Reincarnation
is considered by some to be the greatest "unknown"
scientific discovery of modern times. In the
last chapter of
Dr. Ian Stevenson's
book entitled
Twenty Cases Suggestive
of Reincarnation
(1967), he provides exhaustive scientific reasoning
which concludes that reincarnation is the only
viable explanation that fits the facts of his
study. He considers every possible alternative
explanation for his twenty cases of young children
who were spontaneously able to describe a previous
lifetime as soon as they learned to talk. He
was able to rule out alternative explanations
using one or more of his cases. Later research
also bolstered his findings in favor of the
reality of reincarnation. His study is also
reproducible for any skeptic who doubts the
validity of his study to repeat it for themselves.
I believe it is only a matter of time before
these findings are realized by the scientific
community to be one of the great scientific
discoveries of all time.
Many people would
be very surprised at the tremendous amount of
references to reincarnation in the Bible. The
most compelling references in the Bible comes
from the teachings of Jesus concerning John
the Baptist and his former life as Elijah the
prophet
[1]
[2]
[3] [4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10].
More can be found on the
Christian NDE page.
Jesus is also seen in near-death accounts giving
people the choice to reincarnate.
There is a misconception
that many people have about
reincarnation.
Some assume that after death, people immediately
reincarnate without inhabiting various spirit
realms in between Earth lives. Near-death experience
accounts affirm that we do not immediately reincarnate
after death. The reason is because
time does not exist
in the spirit realms.
Near-death experiencers
often cannot describe the length of their journey
in terms of earthly time. A single experience
may seem like an eternity and, at the same time,
it may also feel like it was only a moment.
This is because the spirit realms are completely
outside of time. It is for this reason that
we can literally spend an eternity in the spirit
realms before we decide whether we want to reincarnate
to Earth or not.
1. Reincarnation Is
Not Eternal
"One of the purposes
of the life review is to make an informed choice
between remaining in spirit and returning to
flesh. Should we choose to merge completely
with the light of God, we will never again be
able to choose, on our own decision, to return
to physical life. The decision to merge in the
light is the best decision." (Thomas
Sawyer)
"We are to live on
Earth in such a way that we will not need to
return to Earth after death." (Cecil)
"In time, we who are
trapped in the cycle of birth and rebirth can
once again come to know our original state and
purpose, and regain our celestial birthright
as a companion to God. In time we can again
come to realize that the conditions in our current
life is the result of our free actions and choices
from past lives." (Edgar
Cayce)
"If a person dies
and merges completely into the light, another
reincarnation is improbable. However, it is
more usual for people to have earthly attachments
and not merge completely with the light. Such
souls may have characteristics of their personality,
which they do not want merged with the light."
(Thomas
Sawyer)
"The law of karma
demands that we meet every bit of our karmic
debts. However, an even greater law exists,
the law of forgiveness. If we wrong someone
and that person forgives us, when the day comes
that we approach God, we realize our memories
which are incompatible with God, but forgiveness
removes the barrier of separation. The law is
so precise (what one gives one receives; no
exceptions) that if we begin forgiving others,
we begin to receive forgiveness upon ourselves.
Unless, of course, we refuse to forgive ourselves."
(Edgar
Cayce)
"Our attraction to
worldly desires can hinder the free expression
of our souls and only when they are no longer
a hindrance can our Earth incarnations be finished.
The free expression of our souls happens when
our wills become compatible with the thoughts
of God. At this time, our conscious spiritual
identity with God will merge with our soul consciousness
(subconscious mind). This is when the soul merges
with the light of God. The return of the soul
is the return of the thought that God imagined
and is becoming aware of being a part of all
God and everything." (Edgar
Cayce)
"Some souls desire
to return again and again to the physical state
without spending enough time in spirit to evaluate
and plan their next incarnation in the flesh.
Any habit-forming pleasure, and they are endless,
traps them into the cycle of rebirth over and
over, until their appetites are finally put
aside while they are in the flesh. The lust
for money, lust for power, lust for sex, and
other habits such as an unnatural craving for
alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or any habit they are
unable to break loose from, can keep souls earthbound.
Some are so overly fond of the bodies they left
behind that they are hardly able to wait for
an opportunity to reincarnate and set to work
indulging their new bodies. These souls will
not be able to advance spiritually until they
learn to give less thought to appetites of the
flesh." (Ruth
Montgomery)
2. Reincarnation Is
Instruction
a. Kevin Williams' Theory
of Reincarnation:
The purpose of reincarnation
is education - particularly, learning the eternal
lessons of love. Using the analogy of a school,
my theory of reincarnation is described below.
