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Archive for the ‘Mystery’ Category

... reincarnation, past liFE, karma …

Reincarnation, also called metempsychosis or transmigration of souls, is the rebirth in another body (after physical death), of some critical part of a person's personality or spirit. Its occurrence is a central tenet of Hinduism, Jainism, some African religions, as well as various other religions and philosophies. Most modern Pagans also believe in reincarnation.

It has traditionally also been understood to be akin to the Buddhist concept of Rebirth, but in recent years it has become clear that the two concepts are very distinct - Buddhism teaches that there is no self to reincarnate. There is an alternate view, based on a different set of inherent assumptions, that the teachings of Buddhism as a religion might stress one aspect, the teachings of Hinduism might stress another aspect, but that an advanced Buddhist and an advanced Hindu would directly perceive the phenomenon of reincarnation identically.

First of all why do we have to reincarnate? Why do we have to come back as a man, a woman, in a specific family, in a certain country and in a particular century? Who were we before? What happen to us? Those are questions we all have.

All of us, here on earth right now, for one or another reason had to come back. The reasons are to be found in one or more of our past lives. Throughout our many incarnations we went through various experiences. Some of them provoked good emotions. Some of them provoked bad emotions. At the end of a lifetime, a conclusion to what life is about, some sort of belief systems were then created. A thought is always at the root of an emotion. This is what we have to change.

The first thought that created a chain of experiences over and over. Once we change this thought, the emotion, usually negative, will disappears. In order to change the original thought we have to go back to the very first experience that has created the thought.

In this present life you are connected to many past lives. In each incarnation you reconnect with past lives acquaintances. And then every time you go through a change of environment, person, work… you are reconnected to more people you previously met and with whom you already had a story. Life is made of experiences. Some of them, with their share of pain and sorrow provoke another incarnation and this is what I deal with.

Another theory of reincarnation
A belief in reincarnation does not discount the existence of heaven, hell, or a final judgment. There are a number of small children who have reported having memories of past lives prior to their present life, and some also report being able to recall a time between lives (see books by Dr. Ian Stevenson, Carol Bowman, and Elisabeth Hallett). In some cases these children have also reported being in a place like heaven between lives, and sometimes that they were given some degree of choice as to whether and when to be reborn, and even in selecting their future parents.

Some of these children claim that being reborn is not necessarily a punishment for past bad "karma", but rather an opportunity for a soul to grow spiritually. Additional lifetimes could give individual souls a greater opportunity to accomplish more for God, if that is a person's goal, and to develop better character traits. Eastern views of reincarnation vary and several parallels with this idea are to be found in certain branches of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Quote: "So convincing is the evidence in favor of past life influences that one can only conclude that those who refuse to consider this to be an area worthy of serious study must be either uninformed or excessively narrow-minded." -- Stan Grof M.D., Holotropic Mind

Origin of the belief
This doctrine has its roots far back in primitive culture. According to some scholars, this idea developed out of three common beliefs: (1) that man has a soul, connected in some vague way with the breath, which can be separated from his material body, temporarily in sleep, permanently at death; (2) that animals and even plants have souls, and are possessed to a large extent of human powers and passions; (3) that souls can be transferred from one organism to another. (This idea still has adherents in many schools of Hinduism, the oldest of extant modern religions)

Alternatively, some consider that reincarnation as a phenomenon (not simply a belief) has been occurring through history, and has been discovered and re-discovered by societies both primitive and advanced.

Transmigration of human souls into non-human bodies is implied in totemism, for, as Professor Frazer says, "it is an article of faith that as the clan sprang from the totem, so each clansman at death reassumes the totem form."

The OBE Phenomenon & out of body experiences

Astral Projection - is it possible?

