Sandhya explained her understanding of reincarnation in an interview.
“Having grown up in suburbia in the UK as part of a Hindu family, the concept of reincarnation, stories of children being able to recount past lives with an amazing degree of accuracy, and people doing readings or being possessed by entities or spirits is nothing new.
“I recall many occasions where I saw a so-called Aunty become possessed by a ‘deity’ who could give readings about people, perform ‘healings’ and predictions. On another occasion at a family wedding I witnessed my own Father, a very straight-laced, devout Hindu man, become taken over by someone who people recognised by many as a deceased relative. No one questioned it or thought it to be that unusual. My Father has no recollection of this but the video footage that was taken of the occurrence speaks for itself.
“I was raised under the auspices that I had to live a good life otherwise I would come back as something or someone unpleasant in my next life, or that my next life would be harsh and cruel. My understanding of reincarnation was that it was linked to Karma, meaning that your actions in this life would directly determine your next. The process of Rebirth allows you to offset that Karma or complete an unfinished task, fulfil a debt, or undergo sufferings to make amends.
“I was taught that we reincarnate because of the desire to be in a body but after many births we become dissatisfied, so seek higher forms until we realise that the true self is the immortal soul rather than the body. At this point all desires for the pleasure of the World are said to vanish and the person will not be born again, having attained a state of liberation where they would be set free from the wheel of rebirth.”
Reincarnation as the concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body depending on the moral quality of the previous life’s actions is a central tenet of the Indian religions, including Buddhism, and is a belief that was held by historic figures including Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates, and by pagan religions such as Druidism, Spiritism and Theosophy, and in many tribal societies around the world.
No line of research has conclusively demonstrated the existence of reincarnation – or disproved it.
Reincarnation research, a branch of parapsychology, has been lead by psychiatrist Dr Ian Stevenson from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He investigated many reports of young children who claimed to remember a past life in the finest detail, so much so that it could be linked to the actual life of the person they claimed to be. He conducted more than 2,500 case studies over a period of 40 years and published twelve books on the subject. Sceptics and the scientific community in general consider reincarnation research to be pseudo-scientific and felt that Stevenson’s work fell short of providing proof of reincarnation, nevertheless, they observed that Stevenson had produced a number of studies that were “hard to explain” conventionally.
Reincarnation is at the core of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama himself is claimed to be the reincarnation of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas and is revered the world over. Yet when others claim that they are reincarnated or can recall a past life or lives, they are ridiculed in our Western society or told reincarnation simply cannot be true despite the fact that many religions and cultures teach it. The following is an excerpt from the Dalai Lama’s statement on reincarnation:
“There are two ways in which someone can take rebirth after death: rebirth under the sway of karma and destructive emotions and rebirth through the power of compassion and prayer. Regarding the first, due to ignorance negative and positive karma are created and their imprints remain on the consciousness. These are reactivated through craving and grasping, propelling us into the next life. We then take rebirth involuntarily in higher or lower realms. This is the way ordinary beings circle incessantly through existence like the turning of a wheel. Even under such circumstances ordinary beings can engage diligently with a positive aspiration in virtuous practices in their day-to-day lives. They familiarise themselves with virtue that at the time of death can be reactivated providing the means for them to take rebirth in a higher realm of existence. On the other hand, superior Bodhisattvas, who have attained the path of seeing, are not reborn through the force of their karma and destructive emotions, but due to the power of their compassion for sentient beings and based on their prayers to benefit others. They are able to choose their place and time of birth as well as their future parents. Such a rebirth, which is solely for the benefit of others, is rebirth through the force of compassion and prayer.” (1)
So basically stated, what is being said in this excerpt is that we come back over and over until we reach a “higher realm” from where we are able to choose to come back for the benefit of others.
“This is essentially no different to what Serge Benhayon and the esoteric wisdom presents,” Sandhya shares with me.
“I know there are those who ridicule Serge for his references to reincarnation and the felt livingness of past lives, for example Leonardo Da Vinci, but how can we prove or disprove that? Is that he is able to remember and recount details of previous lives different to the children Dr Stevenson studied or the stories and events that I heard or witnessed growing up?”
In science there is no ‘proof’, only evidence for or against proposed theories. There is always enough evidence to satisfy those who are willing to believe and never enough evidence to sway one who is not willing to believe. Despite the popular misconception that science has all the answers, at this present time it is unable to answer the question of whether we reincarnate or not.
Ancient myth and fable, tribal memory, lingering belief among adherents of the great religions and some archaeological discoveries, all testify to ages when reincarnation was a commonly accepted law of life.
So is it possible that reincarnation may exist? Sandhya states:
“As reincarnation is so familiar to my upbringing it is not a leap of faith or a stretch of the imagination when someone like Serge Benhayon talks about these topics. However, what the Esoteric presents makes more sense than the version offered by Hinduism.
“Simply put, the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next. For many it is challenging and hard to accept, however, we are not being asked to accept that reincarnation is true but to be open to it as a possibility, and to consider that we come back over and over under the Law of Karma, which is not a punishment as I was taught as a child, but something that allows us to return to harmony and our natural state or soul.
“With this in mind, it makes sense for me to live in a way whereby I make choices that are responsible, more loving, caring and respectful to myself and to others. These choices include the way I am with myself and my body, my relationships with others, the foods that I eat, how I exercise, when I sleep or rest and all that I do in my daily routine so as to live in a way that ensures a more loving, caring way of being when I return my next life.”
And if reincarnation doesn’t exist?
“Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.”
By Rachel Hall
References:
(1) http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/753-statement-of-his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama-tenzin-gyatso-on-the-issue-of-his-reincarnation
Related Reading:
What is an Esoteric Understanding of Reincarnation?
Universal Medicine on Re-incarnation and Karma
Reincarnation
The Truth about Serge Benhayon 
I love how Sandhya presents how it comes down to a responsible way of living – the choices we make today will have their impacts tomorrow. There is a simplicity and a truth in this that cannot be denied.
There may not be any evidence or ‘proof’ accpeting reincarnation by conventional science but as Rachel has said, neither is there any evidence or proof against it.
Awesome interview Rachel and Sandhya! I love the realness and no-nonsense of the presentation, providing information for people to decide for themselves, without an imposition of trying to make a decision for someone!
This is a very interesting topic of conversation and it is very interesting that the world believes the Dalai Lama’s has reincarnated 13 times that the Chinese government take this so seriously they say they have under their protection the next Dalai Lama. And yet when Serge Benhayon talks of reincarnation and previous life’s he is ridiculed? This makes no sense to me at all and so I am left wondering what is at play behind the ridicule.
Reincarnation is matter of fact for many in Eastern philosophies, ‘Reincarnation is at the core of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama himself is claimed to be the reincarnation of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas and is revered the world over’.
Reincarnation makes perfect sense and why not would we accept Love as a foundation and live within Our-selves from our essences, would this not eliminate much adversity that is plaguing the world.
Conventions facilitate life. They do not necessarily make it true.