I describe stages of reincarnation and with
each stage I use a "school analogy"
to help clarify it. I consider this description
of the mechanics of reincarnations as "the
curriculum for the world-school we are currently
enrolled in and the academic degree we are trying
to graduate with":
I. |
We are born into this world
with the mission to learn lessons
of love for the purpose of becoming
forever at-one with everyone
and everything (God).
|
|
Analogy:
We begin a new grade in school with
the goal of graduating and receiving
a degree. |
II. |
During our lives, we are subjected
to severe hardships for the purpose
of soul growth. |
|
Analogy:
During the school year, we must
subject ourselves to difficult homework
in order to learn. |
III. |
After death we have a life review
to decide if we have earned the
right to advance to a higher heavenly
position. If we have earned that
right, we can assume that position
at any opportunity we desire. In
the meanwhile, we can spend an eternity
with family and friends then reincarnate
to lower realms to help others progress
if we desire. |
|
Analogy:
When the school year is over, we
then find out if we have earned
the right to enroll in the next
grade or whether we must repeat
the grade. Either way, we then spend
a long summer vacation at home on
with family and friends before beginning
another school year. |
IV. |
Some people have made such tremendous
mistakes in life that, after death,
they set themselves back some degree
from progressing and need to re-experience
a lower afterlife realm before reincarnating
for another Earth life. |
|
Analogy:
Some students flunk out so badly
that they have to spend some time
in detention and be sent back a
grade. |
V. |
Because our ultimate goal is to
be forever at-one with all things
at a conscious level (the divine
consciousness), we inherently desire
more soul growth until we attain
this goal. This goal is attained
by leaving the realm we currently
reside in (Death is the way people
leave the physical realm - other
realms have other ways.) and entering
another realm we have earned the
right to enter for the purpose of
further soul growth. |
|
Analogy:
Because
our ultimate goal is to graduate,
get a degree, and become co-partners
in the God R Us Corporation, we
leave home to go to school to earn
our degree. Based on whether we
have passed the grade from the previous
school year, we enroll into a higher
grade in school or return to the
same grade from the previous year. |
VI. |
People in the lower realms will
be given opportunities to reincarnate
to higher realms, including the
physical realm, as many times as
it takes for them to learn the lessons
necessary to earn and advance to
a higher position. |
|
Analogy:
Students who flunked out of school
the previous year will be allowed
to repeat the grade until they pass
it. |
VII. |
It will take a lot of love and effort,
but eventually everyone will be
reunited - the Godhood will be restored
as it was in the very beginning
- a good time will be had by all
- perhaps another Big Bang will
happen. But until everyone attains
at-one-ment, we will enter and leave
realms for our own soul growth and
to help others in their own soul
journey to God. |
|
Analogy:
It will take a lot of studying and
hard work, but eventually all students
will graduate, get their degree,
and join the firm. But after we
graduate, if we choose first to
become a teacher before accepting
our position as a permanent co-partner
in the firm, we choose to help other
students (perhaps our loved ones)
graduate as well. (Kevin
Williams) |
3. Factors
Influencing the Reincarnation Process
1. |
Individual choice (free will) |
2. |
Karmic patterns or ties to other
souls |
3. |
Learning
or enlightenment (Amber
Wells' NDE research) |
"Life itself is a
series of learnings. The lessons are universal,
the two most important being truth and forgiveness."
(Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"After death, when
we are ready, we can choose to view our past
lives for the purpose of instruction. (Betty
Bethards)
"The
chief purpose of reincarnation is education.
To this end we are born again and again on Earth,
not because of any external pressure, but because
we, as souls, desire to grow." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"The only way to bypass
bad karma is to develop so much unselfish love
that paying for bad karma will serve no purpose
- much like a college student challenging a
course he already knows." (Arthur
Yensen)
"Life is a cycle of
improvements and humans are not perfect yet.
Most people have this secret revealed to them
when they die." (Dr.
Frank Oski)
"If we do not wish
to reincarnate to the physical state to learn
our lessons, there are schools in the spirit
were we can learn them. However, learning our
lessons in the physical state is the fastest
way to learn them." (David
Oakford)
"If we do enough good
works we will eventually run out of bad karma
and only good things will happen to us, and
vice versa. The goal of karma is to force us
to learn life's lessons whether we want to or
not." (Arthur
Yensen)
"We have lived and
died many times. The reason we don't remember
our former lives is because our vast soul memories
are not transferred to our baby brains at birth.
