation depends on individual beliefs. For example, followers of the Advaita Vedanta school (often associated with jnana yoga) believe that they will spend eternity absorbed in the perfect peace and happiness that comes with the realization that all existence is One (Brahman), and that the immortal soul is part of that existence. Advaita Vedanta ( IAST Advaita Vedānta; Sanskrit अद्वैत वेदान्त əd̪vait̪ə veːd̪ɑːnt̪ə is a sub-school of the Jnâna yoga ( Devanāgarī: ज्ञान योग or "path of knowledge" is one of the types of Yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. The followers of full or partial Dvaita schools ("dualistic" schools, such as bhakti yoga), on the other hand, perform their worship with the goal of spending eternity in a loka, (spiritual world or heaven), in the blessed company of the Supreme being (i. Dvaita ( Kannada: ದ್ವೈತ Devanagari:द्बैत is a dualist school of Vedanta Hindu philosophy. Bhakti Yoga ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति योग is a term within Hinduism which denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God Loka, a word in Sanskrit, in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, means world dimension plane abode and/or place or plane of existence. e Krishna or Vishnu for the Vaishnavas and Shiva for the dualistic schools of Shaivism). Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. ^[9]

Jainism

Further information: Karma in Jainism and Jain philosophy

In Jainism, particular reference is given to how devas (gods) also reincarnate after they die. Karma in Jainism ( Sanskrit: कर्म kär'mə kär'mən Prakrit: कम्म kä'mmə refers not only to the actions and deeds that are part of the Jain philosophy ( Sanskrit: Jain darsana; sa जैन दर्शन deals extensively with the problems of Metaphysics, Reality, Cosmology Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " A Jainist who accumulates enough good karma may become a deva, but this is generally seen as undesirable since devas eventually die and one might then come back as a lesser being. This belief also exists in a number of other schools of Hinduism. ^[10]

Sikhism

In Sikhism reincarnation is subject to grace of Guru and God. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. Waheguru (ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ vāhigurū or pa ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ vāhgurū; also transliterated Vahiguru)It is the term used in Sikhism Though it affirms Karma, it recognises the possibility of modifying ones destiny with the blessings of Guru. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak over the period of 1469 to 1708. ^[11] The tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, after initiating Sikhs with Khande di Pahul^[12] (Sikh baptism ceremony) declared the Sikhs to have been freed from previous family origin (janamnaash), creed (dharamnaash), rituals (karamnaash), duality (bhramnaash) and pre-determined occupation (kritnaash). Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was ^[13]

Therefore, the Sikhs hold the belief, as per enshrined by the Sikh Gurus, that they are free from re-incarnation. ^[14]

Buddhism

Main article: Rebirth (Buddhism)

According to the scriptures, the Buddha taught a concept of rebirth that was distinct from that of any known Indian teacher contemporary with him. Rebirth in Buddhism is the doctrine that the consciousness of a person (as conventionally regarded upon the death or dissolution of the aggregates ( Skandhas This concept was consistent with the common notion of a sequence of related lives stretching over a very long time, but was constrained by two core Buddhist concepts: anattā, that there is no irreducible ātman or "self" tying these lives together; and anicca, that all compounded things are subject to dissolution, including all the components of the human person and personality. In Buddhist philosophy, anatta ( Pāli) or anātman ( Sanskrit) refers to the notion of "not-self" Ātman (आत्मन् or Atta ( Pāli) literally means "self" but is sometimes translated as " Soul " or " Ego " Impermanence ( Sanskrit: अनित्य anitya; Pāli: अनिच्चा anicca; Tibetan: མི་​རྟག་​པ་ At the death of one personality, a new one comes into being, much as the flame of a dying candle can serve to light the flame of another. ^[15][16]

Since according to Buddhism there is no permanent and unchanging self (identify) there can be no transmigration in the strict sense. In Buddhist philosophy, anatta ( Pāli) or anātman ( Sanskrit) refers to the notion of "not-self" However, the Buddha himself is said to have referred to his past-lives. Buddhism teaches that what is reborn is not the person but that one moment gives rise to another and that momentum continues, even after death. It is a more subtle concept than the usual notion of reincarnation, reflecting the Buddhist concept of personality existing (even within one's lifetime) without a "soul".

Buddhism never rejected samsara, the process of rebirth, but suggests that it occurs across five or six realms of beings. It is actually said to be very rare for a person to be reborn in the immediate next life as a human. ^[17] However, Tibetan Buddhists do believe that a new-born child may be the rebirth of some important departed lama.

Taoism

Taoist documents from as early as Han Dynasty stated that Lao Zi appeared on earth in different persons in different times beginning from the time of Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Laozi ( also Lao Tse, Lao-Tzu, Laotze, Lao Zi, Laocius, and other variations was a philosopher of ancient The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors ( were mythological rulers of China during the period from c ^[18] An important scripture of Taoism, the Chuang Tzu (4th century BC), states: "Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point. Existence without limitation is space. Continuity without a starting point is time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there is entering in. That through which one passes in and out without seeing its form, that is the Portal of the Divine. " (Zhuang Zi, 23)

The core Taoist belief on reincarnation is Liudu Lunhui (六度輪回) or the six grades of reincarnations in existence for sentient beings who were once yuanling beings. For the book with the same name see Zhuangzi (book Zhuangzi ( was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th The six types varied from humans, to beasts and insects where progressively each denotes a level of more severe incarceration for beings who sinned in previous incarnates that do not yet warrant an outright damnation to Diyu. Diyu ( literally "earth prison" is the realm of the dead or " Hell " in Chinese mythology. This is in the realm of the living which in practice is akin to purgatory. See also Intermediate state Limbo|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity Purgatory, in the original sense is the condition or process of purification Humans incarnates who has successfully purified their earthly dirt in their last lives improve on their fate or karma progressively as they reincarnate into their next level of beings, until they voluntarily clense the make-up of their internal Jing Qi Shen or until an involuntary process of absolution called Souyuan. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Jing Qi Shen (精氣神 are three Chinese terms commonly used in Taoism related studies Souyuan (收圓 or 收原 in the Taoist eschatology is equivalent to the Judgment Day.

