Okay Another Religious Issue~~ About Buddhism And Reincarnation
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
January 13, 2008 10:50pm CST
Now anyone of any faith can jump into this discussion. It has to do with the concept of reincarnation.
I don't know why, but ever since I can remember I've ALWAYS believed in the idea of reincarnation...from earliest memory (uh, maybe from a past life? LOL) As I've mentioned various times I was raised in a Christian background--sum total~~my father was Methodist, my mother Catholic, I was baptized Catholic, confirmed Protestant, followed many of the principles of Unity and Science of Mind...studied a bit of Buddhism, Hinduism, and on and on...While not completely abandoning my Christian concepts I'm an openly admitted pagan/wiccan. Gee, have I confused you all?
So like I said, ever since I can remember have always believed in reincarnation even though, the concept of reincarnation doesn't exist in the dogma of Christianity...however of course is a belief in Buddhism and Hinduism--and I might add most of us on the pagan/wiccan path believe in reincarnation.
Now in fairly recent years, many Westerners have come to accept the idea of reincarnation...even Christians...But here's what I don't get and got me going here
I came across a discussion about reincarnation that got me going a bit ballistic as one responder said that the ONLY way one can reincarnate is to achieve Buddhahood....so like in other words, only Buddhists can reincarnate and only after Buddhahood or enlightenment??
That rattled me as this almost sounds like the same narrow mindedness as Christians who follow a certain sect of Christianity and believe that only THEY go to heaven.
Like I said..I have read up on Buddhism..but gee did I miss something??..is it true as far as the Buddhist religion is concerned that they believe only THEY can reincarnate--What about the rest of us who do believe in reincarnation??...not all of us will attain "Buddhahood" or the same "enlightenment" strictly from a Buddhist viewpoint.
What are your views about reincarnation? Believe it or not? If you do believe in reincarnation, does it kind of rattle your nails that this one person seem to suggest only those who attain Buddhahood can reincarnate?
12 people like this
28 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I am not sure if people are reincarnated or not but something interesting has happened all through history that is very suspicious.
Any time something really important has happened like the invention of fire lets say it has happened simultaneously in several places at once. These places were spread far apart so folks weren't running back and forth sharing the info. They didn't know each other. The same thing happened with the invention of the wheel.
I do not know if it is actually people responsible for this or if knowledge is just being passed somehow. And the Buddists don't have control of this one. They were not around when this was going on.
It has happened all through history those were just the two easiest to pinpoint because all archeologists seem to pretty much agree on those two.
My Dad worked with the Space Program and he said that it happened a lot while he was designing the tracking systems. He was traveling all over the world and meeting people from other countries working on similar projects and even though everything was secret and there were language barriers, Dad could see that others were coming to the same conclusions at the exact same time but from totally different perspectives. He said it was bizarre sometimes that they could do what they did with all the wrong formulas and yet they got the right answers.
Do people reincarnate or does their knowlege reincanate?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Mmm...well as far as similar ideas cropping up at different areas especially ones that are "top secret"...now we could get into the idea of the "collective consciousness" concept..another "deep issue"..LOL--have you ever read or heard about the Akashic records...this runs along the same line of thought that all is a Cosmic or collective consciousness...like the universe's super computer system..which can explain all the knowledge of everything is stored there and we can tap into in
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Thanks, I figured there was a name for it, I had just never heard it. Dad and I used to talk about it but we never spoke of it to others because we figured they would think we were nuts or he would get fired. Dad passed 20 years ago and I have not talked to anyone about it just continued to observe it.
2 people like this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
14 Jan 08
This is a fascinating idea, Adoniah, thank you for shareing.
I dont know what I can add, but I just wanted to tell you it is appreciated. I'll file this tidbit away and maybe someday I can revisit it in another intellectual conversation and pick it apart a bit more.
I am sorry to hear about your father, I will bet he was an interesting fellow.
Best regards,
Tee
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Honestly I know nothing at all about the Buddhist religion but as for my belief in reincarnation or not - I'm not sure! One part of me would say it's possible I suppose, most anything is, and there have been times in my life that I've felt I had knowledge or experience that I know I didn't get in my life-time, possibly something from another life????