All we know in this life is what we have learned,
most of which is a partial memory of things
we learned in past lifetimes. At the beginning
of each lifetime, we are cleared of all past
prejudices, learning blocks and wrong teachings,
and are ready for a fresh start - just like
a new term in school - and, like school, when
we have learned enough of life's lessons, we
graduate and don't have to come back to this
Earth anymore, except as volunteers to teach
stragglers." (Edgar
Cayce)
"It (reincarnation)
is a universal process, and prevails not only
in the human kingdom but also throughout the
whole of nature. Whenever we find a living form,
the consciousness of that form is also evolving,
using temporarily for that purpose the physical
form in order that it may gain physical experience.
In each incarnation we have a different physical
body, a different name, and may have different
souls acting as parents, but these changes do
not in the slightest imperil our individuality
... Reincarnation is not an endless process,
and when we have learned the lessons taught
in the World-School we return no more to physical
incarnation unless we come back of our own accord
to act as Teachers of humanity or as Helpers
in the glorious plan of evolution." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"At some point, our
desire to advance will lead us to reincarnate.
Our guides help us decide an incarnation that
will help to achieve our goals. After a period
of farewell with family and friends, we can
meet with a great spiritual teacher (such as
Jesus, Buddha, etc.) to give us strength. After
this, we descend into the womb to be born again.
We leave paradise not just for our own advancement,
but to bring paradise to Earth and God will
light our path throughout our time on Earth
and bring us safely home afterward." (Sylvia
Browne)
"The spirit needs
to embody itself in matter to experience it
and learn. There are karmic patterns to learn
lessons and to work spirit in matter." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"All of our karma
has to be met. And yet, no one is given more
than it can bear to carry. We are given the
time we need to turn away from selfish ways
and return home like the prodigal son. Reincarnation
is not a way to avoid responsibility. It is
a way to allow us enough time to correct our
mistakes." (Edgar
Cayce)
4. Reincarnation Is
Karma
Reincarnation and karma
together explains divine justice and why some
people are born into favorable conditions or
are born into unfavorable conditions. Personality
traits are also carried over from past lives.
a. |
Whatever we
think, that thought makes an impression
on the Universal Consciousness. Nothing
is lost or done in secret. Everything
is done within the Universal Consciousness,
and the Whole is affected by it (as
well as all others within the Whole).
Reactions to past thoughts and actions
become our destiny and karma. Our destiny
is simply the rebounding effects of
previous choices remembered by the soul.
(Edgar
Cayce) |
b. |
"A man acts
according to the desires to which he
clings. After death he goes to the next
world bearing in his mind the subtle
impressions of his deeds; and, after
reaping there the harvest of those deeds,
he returns again to this world of action.
Thus he who has desire continues subject
to rebirth. He who lacks discrimination,
whose mind is unsteady and whose heart
is impure, never reaches the goal, but
is born again and again. But he who
has discrimination, whose mind is steady
and whose heart is pure, reaches the
goal and, having reached it, is born
no more." (Upanishads) |
5. Some People Reincarnate
From Hell Realms
"Hell is a spiritual
condition that some people are allowed to experience
whose goal is to purge aspects of their personality
so that they can participate once again in the
cycle of reincarnation." (Hindu
NDEr)
"Without physical
bodies, feelings of hate and fear are intensified
as souls [in hell] vainly try to hide from their
enemies. Their only hope is to reincarnate.
Then unfortunately when they do, they may forget
all about their torment in hell and again lead
lives of greed and tyranny. This miserable cycle
can continue forever unless they find salvation
in one of their lifetimes. Such people really
need a savior, since they are not able to help
themselves. I'm sure Christ incarnated to help
them because he said, 'I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.'"