Western religions and traditions

Classical Greek philosophy

Main article: Metempsychosis

Among the ancient Greeks, Socrates, Pythagoras, and Plato may have believed in or taught the doctrine of reincarnation. Reincarnation Metempsychosis is a philosophical term in the Greek language referring to the belief of Transmigration of the soul, especially its Reincarnation The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions SOCRATES is the European Community action programme in the field of Education. "Pythagoras of Samos" redirects here For the Samian statuary of the same name see Pythagoras (sculptor. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece Several ancient sources affirm that Pythagoras claimed he could remember his past lives. ^[19] An association between Pythagorean philosophy and reincarnation was routinely accepted throughout antiquity.

According to Plato's fictionalized dialogue Phaedo, at the end of his life Socrates said, "I am confident that there truly is such a thing as living again, and that the living spring from the dead. Plato 's Phaedo (ˈfiːdoʊ Greek: Φαίδων, Phaidon) is one of the great Dialogues of his middle period along with " However, Xenophon, our other main informant of Socrates' life, does not mention the latter as believing in reincarnation. Xenophon (Ancient Greek, Modern Greek "Ξενοφών" "Ξενοφώντας" ca

Plato presented detailed accounts of reincarnation in his major works. It may be questioned whether Plato's accounts, such as the Myth of Er, which also contain many fabulous details irrelevant to reincarnation, were intended to be taken literally. The Myth of Er is an eschatological legend that concludes Plato 's dialogue known as "The Republic" (10 Marsilio Ficino (Platonic Theology 17. Marsilio Ficino ( Latin name Marsilius Ficinus; October 19 1433 - October 1 1499) was one of the most influential humanist 3-4) argued that Plato's references to reincarnation were intended allegorically.

In the Hermetica, a Graeco-Egyptian series of writings on cosmology and spirituality attributed to Hermes Trismegistus/Thoth the doctrine of reincarnation is central. Hermetica is a category of popular Late Antique literature purporting to contain secret wisdom and generally attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, "thrice-great Hermes Trismegistus ( Greek:, "thrice-great Hermes" Latin: Mercurius ter Maximus) is the Syncretism of the Greek god For other meanings of "Thoth" or of "Djehuti" and similar see Thoth (disambiguation.

Judaism

While ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates attempted to prove the existence of reincarnation through philosophical proofs, Jewish mystics who accepted this idea did not. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece SOCRATES is the European Community action programme in the field of Education. Rather, they offered explanations of why reincarnation would solve otherwise intractable problems of theodicy (how to reconcile the existence of evil with the premise of a good God). Theodicy (θiːˈɒdɪsi (adjectival form theodicean) is a specific branch of Theology and Philosophy that attempts to reconcile the existence of .

Reincarnation appeared in Jewish thought some time after the Talmud. There is no reference to reincarnation in the Talmud or any prior writings. ^[20] The idea of reincarnation, called gilgul, became popular in folk belief, and is found in much Yiddish literature among Ashkenazi Jews. Gilgul, Gilgul neshamot or Gilgulei Ha Neshamot ( Heb גלגול הנשמות refers to the concept of Reincarnation, emanating from the Yiddish (yi [[wiktייִדיש ייִדיש]] yidish or yi [[wiktאידיש אידיש]] idish, literally "Jewish" is a nonterritorial High Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim ( Hebrew: אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, ˌaʃkəˈnazim sing Among a few kabbalists, it was posited that some human souls could end up being reincarnated into non-human bodies. These ideas were found in a number of Kabbalistic works from the 1200s, and also among many mystics in the late 1500s. Martin Buber's early collection of stories of the Baal Shem Tov's life includes several that refer to people reincarnating in successive lives. Martin Buber ( 8 February 1878 – 13 June 1965) was an Austrian Israeli Jewish Philosopher, translator Rabbi Yisroel (Israel ben Eliezer (רבי ישראל בן אליעזר August 27, 1698 (18 Elul &ndash May 22, 1760) often called ^[21]

Among well known (generally non-kabbalist or anti-kabbalist) Rabbis who rejected the idea of reincarnation are Saadia Gaon, David Kimhi, Hasdai Crescas, Yedayah Bedershi (early 14th century), Joseph Albo, Abraham ibn Daud, the Rosh and Leon de Modena. David Kimhi (דוד קמחי also Kimchi or Qimchi) (1160 &ndash 1235 also known by the Hebrew Acronym as the RaDaK (he רד"ק Hasdai ben Abraham Crescas ( Hebrew: חסדאי קרשקש) (born in Barcelona,c Joseph Albo ( Hebrew: יוסף אלבו) (c 1380–1444 was a Jewish philosopher and Rabbi who lived in Spain during the Abraham ibn Daud ( Hebrew Avraham ben David ha-Levi; Arabic ابراهيم ابن داود) was a Spanish-Jewish astronomer Leon Modena or Yehudah Aryeh Mi-modena (1571-1648 was a Jewish scholar born in Venice of a notable French family which had migrated to

Saadia Gaon, in Emunoth ve-Deoth, concludes Section vi with a refutation of the doctrine of metempsychosis (reincarnation). Emunoth ve-Deoth (he אמונות ודעות Hebrew: "Beliefs and Opinions" written by Rabbi Saadia Gaon - originally Kitab al-Amanat wal-l'tikadat While refuting reincarnation, the Saadia Gaon states that Jews who hold to reincarnation have adopted non-Jewish beliefs.