I have had many conversations with people over the years, here in Australia and from a variety of backgrounds. I have to say that a lot of people I have spoken to, have a belief in re-incarnation, no matter what there religious background is and their beliefs are very similar to what you have described Sandhya from your own background. I have had friends described aspects of their childhood and say “how would I have known that, or done that? I must have been here before” I have spoken to people who have clear memories of past lives and this they have no doubt at all. So just because I may not have any memory of a past life or the perspective of life that I hold does not include this in my frame of reference, why would that mean that someone else who does is wrong? What does it matter what someone else believes or feels is true and lives their life based on this? Clearly it does for some and we can’t have well educated, science based people have this notion. After all it may ask more of what we call education and science today.
Everything Serge Benhayon presents on is nothing new. What he presents has been presented many times over. However what seems to be taught mainstream is all of the same but with a key ingredient missing: our energetic responsibility.
I think we need to be careful of the “no proof” situation, once we believed the world was flat and we had no proof it was round, in fact every now known scientific fact begun with having “no proof”. To me it makes sense that reincarnation exists – otherwise what is the point of life? What are we building towards? And what are these habits we have that seem age old? Could this life not be an opportunity to break free from all these old habits and situations that have imprisoned us for possibly lifetimes?
Lots to ponder on here. I have always from a young age felt that I have been here before and have memories of other lives. I have been to places and recognised them though I had I had not been there before in this life and could tell you what was over the next hill and around a corner and when I investigated I would be correct. It just feels natural and normal and no big deal. I love living as best I can in a way that keeps things simple and clear. We get reflected back to us what we put out and if we are living a disregarding and complicated life then reincarnation is something we definitely will not want to contemplate as its main thing is asking us to be lovingly responsible.
People make it ‘cultural’. That what is okay in one ‘culture’ is not okay in another…. but that in itself is separatist and just a ‘belief’.
Well said Jenny – Isn’t it strange that a Hindu or Aboriginal is allowed to hold re-incarnation as a truth but when a white man says it is his truth then this is not OK?
‘The way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next. ‘ – this is super common sense, and taken up as a way to engage life, brings a beauty to all interactions, relationships and our own evolvement.
When we experience a feeling that we have known someone before, yet it is the first time we have met, or certain places feel familiar for no reason, is it possible that it is because we have known them in a previous life, it’s the only explication I feel to be true.
Its interesting that this science can be so accepted in some cultures and religions and not in others and even thought that it can’t be true because we can’t prove it scientifically.
Maybe that scientist who interviewed all those children was on the right track. I have certainly been to places and met people that are so familiar, but I know that I have not previously been there or met them before. How is that explained?
Perhaps there is much more to reincarnation that reveals to us about our choices, that we simply don’t want to see and acknowledge, so we would rather disbelieve than think about the possibilities.
What a fantastic summary of reincarnation! It is seemingly ridiculous that something that is so common in some cultures is treated with disdain if not aggression in the West.
It comes back to that simplicity to live a life that honours the body and who we are, and to know each moment counts.
What is that it has to be proved is always chosen by some. After the decision is made, the burden of proof is only on your side. The other hypothesis is not even considered a hypothesis but as the true, which may not be.
Reincarnation just makes sense and purpose to life. Could it that people reject the concept because they do not wish to accept the responsibility for the consequences of their actions?
I agree jstewart51, it does make so much sense. When looked at, not from the perspective of punishment but that of love, it bring so much understanding to ourselves, our choices and that of others. But it also gives us a pathway to release and heal those harmful patterns.
Reincarnation is not about returning to be on earth forever, but about evolving and ascending to our rightful place.
By pretending we don’t know about reincarnation and that ‘the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next’, we stay stuck in the same pattern over and over again. Whereas if we truly live the extraction phase of life and accept it as the preparation for the next life than can be more glorious than this we take our responsibility and evolve.
Gosh, God’s love for us is endless and you clearly write: ‘the Law of Karma, which is not a punishment as I was taught as a child, but something that allows us to return to harmony and our natural state or soul.’
I’ve always found it odd that Serge Benhayon has been ridiculed and attacked for what he shares on reincarnation – he’s certainly not the first or only one to present on reincarnation, it’s widely accepted in many parts of the world and no one else as far as I know has been ridiculed in the same way for presenting on this topic.
I absolutely agree with you, Nikki. In so many religions and other parts of the world reincarnation is normal and is considered part of daily life. Yet when Serge Benhayon brings it up in all it’s true details with how much love we get by the opportunity to come back again and again this science of the universe is being denied and ridiculed.
What we may not like about what Serge shares on reincarnation is the level of responsibility that you realise is unavoidable.
I cannot but wonder why western society is so resistant the science of reincarnation when it is so logical and makes so much sense.
Perhaps the resistance to re-incarnation has to do with the responsibility that comes with it?
I grew up in a tradition that accepted reincarnation and ‘karma’ was not an unfamiliar term but my understanding of it didn’t stretch much beyond living with a fear of possible punishment that awaits at the end of life and a feeling that I had already failed and there was nothing I could do to make amends – hence the recklessness and waywardness I continued to live. I so love what you/Sandhya say at the end. Even if there’s no reincarnation, why choose to live less? Living in a way that is worth coming back to – even just for the very next day’s sake makes so much sense.
Reincarnation makes sense and gives purpose to life, life after life and ongoing until we get out of here. For millions of people worldwide reincarnation and karma are second nature and not ever questioned but when Serge Benhayon presents on the topic, those who cannot leave him alone find it opportune to ridicule and abuse what is energetically untouchable, unalterable and cannot in truth be tainted.
Yes, when I trained to become an acupuncture practitioner, back over 30 years ago, reincarnation was like a given, very much matter of fact.
Brilliant sharing Rachel and Sandhya! This blog really lays it all out and shows the ridiculousness of ridiculing reincarnation. For as you state . . . ” And if reincarnation doesn’t exist? “Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.” ” . . . what’s there to lose?
Reincarnation and the cycle of lives just make sense of why we are here and the true purpose of living in a human body to learn to return to the Divine love we come from.
This is really beautiful to read, thank you for writing down this wisdom that is unmistakenly coming from a place that is sharing the truth of our existence that we all in essence know, but won’t recognise, as it asks our responsibility to be lived day in day out.
Loved the quote from the Dalai Lama. Fascinating to read, and empowering.
absolutely fascinating blog – thank you.
It’s fascinating. I was also brought up in a culture that was open to reincarnation. Just like the Hindu, I was told that if you do bad, you would come back as something/someone and your life would be horrible – and a lot of times I actually felt like I was having to live the consequences of my previous life, being punished! It never occurred to me that how I then live now would make difference to how it would be the next time, I just wanted this punishment that I am experiencing as my current life to end and never to come back again. It was through Universal Medicine I started to understand the enormous love that reincarnation offers and how that makes sense of everything.
Yes, Serge Benhayon presents karma with the perspective that is loving instead of a punishment and in doing so it becomes far more supportive and something one wishes to embrace, inspirational even.
Thank you for this sharing on reincarnation, ‘the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.’ Absolutely agree.
I love that whether we believe in reincarnation or not its going to happen anyway! For me it’s not a matter of believing it or not. I know it is true for I feel it to be so. I don’t need any so-called ‘proof’.
