| ReincarnationEverything in this universe is in motion. | | | | should realize the possible grave consequences of |
| Movement produces change, or transformation. This is | | | | their actions, as these would flood the psyche of their |
| an eternal constant, a Law of the Cosmos, and it is | | | | subjects with buried data that their consciousness may |
| immutable. The process of transformation occurs in | | | | not yet be ready and equipped to handle.It is true, |
| stages, phases, and cycles. Every unit of life unfolds its | | | | however, that without personal experiences, man will |
| consciousness in accord with the Law of Activity and | | | | always have doubts concerning the Law of |
| Rest. The cycle of activity begins with birth, youth, | | | | Reincarnation, especially when one has not come to |
| maturity; it declines with old age and ends with | | | | terms with life after so-called death. Reincarnation |
| so-called death, which is the period of Rest. The cycle | | | | from that standpoint would seem to be a mere fancy. |
| continues repeatedly until the goal for that life-unit is | | | | Fortunately, there are ways of strengthening one's |
| achieved. Reincarnation is an expression of the Law | | | | belief and faith in the law--as lame as beliefs may be. |
| of Activity and Rest as applied to human evolution. It is | | | | The truth is not only out there--it is to be found within |
| what Jewish mystics call "Gilgul," and was a doctrine | | | | as well. The truth seeker will investigate in a sane |
| taught by the Greek Philosophers, Plato, Pythagoras | | | | manner with less perilous methods than hypnosis to |
| and Plotinus. Most of the holy scriptures of the world | | | | determine the accuracies of spiritual laws as revealed |
| contain references to the law, though some are | | | | unto man by higher intelligences. The student's main |
| veiled.Once man found himself entombed within Matter, | | | | research and method of inquiry would probably be |
| it became expedient for him to liberate himself. | | | | along the lines of reason, objectivity, a study of |
| According to our observation, mankind as a whole, | | | | scriptural revelation; the study under those having |
| however, is not pursuing this goal, for he is unconscious | | | | spiritual experiences and understanding--those with |
| of the purpose of his existence. The promptings of the | | | | spiritual authority; and the study of the phenomenon of |
| Inner Self are misinterpreted for the selfish ambitions of | | | | spontaneous recollections.Along the lines of reason, we |
| the personal ego. Possessing a physical body, in a | | | | may begin our search by inquiring into the manifold |
| sense, is actually a great privilege, for it offers a rapid | | | | inequalities, complexities and differences among the |
| method for spiritual unfoldment. But to prolong our | | | | sons of man: why are some born rich, and others |
| sojourn in the world of matter is foolhardy. This plane | | | | poor? why are some born sound in mind and body |
| of consciousness is simply a phase, a stepping stone | | | | while others are handicapped with bodily |
| leading towards our spiritual destiny. Greater work, | | | | disadvantages or mental retardation? how can we |
| greater tasks awaits us elsewhere in the infinite | | | | explain the phenomenon of child prodigies? how do we |
| reaches of the cosmos. We should realize that the | | | | resolve the problem of the mental capacities that differ |
| physical world is not our true home. We are spiritual | | | | from person to person--also the multifarious moral, |
| beings with a spiritual heritage. Ignorance and egoistic | | | | cultural standards and spiritual attainment that each |
| desire are the twin negative causes of our bondage to | | | | individual expresses? Education, environment and |
| the wheel of birth and rebirth. Mastery of these | | | | genes are minor factors that do not explain fully life's |
| causes offer spiritual freedom as the personal will and | | | | situation as we see it. Why does God seem to have |
| consciousness becomes united with the Divine Will and | | | | favorites? Jacob over Esau, for instance.The law of |
| Mind of our True SELF.We are bound to this wheel of | | | | reincarnation fills a gap, the missing link that unites the |
| reincarnation by causes. There are two sides to | | | | fragmentary parts of our understanding concerning the |
| everything. We have already mentioned the negative | | | | inequalities between individuals. The different types of |
| causes. The positive causes are our aspiration for | | | | man and their point of evolution is the manifestation of |
| perfection and the balancing of karma. The former of | | | | the laws of karma and reincarnation. One apparently |
| this positive cause is the willful intent of the Soul, as | | | | comes into this world to live a short span of existence, |
| human perfection may be accelerated while interacting | | | | and then to pass out of it without fulfilling one's goals. |
| and overcoming masterfully the resistance of matter. | | | | What is the purpose of this? If one's goals are |
| Karma binds us to the wheel until its misqualified | | | | unattainable in one life time then our existence here |
| energy has been spent, balanced, compensated, or the | | | | would be meaningless and futile. By carrying on our |