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Yes, maybe those glimpses of knowledge or experiences that you've had but not in this lifetime are possible links to your past lives :)
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
14 Jan 08
"is it true as far as the Buddhist religion is concerned that they believe only THEY can reincarnate"
no not at all! and I'm actually surprised that a Buddhist would make such a claim BUT the reality is that regardless of the religion or spiritual path there will ALWAYS be a few arrogant ones ya knwo..to me though, ppl like that are not only sadly mistaken and in for a surprise in the end BUT they aren't as devoted to their path as they think..They've missed the truth, point, message etc etc and are blowing it hardcore...
The reality about Buddhism is #1 not all WANT to necessarily achieve enlightenment (I dont) and #2 to actually TRULY achieve enlightenment is very difficult and though many may try the truth is few will actually ever get there..So for someone to claim that ONLY those who've achieved enlightenment are entitled to reincarnate is just a load of crap and they really dont understand..
crap..did any of that make sense?? I need coffee..
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
LOL--oh yes you make perfect sense to me
Yes. I kind of figured that this person was just being an arrogant a$$, just like there are people that have the opinion of course because of their religion only they will go to heaven while the rest of us are doomed to hell..my hell is sure going to be crowded then..LOL
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I think regardless of religion or lack of religion , we all can be reincarnated.It is just a case of the numbers. I think that the higher being, whatever name you call Him/Her, gave out only X amount of souls and we all leave and come back many times.
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Me too Pye. But I am either too stupid or stubborn to learn the lesson because I feel like I have been coming back again and again.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Yes I believe we do come back many times and each time to maybe learn some lesson...I personally believe I'm a very old soul that's been around the block a few times...LOL
2 people like this
@scammerwear (1433)
• Singapore
14 Jan 08
I'm not sure if they are just a figment of my imagination or real, but I do have some interesting memories that are not my own, at less not of this body.
There seem to be some misunderstand here. Though, I'm pagan as well, I do have some understanding of Buddhism. In Buddhist believes, everyone (humans or not) reincarnates endlessly. "Enlightenment" is the stage where you gain enough spiritual power to exit this endlessly cycle (hence the end of suffering).
Enlightenment is also a natural process which everyone will get to, sooner or later. Buddhist practices only speeds up this process by reducing karma (both good and bad), helping you to fade from existence as we know it.
Buddhism does not claim to be the exclusive path to do so, in fact, it acknowledges that other paths can do the same. Some are just fated to reach it through this path.
Perhaps the other discussion you mentioned may have been written by someone hostile to the religion?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Thank you...everything you said here is what I thought and gathered from my reading up on Buddhism, that's why it struck me so odd that, that person would say that only a person who attained buddhahood could reincarnate...just didn't make sense to me
1 person likes this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I'm sorry Pye, I have been posting all over your discussion and have not yet answerewd your question directly. Reincarnation is just one of my favorite subjects to talk about, as well as contemplate quietly on my own.
I have my own theories about reincarnation, just like everyone else. It sounds like this friend (?) of yours has his own as well. My knowledge of Buddhism is limited... that is really more my partners area of expertise. I do know that I personaly do not appreciate anyone putting limitations on me in regards to my soul and my connection to the higher power.
If your friend is right, then so be it. But there are plenty of people out there who disagree with him, and each other for that matter.
I guess we just wont know untill it happens. I think the old saying applies rather well... "Whatever gets you to sleep at night..."
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
I have absolutely loved all the comments you have made and sprinkled around throughout my discussion here II2aTee... I was looking at your profile and noticed your 25?? Yikes I'm old enough to be your mom...hehee
The point though...for someone so relatively so young you have a lot of "old" wisdom...so you definitely must be an old soul who has been around many times to have such understanding and beliefs...can't help thinking that people who scoff at any kind of "metaphysical" beliefs are young souls, and don't ask how many I'd come across.
I must be an old soul too, as I've had a lot of my "beliefs" ever since I can remember, even before I actually started reading up and studying anything on the "metaphysical" line..In fact, growing up as a kid (and I mean LITTLE kid) I related better and could talk to adults but not peers my own age--maybe I was born "old" LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Hehe....well right at the moment I'm sick and miserable...but yes, life even when sick life is a "gift" Something my mother didn't appreciate...don't ask all the problems with her, but she in a sense took life for granted especially toward the end ...she made the transition on Aug. 27, 2005. Yes, she was ill at the time, but instead of making the most out of life for the remaining time she had, she virtually just vegetated....just sat on the sofa staring at the four walls..what a waste. Instead of waking up each day, blessing the day to have another day of life she hated the day and hated life. How sad, no?