Crescas writes that if reincarnation were real, people should remember details of their previous lives.

The belief is common in Orthodox Judaism. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized Indeed there is an entire volume of work called Sha'ar Ha'Gilgulim^[22] (The Gate of Reincarnations)[2], based on the work of Rabbi Isaac Luria (and compiled by his disciple, Rabbi Chaim Vital). Sha'ar ha Gilgulim (Gate of Reincarnations is a kabbalistic work on Reincarnation. Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534 – July 25 1572) was a Jewish mystic in Safed. Rabbi Chaim ben Yosef Vital (1543 in Safed - 23 April 1620 in Damascus) was one of the most famous exponents of Kabbalah. It describes the deep, complex laws of reincarnation. One concept that arises from Sha'ar Ha'gilgulim is the idea that gilgul is paralleled physically by pregnancy.

Many Orthodox siddurim (prayerbooks) have a nightly prayer asking for forgiveness for one's sins that one may have committed in this gilgul or a previous one, that accompanies the nighttime recitation of the Shema before going to sleep. A siddur ( Hebrew: סידור plural siddurim) is a Jewish Prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. Gilgul, Gilgul neshamot or Gilgulei Ha Neshamot ( Heb גלגול הנשמות refers to the concept of Reincarnation, emanating from the ^[23]

Gnosticism

Many Gnostic groups believed in reincarnation. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems For them, reincarnation was a negative concept: Gnostics believed that the material body was evil, and that they would be better off if they could eventually avoid having their 'good' souls reincarnated in 'evil' bodies. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems

Christianity

The overwhelming majority of mainstream Christian denominations reject the notion of reincarnation and consider the theory to challenge basic tenets of their beliefs. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Many churches do not directly address the issue, but indirectly, through teachings about death (see Particular judgment). Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific Particular judgment, according to Christian Eschatology, is the judgement given by God a departed Soul undergoes immediately after death in A few consider the matter open to individual interpretation due to the few biblical references which survived the purging of texts considered to be heretical in the founding years of Christianity as a church. New Age Christians contend that reincarnation was taught by the early Christian church, but due to bias and mistranslations, these teachings were lost or obscured. ^[24] Many of the philosophies associated with the theory of reincarnation focus on "working" or "learning" through various lifetimes to achieve some sort of higher understanding or state of "goodness" before salvation is granted or acquired. In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of Basic to Traditional Christianity is the doctrine that humans can never achieve the perfection God requires and the only salvation is total and complete forgiveness accomplished through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross wherein he took the sins of mankind. For conservative political views within Christianity see Christian right. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other dividing one or two of the lines in half Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation There seems to be evidence however that some of the earliest Christian sects such as the Sethians and followers of the Gnostic Church of Valentinus believed in reincarnation, and they were persecuted by the Romans for this. The Sethians were a group of ancient Gnostics who date their existence to before Christianity Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Valentinus may refer to Pope Valentine Saint Valentine Valentinus (Gnostic Basilius Valentinus ^[25]

A number of Evangelical and (in the USA) Fundamentalist Christian groups have denounced any belief in reincarnation as heretical, and explained any phenomena suggestive of it as deceptions of the devil. Fundamentalism refers to a "deep and totalistic commitment" to a belief in and strict adherence to a set of basic principles (often Religious in nature a reaction The Devil is the Although the Bible never mentions the word reincarnation, there are several passages through New Testament that Orthodox Christians interpret as openly rejecting reincarnation or the possibility of any return or contact with this world for the souls in Heaven or Hell (see Hebrews 9:27 and Luke 16:20-31)

The Bible contains passages in the New Testament that could be interpreted to allude to reincarnation. Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering In Matthew 11:10-14and 17:10-13, John 1:21, the Jews ask John the Baptist if he is Elijah and John replies clearly that he is not, implying that Jesus' reference was meant in a figurative sense (which is what most Christians accept). It should be noted that Elijah never actually "died," but was "raptured" in a chariot of fire. Furthermore, the prophetic texts stated that God would send Elijah back to Earth, as a harbinger of Jesus Christ. As cousins they were born respectively to barren Elizabeth^[26] and Zacharias;^[27] Jesus, firstborn of Mary and Joseph,^[28] was the first to rise from the dead visibly demonstrating his power over death. ^[29]

In any case, it is obviously difficult to reconcile the idea of reincarnation with the fundamental Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the body.