(Arthur
Yensen)
"After death, people
who accrued severe negative karma will enter
a hellish realm for a short period. After they
have reflected upon their actions, they will
be allowed to reincarnate." (Sylvia
Browne)
6. The Nature of Reincarnation
"We prepare for future
lifetimes during the life we live now." (Edgar
Cayce)
"We progress at our
own rate to reach the light. If we do things
that take us away from the light, then we are
perpetuating our time here." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"For the soul who
wishes to ascend to the highest heaven, reincarnation
is to be avoided." (Apostle
Paul, Apocalypse of Paul)
"A woman of breathtaking
beauty (Jan's Higher Self) appeared as I watched
in awe, and even after the full materialization
from pure light to visible, substantial form
was complete, nothing was static ... 'Look into
my eyes,' she said with a gentle but commanding
smile. As I did, I felt myself being absorbed
... The eyes I stared into were mine, the eyes
of my soul ... As though looking into a kaleidoscope,
I saw myriad lifetimes and experiences. Oh,
the wonder of me." (Jan
Price)
"Because of our free
will, we are able to inflict pain and suffering
on others. When we die, we realize the mess
we left behind from our previous life and we
may decide to return to clean it up. By doing
this, we don't contribute to the combined mess
that exists on Earth by others." (David
Oakford)
7. Reincarnation
is a Process
"The process that
determines the number of destinies a soul can
chose from before reincarnating to Earth is
an astrological process based on the nine planets
of our solar system that are physical representations
of afterlife realms. This is the fundamental
concept behind astrology: the position of the
planets influence the destiny of the soul reincarnating
to Earth. However, free will is much greater
than these influences. The planets only influence
- they do not compel." (Edgar
Cayce)
"There is a heavenly
process which connects souls with bodies to
be reincarnated." (Plato)
"The center of the
Earth is this great transmuter of energy, just
as you see in pictures of our Earth's magnetic
field. That's our cycle, pulling reincarnated
souls back in and through it again. A sign that
you are reaching human level is that you are
beginning to evolve an individual consciousness.
The animals have a group soul, and they reincarnate
in group souls. A deer is pretty much going
to be a deer forever. But just being born a
human, whether deformed or genius, shows that
you are on the path to developing an individual
consciousness." (Mellen-Thomas
Benedict)
"Reincarnation is
not a linear thing. One of the problems in defining
it is that there is no analogy to it. It is
outside of time, yet we can't help but think
of it in terms of the past and the future, and
this incarnation. The whole story is so big
and so involved." (Thomas
Sawyer)
"As our souls draw
closer to God, our souls become aware that some
of our memories are not compatible with God,
and since its ultimate purpose for being is
companionship with God, our souls seek out opportunities
to resolve these incompatible memories." (Edgar
Cayce)
"Between lives, with
the great knowledge of our Higher Selves, we
choose the next life we are going to live and
how much karma we are going to meet and settle.
For example, if we abused animals or people
in one life, our Higher Selves would probably
urge us to reincarnate into a situation where
we would get abused to make us realize the misery
we caused others." (Arthur
Yensen)
"Once we enter into
the light and blend with God, we become God.
Light can be divided into parts with each part
remaining to be the Whole. Each part is wholly
God. We are all a part of the light of God.
When merging with the light, we cease to exist
as a personality but every bit of our personality
is available for reincarnation." (Thomas
Sawyer)
"The inner quality
is there, the inner self remains, but the external
aspect that may have seemed very strong is dissolved.
Individuality isn't the same there. We are the
same as everybody and everybody is us. Our spirit
is always ours. We are not the personality that
we were on Earth. In the other realm we are
everything, light is everything." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"Reincarnation involves
returning to Earth with aspects of our previous
personalities and even aspects of other soul's
personalities as a new personality. The soul
doesn't evolve, the personality does."
(Thomas
Sawyer)
"Reincarnation happens
not only on Earth, but reincarnation happens
in afterlife realms as well. Between Earth lives,
we dwell in afterlife realms before deciding
whether or not to reincarnate to Earth. If a
soul reincarnates to Earth from an afterlife
realm, the soul will manifest the influence
of that realm through its physical representation
of one of the planets in our solar system. All
the planets in our solar system are physical
representations of afterlife realms. Because
of this, the planets exert an astrological influence
on us. It is through these planetary astrological
influences that we learn our lessons and are
tested on Earth." (Edgar
Cayce)
"Homosexuality is
a natural human trait that is the result of
a person of a particular gender reincarnating
as a person of the opposite gender. Such people
must adjust to their new gender and sexuality
at an early age. Former girls who are reborn
as boys may wish to dress as girls or prefer
to play with girls rather than boys. Former
boys who are reborn as girls may wish to dress
as boys or prefer to play with boys rather than
girls. Former men who are reborn as women will
be attracted to women and will therefore be
lesbian. Former women who are reborn as men
will be attracted to men and will therefore
be gay." (Dr.
Ian Stevenson)
"Dr. Stevenson's research
supports the scientific evidence that
homosexuality is a
natural human genetic trait
and not a lifestyle or personal choice." (Kevin
Williams)
8. Reincarnation Insights
From Near-Death Experiences
"It is a matter of
personal knowledge from what the being with
whom I spoke during my near-death experience
told me about my older son, that he had had
14 incarnations in female physical bodies previous
to the life he has just had." (Amber
Wells NDE research)
The following is a conversation
between Jesus and Jeanie Dicus during her NDE:
He kind of grinned, I guess I was
amusing him, and he answered, "You
want to be reincarnated?"