I know exactly what you mean about that staring at one's eyes in a mirror thing--I've had that experience myself...I "see" my eyes, but the face I see is not the one in this lifetime...maybe then there is some truth then...the eyes being the mirrors of the soul??
Well if you're a space cadet, then I most certainly am myself..hehe
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Hahaha! Too funny... your thoughts and beliefs are peppered all through this discussion (I love it - that is what a discussion should be!), but then in your 'official' response the only thing left to say is "Whatever gets you to sleep at night..." My cheeks hurt from laughing over that. Hehehehe.
Anyway, I left a comment for you above in my post, I totally didn't think to search out yours and leave it there... sorry!
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
14 Jan 08
We will never know. I can say that I remember the day I was born. I remember strange feeling of limited movement and I was looking at my hands. I try to understand why I am not able to fly....
If we reincarnate, means that I was flying in past life or I was free spirit for while?
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
16 Jan 08
I knew that someone will figure it out...lol
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Well since you believe in Atlantis and they were supposedly an advanced civilization...you probably did fly then??? Just a thought
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I go along with you I too have always beleived in it dont know where it came from.
I have really not studied any religion but was baptisted in to the MOrman church.
And christains dont think we are christains what bunk!
AS most of the teaching are the same! No we dont have a tail and no we dont have horns!
When In MO. I rents from a women that kept staring at me after we said something about religion and then it dawned on me!
I had said I was Morman and she was looking for my horns this was in the 70s!
I pulled back my hair and told her nope no horns! No Morman has horns she turned sort of white lol
and to me I dont think any religion has a hold on who gets to HEaven and who gets recarnated!
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 Jan 08
oh just thought about this one my youngest son from age 2 said he had to go back to NEw York!
We had never been there at that time. but one year when we were in NEw Hampshire he rode the bus up there and had to stop in NEw York and he said he felt like he came home and he wasnt there very long not even to look around!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
What????? Why do people think Mormons have horns and a tail, never heard of such nonsense in my life.
You mean your son had a deja vu kind of thing like he had been in New York before??...and of course he hadn't. Maybe had a previous life in NY, right?
1 person likes this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Yeah that rattles me quite a bit actually. I agree with you - it sounds like a lot of the narrow minded Christians I've heard in my day (not all for the record).
Yes I believe in reincarnation. But I believe that we ALL have the option of reincarnating to further our souls 'progression' and to learn as much as possible. (Now saying that I don't believe any of our souls are any more important or better than the other.)
Like you (as you know) I was brought up in Christan churches but I too always believe in reincarnation. Not really understanding what that meant at first of course but as I got older and learned more...I then understood. I too have touched lightly on Buddhism (and plan to do more so in the future) but I do believe that person is a rarity. At least I hope I'm right anyway LOL. It just seems against the beliefs of which I have read about of Buddhists.
2 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Wow! I had never thought of it like that before...not much into physics LOL. But that's a really great point!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
That's funny ..like you I believed in reincarnation even before I actually knew what the heck it meant--As a kid I constantly used to get asked, why I did believe in it and never had a really good answer why..not until oddly enough I learned physics---That one law stuck out.."Matter or energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it only changes form" It was one of those ah hah moments....so like that law our soul cannot be created nor destroyed, but changes form..the physical being
2 people like this
@joey_matthews (8354)
•
14 Jan 08
I'm going to answer anyway.. *sticks his tongue out
I'm not a buddhist, I don't believe that we come back as another animal or person and I see us staying on as spirts and being "people" who watch out for our family, I don't believe in heaven or hell. I genereally think those who leave bad lives just won't be rewarded by a spirt form...
~Joey
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@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
So in other words those who have lead bad lives are in some kind of "limbo" world???
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Hi Pye,
Well, reincarnation makes more sense than anything else to me.
Can you imagine how many souls are out there? It would make sense to recycle, so to speak.
There is documented proof that some children can remember past events about people and places that they should not have knowledge of.
I am not sure I believe in the reincarnation until you reach the highest plane and then you stop.