There are various contemporary attempts to entwine Christianity and reincarnation. Geddes Macgregor, wrote a book called Reincarnation in Christianity: A New Vision of Rebirth in Christian Thought, Rudolf Steiner wrote Christianity as Mystical Fact and Tommaso Palamidessi wrote Memory of Past Lives and Its Technique which contains several methods which are supposed to help in obtaining memories from previous lives. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright Tommaso Palamidessi ( Pisa, February 16 1915 – Rome, April 29 1983 was an Italian Esotericist. ^[30]

Several Christian denominations which support reincarnation include the Christian Community, the Liberal Catholic Church, Unity Church, The Christian Spiritualist Movement, the Rosicrucian Fellowship and Lectorium Rosicrucianum. The Christian Community (German) is a Christian Denomination. The Liberal Catholic Church (LCC is a form of Christianity open to Theosophical ideas and even Reincarnation. Unity also known as Unity School of Christianity and informally as Unity Church, is a school of thought founded upon holistic Christian principles The Rosicrucian Fellowship - "An International Association of Christian Mystics" - was founded in 1909/11 by Max Heindel as herald of the Aquarian Age The Lectorium Rosicrucianum is a worldwide school of Esoteric Christianity founded in 1935 by Dutch mystics Jan van Rijckenborgh, his brother Zwier Willem Leene The Medieval heretical sect known variously as the Cathars or Albigensians who flourished in the Languedoc believed in Reincarnation, seeing each soul as a fallen angel born again and again into the world of Matter created by Lucibel (Lucifer). Only through a Gnostic 'Rebirth' in the Holy Spirit through Christ could the soul escape this process of successive existences and return to God. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems

Islam

Though mainstream Islam rejects the concept of reincarnation,^[31] a number of sufi groups believe in the concept of dawriyyah (cycles) which has many points in common with reincarnation, claiming that this concept is mentioned in the Quran (Koran), the central religious text of Islam:

"How can you deny God, when you were dead and God gave you life? Then God will cause you to die, and then revive you, and then you will be returned to God. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran " (Quran 2:28)

Most Islamic authorities rejects this interpretation of the verse, claiming that it refers to the worldly human life and the consequent resurrection in the hereafter.

Shi'a Muslims als believe to Raj'a that can be understood as a limited reincarnation. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Raj`a الرجعة in Arabic means return In Islamic terminology it refers to the second coming or the return to life of a given past figure after death

It is claimed by some sufi groups that the mystics and poets in the Islam tradition have celebrated this belief:

"I died as mineral and became a plant,

I died as plant and rose to animal,

I died as animal and I was man. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف

Why should I fear?

When was I less by dying?"^[32]

Modern Sufis who embrace the idea of reincarnation include Bawa Muhaiyadeen (see his To Die Before Death: The Sufi Way of Life). However Hazrat Inayat Khan has criticized the idea of reincarnation as unhelpful to the spiritual seeker's quest for unity with God, as it focuses the aspirant's attention on the past and the future, rather than achieving spiritual transcendence in the present moment. Hazrat Inayat Khan ( July 5, 1882 &ndash February 5, 1927) was the founder of Universal Sufism and the Sufi Order International ^[33]

Reincarnation has also been used to reconcile the Quran's apparent identification of Miriam, the mother of Isa as the sister of Aaron and daughter of Amran, all of whom lived well before the first century CE.

Another verse of the Qur-an that may support the theory of reincarnation is: "Thou [God] makest the night to pass into the day and Thou makest the day to pass into the night, and Thou bringest forth the living from the dead and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living, and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest without measure. " (Quran 3:27)

Some verses of Quran that seem to discount repeated lives:

• "And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah. "They are dead. " Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not. "(The Quran, 2:154).
• "From the (earth) did We Create you, and into it Shall We return you, And from it shall We Bring you out once again. " (The Quran, 20:55).
• "And Allah has produced you from the earth, Growing (gradually), And in the End He will return you Into the (earth), And raise you forth (Again at the Resurrection). " (The Quran, 71:17-18).
• "Nor will they there Taste Death, except the first Death; and He will preserve Them from the Penalty Of the Blazing Fire. " (The Quran, 44:56).
• "Is it (the case) that We shall not die, except our first death, And that we Shall not be punished?' Verily this is The supreme achievement! For the like of this Let all strive, Who wish to strive. " (The Quran, 37:58-61).

Native American nations

Reincarnation is an intrinsic part of many Native American and Inuit traditions. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Inuit (plural the singular Inuk, means "man" or "person" is a general term for a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples inhabiting In the now heavily Christian Polar North (now mainly parts of Greenland and Nunavut), the concept of reincarnation is enshrined in the Inuit language. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the The Inuit language is traditionally spoken across the North American Arctic and to some extent in the Subarctic in Labrador. The survival of the concept of reincarnation applies across these nations in varying degrees of integrity, as these countries are now sandwiched between Native and European traditions.

Norse mythology

Reincarnation also appears in Norse mythology, in the Poetic Edda. Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius. The editor of the Poetic Edda says that Helgi Hjörvarðsson and his mistress, the valkyrie Sváfa, whose love story is told in the Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, were reborn as Helgi Hundingsbane and the valkyrie Sigrún. Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar ("Lay of Helgi Hjörvarðsson" is a poem collected in the Poetic Edda, found in the Codex Regius manuscript In Norse mythology the valkyries ( Old Norse Valkyrja "Choosers of the Slain" are Dísir, minor female deities Sváfa is a Valkyrie and the daughter of king Eylimi in Norse mythology. Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar ("Lay of Helgi Hjörvarðsson" is a poem collected in the Poetic Edda, found in the Codex Regius manuscript Helgi Hundingsbane is a hero in Norse sagas Helgi appears in Volsunga saga and in two lays in the Poetic Edda named Helgakviða Sigrún ( Old Norse "victory rune " is a Valkyrie in Norse mythology. Helgi and Sigrún's love story is the matter of a part of the Völsunga saga and the lays Helgakviða Hundingsbana I and II. The Völsunga saga is a Legendary saga, a late 13th century Icelandic prose rendition of the origin and decline of the Volsung clan Helgi Hundingsbane is a hero in Norse sagas Helgi appears in Volsunga saga and in two lays in the Poetic Edda named Helgakviða They were reborn a second time as Helgi Haddingjaskati and the valkyrie Kára, but unfortunately their story, Káruljóð, only survives in a probably modified form in the Hrómundar saga Gripssonar. Helgi Haddingjaskati meaning "Helgi the lord of the Haddingjar " was a legendary Norse hero of which only fragmentary accounts survive Hrómundar saga Gripssonar or The Saga of Hromund Gripsson is a Legendary saga from Iceland.