| Law of Grace precipitated to over-ride the karmic | | | | reasoning a little further we would perceive the mercy |
| condition as a result of spiritually understanding the | | | | and grace of God in action within our lives; and that |
| required lesson that the Law expected one to | | | | reincarnation is the manifestation of that mercy and |
| learn.Reincarnation is a common term for the concept | | | | grace.As mentioned before, the gospels and Jewish |
| of a human soul being born cyclically into the physical | | | | scriptures are replete with references concerning the |
| world. There are other terms, though, each referring to | | | | law of reincarnation. Below are just a few examples, a |
| reincarnation, each with a slight variation as to meaning | | | | few verses often quoted by students and researches |
| and implication. These terms are: rebirth, reimbodiment, | | | | on the law:"I will make him a pillar in the temple of my |
| transmigration, and metemapsychosis. The term | | | | God; and he shall go no more out." (Rev 3:12)This |
| transmigration often brings to mind the element of | | | | verse implies and signifies that the person who |
| retrogression, of man re-embodying as an animal. This | | | | liberates himself from the bondage of matter |
| is a spiritual impossibility, for once individualized, the | | | | participates in active work in the spiritual realms, |
| human spirit can never revert to an undividualized | | | | directing the forces and powers of Nature in accord |
| animal soul. The animal vehicle in itself would not be | | | | with the Grand Design, with God's Plan and Will. The |
| able to sustain the great radiations and magnetism of | | | | attainment of liberation or salvation, guarantees |
| the human individualized Spirit. This concept of | | | | personal freedom from the wheel of birth and rebirth, |
| retrogression, of transmigration of the human soul into | | | | from samsara. Such a liberated being is no longer |
| an animal form is a corruption of a doctrine that | | | | compelled to reincarnate, he goes "no more out," |
| teaches the similitude of human characteristics to | | | | unless it is to assist lesser evolved beings."Behold I will |
| animal nature, which are retained embodiment after | | | | send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the |
| embodiment until the energies underlying the bestial | | | | great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Malachi 4:5)The |
| nature are transmuted. The astral form is also highly | | | | advent of Elijah occurred through reincarnation in his |
| impressionable and mouldable by thoughts and feelings. | | | | embodiment as John the Baptist. Jesus had this to say |
| They tend to reflect the nature of the soul. Should the | | | | about the true identity of John:". . . Truly, I say to you, |
| human soul be beastly in nature, the astral body would | | | | among those born of women there has risen no one |
| reflect the animal form. From a different perspective, | | | | greater than John the Baptist . . . all the prophets and |
| the lower components of the soul, the astral and | | | | the law prophesied unto John, and if you are willing to |
| etheric bodies, when discarded by the human spirit, | | | | accept it, he is Elijah who was to come . . . " (Matt |
| may gravitate to surroundings and objects of a similar | | | | 11:7-15)Some biblical students are of the opinion that the |
| nature.Thus we may have the possibility of these | | | | reincarnation of Elijah was an exception and not a law |
| ethereal cadavers attaching themselves to | | | | of Nature; however, the general concept, or law was |
| animals--this probably started the concept that humans | | | | not repudiated by the Nazarene Master. In some |
| beings incarnate as animals.If reincarnation is a Cosmic | | | | passages of the gospels he discusses it freely with his |
| law, a doctrine of Truth, why is it not taught in the | | | | disciples:"'whom do man say that the Son of Man is?' |
| churches by the priesthood? This is a common query | | | | And they said, 'some say John the Baptist, others say |
| among the members of the exoteric churches. | | | | Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He |
| Unbeknown to them, this doctrine was a basic tenet of | | | | said to them, 'But whom do you say I am?' Simon |
| the early Church, and references to this law filled the | | | | Peter replied: 'You are the Christ, the son of the Living |
| scriptures and the gospels abundantly. St. Augustine, | | | | God.' And Jesus answered to him, 'Blessed are you, |
| St. Clement, and Origen expressed a belief and an | | | | Simon Bar-Jona! For Flesh and blood has not revealed |
| understanding in the doctrine of reincarnation. So did | | | | this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I tell |
| Bishop of Synesius (370--430 AD) of Ptolemais. St. | | | | you, you are Peter. And on this rock I will build my |
| Gregory of Nyssa (257--333 AD.) believed strongly in | | | | church; and the powers of death shall not prevail |
| the law; he wrote:"It is absolutely necessary that the | | | | against it . . . '" (Matt 16:13--20)Though Jesus taught |
| soul be healed and purified, and if this does not take | | | | reincarnation, he did not put much emphasis on it; we |
