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.
We all Can feel that we are part of a bigger existance And that we have to find our way back through our lives in a body untill we hold the love so deeply in Union that we ascend.
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.