The belief in reincarnation was probably commonplace among the Vikings since the annotator of the Poetic Edda wrote that people formerly used to believe in it, but that it was in his (Christian) time considered "old wife's folly":

Sigrun was early dead of sorrow and grief. It was believed in olden times that people were born again, but that is now called old wives' folly. Of Helgi and Sigrun it is said that they were born again; he became Helgi Haddingjaskati, and she Kara the daughter of Halfdan, as is told in the Lay of Kara, and she was a Valkyrie. ^[34]

Contemporary perspectives

Modern thinkers

During the Renaissance, a new flowering of public interest in reincarnation occurred. One of the prominent figures in the revival was Italy's leading philosopher and poet Giordano Bruno, who was ultimately sentenced to be burned at the stake by the Inquisition because of his teachings about reincarnation. Giordano Bruno (1548 – February 17, 1600) was an Italian Philosopher best-known as an early proponent of Heliocentrism and ^[35]

During the classical period of German literature metempsychosis attracted much attention: Goethe played with the idea, and it was taken up more seriously by Lessing, who borrowed it from Charles Bonnet, and by Herder. ˈjoːhan ˈvɔlfgaŋ fɔn ˈgøːtə (in English generally ˈgɝːtə 28 August 1749 22 March 1832 was a German writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing ( 22 January, 1729 15 February, 1781) was a German Writer, Philosopher, Dramatist Charles Bonnet ( March 13, 1720 &ndash May 20, 1793) Swiss naturalist and philosophical writer was born at Geneva Johann Gottfried von Herder ( August 25, 1744 December 18, 1803) was a German philosopher, Poet, and Literary It has been mentioned with respect by Hume and by Schopenhauer. David Hume (26 April 1711 25 August 1776 Scottish Philosopher, Economist, and Historian is an important figure in Western philosophy

Irish poet and Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats proposed a novel theory of reincarnation in his occult treatise A Vision. A Vision An Explanation of Life Founded upon the Writings of Giraldus and upon Certain Doctrines Attributed to Kusta Ben Luka, privately published in 1925 was a book-length According to Yeats’ view reincarnation does not occur within a framework of linear time. Rather, all of a person’s past and future lives are happening at once, in an eternal now moment; and the decisions made in any of these lifetimes influence all of the other lives (and are influenced by them).

Anthroposophy

Reincarnation plays an important role in the ideas of Anthroposophy, a spiritual movement founded by Rudolf Steiner. Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925 which postulates the existence of an objective intellectually Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright Steiner described the human soul as gaining new experiences in every epoch and in a variety of races or nations. The unique personality, with its weaknesses and abilities, is not simply a reflection of the body's genetic heritage. Though Steiner described the incarnating soul as searching for and even preparing a familial lineage supportive of its future life, a person's character is also determined by his or her past lives.

Anthroposophy describes the present as being formed by a tension between the past and the future. Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925 which postulates the existence of an objective intellectually Both influence our present destiny; there are events that occur due to our past, but there are also events that occur to prepare us rightly for the future. Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events It may be conceived as a predetermined future whether in general or of an individual Between these two, there is space for human free will; we create our destiny, not only live it out, just as we build a house in which we then choose to live. The question of free will Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events It may be conceived as a predetermined future whether in general or of an individual

Anthroposophy has developed various spiritual exercises that are intended to develop the capacity to discern past lives and the deeper nature of the human being. In addition, Steiner investigated the karmic relationships of many historical individuals, from Karl Marx to Julian the Apostate. ^[36]

Theosophy

The Theosophical Society which draws much of its inspiration from India, was the first institution in modern times in widely spreading the concept of reincarnation in the West. The Theosophical Society was the organization formed to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. It has taken reincarnation, as well as karma and spiritual evolution, as one of its cardinal tenets; it is, according to a recent theosophical writer, "the master-key to modern problems," including heredity. ^[37] In the Theosophical world view the soul in man is originally pure, but it lacks self-consciousness and its powers are potential. Reincarnation is the vast rhythmic process by which the soul in man unfolds its spiritual powers in the world of form and get to know itself.

First, the soul descends from its sublime, free, spiritual realms, to inhabit a baby form. While living in a human form, it gathers experience through its effort to express itself in the world. After the lifetime is over, there is a withdrawal from the physical plane to successively higher levels of Reality, in what we call death. It involves a process of purification and assimilation of the wisdom from its past life experience. Finally, having completely withdrawn and cast off all instruments of personal experience, it stands again in its spiritual and formless nature. After that process is finished, the soul is ready to begin its next rhythmic manifestation and to descend into matter in a new effort to unfold its spiritual nature and to gain consciousness of its divine origin and nature.

From such a view point, which covers vast periods of time, what is called a lifetime is as a day in the life of the true spiritual human being. This spiritual entity moves forward on a vast pilgrimage, every lifetime bringing it closer to complete self-knowledge and self-expression. According to Theosophy, then, that which reincarnates is the part of man which belongs to the formless non-material and timeless worlds. This article is about the philosophy introduced by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky It is neither the physical body and all of its characteristics, nor the emotional nature, with all its personal likes and dislikes, nor the mental nature, with its accumulated knowledge and its habits of thinking, that will reincarnate. That which is above all these aspects is that which reincarnates. However, when the formless essence of a human being begins its process of reincarnation, it attracts the old mental, emotional, and energetic karmic patterns to form the new personality. Thus the soul with the added powers developed during its previous lives and the post-mortem process of assimilation, deals with the old hindrances or shortcomings it was not able to work out in its previous lifetimes.