Thanks Sandhya and Rachel, this makes loads of sense to me, “Simply put, the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.” I’ve also had a very clear knowing of one of my previous lives, and it was just so normal at the time I remembered. We can put so many things in the way of us remembering and knowing so much about life from an energetic level.
It is beautiful to consider we can evolve to the degree we can actually choose to come back to support our fellow man towards their own eventual return.
“There is always enough evidence to satisfy those who are willing to believe and never enough evidence to sway one who is not willing to believe.” This is interesting. I understand reincarnation to be true and fact because of listening to the presentations of Serge Benhayon and feeling and knowing it to be true in my body. That is the difference and what science should study – ‘the knowings in the body’ where truth resides.
The word reincarnation is laced or loaded like the word religion. It has a widely common meaning already defined by religion or religions. It’s interesting to note how different religions have defined what the meaning of not only reincarnation is but what many words are.. This is deeply ingrained in the subconscious of people’s reality – to me that explains the many lives that people have lived and now not aware where their certain beliefs come from even though they say they do.
The body holds the truth of not only reincarnation but all that is true. Unfortunately what is in people’s bodies is a whole lot of untruths as well. Through this mix-up in your body what supported me is feeling from another what is their lived truth in their body – this is why Serge Benhayon makes sense a whole lot of sense. I have not one cell that questions reincarnation in my body or what this man presents. Why? His presentations is a one-unified truth for all that he lives in equalness to all.
I love the simplicity of what is shared here and how reincarnation is simply part of life in the Hindu faith. There seems to me a very clear truth here that we all know, because we have all experienced it, but want to deny it through not wanting to be equal to others. Humanity tends to use the differing views on reincarnation as one of many ways to divide us, yet it is one thing that in truth brings us all together.
Thank you Sandhya and Rachel for sharing your understandings on reincarnation. It’s very different from how I grew up, yet I’ve always known that I’ve been here before and that I will be here again. I love the simplicity of what you share ‘the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.’ – it becomes very simple live knowing everything you do affects the next thing and in fact then it’s not about reincarnation at all but about taking responsibility for each and every step we take, and knowing that in that we contribute to bringing harmony and grace to ourselves and all around us. And in fact I do know that reincarnation is a gift which says we keep getting the chance to express more the love we are, until such a point where we come back to show others the same, then it’s no longer about addressing our own karma but about being here for all to see that we are love. And to keep it simple everything we do has an impact so how do we want our next moment to be? Have i added to harmony or not? And in each moment we choose again, for me this is the ultimate form of love to know I am offered this ever and always, that we all are, no matter where we’ve been.
I really enjoyed reading this. Sandhya’s recount of her family life and physically seeing her family members “taken over” is refreshing and honest. For I too have witnessed this. I know reincarnation to be a reality and the simplicity with which it is shared here is appreciated.
I don’t believe in reincarnation I know it to be true. In addition to my deep knowing, there are many things I am aware of and remember that can only possibly be explained by reincarnation. Reincarnation is about love and responsibility and makes complete sense.
In a deeply felt knowing and understanding of reincarnation, there is no ‘glamour’ or falsity – no wish to rest upon ‘glorious’, famous or even infamous lives led. But rather, the appreciation of what that man or woman lived, reflected to all, and the attendant lessons for us today.
In a true appreciation of reincarnation, we may indeed ‘look back’ – but not to dwell there whatsoever, for in all that we may learn (or indeed recall), are the keys for living the greatness of who we are today… for unfolding on our path to being the ‘bodhisattva’ as the Buddhists refer to, or the Ascended Master as the Ageless & Esoteric Wisdom refers, who no longer lives for self-gain, but truly for all.
Sandhya, your presentation of reincarnation here, and the purpose it serves for us all, is something that feels true to the bone for me also. I have never questioned it…
And how simple it can be to view our lives in such a context: “…the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.”
Could there be any greater call to responsibility in life for all that we think, do and express, and its impact not only upon ourselves, but all others?
I find it interesting that in today’s age the eastern philosophies are still focused on healing whereas the western world has become more focused on cure.
It is interesting that more people in this world believe in reincarnation than not but still life on this planet is dominated by the non-believe and irresponsibility of just one life.
This was a truly fascinating read highlighting the normality of reincarnation to many and the true beauty that lies at its heart. However as you profoundly exposed although there is always enough evidence to satisfy those who are willing to believe… there is and will never be enough evidence to sway those who are unwilling.
I’m reincarnating reading this article once again and I still love the topic, and as we live we will know.
I love reincarnation as it makes my life so full of purpose. It is a joy for me to open my eyes in the morning and to know what to do: ” . . . to live in a way whereby I make choices that are responsible, more loving, caring and respectful to myself and to others.”
Reincarnation is the ultimate responsibility. Often we are happy to accept that another will suffer karma because of their own actions, yet we conveniently ignore that a when it comes to ourselves. For me, the world makes sense with reincarnation. It is fair. We are held accountable for everything.
What a great blog, thank you Rachel and Sandhya. Being born a Hindu I can completely relate to what Sandhya has shared. Reincarnation is very normal and shared from young, Spirits, deities and readings is very normal in the Hindu culture. If anyone wants to witness it for themselves the great time is during the 9 days festival of Navaratri celebrated around the world every year.
What is lovely about reincarnation is that it gives us the ultimate responsibility for how we live our lives and the energetic imprint we leave on the planet and on humanity itself. There is no ‘punishment’ in reincarnation but there is absolute responsibility.
There are those it seems who ridicule and sensationalise claims that we reincarnate. As presented here there is no scientific proof either way and there are in fact large proportions of humanity who do believe it is a truth. I feel that those who ridicule and sensationalise do so with their own agenda in place – to sell books or newspapers, to conform with ‘popular’ thinking, to be accepted and the like. They have simply bought into a way of thinking without any proper consideration or research. Just as we now know that the Earth is round and revolves around the sun, we will also come to know that reincarnation is a fact and it is just another of those circular movements that is our way of living at this time.
Growing up in a Christian family and attending a Christian church meant that reincarnation was not on any agenda during my childhood. However, despite what I was taught to believe, I have a deep inner knowing that reincarnation is true and have never doubted it. Serge Benhayon makes true sense of this subject – just as he does of everything.
What a great blog on reincarnation. I do not need scientific proof that reincarnation exists because I know the truth of it in my own body. Sooner or later scientific research will catch up with what we already innately know.
Nice comments Elizabeth. You should elaborate it.
Reincarnation just makes sense. Growing up I always struggled with the idea that we only had one life on earth as it felt so unfair that some were born ‘lucky’ and others suffered deprivation and illness. When I heard Serge Benhayon present on reincarnation I knew I was hearing the truth. I don’t need scientific proof, I just know it to be true and a truth I had always known.
““Simply put, the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next. For many it is challenging and hard to accept, however, we are not being asked to accept that reincarnation is true but to be open to it as a possibility, and to consider that we come back over and over under the Law of Karma, which is not a punishment as I was taught as a child, but something that allows us to return to harmony and our natural state or soul.” Simply and beautifully expressed. Thankyou.
Many of us are willing to be responsible and create a better future for our children… what if, we will be those children of tomorrow and it will be us that will come back to whatever we have created for ourselves and others?