I personally think it is just what happens to souls. How they live on and on..not in a Heaven or whatever.
But, right here on Earth.
I think it is a soul thing, not a religious thing.
Like believing in a certain religion to move on..bah..that is just a way for that particular sect to force others to believe in their way of thinking.
But, yes. It makes more sense than going to a Heaven with pearly gates, gold roads..etc.
Yes, I believe in God.
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Yes, exactly!
We are not really sure when time here on Earth began, at least, I am not.
To think of all the souls, and not just human ones, that if were subjected to just one life would be astronomical!
Well, "Heaven" may not be full if it is a really, really, REALLY big place..lol
So, there is still hope for you.
Thanks for making me smile :)
2 people like this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Yes, I watch her on Montel if I have the time on Wednesday's. I did read one of her books a few years ago and visited her website. Very interesting.
http://www.sylvia.org/home/index.cfm
Her way of explaining things make a lot more sense than a lot of other books that I have read.
I don't agree with her 100%, but a lot of what she speaks on does make sense. I do believe that there are other intelligent beings out there, probably more intelligent than us. Thinking that we are the only ones seems kind of vain to me.
The truth is out there...
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
LOL--that's funny II2aTee...yes what a disappointment it would be if our "soul" went to those pearly gates and there was that sign of Heaven being full
Of course there's the question just exactly where our souls go, but maybe if the concept of Heaven is more the universe at large, well there there sure be a lot of room--you would also have to get into the idea that it's not just our souls...that is the souls of people who have lived here on earth, but any soul from any planetary system that has "intelligence"
I don't know if either of you are "into" the psychic Sylvia Browne who has written many books, including touching on the idea of reincarnation...some think she's a complete fraud...I don't...she does get into the concept that each soul does pick the circumstances of when to be born, to who their parents will be, and so forth...even the idea of what "kind" of life we will live to learn the next lesson
Any thoughts there??
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
14 Jan 08
These are quite interesting discussions by the way. I am one of those Pagans that believe in reincarnation. It does seem a bit closed minded to say only Buddhists can be reincarnated. But I guess close-mindedness can occur in any religion. I believe that there is too much for a soul to learn in one life time and that it takes us several to learn everything we need to learn to become a learned soul. I believe I have lived several other lives--its just this feeling that I have that I am what I call an old soul. This belief is partially why I left the path of Christianity because they do not believe in reincarnation.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Hello fellow old soul :)
Yes and with each incarnation we "hopefully" will learn a new lesson...From a purely scientific standpoint since when you think of it everything in the universe is"recyclable" it would make more sense for our souls to be recycled again--otherwise it just seems like a waste of energy..
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45597)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
14 Jan 08
I don't know... I half-believe I was a cat in ancient Egypt--I possess many cat-like qualities not limited to but including being able to walk silently and unintentionally scaring people when they turn around...
Then, too, I've had the romantic conceit of having lived about a hundred years earlier, as a gypsy, who met an untimely end by strangulation--I've always had a deep crease across my throat.
My sisters always considered me weird, and probably still do.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45597)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
14 Jan 08
I forgot to mention that, if reincarnation IS true, I believe this is my last trip around. I won't be coming back. At least, I hope not. I'm too tired.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Oh yes...it could explain different phobias..like a person's fear of water could be attributed to a past life where the person drowned
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
14 Jan 08
I've always had an interest in Buddism, that is until I toured East Asia and saw Buddism at its Finest. The money spent on gold leaf, on fancy religious statues, and elabourite monasteries was sickening! And all this in some of the poorest countries in the world. A Religion that I'd want to be affilliated with would, at least, have some respect for the poorest peasants in a society.
But all that aside, I have believed in reincarnation, since it was brought to my consciousness during yoga meditations. At that point I saw some of my past lives in such a way that they resonated with my present life. There was no doubt in my mind, reincarnation was no longer a theory, but a fact.A belief in reincarnation changes your whole outlook on life. I find myself at age 74 looking forward to the future, (rather than dwelling on the past and trying to make it last) Life is a wonderful adventure that just keeps going on and on!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I can understand and sense your disappointment perhaps with buddhism then when you saw money being spent for fancy statues and so forth, but that doesn't sound any worse than all the gold say in the Vatican does it? In one way or another I think almost all religions are guilty of profiting over the poorer people.