Scientology

See also: Scientology beliefs and practices. Scientology is according to its own texts "the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself others and all of life

Past reincarnation, usually termed "past lives", is a key part of the principles and practices of the Church of Scientology. The Church of Scientology is the largest organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. Scientologists believe that the human individual is actually an immortal thetan, or spiritual entity, that has fallen into a degraded state as a result of past-life experiences. In Scientology, the concept of thetan (pronounced THAY-tan /'θeɪtən/ is similar to the concept of Spirit or Soul found in other belief systems Scientology auditing is intended to free the person of these past-life traumas and recover past-life memory, leading to a higher state of spiritual awareness. Auditing was developed by L Ron Hubbard, and is described by the Church of Scientology as "spiritual counseling which is the central practice of Dianetics This idea is echoed in their highest fraternal religious order, the Sea Organization, whose motto is "Revenimus" or "We Come Back", and whose members sign a "billion-year contract" as a sign of commitment to that ideal. The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, does not use the word "reincarnation" to describe its beliefs, noting that: "The common definition of reincarnation has been altered from its original meaning. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13 1911 &ndash January 24 1986 was a fiction writer who devised a self-help technique called Dianetics and philosophy known as Scientology The word has come to mean 'to be born again in different life forms' whereas its actual definition is 'to be born again into the flesh of another body. ' Scientology ascribes to this latter, original definition of reincarnation. "^[38]

The first writings in Scientology regarding past lives date from around 1951 and slightly earlier. In 1960, Hubbard published a book on past lives entitled Have You Lived Before This Life. Have You Lived Before This Life is a Scientology / Dianetics book published by L In 1968 he wrote Mission Into Time, a report on a five-week sailing expedition to Sardinia, Sicily and Carthage to see if specific evidence could be found to substantiate L. Ron Hubbard's recall of incidents in his own past, centuries ago.

Edgar Cayce

American mystic Edgar Cayce promoted the theory of both reincarnation and karma, but wherein they acted as instruments of a loving God as well as natural laws - the purpose being to teach us certain spiritual lessons. Edgar Cayce ( March 18, 1877 &ndash January 3, 1945) (ˈkeɪsiː was an American psychic. Animals are said to have undifferentiated, "group" souls rather than individuality and consciousness. Consciousness has been defined loosely as a constellation of attributes of Mind such as Subjectivity, Self-awareness, Sentience, and the Once the soul evolves through a succession of animal incarnations and achieves human status, it is not then reborn in animal form. Cayce's view arguably incorporates Theosophical teachings on spiritual evolution.

Eckankar

Eckankar offers a mix of Eastern and Western thought and reincarnation is a basis of this teaching. Eckankar is a New religious movement that focuses on spiritual exercises enabling practitioners to experience what its followers call "the Light and Sound of God ^[39][40] It teaches that the soul is eternal, and that it either chooses an incarnation for growth, or that an incarnation is given to it because of Karma. Karma ( Sanskrit: कर्म, kárman - "act action performance" Pali: kamma) is the concept of "action" Similar to early Christian thought from the philosopher Origen, Eckankar postulates that the soul is perfected through a series of incarnations until it arrives at "Personal Mastery". A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca

Seth and Jane Roberts

Seth, a discarnate entity purportedly channelled by the psychic Jane Roberts from 1963 to 1984, said that both humans and animals reincarnate, after which they move on to other planes of existence. Jane Roberts ( May 8, 1929 &ndash September 5, 1984) was an American author Psychic and trance medium He said that time is a "root assumption" of the physical plane, and that all lives are actually lived simultaneously in a "spacious present" which includes all past and future events. According to Seth, humans are multi-dimensional beings who have inner selves, outer selves or egos, and dreaming selves (among others). With each new life, a new outer ego is born which, when it dies, becomes part of the gestalt of souls which constitutes the entire self.

Henry Ford

Henry Ford was convinced he had lived before, most recently as a soldier killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Henry Ford ( July 30, 1863 &ndash April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] A quote from the San Francisco Examiner from August 26, 1928 described Ford's beliefs:

"I adopted the theory of Reincarnation when I was twenty-six. The San Francisco Examiner is a US daily Newspaper. It has been published continuously in San Francisco, California, since Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Religion offered nothing to the point. Even work could not give me complete satisfaction. Work is futile if we cannot utilise the experience we collect in one life in the next. When I discovered Reincarnation it was as if I had found a universal plan I realised that there was a chance to work out my ideas. Time was no longer limited. I was no longer a slave to the hands of the clock. Genius is experience. Some seem to think that it is a gift or talent, but it is the fruit of long experience in many lives. Some are older souls than others, and so they know more. The discovery of Reincarnation put my mind at ease. If you preserve a record of this conversation, write it so that it puts men’s minds at ease. I would like to communicate to others the calmness that the long view of life gives to us. "

George S. Patton

General George S. Patton was a staunch believer in reincarnation and, along with many other members of his family, often claimed to have seen vivid, lifelike visions of his ancestors. For the 19th century Scottish jurist/politician see George Patton Lord Glenalmond. ^[41] In particular, Patton believed he was a reincarnation of Carthaginian General Hannibal. Hannibal (Pronounced in Phoenician: Hanniba'al means " Ba'al is my grace " or " Ba'al has given me grace " 247 BC &ndash ^[42]

The New Age movement

There are people who say they remember their past lives and use that knowledge to help them with their current lives; the belief in this kind of occurrence is central to the New Age movement. ^[43] Some of the people who remember, say they simply remember without any effort on their part. They simply "see" previous times and see themselves interacting with others, occasionally even different creatures besides people themselves.