| place during its life on earth it must be accomplished in | | | | believe he intended to stress the possibility of man |
| future lives."Origen expounded the law in his literary | | | | attaining Christhood in a single life time, and thus attain |
| works. He wrote extensively on the Law of | | | | salvation, freed from the necessity of reimbodiment. In |
| Reembodiment. In later centuries, however, the | | | | the above verse he reveals to Simon his past identity |
| mystical teachings of Origen were anathemized in the | | | | as Peter. There is a double meaning involved in the |
| Council convened in Constantinople in 553 AD, and | | | | expression "on this rock." "Peter" means "rock," but the |
| many references concerning reincarnation in the | | | | rock that "death shall not prevail" is the law of |
| gospels were expunged. This Council, in which the | | | | reincarnation that Jesus was referring to, and this was |
| Emperor Justinian presided, and which the reigning | | | | supposed to become one of the tenets, the foundation |
| Pope refused to attend, was but a travesty of the | | | | in his Church.Another verse, this time from Exodus, |
| Council of Sages that assemble periodically under the | | | | shows the relationship between reincarnation and |
| auspices of the Great White Brotherhood. The | | | | karma:" . . . Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving |
| attending bishops of this Council assented to the | | | | iniquity and transgression, and sin, and that will by no |
| dogmas drawned-up by Justinian and his | | | | means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers |
| co-conspirators--most of them acquiesced out of fear | | | | upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto |
| of the Emperor.The Doctrine of Reincarnation was | | | | the third and to the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:7)If |
| rejected because it clashed with the dogmas that the | | | | interpreted literally, this verse presents Jehovah as |
| Emperor and his cohorts among the bishopric circle | | | | lacking real mercy; for why should an innocent |
| wished to promote--that of eternal damnation, the | | | | offspring pay for the sins of its progenitor? The karmic |
| vicarious atonement, the resurrection, and the | | | | retribution meted out to the children, and the children's |
| uniqueness of Jesus as a "sole" son of God. | | | | children of the above verse refers to the karmic |
| Reincarnation was denounced at this Council by the | | | | compensation that the reincarnating "Ego" has to pay |
| conspirators so that greater political power might be | | | | in subsequent embodiments.KarmaKarma is the Law |
| had to manipulate the minds of men.No cross-bearers | | | | of Cause and Effect; it is sometimes described as the |
| of the Master Jesus were the assenting bishops. Their | | | | "law of consequence," the "law of equilibrium." In the |
| fear was greater than their love for him. This lack of | | | | scriptures it is the law "As ye sow, so shall ye reap," |
| courage and action on their part commenced and | | | | inculcated by Jesus and Paul to the masses. Jesus |
| perpetrated an untruth which is misleading the flock of | | | | declares:"With what measure you mete it shall be |
| Christ to this very day. This untruth produces an | | | | measured to you again." (Matt 7:2)Jesus is actually |
| attitude of spiritual slothfulness and fear in which | | | | implying that we should be responsible for the burden |
| dependency upon another for salvation is hoped and | | | | of our sins.We are also told in Galatians that," . . . every |
| relied upon and not on one's own mystical resources. | | | | man shall bear his own burden." (Gal 6:5)Every man |
| Reincarnation was one of the issues that the Gnostics | | | | has to face the consequences of his own deeds, in |
| and the exoteric Church quarreled upon. The original, | | | | thought, words, and action. The dogma that one simply |
| holy scriptures and gospels before being translated | | | | has to have faith or believe in Jesus to save oneself |
| and edited by persons influenced by the newly | | | | from sin is contradicted by the Master's own words. |
| invented creeds and dogmas, contained positive | | | | The true teachings of Jesus appeals to us to mature |
| references to the Law of Reincarnation as taught by | | | | in a spiritual manner and not to be dependent upon |
| the Nazarene Master. The translated, corrupted works, | | | | another.In the Book of Jubilees, a work considered |
| however, still contain certain material relating to | | | | apocryphal, it is mentioned how the higher law deals |
| reincarnation. Some biblical students, though, are unable | | | | with man:"With the instrument with which a man killeth |
| or unwilling to perceive the implied law in these | | | | his neighbour with the same shall he be killed; after the |
| passages, due to bigotry, prejudice, and the limitation | | | | manner that he wounded him, in like manner shall they |
| that they impose upon their consciousness. This | | | | deal with him."Karma is the expression of divine justice |
| causes a lack of spiritual discernment and | | | | and mercy. It is one of the constants of the omniverse |
| comprehension necessary to intuitively read between | | | | that applies and is readily seen working in the world of |
