|
|
|
|
Many of the world's religions believe in reincarnation, with various different "rules" about it. I alluded to the Buddhist belief in the earlier thread, and tend to believe it myself much of the time (altho not always...). Events and actions in one's past lives lead to circumstances in this current life, and being a better person leads to more fortunate next lives, altho not strictly in terms like money or fame or health, etc.
But so many people tend to think that if you're bad you'll be reincarnated as an intestinal parasite or something, and conversely, Tom Hanks has some great early karma to be having such a charmed life this time.
One Buddhist monk told me a few years ago that in my last life I must have been an elephant, because I am so kind, patient, smart, and fat. Interesting idea, huh?
My brother went thru a phase when he believed in non-linear reincarnation. That means, in your next life you could be born in the past or the future (as compared to the year we're living in now). That was a bit of a stretch for me, I have to say.
Buddhists and Hindus aren't the only ones who believe in past lives. Some "New Age" folks do too. I really like Rosemary Althea, a British medium (yes, she communicates with spirits, some of them being formerly-embodied people...). She has written several books, and has a neat website using her name then .com. She believes that each spirit determines when and where and under what circumstances it will be re-born, and that we each choose our present lives for some reason having to do with learning. I like the idea, except that it's hard for me to imagine some soul choosing to live thru abuse or tragedy to learn some lesson, but maybe so.
The Christian Bible even alludes to reincarnation. Jesus once asked the Disciples who people were saying he was. One reply was that, "Some say you are John the Baptist re-born..."
Animists, some Wiccan believers, some native American beliefs, and others talk about everything in creation having a spirit of some kind, contributing to a greater whole... Gaia or Jung's ideas about the shared group unconscious of the whole human race, stuff like that.
It's all very interesting to me, and I sometimes fantasise the moment after my (hopefully painless) death, when I'll say something like, "OH! That's what it all was about!"
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
smith
|
 |
On fire! |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 1095
|
|
|
I always have these HUGE attacks of deja vu and it's never anything I could have known. These strong feelings that I've been there....done that.
X-Files had an episode where Mulder experienced visions of his past lives.......I have always liked Chris Carter's theory. We travel through time with the same loved ones; it's just that they take different roles in your life each time.....one time your brother, the next your friend, the next your teacher, etc...The feelings are always strong no matter what role they play in your life. So, Setras is my good friend this time around; maybe last time he was my brother, next time my grandpa...the affection is just always there. And your enemies are always your enemies but in different forms. You can see it in their eyes.......the affection / the dislike. The people change but the spirit remains the same.
Yeah, David.....I hope we do say "So, that's what it all was about." An elephant, huh? I think I was an otter.
JJ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I need to go from 5 years of age difference to 50? Well, atleast that isn't a selfish point of view... I mean, if I get to be your grandpa in next life, chances are you'll be visiting my funeral instead the other way round...  But let's worry about that in the next life, shall we?
But I like the idea... though it would be fun to really remember it all, you know, really know who everyone is... But maybe that's what happens between lives... *looks hopeful*
Setras
That which is dreamed can never be lost, can never be undreamed.
-Master Li in Neil Gaiman's Sandman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I sometimes feel like I'd like to be reborn in ancient Egypt. Kids there apparantly spent a lot of time naked. Sounds way nice IMO...  Of course, lack of medicine and health care, sanitary facilities/plumbing, electricity and other modern conveniences etc would be a serious drawback. (TV is not included there amongst the conveniences as it just makes us portray ourselves as fools and idiots to other intelligent species out there.)
Overall, I feel like maybe I'd like it better with a simpler, more down-to-earth life next time 'round. I'm not sure. I'm such a gadget geek though, so such thoughts usually don't last very long! 
Would I be the same person if I'm reincarnated, or would my personality be more or less totally different? If I'm the same, what's the point of reincarnating, aren't we supposed to "evolve" from one life to another or something? On the other hand, if I'm different, then what IS the point of reincarnation? I might just as well simply BE another person altogether...
Philosophy was never one of my fav subjects. People simply tend to think altogether too much about a subject we really can't know much about, and when people start to have too strong opinions about something we can't know much about that just makes me want to smack them upside the head with a big ol' cast-iron frying pan.
If people could just stop being so damn CERTAIN all the time about matters like this, that would sure make my life a lot simpler, hehe.
-L
"But he that hath the steerage of my course,
direct my sail."
-William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act One, Scene IV
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
"Oh, THAT'S what it all was about!" 
Oh, I'm not old enough yet? 
Reincarnation. 