Astral projection is a type of out-of-body experience (OBE) in which the astral body leaves its other six bodies and journeys far and wide to anywhere in the universe. The notion that we have seven bodies (one for each of the seven planes of reality) is a teaching of theosophist Madame Blavatsky. On its trips, the astral body perceives other astral bodies rather than their physical, etheric, emotional, spiritual, etc. bodies. In an ordinary OBE, such as remote viewing or the out-of-body near-death experience, there is a separation of a person's consciousness from his or her body. In the near-death out-of-body experience, there may be the experience of hovering above and perceiving one's body and environs, and hearing conversations of surgeons or rescue workers tinkering with one's body. In astral projection, it is the astral body, not the soul or consciousness, that leaves the body. The astral body, according to Madame Blavatsky, is the one that has an aura. It is also the seat of feeling and desire, and is generally described as being connected to the physical body during astral projection by an infinitely elastic and very fine silver cord, a kind of cosmic umbilical cord or Ariadne's thread.

There is scant evidence to support the claim that anyone can project their mind, soul, psyche, spirit, astral body, etheric body, or any other entity to somewhere else on this or any other planet. The main evidence is in the form of testimonials.

See related entries on mind, near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, remote viewing and soul.

First Experience
I have been a seeker ever since I can remember. Since childhood I've wondered about what happens when we die; is there something out there, always believing in my heart that we are immortal. If I pondered that this might not be true, it filled me with despair and terror; but somehow I felt there was more to our physical existence.
Reading various ancient texts, the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Upanisads, the Vedas, from all cultures western and eastern; never seemed to answer my questions. Not until I picked up Tibetan Book of the Dead, did things start falling into place. The book had such a strange effect on me. It is hard to describe the way my mind was reeling and my hands would sweat, but nonetheless; I continued. I was in such a state of mind, that I needed to meditate, do various yoga techniques that I had read about, just to stabilize my emotions.

During the nights ahead for the next few weeks, my sleep would become interrupted in a most unsettling way. I would wake up paralyzed and surrounded by a darkness that was terrifying. Heartbeats or any physical sensations were completely absent. Terror filled my mind.

This is death? No! I fought to break free, to move my arms, to get up. Slowly I would regain my sensations and was able to move again. What was that? That was so unsettling, but everything was normal again.

Several nights after that, this would occur again. Then a few more times I endured this horrifying experience. One night, I finally gave in. I thought to myself: I must know what this is, I must not fear it, even if it kills me. I MUST KNOW.

I waited. The blackness engulfed me again, no heartbeat, no sensation, no anything. I waited. I listened. I hear a noise from the blackness. I listened carefully. The sounds I could distinguish were fire burning, water as a huge waterfall, earth shaking as in an earthquake, and wind as in a hurricane; all happening simultaneously. The intensity escalated. I focused my attention between my forehead. I see a shimmering blue light coming down in the shape of a pyramid, engulfing me. I reached my thoughts to the source of this blue light. Brighter and brighter the light would become. A small beam of white light appeared in my forehead. I focussed on the white light. It became a part of me. I became a part of it. I traveled what seemed like a great distance, moving through a tunnel of light, from the center of my forehead, only to exit the tunnel from the base of my skull above my neck. I flew out of my body. I was ecstatic, I was at free at last, I WAS HOME. Not in my body, but hovering above it, looking down at it as if it were an empty shell.

This seemed so familiar to me when I wanted to move in this new body. I didn't seem to have any substance or matter but I wanted to move. As that thought of movement occurred, a shimmering neon green glow appeared in front of my consciousness as it formed into what I remember as my hand. All I had to do was stretch my hand in the direction I wanted to move and I would go there. Passing through walls, closed doors, floors and ceilings was easy as a thought.

All the while I enjoyed the freedom of no physical body, just the body of thought and consciousness; I sensed access to other places, beings of light around me. Gateways to other dimensions, for lack of a better term. For a split second a knew the storehouse of all knowledge, my life, my previous lives, and the multi-dimensional nature of the universe. I have never felt more alive. As astounding as this sounds, I never had the chance to reach through one of the gateways, or merge with one of the light beings. I had a thought.

I thought, how easy would it be to re-enter my physical body? Then exit again at will whenever I wanted. As soon as I had that thought, I was pulled by an incredible force, (as an elastic band being released), back into my physical body. Damn it! The power of thought is too strong. The slightest thought of returning sent me back.