I'm glad you have such a positive outlook about life in general and of course reincarnation. It's nice to know we can come back and learn more lessons about life if we haven't learned them in this one
I had to laugh what you said II2aTee...yes, unfortunately screenwriters for movies seem to dwell on the stereotypical imagery of what most people think of in terms of witchcraft ...the sinister evil side that most have associated with it..but then evil sells..who is going to rush out to see a movie about "nice" witches. The movie the Craft wasn't too too bad..but it also succumbed to the darker side...a much lighter movie..Practical Magic which I do happen to love I thought was good, not the world's greatest but closer I think to pagan/wiccan principle.
2 people like this
@scammerwear (1433)
• Singapore
14 Jan 08
Hmm, as I understand it barehugs, most are a little confusing on Buddha's teachings (not surprising though, every teaching seem to have that problem.)
When Buddha was about to ascend, he told his followers not to worship him. Instead, if they were to show devote, show it to the path of enlightenment.
Those in the know bow before his statue not to worship him, but to pay homage to what he represents, the path of enlightenment.
As for the gold leaves wasted on cold and lifeless statues, it is just people corrupting his teachings for profit. A problem found in a lot of other religions and believes.
Hope this helps renew your interest! :)
2 people like this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
14 Jan 08
Bare, once again your veiws have been refeshing and comforting. I too find it disheartening that all religions seel to go the way of materialism. The one relgion that has never (in my opinion) done that is paganism... the worst we get is hollywood spin offs profitting some writter who couldnt call the corners of their athme depended on it. *shrug*
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
14 Jan 08
I am not comfortable with the concept of reincarnation as the identical soul/individual, either as another human or as an ant, elephant or tree (or whatever).
I do believe that, while in this life, we are charged with adding to experience or knowledge in some way and that we can be more or less effective at that depending on how 'in tune' we are with our Creator.
Many times I have met a complete stranger and, almost immediately, I have felt a 'brotherhood' with that person. It came to me that our souls are like raindrops evaporated from different pools and that that odd feeling, almost one of having met the person before, is due to the fact that we were once part of the same pool. Once we die, our souls return, like rain, to the 'ground' of eternity, mix with other 'soul material' and are eventually taken back up to fall again as 'raindrop souls' into this world. It seems to me that the atoms of that soul have a remembrance of where they came from and that, although they are not the identical droplet of spirit, they half-remember the pool from which they came and recognise others from the same pool.
Whether or not it is useful to feel an affinity with some people and not with others like this, I do not know. Perhaps those from the same 'pool' have a similar mission to perform and that is why we recognise them. Perhaps, even, it is not like this at all. I can only say that, once it had occurred to me, it seemed a very compelling idea.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
16 Jan 08
Now that you mention it, Tee and Pyewacket, it is about energy. My view is that 'God' (the Creator) is pure (but sentient) energy and is both the Creator and the Created (in other words, the Universe, as some of us like to call it). I find it quite difficult to express exactly what I mean but I believe that the phrases 'God is Love' and 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God' are an attempt at saying the same thing. 'Love' is the energy, the pure care of and involvement with creation that every artist knows about. 'The Word' (logos) is the expression (an everlasting 'Ommmmm') that keeps everything up and running, a perpetual 'creation'. Our souls (and our bodies) are part of this. Our bodies return to the earth and their individual elements are (very indirectly) used to create new ones. Our souls (which are both sentient and sentience itself and therefore part of the 'Word' concept) return to the 'soul source' (or pool, as I described it above) and are returned to new bodies as they are needed.
In my view, there is no separate individual, apart from us, who is 'God'. He/she/it is the whole of creation and we are therefore a part of it. Those who say that 'there is no God' are merely seeing the same thing from a different viewpoint. We live in a sea of air but many of us (most of us, actually, unless we consciously put our brains in gear) don't even think about it.
I am not sure that I have expressed that properly. Our 'words' are rather poor when it comes to abstract concepts!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
16 Jan 08
"In my view, there is no separate individual, apart from us, who is 'God'. He/she/it is the whole of creation and we are therefore a part of it."