Popular western culture

Main article: Reincarnation in popular western culture

Reincarnation seems to have captured the imagination of many in the West, and the idea of reincarnation receives regular mention in feature films, popular books, and popular music. There is little detailed information on the prevalence of Reincarnation beliefs in the contemporary Western world. A great many feature films have made reference to reincarnation, and notable films include:^[44]

• The Three Lives of Thomasina (1964)
• On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)
• The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)
• Audrey Rose (1977)
• Karz (1980)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
• Chances Are (1989)
• Dead Again (1991)
• Defending Your Life (1991)
• Little Buddha (1993)
• Fluke (1995)
• Kundun (1997)
• What Dreams May Come (1998)
• Yesterday's Children (2000)
• Birth (2004)
• Reincarnation (2005)
• Om Shanti Om (2007)

Many popular books have made reference to reincarnation. The Three Lives of Thomasina ( 1963) is a Walt Disney Productions fantasy Feature film starring Patrick McGoohan, Susan Hampshire This article is about the stage play For the 1970 film adaptation see On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. The Reincarnation of Peter Proud ( 1975) is an American motion picture released by Bing Crosby Productions, and Cinerama Productions Corporation. Audrey Rose is a 1977 Horror film directed by Robert Wise, starring Marsha Mason and Anthony Hopkins. For the 2008 film starring Himesh Reshammiya, see Karzzzz Karz is a 1980 Hindi film directed by Subhash Ghai. Star Trek III The Search for Spock ( Paramount Pictures, 1984) is the third feature Film based on the Star Trek Dead Again is a 1991 Psychological thriller / Neo-noir directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Branagh and his then-wife Defending Your Life is a 1991 romantic comedy / Fantasy film about a man who must justify his life-long lack of assertiveness after he dies Little Buddha is a 1993 American movie by director Bernardo Bertolucci and starring Bridget Fonda and Keanu Reeves Fluke is a 1995 film, directed by Carlo Carlei and starring Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Max Pomeranc and the voice Kundun is a 1997 film written by Melissa Mathison and directed by Martin Scorsese. What Dreams May Come is a 1978 novel by Richard Matheson. The plot centers on Chris a man who dies and goes to Heaven, but eventually descends Birth is a 2004 Film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Nicole Kidman, Lauren Bacall, Danny Huston and is a 2005 J-Horror film directed by Takashi Shimizu and written by Takashi Shimizu and Masaki Adachi. Om Shanti Om ( Hindi: ओम शान्ति ओम is a 2007 Bollywood film directed and choreographed by Farah Khan. These include several books by Vicki Mackenzie and Carol Bowman, as well as others on the reference list below. Vicki Mackenzie (born 1947 an author and journalist was born in England and spent much of her early life in Australia. Children's Past Lives: How Past Life Memories Affect Your Child is a 1997 book by Carol Bowman

Notable popular songs or albums which refer to reincarnation include:

• The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg by Iron Maiden
• The Reincarnation Song by Roy Zimmerman
• Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation by Santana
• The Reincarnation of Luna by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
• Highwayman by The Highwaymen
• Tommy by The Who
• "Galileo" by The Indigo Girls
• Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory by Dream Theater
• Jillian by Within Temptation, itself a recapturing of the central story of the Deverry cycle

Scientific research

Main article: Reincarnation research

Thomas Huxley, the famous English biologist, thought that reincarnation was a plausible idea and discussed it in his book Evolution and Ethics and other Essays. " The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg " is a song by Iron Maiden on their 14th studio album A Matter of Life and Death. For other uses see Iron maiden. Roy Zimmerman is a Californian satirical singer-songwriter and guitarist with outspoken left-wing opinions Santana is a flexible number of musicians accompanying Carlos Santana since the late 1960s My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (TKK is an American electronic industrial band originally based out of Chicago, Illinois. Highwayman is a 1985 Album by country supergroup The Highwaymen, comprising Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash The Highwaymen were a country supergroup comprising four musicians well known for among other things their involvement and pioneering influence on the Outlaw The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend Indigo Girls are an American Folk rock duo consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. Metropolis Pt 2 Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album by American Progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1999 Dream Theater is an American Progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name " Majesty " by John Myung, John Petrucci Within Temptation is a Dutch rock band The band was founded The Deverry cycle is a series of Fantasy novels by Katharine Kerr set in the fictional land of Deverry. Reincarnation research is a field of inquiry that records and analyzes the discourse of people who claim to have had Past lives. The most detailed collections of personal reports in favor of reincarnation have been published by Professor Ian Stevenson, from the University of Virginia, in books such as Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation and "Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects Volume 1: Birthmarks" and "Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects Volume 2: Birth Defects and Other Anomalies". Ian Pretyman Stevenson, MD, (born October 31, 1918, in Montreal, Canada, died February 8, 2007, in The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation is a Book written by Ian Stevenson on the phenomena of spontaneous recall of information about