| the lines and extract the essential meaning. We will | | | | physics--aside from being a contributing factor of a |
| quote these interesting passages a little later. It is | | | | person's evolution. The law is impersonal, impartial, and |
| important here to realize that not all of the teachings of | | | | does not punish as some people believe--instead it |
| Jesus were recorded in the canonical gospels. The | | | | teaches, educates. It makes an individual realize the |
| bulk of his secret teachings were passed on to | | | | errors of his deeds and the beneficence of his positive |
| posterity by word of mouth, and some of these oral | | | | works. It shows an individual the relationship between |
| teachings found their way into modern mystical | | | | actions and their consequences. Negative actions |
| societies and fraternities. We should also not overlook | | | | being the result of negative effects, positive actions in |
| the existence of hundreds of other scriptures, not | | | | positive effects. Karma is the tool of God's |
| considered "canonical," which were arbitrarily labeled | | | | balancing-out the disturbances in the harmony of the |
| "apocryphal" or even "works of the devil," that were | | | | Tao. The Law declares in seemingly harsh |
| not included in the Bible because it conflicted with the | | | | terms:"Vengeance is mine, I will repay . . ." (Romans |
| dogmas that the priesthood wished to promote. Some | | | | 12:19)Each individual in his daily thoughts, speech, and |
| of these literary works contain sparkling gems of the | | | | actions creates karma. No being lives without making |
| Gupta Vidya, or the Ancient Wisdom.How is the truth | | | | karma, for no being lives without putting forces into |
| of reincarnation determined? By personal experience. | | | | motion in his daily life. To simply breathe is in one sense |
| This requires a mystical development with a certain | | | | karmic--for every breath has its influence, its |
| degree of advancement along the path of evolution, | | | | consequential result in the physical body. Karma is a |
| along the Path of Initiation. Some individuals professing | | | | person's self-created fate. A Christian of esotericism |
| a belief in the reality of reincarnation are over-anxious | | | | has a firm conviction in the existence of the law, for he |
| to know their past identity. This is unreasonable, for | | | | perceives its workings manifesting daily in his life. To |
| their present identity remains yet to be discovered, | | | | such an individual the dogma "remission of sins" as |
| realized, and known Why waste a considerable | | | | taught by orthodox Christianity is incompatible with the |
| amount of time and force on something that will occur | | | | law of Karma and is seen as a principle invented by |
| naturally in the course of time, when more important | | | | the Church to control the minds of the masses. The |
| matters such as Self-Realization awaits one's | | | | only prevention of reaping negative results is to avoid |
| attention? It is a dangerous matter to probe into the | | | | putting negative causes into motion. "Ahimsa," or |
| psyche prematurely with the intention of recalling past | | | | harmlessness, should be a constant expression of the |
| lives with tools such as hypnotic regression, drugs, and | | | | devout--"to turn the other cheek."Karma binds one to |
| others of a similar nature. Certainly nature has | | | | the wheel of birth and rebirth--even the positive |
| designed the human psychosomatic system and | | | | causes are no exception, unless one is unattached to |
| circuitry in such a manner that man would forget his | | | | one's actions; "vairagya" or detachment is a requisite |
| past lives for an important reason--that of maintaining | | | | virtue often advised by Gurus to their chelas to |
| mental poise and balance. Man drinks the Waters of | | | | acquire. Being detached from one's actions is the |
| Lethe at each embodiment to forget painful | | | | whole theory and practice of Karma Yoga, as taught |
| experiences that occurred in the past history of the | | | | by the avatara Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. |
| soul. To awaken these memories prematurely would | | | | Karma may best be understood through Eastern |
| simply upset the psychological equilibrium and sanity of | | | | teachings.There are basically three types of Karma. |
| the individual--aside from boosting the egoistic | | | | Hindu philosophy classify them as follows:Sattvika |
| expressions of vanity, pride and a false sense of | | | | Karman, where the results of one's actions are not |
| superiority. Nature does not, and will not withhold the | | | | desired, where one is unattached to them.Rajasa |
| knowledge and information that man should possess | | | | Karman, where acts are performed sensuously for |
| when he reaches a certain stage of development and | | | | the desire of their fruits and rewards.Tamasa Karman, |
| maturity. Man will, without force, without tampering | | | | where forces are put into motion out of ignorance, |
| unnaturally with his psyche, recall past lives without | | | | confusion, and delusion, without any real care and |
| becoming a psychiatric case. Those giving psychic | | | | concern for the consequences of one's deeds. |
| readings and hypnotic-regression sessions to individuals | | | | |