Yes, the beautiful difference to what I have been told by several religions is that there is no idea of punishment or judgement behind Karma. Karma is simply there to restore harmony, this is done by taking responsibility which is only possible out of free will.
It is interesting that no one batters an eyelid when the Dalai Lama talks about reincarnation, but when Serge Benhayon mentions it, the media jump up and down and think that he is crazy. That just doesn’t make sense. Reincarnation makes absolute sense to me, I know that the quality of how I choose to live in this moment, in this lifetime is going to affect my next moment, my next lifetime. Therefore, I take responsibility of how I am today and tomorrow. Reincarnation calls us to be accountable for our actions, our thoughts how we are with ourselves and with each other.
Coming from a scottish background, reincarnation was never something that was discussed as I was growing up, thus there was no pros or cons if reincarnation was true or false, so I had a clean slate if you life to form my own opinion. As a child and as an adult, I have always had a deep knowing that reincarnation did exist, was in fact true, because to me it just did not make sense in the slightest that we live one life and that is it……that felt very restricting and limiting, and the total opposite of expansion, growth, evolution, love and our soul – our soul which houses our bodies and houses all the lives, imprints and experiences we have ever lived.
I love the way this is interwoven with different belief systems and although some may differ to the why and the how it is clear that there is much to discuss on reincarnation and the effect of how we live our life today plays out tomorrow and into the next life.
Beautifully and openly expressed. Thank you both.
And if reincarnation doesn’t exist?
“Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.”
This is what I love, not everybody has to believe in reincarnation, even if Karma did not exist, should we really need it to look after each other as a human race? Really? 👥
There is so much anecdotal information that supports the fact that something is going on. There are thousands of stories so how can it be ignored. I like what you said that we have accepted that the Dalai Lama is reincarnated, but question it in the wider population.
Such powerful blog. And so important what is being shared: However, what the Esoteric presents makes more sense than the version offered by Hinduism. I have deeply felt what esoteric means to me and the universal laws that comes with that. From my livingness and experience I know that reincarnation exists and that I have been living on earth many many lives.
The question that popped up was: Would our inner-heart not be knowing more than our mind ? In fact, if you feel in your heart that reincarnation is true for you, then always stick to it and live in that way you feel that serves all equal. If this means making more loving choices that are supporting you and others around you that is great ! We should take responsibility for that and not detract away from it.
It has already been proven that the world is a sphere and not the flat surface it was once thought to be. Is it therefore not such a huge step to consider that the way we move is also spherical? That is, we move in cycles just as we can observe nature also moves in cycles, through the hours of the day from dark to light, through the seasons of the year from cold to warm and hence through the wheel of life, from birth to death. When the moon rises in the dead of the night, the sun does not forget to loop back around and shine again. When winter is upon us, it does not mean summer will never return. So it is for us. Death does not signal the end of the great cycle of life that we are a part of, for if this were so, we would have long fallen off the edge of the world. You can’t walk a straight line on a sphere without returning back to where you started. As above, so below.
I love what you have shared here Liane Mandalis……wise woman and wise words which I feel deeply in my body… just simply asking us to consider that how we move is spherical in the same way nature also moves in cycles. I feel the truth and joy in such simplicity….
So beautifully said Liane and oozing with common sense. I particularly relate to these words;”Death does not signal the end of the great cycle of life that we are a part of”, as I can remember knowing this as a child before I allowed the beliefs of those around me to destroy the trust I had in me. To now return to that knowing and re-claiming it in full has been the most extraordinary and very welcome journey.
To me, reincarnation is a given. I grew up going to Anglican churches where reincarnation was never mentioned, but somehow, I knew, having never been taught, that we are more than just this life. I can’t prove it either, but like I know in my body the world is round, I know in my body I have been here before. That knowing is proof to me. I like your last sentence Sandhya, “…And if reincarnation doesn’t exist?
“Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.”
I will be able to close my eyes on my last breath and know for sure. Again.
The knowing in the body is all the proof that is needed, I totally agree. Without that solid foundation and connection we are at the mercy of the opinion of the day, the minute, the second and there is no consistency and solidness at all.
Thank you for sharing, the way I am throughout any day does always affect my next as is shared here, I there by feel that life is nothing more than a longer cycle, which a day is as well, which will affect the way my next life will be, which is taught by Universal Medicine.
‘With this in mind, it makes sense for me to live in a way whereby I make choices that are responsible, more loving, caring and respectful to myself and to others.’ Whether one believes in reincarnation or not, the choices you are making Sandyha are ones that would bring about great change in the world if every human being chose to live like this? I for one choose to also live this way and be a part of true change in the world.
Thankyou for sharing this interview Rachel. What Sandhya and universal medicine have presented about reincarnation makes sense.. “The way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next. ” great way of putting it. Simple and easy.
I’ve always looked at it that way too…even if we don’t come back, why would you not choose to live a loving, compassionate life?
I love how your article debunks the fearful misinterpretations of what karma is about and brings out the simple truth of cause and effect: which actually is scientific…..
Faced with the choice of this, or the choice of you have just one life to get it all right and then it’s heaven or hell for you….I know which one I choose!
When I was a teenager I wondered why only a minority of us were rich and famous, what was the purpose of life for the rest of us. What was the purpose for being here. When I started attending unimed events I was open to reincarnation but I couldnt confirm it in my body. Now since connecting to my body more and being more aware and feeling the energy in my body, I am able to accept that there is a possibility that we do reincarnate, and since my Grandmother’s passing I know through feeling that reincarnation is apart of life.
Rachel and Sandhya, I love what you present here, that either way whether you believe in reincarnation or not, to live in a way that is honouring of you and your body and take full responsibility for how we are at all times is really a way for us all. I find it fascinating how science dismisses reincarnation but yet can’t prove it doesn’t exist either – it’s like we’re all holding onto not fully feeling the greater truth we all come from and how we’re so much more and we need to live and be in a way that honours and supports that.
This is wonderful. Thank you, Rachel and Sandhya. How powerful is it when reincarnation is presented in a way that is relative to and inspires us to enrich the quality of our everyday living. I too was brought up in the culture and tradition where reincarnation was a largely accepted concept. People like to know who they were in their past lives, and they talk about karma having an impact on their next life, and there’s a general feeling of ‘It’s a fate, there’s nothing I can do but accept’.
The Law of Karma and Reincarnation, as presented by Universal Medicine, “is not a punishment as I was taught as a child, but something that allows us to return to harmony and our natural state or soul” and gives a real purpose and understanding for life. And, as stated, if it does not exist, “Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.” So it is only a win-win situation.
I love what you and Sandya have shared in this blog Rachel. It is undeniable that our lives are surrounded by the truth and absolute beauty of natural laws and cycles such as the moon cycle, the menstrual cycle, day to night, season to season and year to year. When you consider life in this way and that cycles are so foundational to our lives, you may consider further that “the true self is the immortal soul rather than the body” and thus our actual lives could also follow on cyclically from each other one after another.