"Hey, give me a break," I yelled
(only I made no sound).
"I just died. Don't I get a chance
to rest?"
"Take it easy, hold on, it's alright.
You can change your mind at any
time."
I gasped,
"I don't even believe in you and
now you want me to reincarnate.
Help!" (Jeanie
Dicus)
|
"I saw four translucent
screens appear (and form a kind of gigantic
box around me). It was through this method that
I was shown my life review. (Or rather I should
say my LIVES IN REVIEW!) Without ever having
to turn my head, I saw my past, my present,
my future and there was even a screen that displayed
a tremendous amount of scientific data, numbers
and universal codes. I saw the beginning of
my known existence as a Soul and saw that I
had existed Spiritually long before this incarnation
-- where I am now a male human known as Christian
Andreason! In Heaven, I undeniably saw that
I had lived an innumerable amount of lives.
Yet, what I saw went way beyond our comprehension
of what we think reincarnation is. So, I am
not exactly speaking of being born again and
again on this planet alone. I saw that it is
a big Universe out there and God has it all
organized perfectly. Each of us is sent where
we can obtain the best growth according to our
Divine purpose." (Christian
Andreason)
"My whole life went
before me of things I have done and haven't
done, but not just of this one lifetime, but
of all the lifetimes. I know for a fact there
is reincarnation. This is an absolute. I was
shown all those lives and how I had overcome
some of the things I had done in other lives.
There was still some things to be corrected."
(Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"He said, 'Do you
want to stay or go back?' I was very aware that
this decision would be if I would stay in the
heavenly realms or return to my life as Karen
on planet Earth. All of my being wanted to stay
there in bliss, but ever since I was six, I
knew that reincarnation is the natural fact
of life, and now, I had the knowingness that
if I chose to stay, I would have to reincarnate
to Earth again later. At the time, that was
unacceptable to me. I didn't understand then
that Earth is a boot camp and school for soul's
spiritual education, and as such, it's tough.
Nevertheless, I knew that I had to return and
finish whatever mission I had to do here." (Karen
Brannon)
"From the other tunnels
came souls preparing for reincarnation on Earth.
From above came souls happily reporting delights
and visions of a beauty beyond words. From below
came souls lamenting and wailing over a thousand
years of dreadful sufferings, where people were
repaid manifold for any earthly suffering they
had caused." (Plato)
"I had a lot of questions,
and I wanted to know what they (the light beings)
were doing why are you just kind of milling
around here? And someone stepped forward ...
it wasn't just one ... I got information from
a number of them ... that they were all waiting
for reincarnation." (Amber
Wells' NDE research)
"They said that I
originally came to Gaia to learn and share with
others using the gifts that I have accumulated
over several lifetimes." (David
Oakford)
Sandra committed suicide
and had a near-death experience. The light gave
her access to unlimited knowledge. She was told
that she could remain in the light, provided
she later reincarnate to re-experience and overcome
all that brought her to the point of suicide.
Or, she could be revived to live out the rest
of her life and overcome her problems here and
now. She choose to be revived. (Sandra
Rogers)
A woman once consulted
Edgar Cayce to decide whether or not to undergo
a very high-risk surgery. After inducing an
out-of-body experience, Cayce went through the
tunnel and visited the Hall of Records where
he read her record in the Book of Life. Cayce
advised the woman to have the surgery because
it would be a success. Cayce explained that
the surgeons who were to perform the surgery
were once Inquisitors in a past life who tortured
and killed her because of her religious beliefs.
Cayce explained that by allowing these surgeons
to heal her, she would be allowing them to pay
a karmic debt they owed her. She underwent the
surgery and it was a success just as Cayce foretold.
(Edgar
Cayce)
Jesus had many incarnations
on Earth
and we can experience full knowledge of all
of them after death. (Edgar
Cayce)
The following is only
one of the Bible passages showing Jesus teaching
reincarnation to his disciples:
"And the disciples
asked him, saying, 'Why then do the
scribes say that Elijah must come first?'
But he answered them and said, 'Elijah
indeed is to come and will restore all
things. But I say to you that Elijah
has come already, and they did not know
him, but did to him whatever they wished.
So also shall the Son of Man suffer
at their hand.' Then the disciples understood
that he had spoken of John the Baptist."
(Matthew
17:10-13)
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