Stevenson spent over 40 years devoted to the study of children who have apparently spoken about a past life. In each case, Professor Stevenson methodically documented the child's statements. Then he identified the deceased person the child allegedly identified with, and verified the facts of the deceased person's life that matched the child's memory. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific He also matched birthmarks and birth defects to wounds and scars on the deceased, verified by medical records such as autopsy photographs. A birthmark is a Blemish on the Skin formed before Birth. A little over 1 in 10 babies have a Vascular birthmark A congenital disorder is a disease or disorder that is present at birth A medical record, health record, or medical chart is a systematic documentation of a Patient 's Medical history and care. An autopsy, also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy, or obduction, is a Medical procedure that consists of a thorough Examination ^[45][46]

In a fairly typical case, a boy in Beirut spoke of being a 25-year-old mechanic, thrown to his death from a speeding car on a beach road. According to multiple witnesses, the boy provided the name of the driver, the exact location of the crash, the names of the mechanic's sisters and parents and cousins, and the people he went hunting with – all of which turned out to match the life of a man who had died several years before the boy was born, and who had no apparent connection to the boy's family. ^[47]

Stevenson believed that his strict methods ruled out all possible "normal" explanations for the child’s memories. However, it should be noted that a significant majority of Professor Stevenson's reported cases of reincarnation originate in Eastern societies, where dominant religions often permit the concept of reincarnation. Eastern philosophy refers very broadly to the various philosophies of Asia, including Indian philosophy, Chinese philosophy, Persian Following this type of criticism, Stevenson published a book on European cases suggestive of reincarnation. ^[48]

There are many people who have investigated reincarnation and come to the conclusion that it is a legitimate phenomenon, such as Peter Ramster, Dr. Brian Weiss, Dr. Walter Semkiw, and others, but their work is generally ignored by the scientific community. Professor Stevenson, in contrast, published dozens of papers in peer-reviewed journals. ^[49]

Some skeptics, such as Paul Edwards, have analyzed many of these accounts, and called them anecdotal. Paul Edwards, born Paul Eisenstein ( September 2 1923 - December 9 2004) was an Austrian-American moral Philosopher. The expression anecdotal evidence has two quite distinct meanings ^[50] Philosophers like Robert Almeder, having analyzed the criticisms of Edwards and others, suggest that the gist of these arguments can be summarized as "we all know it can't possibly be real, so therefore it isn't real" - an argument from personal incredulity. The argument from ignorance, also known as argumentum ad ignorantiam ("appeal to ignorance") or argument by lack of imagination, is a Logical fallacy ^[51]

The most obvious objection to reincarnation is that there is no evidence of a physical process by which a personality could survive death and travel to another body, and researchers such as Professor Stevenson recognize this limitation. ^[52]

Another objection is that most people do not remember previous lives. Possible counter-arguments are that not all people reincarnate, or that most people do not have memorable deaths. The vast majority of cases investigated at the University of Virginia involved people who had met some sort of violent or untimely death. ^[53]

Some skeptics explain that claims of evidence for reincarnation originate from selective thinking and the psychological phenomena of false memories that often result from one's own belief system and basic fears, and thus cannot be counted as empirical evidence. In Psychology and Cognitive science, confirmation bias is a tendency to search for or interpret new information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions and avoids Empirical research is any research that bases its findings on direct or indirect Observation as its test of Reality. But other skeptics, such as Dr Carl Sagan, see the need for more reincarnation research. Carl Edward Sagan ( November 9 1934 &ndash December 20 1996) was an American Astronomer, astrochemist, author Reincarnation research is a field of inquiry that records and analyzes the discourse of people who claim to have had Past lives. Carl Sagan asked the Dalai Lama what would he do if a fundamental tenet of his religion (reincarnation) was definitively disproved by science. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism. ^[54]

See also

Concepts

• Afterlife (see also Birth, Life, Death)
• Metempsychosis
• Preincarnation
• Xenoglossy
• Near-death experience
• Reincarnation in popular western culture

Themes

• Life review
• Past life regression
• Planes of existence
• Reincarnation research
• Soul mate
• Subtle bodies

Traditions

• Anthroposophy
• Buddhism; see also Anatta, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Theravada, Rebirth (Buddhist), Tulku
• Druze
• Edgar Cayce, Edgar Cayce on Karma
• Esoteric Christianity - Cathars/Catharism - Gnosticism
• Hinduism; see also Reincarnation and Hinduism, Hindu philosophy, Karma in Hinduism, Atman (Hinduism) & Yoga
• Kabbalah; see also Gilgul (Kabbalah) and Ibbur (Kabbalah)
• Rosicrucianism
• Spiritism
• Sufism
• Theosophy
• Druidism

Persons

• Arthur Flowerdew
• Richard James Allen

Footnotes

References

• Yeats, William Butler, A Vision, 1937, ISBN 978-0020556008

External links

• Essenes and Reincarnation article by Tommaso Palamidessi
• Love and reincarnation
• Audio file of Jewish view of reincarnation
• Carol Bowman, "Families Reincarnating Together"
• Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia
• In Another Life, reincarnation documentary project
• Problems in the Theory of Karma: Karma & Reincarnation - a philosophical examination
• Reincarnation: Socrates to Salinger
• The Jewish Book of Reincarnations by Reb Chaim Vital
• reincarnation Robert Todd Carroll, Skeptic's Dictionary
• Study: Belief In Reincarnation Tied To Memory Errors
• Inner Quest, “Understanding Reincarnation and Karma”
• Did Plato Believe in Reincarnation?
• Wandering Souls: The Doctrine of Transmigration in Pythagorean Philosophy, by Dr. James Luchte

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (born September 15, 1942) is a professional writer Tommaso Palamidessi ( Pisa, February 16 1915 – Rome, April 29 1983 was an Italian Esotericist. Robert Todd Carroll (born 1945 PhD, is an American writer and academic

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