However, it is understandable that many may resist the concept of true karma and reincarnation simply because of the level of responsibility it brings to how we live our everyday. If all that we do, say, feel and think has a ripple effect on others and these ripple effects accumulate, accepting that you need to come back and deal with the short and long term ramifications of what you have created from the ripple effects of your past actions may not be a reality that many want to do and face. Thus, when we consider the concept of reincarnation in this way it is no wonder why the belief ‘we only live once and then it is all over’ would be considered far easier and a better option.
Awesome blog, thank you for sharing on reincarnation Rachel and Sandhya. I am always astonished how the supposed intelligent human being is negating reincarnation which is for me the most logical cycle of human life. I always have the feeling that people have to ridicule the fact just to avoid responsibility and keep on living in this false comfort and indulgence which is nothing more than sticking their heads into the sand.
Rachel, I fully agree with you, that if there is no re-incarnation “Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.” feels right to me.
I agree sjmatsonuk: the logic is impeccable.
By the end of this blog you brought my focus back to today Rachel, and how in a way every moment is a death and re-birth, continuously flowing from our choices. When you see it this way, it just makes simple common sense that our physical death would follow on the same way.
Thanks Sandhya and Rachel for presenting this informative blog on reincarnation. Growing up in a mainstream religion I didn’t think to question what I had been taught ie we either go to heaven, hell or purgatory, depending on how we lived our lives. When I started working with children I found several children who would recall vast amounts of knowledge about places and past family members that family couldn’t account for them knowing other than the fact that the child had re-incarnated. This was a real eye-opener for me. Once I was introduced to Universal Medicine and heard what Serge Benhayon had to say on the topic, it was an easy shift to fully accept that reincarnation does exist. Knowing this makes a difference to undertaking my life with greater responsibility and awareness for the benefit of not just myself but humanity.
This is a great article Sandhya and Rachel, since I ‘ve met Serge Benhayon my understanding of reincarnation has changed dramatically and now I see the amazing opportunity I have to live my life being responsible of my choices and actions as this will guarantee the quality of my next life whether I like or not.
This is brilliant Rachel. “Simply put, the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.” Life is all about quality, so it makes perfect sense to continue to love and support ourselves everyday with gentleness and care.
Great article, Sandhya and Rachel. I find it harder to believe the idea that we are born, have one life and die and that that is the end – it seems purposeless and such a waste of time and energy. A wise man once shared that you can choose to believe or not believe in re-incarnation, but you can’t escape the cycle of rebirth.
Life has never made sense to me if reincarnation does not exist and so I totally agree that: ‘With this in mind, it makes sense for me to live in a way whereby I make choices that are responsible, more loving, caring and respectful to myself and to others.’ Thank you for sharing your understanding Sandhya.
Reincarnation is non-material realities. How can available scientific tools confirm it?
Nothing can confirm it except what we know in our inner heart. And I know in my heart that reincarnation just makes total sense. If it were not true then what is Heaven all about, and just where do all these souls go when they ‘die’ if they don’t return to earth again and again until they ascend to a higher plane of life and get off the wheel of rebirth. Then when they have reached a certain point of evolution there is no need to return to the human physical form on earth again. This is my understanding.
I have always known inside that my current life is not the first and will not be my last one, although I am not raised with the idea of reincarnation. So, I do not believe in reincarnation – I know it to be true – and since I have met Serge Benhayon all has fallen into place and this natural feeling of having more than one life is confirmed. And with this comes the responsibility I have to live my life in a honouring way to what I feel, and to treat everyone in this same loving way.
Nice views.
Belief is only required when we separate from what we know.
This is beautifully stated Liane. As a child I always felt that just one life / incarnation throughout all of time just never made any sense. Why would God send you here just once? It never made any sense and we were called upon in religion to believe, rather than just know.
Great to read of a different understanding of Karma: “…Karma, which is not a punishment as I was taught as a child, but something that allows us to return to harmony and our natural state or soul.” The possibility that Karma is there to support us to reach our natural state of harmony, rather than a punishment, is a revelation. It reminds us how often established religions can use threats and punishment to control their ‘followers’, which allows for an environment of ‘following’, ‘duty’ and ‘fear’, rather than true joyful responsibility. Responsibility is empowering, as is considering that life has more to it than what we see with our eyes.
“The possibility that Karma is there to support us to reach our natural state of harmony, rather than a punishment, is a revelation.’ I really like what you have said here Samantha. It reminds me of how when growing up in Catholicism that we were taught that every ill deed needed to be punished, rather than an opportunity to expose our separation and seeing it as an opportunity to come back to ourselves.
I have often thought that we must be part of a bigger plan, that there is more than just this one life that often lacks any real purpose, so reincarnation makes perfect sense to me. To acknowledge that it exists means taking responsibility for how we live in this life, as that influences how we return in our next life.
What one side of the world may deem as nonsense (Of which I don’t doubt that the governing religious teachings in the western world have influenced), the other side of the world has accepted in some ways or variations. My relationship with religions has been mixed in the sense that some parts make sense but for the majority of what is told, it doesn’t make sense at all, or is not really relatable or relative to my life. What has been presented from the Ageless Wisdom through Serge Benhayon has never not felt me feeling a sense of making sense, never has it not been relatable or relative. And even if like your blog here says Rachel about reincarnation, not being true, I have experienced that if I live a day of stress, my next day I wake up exhausted and still stressed, if I have a day where I have cared for myself then that too follows me into the next day. This to me proves that choices can affect future choices and should this be true in regards to a following life then I appreciate knowing this and other ways to understand life now to build on throughout this one.
A very interesting read thank you Rachel. Having always believed in reincarnation this just cements the fact that by living a loving and responsible life now, will greatly benefit us now and for our future life.
Truths are previous to science run evidence. So, the fact that truths cannot be validated by current science does not mean that something that cannot be proved is not true. Truths will remain so independently of what science has to say about it. Science is not a gatekeeper of truth because truth may not have a place in what today we understand as the world of science.
I absolutely loved this. It is equally fascinating as it is extraordinary and so beautifully written. For me reincarnation makes complete sense so I couldn’t agree with you more in taking responsibility for your choices and being more loving and caring with yourself and others in consideration of what we will return to… and of course if reincarnation doesn’t exist – well I too have lived a life that is true and honouring of my body and who I am. It’s an obvious win win.
Sam this is great “taking responsibility for your choices and being more loving and caring with yourself and others in consideration of what we will return to…” what I felt when I read this, it is not only about what we will return to next life, but in each moment in this life. For example if we make a loving choice the next moment will be loving and visa versa if we choose something that is not love.
Thanks Rachel and Sandya for a very informative and interesting blog , with approx 60 % of the world s people believing in reincarnation it has always made more sense in the big picture of life for me. A life of learning , evolving , totally interconnected to the choices we make and how we live with ourselves and others.
Reincarnation has been around for ages. What makes it not mainstream nowadays?
Thank you Rachel and Sandhya, I liked the way in which you presented the possibility of reincarnation, it felt un-bias and simply expressed your experience and thoughts about this important subject.
For me personally it doesn’t make sense for re-incarnation not to exist, not because of any beliefs I have about it. More that the concept there being reincarnation make more sense to the bigger picture of life, than the idea that we just are born then we die and that’s it.
