Do you believe in Reincarnation?

[Paulclem]

I feel like I've been here before.

[Scheherazade]

I feel like I've been here before.

In this life time or a previous one?

[Paulclem]

In this life time or a previous one?

[blazeofglory]

Can I re-embody? Of course I can and that is why everyday new faces turn up from the dead ones. It is all through a process of metamorphoses. I was somebody before this life and that body thawed into natural elements through a process of disintegrations. Generation, degeneration and regeneration all in eternal succession. Few can comprehend this subtlety. I do not think I die for eternity but I love for eternity

[Revolte]

Here's what I think, there is no definitive answer, but at the end of the day I find reincarnation to be more likely then, other religious suggestions. Personally I think we all wander around as ghosts after we die. Sure it isn't as romantic as reincarnation or heaven or whatever else, but it seems to be the only thing with evidence that isn't just written down.

[Paulclem]

Here's what I think, there is no definitive answer, but at the end of the day I find reincarnation to be more likely then, other religious suggestions. Personally I think we all wander around as ghosts after we die. Sure it isn't as romantic as reincarnation or heaven or whatever else, but it seems to be the only thing with evidence that isn't just written down.

In Tibetan Buddhism the between life state s called The Bardo where according to the Teachings - we will assume an etheric type body before being propelled into our next incarnation. There are even instructions for someone who may be in this state, but is unsure. Check by walking through sand - if you leave no footprints, etc etc - then you're dead. Funny to have such practical advice for such a situation. Perhaps it's Tibetan practicality.

[SilentMute]

There are good grounds NOT to believe in reincarnation. Try the lessons of nature. For a start. Every seed brings forth (only) of its own kind. So that rules out a man coming back as a fly or an elephant, for a start. Or vice-versa. I guess the lessons of nature count.

However, there are people in East Germany who believe this giant rabbit (which weighs 23 pounds) was once a carrot -

I'm a little confused by this analogy. It is sound when talking about the physical, but I think most people who believe in reincarnation believe the soul is an energy source that inhabits physical forms. Once, of course, it is in a physical form, it is confined to the laws of nature.

Unless you believe that energy is stamped as human energy and can only inhabit human bodies...then there is no reason why a person can't be an elephant in one life and human in the next. However, even if the soul can only possess one kind of form, such as human, that still doesn't rule out reincarnation. All it rules out is that you have had lives as a different species.

[caddy_caddy]

Why should some people like The African people be born in poverty, why should some people suffer all their life and others don't.The only explanation that I can think of is REINCARNATION, that we all live many times and our situation in our next life depends on the things we have done in our past lives.But then what would Hell and Heaven mean, if we were about to be punished in our next lives?

I do think we all have our share of suffering . Who said that people who have money do not suffer in their life ?!!
Some lack money , others love . Some lack children others good health . But we all have our share .

No , I don't believe in reincarnation and I don't like the idea .
Once I said , in another thread , that if I can choose I would come back to life again but as the same person not in someone or something else .

[Paulclem]

I do think we all have our share of suffering . Who said that people who have money do not suffer in their life ?!!
Some lack money , others love . Some lack children others good health . But we all have our share .

No , I don't believe in reincarnation and I don't like the idea .
Once I said , in another thread , that if I can choose I would come back to life again but as the same person not in someone or something else .

I agree with you that everyone suffers in some way or other, but you must see that some people - in fact some nations - endure significantly more suffering than others. I don't think you can compare the suffering of some third world coutries with the richer countries in the world. We don't all have our share.

[TurquoiseSunset]

I'm not going to give my opinion on the subject...I'm tired from just reading the other posts, but I will post this link. I was reminded of this article when reading the thread.

[Paulclem]

I'm not going to give my opinion on the subject...I'm tired from just reading the other posts, but I will post this link. I was reminded of this article when reading the thread.

It's an interesting post, and there have been a number of studies and stories done in the past. The problem is that whilst it's enough for someone who already believes, this kind of story will never satisfy a sceptic.

It does throw up a number of questions such as why wasn't he reincarnated straight away etc.

Interesting link though.

[caddy_caddy]

I agree with you that everyone suffers in some way or other, but you must see that some people - in fact some nations - endure significantly more suffering than others. I don't think you can compare the suffering of some third world coutries with the richer countries in the world. We don't all have our share.

If you compare nations within the same period of history you would be right . But throughout history in general ,great and strong civilizations fall and perish while small nations rise and flourish . Everyone has his turn .
I tend to see things as" ignorance versus knowledge" not as" richness versus poverty" . Some know what they have , know how they can benefit from what they have, others do not .
Some use their brain ,others do not .
Poverty is our responsibility .

[blazeofglory]

If you compare nations within the same period of history you would be right . But throughout history in general ,great and strong civilizations fall and perish while small nations rise and flourish . Everyone has his turn .
I tend to see things as" ignorance versus knowledge" not as" richness versus poverty" . Some know what they have , know how they can benefit from what they have, others do not .
Some use their brain ,others do not .
Poverty is our responsibility .

Your words are full of wisdom and of course everyone has his turn. No one or no nation is completely at its zenith all suffers ups and downs in point of fact. This always makes me patient and tolerant. At times it helps me endure great difficulties in life, for we can expect a sunny day after the pour.

[Paulclem]

If you compare nations within the same period of history you would be right . But throughout history in general ,great and strong civilizations fall and perish while small nations rise and flourish . Everyone has his turn .
I tend to see things as" ignorance versus knowledge" not as" richness versus poverty" . Some know what they have , know how they can benefit from what they have, others do not .
Some use their brain ,others do not .
Poverty is our responsibility .

I used nations when really I should have used individuals to disgree with your view. I do not think there is a sharing of suffering in anything like the equal way that you talk about. Yes everyone suffers, but I can travel now 30 mins away to a hostel where the suffering is intense and horrible for the residents with serious mental health problems. Somewhere in this city tonight there will be drug abuse, child abuse, neglect, domestic violence and all the other horrible things that happens to some and not others. I just don't see the suffering being shared out at all.

This is the problem I have with theism - the complete lack of fairness or reason.

[sh_einstein]

If you compare nations within the same period of history you would be right . But throughout history in general ,great and strong civilizations fall and perish while small nations rise and flourish . Everyone has his turn .
I tend to see things as" ignorance versus knowledge" not as" richness versus poverty" . Some know what they have , know how they can benefit from what they have, others do not .
Some use their brain ,others do not .
Poverty is our responsibility .

But this has got nothing to do with people, the country you're living in is a great factor here, some may never have the opportunity to "use their brain", some never even get the chance to explore their talents.All suffer but their suffering is truely incomparable, some are responsible for their suffering but some are born in it, how do you explain that?

I used nations when really I should have used individuals to disgree with your view. I do not think there is a sharing of suffering in anything like the equal way that you talk about. Yes everyone suffers, but I can travel now 30 mins away to a hostel where the suffering is intense and horrible for the residents with serious mental health problems. Somewhere in this city tonight there will be drug abuse, child abuse, neglect, domestic violence and all the other horrible things that happens to some and not others. I just don't see the suffering being shared out at all.

This is the problem I have with theism - the complete lack of fairness or reason.