Gary made a suggestion in another topic (what do you like about being gay) to open a new thread. His question was :
"Is there any empirical evidence to suggest that our former lives play any part in shaping our current life?"
As I was the first to be asked, here my answer :
I trend to believe in the Karma. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.But I'm very prudent in my answer : "why not ?".
Empirical evidence ? No.
I just made twice in my life a strange experience : the first time, I was in a crisis situation, which needed a quick reaction; I felt suddenly that I was "an other". Normally, I'm a pacific person, with a peaceful ego. And it was as if another person had taken control of me, a fighter, merciless, ready to kill, and the people around me didn't recognize me. Later, they asked me : "what happened with you ?" and I couldn't answer.
Another time, I came once for the first time in a town and it seemed to me that I knew some of its streets, as if I had allready been there.
All that doesn't answer your question Gary. But it's an occasion to dream about it .
Old bob
Full Version: Reincarnation ?
There are so many different ways to interpret Karma. Much depends upon the particular religion you believe in.
The one thing I've never been able to uncover is if our past and future lives can consciously or subconsciously help guide us in our current life.
I like to think so. Based on the events you described it seems like it does. Based on my own experiences I get the same feeling.
I wish there were some scientific way to quantify things like this. Because of your training you're in a better situation to deal with this problem than I am. All I can do is speculate.
Does anyone else have situations they'd like to share with us that might be considered Karma playing an active role in our current lives?
The one thing I've never been able to uncover is if our past and future lives can consciously or subconsciously help guide us in our current life.
I like to think so. Based on the events you described it seems like it does. Based on my own experiences I get the same feeling.
I wish there were some scientific way to quantify things like this. Because of your training you're in a better situation to deal with this problem than I am. All I can do is speculate.
Does anyone else have situations they'd like to share with us that might be considered Karma playing an active role in our current lives?
QUOTE (old bob @ June 16 2008, 04:07 PM) 
Gary made a suggestion in another topic (what do you like about being gay) to open a new thread. His question was :
"Is there any empirical evidence to suggest that our former lives play any part in shaping our current life?"
As I was the first to be asked, here my answer :
I trend to believe in the Karma. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.But I'm very prudent in my answer : "why not ?".
Empirical evidence ? No.
I just made twice in my life a strange experience : the first time, I was in a crisis situation, which needed a quick reaction; I felt suddenly that I was "an other". Normally, I'm a pacific person, with a peaceful ego. And it was as if another person had taken control of me, a fighter, merciless, ready to kill, and the people around me didn't recognize me. Later, they asked me : "what happened with you ?" and I couldn't answer.
Another time, I came once for the first time in a town and it seemed to me that I knew some of its streets, as if I had allready been there.
All that doesn't answer your question Gary. But it's an occasion to dream about it .
Old bob
"Is there any empirical evidence to suggest that our former lives play any part in shaping our current life?"
As I was the first to be asked, here my answer :
I trend to believe in the Karma. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.But I'm very prudent in my answer : "why not ?".
Empirical evidence ? No.
I just made twice in my life a strange experience : the first time, I was in a crisis situation, which needed a quick reaction; I felt suddenly that I was "an other". Normally, I'm a pacific person, with a peaceful ego. And it was as if another person had taken control of me, a fighter, merciless, ready to kill, and the people around me didn't recognize me. Later, they asked me : "what happened with you ?" and I couldn't answer.
Another time, I came once for the first time in a town and it seemed to me that I knew some of its streets, as if I had allready been there.
All that doesn't answer your question Gary. But it's an occasion to dream about it .
Old bob
Not to dispute your theory, but the first incident could be explained simply as the crisis situation temporarily lifting you into a previously unknown level. Children have been know to be able to lift heavy objects if the situation was such that the life of their parent was threatened.
As for the second one, I would call it de'ja vu. I've had that a lot in the past, where something happens and I feel like it has happened before, in exact detail.
I know of no empirical evidence for reincarnation. It's possible, but I personally doubt reincarnation exists. I certainly can't prove it one way or another, as it requires the assumption that there is something non-physical that is part of a person, that existed before that person was conceived, and exists after that person has died. I don't know if that assumption is valid.
Well I'm an extremely pan-spiritual person.
I'm comfortable picking and choosing what I like about each spiritual/religious discipline and applying it in whichever way seems best for the circumstances at hand. As a result I'm extremely open-minded about such things, but also there's a firm skeptical, scientific side of me that discounts much, perhaps even all, or religion and spirituality.
Christianity is the religion I 'follow' (although really I often tend to bend it to my will as I see fit
); however, just as I allow it to coexist with my scientific, skeptical side so too do I allow aspects of others faiths and spiritualities to coexist with my Christianity.
By nature I don't think there can be or should be empirical, scientific evidence for any religion or spiritual concept. They would lose their 'otherworldliness' and the fundamental things that make them spiritual if this were to be the case (at least in my opinion). By definition 'faith' is something which you cannot know or prove beyond a belief in your heart.
Do I believe in reincarnation (or ghosts, angels, ESP, etc.)? I guess I'm a hopeful 'I don't know'. I suppose I wouldn't really be surprised or alarmed either way.
Do I think it's happened to me? As in did I have past lives. No, I don't think so, but if I did it would be irrelevant since I don't remember them anyway, and I don't feel as though they impact my current life. Of course they might impact my current life in a way that I cannot be cognizant of. If that's the case it's still largely irrelevant because they're ticking along doing their thing anyway. I think it would be nice if they existed and I had conscious memories of them, failing that I don't suppose I care either way.
Anyway remember everyone:
Jesus saves and Buddha recycles.
-Kevin
I'm comfortable picking and choosing what I like about each spiritual/religious discipline and applying it in whichever way seems best for the circumstances at hand. As a result I'm extremely open-minded about such things, but also there's a firm skeptical, scientific side of me that discounts much, perhaps even all, or religion and spirituality.
Christianity is the religion I 'follow' (although really I often tend to bend it to my will as I see fit
); however, just as I allow it to coexist with my scientific, skeptical side so too do I allow aspects of others faiths and spiritualities to coexist with my Christianity. By nature I don't think there can be or should be empirical, scientific evidence for any religion or spiritual concept. They would lose their 'otherworldliness' and the fundamental things that make them spiritual if this were to be the case (at least in my opinion). By definition 'faith' is something which you cannot know or prove beyond a belief in your heart.
Do I believe in reincarnation (or ghosts, angels, ESP, etc.)? I guess I'm a hopeful 'I don't know'. I suppose I wouldn't really be surprised or alarmed either way.
Do I think it's happened to me? As in did I have past lives. No, I don't think so, but if I did it would be irrelevant since I don't remember them anyway, and I don't feel as though they impact my current life. Of course they might impact my current life in a way that I cannot be cognizant of. If that's the case it's still largely irrelevant because they're ticking along doing their thing anyway. I think it would be nice if they existed and I had conscious memories of them, failing that I don't suppose I care either way.
Anyway remember everyone:
Jesus saves and Buddha recycles.
-Kevin
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