Life is an unending but
ever changing series of adventures.
A HUGE amount of
scientific and clinical evidence has
documented that life is cyclical and spans
time and space throughout infinity.
Many people are
pleasantly surprised to find that there is a
strong history of belief in reincarnation
among the world's
religions.
Many religions,
denominations, and spiritual traditions have
a belief in reincarnation. This enduring
belief surfaced independently across the
world among billions of people in every
continent on our planet.
Reincarnation is a
major tenant of Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Sufism--a mystical branch of Islam. This
belief is also part of several Jewish and
Christian
denominations. Native
spirituality sources across the world
recognize the cyclical, unending nature of
life.
In "Tying Rocks to
Clouds" by William Elliott, Rabbi Zalman
Schacter-Shalomi says: "In mystical Judaism,
we believe in reincarnation. It's call
gilgul. We believe
each time we incarnate,
we move a step forward.
Coming down one time
prepares me for the task I have to do the
next time. Whatever I conclude in this
lifetime, if I come back
again, I can take up
from where I left off--not with the same
memory, mind you, but with the same traces
and vibrations and merit and clarity and
God-connection that I had.
Then I can go
farther in the next incarnation to provide
more input. If I learned a lot this time
around, I get to teach the next time
around! If I did wrong this time, I may get
a chance to fix some of the wrong I did."
The Hindu scripture
Svetasvatara Upanishad states: "This vast
universe is a wheel. Upon it are all
creatures that are
subject to death and
rebirth. Round and round it turns, and it
never stops. It is the Wheel of Brahman.
As long as the
individual self thinks it is separate from
Brahman it revolves upon the wheel. But
when through grace of Brahman it realizes
its identity with him it revolves upon the
wheel no longer. It achieves immortality."
The Tibetan Book of
the Dead says, "Thine own
consciousness, shining, void and inseparable
from the great body of radiance hath no
birth, nor death, and
is the immutable
light--Buddha Amitabha."
In his excellent book
"The Case for Reincarnation", Christian
theologian Dr. Leslie Weatherhead states,
"Can Christians believe in reincarnation? I
think they can.
That is to say, I
don't see anything in this theory which
contradicts the Christian position. In our
Lord's time, it was part of the accepted
beliefs of everybody. Indeed, it was
accepted by the Christian church until 553
A.D. when the Council of
Constantinople rejected
it by a very narrow majority."
In a different book
with the same title, Unity School of
Christianity minister James Dillet Freeman
says reincarnation is one of the oldest and
most universal ideas human beings have had.
He has written and lectured extensively
about reincarnation in the hope that others
will find meaning in
what often appears to
be a meaningless world.
Rev. Freeman looks
at reincarnation as completely compatible
with the
important teachings of
Christianity.
You are a forever being
who can enjoy a vast and exciting array of
experiences throughout the universe. Begin
this
moment to live as the
powerful, unique and infinite energetic
being that you are.
(excerpts from "Soul
Proof" by Dr. Mark Pitstick)
