Serie A brev nr 8

Magazine Overview

This issue of Brevcirkeln, titled "REINKARNATIONEN - än en gång." (Reincarnation - Once Again), delves into the concept of reincarnation and the law of karma. It presents personal anecdotes, historical cases, and theological interpretations to support the idea of past lives and their influence on present existence.

Personal Experiences and Historical Cases

The issue begins by exploring common feelings of déjà vu and intuitive recognition of people and places, suggesting these might be echoes of past lives. It cites Sir Walter Scott's diary entry from 1928, where he described a persistent feeling of pre-existence.

A well-documented case from Paris involves Mme Laurie Reynaud, who as a child clearly recalled details of a previous life, including her former home, parents, and friends, and the circumstances of her death. At age forty, she traveled to Genoa, Italy, and accurately located her former home and identified individuals from her past life. A thorough investigation of official records confirmed the existence of a woman named Mme Reynaud who lived in that house and died there on October 21, 1809, with her account matching historical documents.

The article also mentions Napoleon Bonaparte's recurring state of exaltation where he proclaimed himself 'Karl den Store' (Charles the Great), suggesting a possible echo of a past life.

Dr. Alexander Cannon, M.D., Ph.D., along with Dr. E.T. Jensen and Dr. Radwan, conducted hypnosis experiments to explore reincarnation. These experiments involved regressing subjects to childhood and then further back into their subconscious memories of previous existences. They reported success in obtaining information about past lives, including a case involving a 20-year-old girl whose claims required verification against ancient Roman history.

In India, children who remember past lives are known as 'Winzas.' Many such cases have been investigated, with children identifying former homes and relatives, and revealing personal facts unknown to them otherwise. The article highlights Shanti Devi as a famous example of a Winza.

Reincarnation in Religious and Philosophical Contexts

The magazine argues that the idea of reincarnation is not easily dismissed and that accepting it could challenge traditional Christian beliefs about life and the afterlife. It states that in ancient times, nearly all peoples held the idea of reincarnation, with its origins tracing back to the earliest civilizations. Today, approximately two-thirds of the world's population believes in rebirth and accepts the associated law of karma.

The fundamental principle of reincarnation is that a spiritual essence (soul, spirit, etc.) survives the death of the physical body and is reborn into a new human body. The circumstances of this new life are determined by the good or bad deeds performed in previous lives.

Herodotos, the Greek historian, is quoted as stating that the Egyptians were the first to propose the theory of the soul's immortality and its rebirth into a human infant's body. However, the article notes that India disputes this, asserting that ancient Indian sages were the first to explain the truth of reincarnation.

The belief in the soul's survival after death and its return in a new body has been found in primitive cultures worldwide, including in Africa and among Native Americans.

Reincarnation and Christianity

The article contends that the founders of major world religions and many philosophers taught or accepted the doctrine of reincarnation. It specifically suggests that Jesus taught about reincarnation and karma, as did Jewish mystics before him.

The New Testament, as presented today, is described as altered and incomplete. However, the author argues that even with its omissions and errors, it contains extensive text indicating Jesus affirmed the truth of reincarnation. A key passage cited is Jesus' question to his disciples about who people believed him to be, and their response that some thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah reincarnated.

Further support is drawn from the New Testament, such as the passage in John 9:1-3 where Jesus' disciples ask if a man was born blind due to his own sin or his parents', to which Jesus replies it was so that God's works could be revealed through him. This is interpreted as a karmic consequence for past life actions.

The article also references Revelation 3:12, interpreting the promise of becoming a pillar in God's temple as a reward for overcoming the lower, perishable consciousness and the physical body, implying that those who fail must reincarnate until they achieve spiritual victory and immortality.

The Exclusion of Reincarnation from Orthodox Christianity

The text asserts that early church fathers, including Origenes, Augustinus, Hieronymus, Anastasius, and Gregorius, taught about reincarnation. However, it claims that the organized church later incorporated dogmas that conflicted with this doctrine. The Council of Constantinople in 553 AD is cited as issuing an official statement excommunicating anyone who supported the doctrine of soul pre-existence and reincarnation.

This council, described as an 'infallible council' composed of five mortal men, is said to have been influenced by Emperor Justinian, who allegedly ordered the patriarch of Constantinople, Menas, to obtain signatures for the ban. The article suggests this was a political act that later became misinterpreted as a decree from the Highest Council.

The disappearance of reincarnation from European thought after the Council of Constantinople is linked to the era's misery, superstition, and ignorance.

Despite the church's stance, some prominent medieval Christians, such as Franciscus of Assisi, Johannes Scotus Erigena, Bonaventura, and Tommaso Campanella, continued to believe in and teach reincarnation.

Modern Acceptance and Spiritual Development

In modern times, many esoteric Christian sects teach reincarnation, and some orthodox sects no longer condemn it. The article quotes various authorities who find no contradiction between reincarnation and modern Christian or Episcopal beliefs.

Several prominent figures in Western history are listed as having accepted the doctrine of reincarnation, including Thomas A. Edison, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Longfellow, Emerson, Ghandi, Tagore, Goethe, and Voltaire, who famously stated that being born twice is no more surprising than being born once.

Numerous esoteric and metaphysical organizations, particularly in the USA and England, such as the Theosophical Society, Rosicrucians, Unity, and Science of Mind, incorporate the doctrine of rebirth into their teachings.

The article posits that the doctrine of reincarnation will continue to spread in the Western world as people seek answers to life's mysteries that the Orthodox Church, with its medieval theological dogmas, cannot provide.

The Problem of Suffering and Karma

The issue addresses the question of why there is so much suffering, inequality, and injustice in the world if God is loving and the universe is governed by law and order. It argues that the orthodox explanation of 'God's will' is insufficient.

Instead, it proposes that the apparent inequalities in earthly existence are manifestations of the law of karma. The article suggests that a strong and spiritual ego is necessary to endure physical suffering, which may be chosen through free will for the sake of spiritual growth. Such a life of hardship, when accepted correctly, is deemed more valuable than a comfortable life.

It is explained that individuals with few earthly incarnations and experiences may be ill-equipped to handle tragedy, whereas those who have undergone more lives develop a stronger ego capable of bearing greater burdens.

Method for Recalling Past Lives

The magazine offers a simple method for recalling memories of past lives. It involves dedicating a specific time each day for meditation, focusing on recalling the day's events in detail, and then progressively working backward through previous days. The practitioner is advised to maintain an impartial attitude, observing actions and motives as if they belonged to another person. The goal is to identify personal flaws and recurring problems that stem from past existences.

By diligently recalling memories, one can eventually access their earliest childhood memories and, with persistent effort, bridge the gap between childhood and the last memories of a previous earthly existence. Successfully capturing this first glimpse of a past life is said to bring an inner confirmation of its validity, leading to the knowledge that one has lived before and is the master of their own destiny.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the exploration and validation of reincarnation and karma as fundamental principles governing human existence and spiritual development. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of these doctrines, presenting them as logical, historically supported, and spiritually beneficial. The magazine critiques the Orthodox Church's rejection of reincarnation, attributing it to dogmatic imposition and a desire to maintain control. It advocates for a more rational and compassionate understanding of life's challenges, which it believes is offered by the principles of reincarnation and karma, ultimately leading to personal liberation and self-mastery.