I need to clarify that. Yes, there IS an individual (and only one) who is separate (in the sense that it is not us) but of whom we are an integral part and from whom we cannot really be separated. 'God' is in us and we are in 'Him'. There is, at any given moment, a Way which we may or may not choose to follow. If we follow it, we have resonance with the Word, if we choose not to, there is discord. That is the sum and total of what is meant by 'sin'.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I have an open mind about reincarnation, since there is only one way to test the theory I will have to wait on a final decision and I fear it will be too late to make a difference here. Every religion has its narrow viewpoints and inherent beliefs. That is why religion just has no reality for me. Thousands of different religions all with different dogmas and beliefs and theirs is the only one that will provide you with ultimate salvation. Excuse me but why would I believe that god would carry that kind of prejudicial thinking for all eternity.
The way I see it enlightenment as they call it should come from within yourself not because your religion says so.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Maybe one day people will realize too that basically all religions are really similar...all believe in a "higher" Divine creator, just call the creator by different names so like what's the fuss about thinking one superior over another..right?
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
15 Jan 08
Thanks for offering your loving support in your response to Tasha's passing...it all helps.
I am a total believer in reincarnation because the one thing scientists, meta physicians and physicists agree on is that energy can neither be created or destroyed. Being that we are energetic beings living in a physical biology it makes sense to me that the innate energy within us moves on to another realm.
I have never come across Buddhist's who claim that only those who attain Buddhahood will be able to reincarnate. My studies with two different Rempoche's and many books say that we are all in a process of achieving enlightenment and that we will come back according to the current level of awareness we have achieved in any given lifetime.
There are close-minded people everywhere...and it is what causes so much polarization. My favorite Buddhist teaching is that all our suffering comes from our attachments...it sounds to me that those who made the claim they did within their narrow mindedness are VERY attached to a certain way of thinking...not very enlightened from my perspective.
Raia
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Yes how sad that there are closed-minded people no matter what their religion...that's what threw me when I read that remark. I don't even know if the person is actually Buddhist. My way of thinking is that we have many lifetimes, each incarnation another chance to learn what lesson it is we need to know. Only after we have learned all the lessons, then yes perhaps we reach an enlightened stage and need not incarnate again
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
15 Jan 08
Pye, you are so funny.....you really like to kick it up a notch, haha.
I have believed in reincarnation forever it seems, as I believe in ghosts. I think when you die, you just rest for a while, and then you are reincarnated to learn more lessons.
I guess we'll all figure it out someday when everyone meets everyone else in the thereafter, haha.....next bunch in, next bunch out. It doesn't really rattle my nails because who knows, I might be a Buddhist in my next life along with you.......see ya!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Yes, I could never explain when I was younger why I had a belief in reincarnation, just always have even long before I really read up on it...Yes, somewhere along the line perhaps we will really understand what goes on after we leave our physical form and where the heck we go..LOL
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I don't like to use the word 'reincarnation'. It has too many weird associations.
I think that life is probably a lot like the sea or a tree. Ebbing and flowing, coming and going. Waves crash to shore, recede back into the whole from whence they came, reform and again crash to shore. They're not the same precise waves, but they are the same sea. Green leaves burst forth from a bud, die off, and then new ones emerge. They're not the precise same leaves, but to all intents and purposes they are. And I think we all have access to the broader knowledge that life in it's eternal unfolding has accumulated.
Once I was out walking in Marin County (on the other end of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco). I was drawn to a shady drive (I thought it was a lane or a road) that wound it's way up to the College of Fine Arts. At the top it opened into a cobblestone courtyard, and the buildings themselves were constructed like an old castle.
I was entranced, I couldn't even feel my feet on the ground as I glided across the courtyard to the stone wall surrounding it to look out at the view. Just at that moment a rider on horseback came trotting out of the heavily wooded area on the far side of the little valley I was looking down on, and in a breath came the sensation of waking from a profoundly deep sleep and looking out on the green world in stunned and amazed awe thinking "It's all still here!!" Then I went back to sleep.