We need more conversations on the topic of reincarnation. Thank you Rachel for your blog. There is much to consider and it makes sense to me.
Reincarnation is as you say Rachel, not something that the West entertains or considers. This position does not take any responsibility for well being in life, rather it allows everyone off the hook of honouring themselves and living harmoniously.
I love reading about reincarnation – it sort of liberates my feeling or conception of who I actually am. If I would have to accept that who I am is just the result of my 40 years on earth then it doesn’t make sense. I feel to be so much more than that and to me it’s not just about believing it or not but accepting it and make something of it.
I find it very interesting that Christianity also believes in life after death, just you don’t get a second chance. I prefer getting a second chance.
I’ve always known that I have lived before. As a young child I would spend hours looking through Dad’s atlas, totally fascinated by all the different places and very naturally feeling a connection with certain cities, rivers, mountains, countries, oceans…like I was delving into the past, really sensing that I had been there before.
‘The way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next’ – this sentence typifies the very straightforward logic of responsibility that karma encourages in us all. Reincarnation is simply an extension of a very obvious natural law.
Discussion on reincarnation has been around for life times, the only reason why people reject it, is because they don’t want to take responsibility. The work of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine haven’t said anything new that’s never before been said about reincarnation, they just also talk about integrity and responsibility, right until the very end!
A very interesting sharing, thank you Rachel and Sandhya
Thank you Rachel for your blog – I found it to be very interesting.
People still want to look to science for all the answers and eventually it may answer them but at present we have a huge amount of problems, fighting, poverty, disease etc…. which currently have science stumped…
BUT IF reincarnation is the loving law of re-balance which offers us as many chances as we need ‘…to return to harmony and our natural state or soul.’ …well, this puts it all in perspective for me, why we have so much turmoil untouchable by external efforts such as charity, money or medicine….to me it looks like we need to get personal, look inward, learn to live in a way which is more harmonious, more gentle and more loving.
I cannot deny the natural ’cause and effect’ aspect of reincarnation; it is common sense to me and I see that it is possibly present in every area of life. One moment effects the next, “in the belly of every war is another war”, if I am loving with myself and those around me one day, my next day has more of these qualities in it too…..
The Responsibility implied here is a hard pill to swallow, for me… but the more I test it out the more rewarding and incredibly loving I find this law of re-balance to actually be.
if I am loving with myself and those around me one day, my next day has more of these qualities in it too….. will take this into my day Jo!
I love this topic, growing up in suburban Sydney with no religion beyond weddings and funerals. I have personally always known I have been here before and will be back again. At about 12 I had a discussion with a relative (a non practicing atheist) he found my position odd, I found his position odd – in the end I said to him (in a light hearted way) “When you die, at your funeral, I’m going to say “I told you so” and if you can hear me – I’m right, if you can’t it doesn’t really matter anyway” – so we agreed to disagree – I don’t need anyone else to “get” my position – it’s mine, I also don’t need science to validate it – for me it just is – not from my mind but from deep inside my being it just is.
Yes, and reincarnation, if understood correctly, leads to a more responsible approach to life: for it means that old age is not a time to ‘give up’, nor to live recklessly thinking that there will be no consequences; for there is no beginning nor end, as our human life cycles appear to indicate.
Your article makes so much sense and was very interesting to read. As a child I was brought up as a Catholic and was very much a believer in that “you only live once”. But it didn’t make sense that a child may be born and die after a few months and someone else may live to their eighties. To live such a small amount of time on an earth which has taken billions of years to evolve also didn’t add up. Then I began to ponder on the possibility of reincarnation when one and one began to make two. Suddenly the world and our place in it began to make sense to me. I can feel my patterns, choices and momentums are older than this life.
Thank you for your article Rachel. Reincarnation is such a large subject. For a long time I had some understanding of reincarnation; that I would come back was true for me. When I listened to Serge Benhayon present on this subject what he said made sense and pieced it together for me. Taking responsibility for my choices in how I live has already made a huge difference to my health and my life and this I will now carry through to my next.
I love this paragraph too, ““With this in mind, it makes sense for me to live in a way whereby I make choices that are responsible, more loving, caring and respectful to myself and to others. These choices include the way I am with myself and my body, my relationships with others, the foods that I eat, how I exercise, when I sleep or rest and all that I do in my daily routine so as to live in a way that ensures a more loving, caring way of being when I return my next life.” – but it’s not just the next life, but this life too, I can only say and confirm through my own choices, unfolding and learning, and meeting others who choose to live this way too, that this feels and is an amazing and joyful way to live.
I love this line ” Simply put, the way I am today affects how I am tomorrow and thus the way I live this life affects what will be my next.” so very true and so very simple. How often we look outside ourselves for everything to be ‘fixed’ but the truth is, it is how we are with ourselves in every moment that will lead to the next, how amazing and lovely does that feel, in the sense that it is we that can love and bring love and joy into every moment of our lives, from what may seem the most mundane thing ( even though it’s not when you live this way) to the huge.
A great article, thank you. I have a feeling that looking after myself (in terms of my well being and health now) is relevant to whether I come back again or not. I feel so much better than I did 10 years ago through the inspiration of Serge Benhayon, this is making real improvements in my life, in this moment. If I come back again then I will possibly be more prepared, but either way I will have committed to getting to know myself and others and that makes this life wonderful.
Reincarnation is often ridiculed and besmirched by the idea we might come back as a slug or a fish etc. When I see a new born baby I often look at its face and feel I see the past lives lived in its expression. Many a time I have seen an ‘old-man frown’ on a baby, and I ask myself why that might be there? I also wonder at the lived behaviour of children and wonder where they learned certain behaviours? Really there are lots of unanswered questions about our ways that an intelligent society should remain open to. Your last point resonates Rachel, to live responsibly is of no harm and allows for the possibility of reincarnation.
Thank you Rachel and Sandhya for sharing this as I grew up in a Hindu family but chose to not follow much of it, as it really made no sense to me. The re-incarnation bit always interested me but I never quite understood it until I met Serge Benhayon.
As you say Rachel, science does not have all the answers and it would be a great subject if it was studied as it brings the responsibility in, of how we live everyday and in every choice back to us – in other words the ultimate responsibility. I wonder if the world is actually ready to hear that? – Every choice we make affects our next life.
Like Sandhya says even if there is no such thing as re-incarnation at least you know you made choices to honour yourself and your body.
Thank you Rachel and Sandhya. Reincarnation is a huge and fascinating subject.
Thank you Rachel and Sandhya for sharing. Reincarnation is a topic so many shy away from and do not talk about, or dismiss completely. For me reincarnation makes total sense as I know that there are many habits I have had which feel older than from this life. It also makes sense why children can be born into the same family yet display completely different tendencies. To fully accept it does mean to take a greater responsibility with life and how we are living. And I love how you said if it doesnt exist: “Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.”
There has also been many times I have observed, heard or talked with young children who have spoken with such wisdom, clarity and knowledge that I know I am talking with an adult. Even many parents have expressed how they have moments where they are amazed at some of the things their child says or does. So often I hear the words “they’ve definitely been here before”, “they are like an adult” “how do they know that, how do they know how to do that” and so much more..