This event happened to me 16 years ago. Every day I remember this. Since then, I have lost my fear of death; even so far as looking foward to it. In the meantime, I've had some success with projecting at will. None is as astounding as that first unexpected time.

Ronald Westermann
Irvington, NJ
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About 9 years ago, I had what I now know to be an OBE. My father had just died and I attribute my experience to the creator giving me the wonderful gift of escape. (from the daily pain and grief)

I went to sleep, only to be jolted into consciousness by what I could only describe as an intense vibration. I was frozen and terrified. (I had never heard of an OBE) I remember praying that god would allow me fully awaken and release me from this state. I was filled with a knowing that if I would relax the feeling would go away. I resisted relaxation out of fear. finally I gave in...as I separated, I recall a short, but intense, pain throughout my body. (probably because I did not exit correctly)

I floated around my room and though the house. I heard music...children's voices singing some type of chant. This was frightening, but I could not deny the most wonderful feeling of PEACE and calm. I was filled with an urge to go UP. (like a balloon filled with helium!) So I floated through the ceiling and into the deep black sky. I saw milllions of stars and drew myself closer to them. Then, I remember thinking that I might get lost and not find my way back...and BAM... I was back in my bed!!!

About five years later...I was napping and instantly recognized the fimiliar vibration. I tried with all my might to relax my mind and go with the sensation...so desperate to have the experience again!!! I relaxed and pulled out of my body...only I remained connected at the base of my spine...This was (once again) physically painful for me...as I "sat up" in bed, I held my hand up and saw this astounding magenta glow outlining my invisible hand and arm...I was so shocked that I instantly jolted back into my body!!!

Thanks for allowing me to share...These aren't experiences that one can talk about too freely!!! And yet, it so important that we DO!

laura
w. virginia
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I had an experience in February of this year when I went to visit my grandmother in Central Oregon. Just as I was settling myself in bed for sleep, when suddenly I felt a rush of overwhelming energy penetrate throughout my whole body. I had a sense of a free-falling type feeling. There was this bright white light in my vision (and it was pitch dark in my room). Then I felt myself flying at a high speed. I did not feel anything beneath me, and I was aware that my arms were back and my feet were apart, but that it didn't feel like what my limbs usually feel. During this, I heard whispers all around me. I didn't know what they were saying but felt like they were reassuring me of love. I felt like they were saying something of my identity. I feel that these voices came from angels, reminding me that they are with me all the time, and this was a gift from them. I feel honored I experienced this. Anyway, I just flew, sometimes downward or upward...no particular direction. That's why I got dizzy. There was definitely no direction I could sense. When I came to, It reminded me of the process a skydiver flaring (slowing down the parachute just before landing on the ground.) When I "touched down", I felt myself go back into my body, the quiet dark room, and on the bed where my body was. It seemed like this went on for about 2 minutes.

I have no idea why this happened at that time and place. I will never know perhaps. I just hope I can experience this again. It was literally a breath taking experience. What a trip!

J. Harley
Oregon, USA
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In 1979 I was living in a large size Attic that I shared with a friend, one night we were sitting on the carpet talking to each other, when something started happening to me.

A wonderful and inexplicable filing of electric current was going through my body at the same time that I was seeing on a different plane, like in an other dimension, different kinds of living beings, moving in different directions. And I was understanding what was going on without hearing any sound, is like everybody just knew where to go and exactly when.

It seemed to me that they were beings that were checking with a group of four superior beings to be born as humans in planet earth, to come and have the human experience. But I also understood that everyone was being borne of exactly the parents they deserve to have, to have the live that they deserved as price or punishment, with all the opportunities to be better or worse according to his free will.

I also understood that everyone was coming from different lives in different dimensions and provably different planets in the universe, and this time it was humans.

When this vision or what ever that was, began to happened I asked my friend to be quite and I started to describe to him what I was seeing, it lasted a few wonderful seconds and I have remembered it for the rest of my life, I do not have an explanation for it, and I know I was not remembering a dream, it was really happening.

J.Lindo
California, USA