So I don't care what anybody might say to the contrary, I KNOW I have been here before. And it's not likely that I am the only one. I believe we have all been gracing this planet with our creative energy for a very long time.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Hi zig...yup I had a lot of plowing through here..LOL..some great comments here and I love how II2a Tee has peppered his input all over the place
Oh yes of course I know about Alexandria...couldn't you have strangled the idiots who burned that library--that was in Julius Caeser's time wasn't it?...think of all that knowledge that must have been in that library
This might sound dumb but one movie that really got to me and I felt myself slipping back into time was Cleopatra ...the original with Claudette Corbet..just loved that whole "thing" of it--uh no I'm not Cleopatra...hehe
Want to hear something really flaky? When I was a young kid I ALWAYS had to have gold colored sandals..as it reminded me of the ancient Egyptians--okay laugh if you want--but you brought up the idea of sandals here
As much as I love anything ancient Egyptian I don't know if I would ever want to go there though..I mean somehow the blending of the ancient and modern would seem weird to me...though a friend of mine did actually go there.. saw the Sphinx and all and said it was awesome (actually hate that word..just quoting her)
1 person likes this
@II2aTee (2559)
• United States
15 Jan 08
This gave me a chill. What a profound experience... you are very fortunate to have had it.
I am in agreement that we have all been here and done it... many times over.
Funny story... I was talking to a co-worker who is convinced she was Cleopatra in a past life. She was goin on and on about how she had this amazing connection, and an urge to move to Egypt and this that and the other.... and I just had to sit there and roll me eyes. I just wanted to tell her "You may have been Cleopatra in a past life, but your a Data Analyst in this one... so get over yourself." I didnt say it... but I should have.
I think that when people think of past lives, they have a tendancy to want to imagine a past life of glory and elegance... when in reality, we cant all be great historical figures.
One of my favorite authors, Silverwolf, tells how she used to have dreams about medival pagan cerimonies. In her dreams she saw a room with witches, alters, chanting, candles... everything that would hint at a life of magic.
"Cool" She thought. "I must have been a High Priestess!"
Later, she went to a past life regression therapist to get more detail to her dreams. It turns out she was indeed wittnessing pagan ceremonies... but not as a High Priestess. She was actually a serving maid peaking through the keyhold late at night.
I'm not sure what that story has to do with yours... other than it reminded me of that.
In any case, I am glad we are both here, in this life now... and it's my personal belief that we will one day be able to look at ALL of our past lives like a book... study it... and see what we might want to come back as, to help fill in the blanks of our spiritual studies.
2 people like this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Hey Pyewacket! I see you finally made it through those pages of comments and responses all the way to me! I wasn't expecting to hear from you this soon even!
I've had a few experiences like the one I described, although that one was the most intense. I had one about Egypt too, I think. I used to be a plantlady and I was on my way to some university offices for keys. I was walking across again a sort of courtyard with a fountain that had some stone like benches around it. Everything was really white and it was an intensely sunny day. I was wearing sandals and looking down at my feet as I walked, and as I got to the fountain with the benches - I was looking at my sandaled feet and the white stone structure was in my peripheral vision, and all of a sudden this feeling came over me that was like a memory ready to burst on me. It didn't. But the feeling was so strong... for some reason I associate it with Alexandria... the library in Alexandria (Egypt).
I used to be a lot more interested in past lives than I am now. The past is the past and I am not interested in dwelling on it, especially the past of someone like the Marquis de Sade!!!
1 person likes this
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
19 Jan 08
I describe myself as a mixed bag. While on one hand I'm a christian and believe the Bible is God's word -- that I'm saved by grace and accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, I don't deny the possibility of reincarnation.
I had a significant other who told me he remembered being an "entity" before he was born, and that he chose his parents. He was not one to be overly dramatic or tell outlandish stories. I believed him then and still believe in that possibility.
I read a book about a similar concept. I don't recall the name of the book or author, but it described life in the spirit world -- that we're sparks of light, continuing to learn and experience personal growth.
I don't think reincarnation is limited to those who obtain Buddhahood.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Jan 08
The book you mentioned...wasn't by any chance a book by Sylvia Browne was it? She has written a lot of books and many deal with the ideas of reincarnation, and she also hit on the idea that when we incarnate again we choose our parents and the circumstances we are born in to learn yet another lesson
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
20 Jan 08
The book was not by Sylvia Brown. It was a male author. I'm going to do a search here on the Internet and see if I can find something that rings a bell.
1 person likes this
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
20 Jan 08
Journey of Souls: A Case Study of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton rings a bell. In there he talks about younger souls, older souls, senior guides.
It was a fascinating read.
1 person likes this