I have absolutely no doubt that reincarnation is true, and have always felt this isn’t just it.
Haresh, I love what you have shared from Serge Benhayon here “Every plant, insect, animal or human you have karma with in the past will come to you and if you meet them with love, it’ll set you free.” I know this to be absolutely true, yes it’s easy for the mind to come in and try and doubt or make logical reasons of things we cannot quantify or maybe do not want to feel, as that would then change the whole way we live. It is easy to not take full responsibility or accountability for how we live, to give our power away and hope we will be saved or think this is just it. To live in absolute disregard and abuse because we only have one life, so we’ve got to do it all with absolutely no love or respect.
But when I stop, consider and simply connect, I know I have been here many times before, this is not just it. People talk about deja vu, that feeling where we’ve been here before, had a conversation, or met a person – what if deja vu was simply a realisation and an actual memory that we have met, we have been here before and we have had this conversation. Perhaps this experience many times before?
Many have expressed why is it that Serge is the one to be ridiculed for sharing what many for aeons have so rightly expressed? Throughout our lifetimes people have shared experiences of being here before, with such absolute clarity and detail that there is no way it can be denied.
When I stop and consider things, there has been always been a part of me that knows reincarnation is true. From childhood, I could not accept there was such a place as hell that a vengeful God sent sinners to. God who was love wouldn’t do that. I also couldn’t accept that confession, especially a deathbed confession, gave you a ‘get home free’ card and you spent eternity with God in Heaven. Deep down I knew we couldn’t get out of being responsible for our own actions so easily.
Reincarnation as explained by Serge Benhayon makes absolute sense to me. I am the captain of my ship. I chart the course I follow and reap the consequences of those choices. I am responsible for it all. No wonder so many people won’t even consider the possibility of reincarnation, if it means facing up to and accounting for all of one’s actions.
Hello Sandhya, I just remembered your blog after reading the following which was posted by Rabbi Shishler:
“Kabbalah teaches that we are all reincarnated souls and that many of our life experiences are a result of previous lives that we have lived. However, Kabbalah also teaches that it is extremely unlikely for a person to be aware of anything from a previous life. Only the great masters were able to connect with past lives – their own and those of other people.”
It seems that many religions, a large part of humanity and lots of great historical figures such as Pythagoras and Plato believe in past lives. Strange that Serge Benhayon should be ridiculed by the press for talking about past lives.
It is true Judith no matter what religious beliefs or ideals we are presented with as children, we all innately feel the essences of past lives, not until we start to feel the pressures of others, do we choose not to express our knowing out of fear of not been excepted. Thank you for sharing so openly. Elizabeth Douglas, Canada
Thank you so much for this article. I have always trusted my feeling that there is reincarnation, it has alway felt very deep and true. My 3 year old is always chatting about her other lives. The other day in one of her little self chats, I picked up her saying, “… And she died then came back, died then came back, died, then came back … ” and so on. I gently asked her about it and she looked at me and said, ” you know Mummy, we just come back.” I asked the family if anyone had been talking about reincarnation to her and no one had. When quizzed by her Dad who doesn’t believe in reincarnation, that we don’t come back, she replied, ” yes, we come back, come back then we stop coming back.” simple!
The purity of untouched awareness; we can learn so much from our children. Thanks for sharing Gina.
This is beautiful, thank you for sharing Gina.
I love what you have shared here Gina. The natural wisdom we hold at young is to be treasured, confirmed and validated so that we may mature in age without loosing this innate knowing of who we are. Thank you.
Lovely article. It brings the subject of reïncarnation in such a simple way that it makes a lot of sense. And that is about a loving opportunity, instead of a punishment because you did wrong or bad.
I was brought up in a family that was not involved in any religion, yet I remember as a young child feeling that I wanted to meet God. As a 7-8 year old I had a friend who talked a lot about God, but pretty much in the way that Angela described. I didn’t believe a word she was saying (again for the same reasons that Angela gave) and I vehemently denied existence of such God. Because I could not explain true God and had no way of knowing how to get to know Him, I decided it was best to be anti God. But reality kept bothering me – from a very young age I could not accept that this was it – just us human beings, we get born, we die and that’s it! It made no sense. I could tell that in this case ‘what’s in the window is in the shop too’ did not apply- for I could feel there was lot more ‘inside the store’ and lot more to us than met the eye.
One sunny day in July in the eighties I arrived in London for the first time in my life. But this was not the feeling. The moment I landed there was a certain familiarity that gave me goosbumps! The family I was to stay with had said I should get a taxi from Heathrow and they’d pay for it, but I was drawn to take public transport – underground and buses. I looked around like I had known this place all my life. The family was shocked when I arrived and no taxi to pay – needless to say they were thrilled I saved them considerable amount of money – but they were amazed that I could do that on my first ever visit and with limited knowledge of English language. Every time in the first couple of years, I went back to former Yugoslavia, where I was born, I could not wait to go back to England and I kept saying I was going back home to London, yet I knew nobody in London and I had no home in a physical sense.
Here is another thing. One day few years ago I was in a Japanese restaurant having a meal. When the waiter brought my bill he hesitantly and with lots of ‘excuse me-s’ and ‘forgive me for asking-s’ wanted to know if I had ever lived in Japan – I said never – in this life, and we both laughed. He asked if my husband was Japanese. Again I said he could not be more English and no, nobody else int the family was from Japan! Why, I asked. He explained how the way I was eating and not just the way I was using the chopsticks was so very Japanese, that he had not see people outside of Japan eating in such manner, even those who spend time living there! I shared with him how I hated going for Japanese meals with non-Japanese people, because of their clumsiness. There is a certain elegance and order in eating in Japan that I must have remembered from my past. I have always felt strong affinity towards Japan, yet I have never been there. Almost all my crockery at home is Japanese – not even from other parts of Asia, but exclusively Japan. I even had a kimono. The entire family (including four children, since they could hold a chopstick) have been eating with chopsticks at home for the last 25 years!
To me it makes sense that we do not just vanish into the thin air, but perhaps the way many feel about reincarnation (not being possible) is a reflection of our inability to take full responsibility for all our choices.
It does seem strange that Dalai Lama gets invited and so openly spoken to by most world’s major tv, radio stations and newspapers and that none of these establishments think he is a ‘barking looney’ claiming to be the 14th re incarnation of Tibetan Lama. But when Serge Benhayon says to an interviewer, that we do reincarnate there is a snigger. Although every now and then we do get people who claim they are Cleopatra and who not, in reincarnation etc, and I can understand society being cautious of any such claims or statements, but what one needs to do is get to know Serge Benhayon, and then get to know themselves truly, so maybe, just maybe then, more light could be allowed to shine on this fascinating topic.
I’m brought up in Hindu family and I totally agree with what Sandhya is saying. We see people being rich, poor, in different conditions? Why? It doesn’t make sense that God will make them suffer. There is no such thing as being lucky or coincidence. In light of reincarnation everything makes sense. I remember being part of a ritual where someone died in their 20’s and the priest called the spirit and used a family member’s body as a medium. The spirit was asked whether something can be done to fulfil his desires so that it won’t be stuck and will be able to enter the cycle of rebirth. I grew up going to the Ashram where my understanding became clear with the fact that once being evolved to human, you can’t reterogate e.g. become animal or insect in next life. We meet people because of our bondings and until you untie the bonds, there is no choice but reincarnate. There is a verse in Sanskrit by Adi-Shankaracharya (788 CE) which means “Birth again, Death again, Again laying in mother’s womb, Fool worship Govinda – to come out of the cycle). He wrote the doctrine of Adwaita Vendanta which basically means (to me) union of Soul and Spirit. Until Spriit breaks even with Karma, the vibrations won’t be high enough to merge with Soul. Serge’s statement from Arcane project strikes the node something like “Every plant. insect, animal or human you’ve karma with in the past will come to you and if you meet them with love, it’ll set you free.’ The best thing about living from inner heart is that you don’t create Karma. I’ve never heard anyone saying boldly like this before (i refer to the statement in quotes). Love this Man (Serge), He explained it so simple that my heart started singing and feet danced with joy!! LOVE.
Reincarnation makes greater sense to me than what I was taught in a religious upbringing – that if we’re good we go to heaven and if we’re not good we get punished and sent somewhere horrible like hell. Now that never made sense to me because how could any ‘good’ or almighty place like heaven say yes to one person and no to an equal other… and I always wondered where the line was drawn between good and not good (bad) – often living in fear or the threat by teachers, nuns or family that if I’m not good I wouln’t go to heaven. That’s crazy, but commonly accepted in many religions and even schools – what a way to control large numbers of people. Thank you Rachel and Sandhya for discussing another option, so clearly – which feels so true to me.
Thank you very much Rachel. I grew up not believing in reincarnation but what I later learnt about reincarnation and karma – not only from Serge and the esoteric – makes definitely more sense to me. Of course the concept of reincarnation is very challenging for most people because it shows us that we are RESPONSIBLE for what we do and what we experience in life. Ouch.
A super interesting read, makes sense to me 🙂
Thank you Rachel and Sandhya for this awesome article. When I was a child, my mother was Catholic and my father didn’t like what all of that was about and called himself an atheist. I had this inner knowing that reincarnation exists and one day my dad said to me, out of the blue… ‘I believe in reincarnation, it makes sense to me’. I just about jumped with pure joy at someone also feeling what I felt. It just makes sense to me, always did, I can’t explain how I know it but it is enough for me just to know.
Very interesting article Rachel thank you. Yes I agree with what you say and that what if Serge was ‘from the east’ and ‘from a different background or upbringing’ or was wearing different clothes – would what he presents be easier to be, or just simply accepted and akin to what the Dalai Lama (et al) presents? It highlights the held misconceptions about such great leaders of humanity and their geographic location or religions to be the making towards credibility and/or acceptance by the many. But there is no difference at all to the equal beauty and equal love that can be felt through what Serge presents when we read the above excerpt from the Dalai Lama – they are both from the same source, that is of age-old, or the ageless wisdom that can be accessed via choices (and past choices considering reincarnation aspect here) to connect to love. So your article presents just what is possible for the ‘average person’ – if each day/week/year/life is lived in complete regard, care, love and connection to self. Thank you for the simplicity.
I have lived with ways of being in this life that really do not have a lot of grounding in terms of a reference point within this life; the main one for me being a great sense of struggle, and with that often a feeling of there not being enough for me, enough food, enough love etc. In regards to these feelings they make not a lot of sense to my immediate experience in this life, they feel OLD. I don’t need science to prove it for me, neither am I living in hope that re-incarnation is true; it just simply doesn’t make sense that we would come here once and never return, that would be a cruel joke – you’ve got one shot at getting this right? I personally don’t think so.
I agree Annette
I also don’t need science to prove to me a lot of things. When I first had my children, I was exhausted and overwhelmed and felt like I was raising a huge family… more than the two boys I had. I lived like it, arranged my day like it and sometimes even bought groceries like it! This was very real and not something I just made up. Once I acknowledged what I was living through, I was more balanced and inline (as such) with the family I am in now.
What you have written makes complete sense to me – I particuarly connect to how the law of karma is not about punishment but love and responsibility.
Thank you Sandhya and Rachel. I was raised with a religion that not only did not believe in reincarnation, but strongly denied its existence, (let alone the possibility that it ‘might’ exist…). And so the things that happened to people in their life (including my own, and also the ‘bad’ things’ that happened to ‘good’ people) were always explained with it being ‘God’s will’, without it ever truly or fully being explained or supported by the reality of life. (In fact, it puzzled me as to why God would want bad or hurtful things to happen to people if he was a God of love, and when these people were living ‘good’ lives where they had not harmed another. And it was always especially hard to understand this when something tragic happened to a young child (or baby) – how could something bad happen to them when they hadn’t done anything?). So it was the explanation of ‘it’s God’s will’ and ‘faith in God’s plan’ (I was often told we don’t know what he has in plan for us, but that we need to have faith) that was the basis on which life was explained to me.
And yet I still knew some things didn’t make sense and didn’t quite fit with this model – including the feelings of ‘deja vu’ and the feelings of familiarity with certain people, places and events that I often experienced.
Prior to Universal Medicine I began to consider the possibility of reincarnation, however it was under the guise of random lives that offered different experiences and not with an understanding that one life was associated with another, or a consideration that how one life is lived impacts another. So while this model soothed my quest for truth to a degree, it still didn’t fully explain human life experiences, and many questions remained unanswered, or at best answered with a sophisticated version of “it’s part of the unfathomable nature of God”.
It was not until I met Serge and began my association with Universal Medicine that things finally began to make::”full” and absolute sense, and that I could feel that looking at reincarnation responsibility was about taking responsibility for choices in the way we lived. I could then feel that the reason none of the previous explanations I had come across for explaining life didn’t make sense, because it took away responsibility from the individual for their choices. (There was always someone or something else to blame if something didn’t turn out). I now understand and can appreciate that certain belief / religious ideals (which include belief or philosophies on reincarnation) offer an escape or way out of taking responsibility for ALL of our choices and experiences in life. For if our experience in life can all be explained by ‘it’s God’s will’ or ‘part of God’s plan’ we never truly have to take responsibility for what it happening in our lives, what may have happened, and the way we are now living that will imprint on our experience in the future. So I’m with Sandhya when the question is posed:.. And if reincarnation doesn’t exist? “Then at least I am living a life that feels honouring of my body and who I am.” And that feels pretty amazing!
Rachel, thank you for sharing this.
Having been brought up to not believe in reincarnation I love the simplicity of this. It makes sense to me that it is worth honouring myself and to make loving choices, not only for my next life if reincarnation does exist, but for each new day that I go into. Thank you for beautifully presenting that we are responsible for all our choices, food, sleep, relationships etc and that the quality of these each day flows into the next day and in the end from one life to the next.
This makes so much sense and explains a lot about how things don’t necessarily happen to us randomly if reincarnation exists. I feel this explanation holds the answer to a lot of things that seem unexplainable.
I know the feeling as well Shevon, like when you meet someone and you feel like you already know them. Such a great example.