2-rebirth and reincarnation - notebooks of paul brunton

14/5/2015 Rebirth and Reincarnation - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2 1/25

PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category9:FromBirthtoRebirth>Chapter2:RebirthandReincarnation

RebirthandReincarnation1

Thewheeloflifedoesnotstopforlongsoonitwillturnagainandpassfromthepointofdeathtothepointoflife.

2Thethoughtofthebody,ofbeingidentifiedwithit,guaranteesthatadyingpersonwillcomebackhereagain.

3Naturehastakenalongtimetopreparehimforthismomentlongerthanheknowsandusedmanydifferentformstodoso.

4Maneagerlyseeksafleshlytenementthroughreincarnationorisdrawnintoitbyhisdesiresdescribeitasyouwish.

5Tiedtothegreatwheelofbirthandrebirthastheyarebydesiresandlongings,thereisinthemstillnowishforrelease.

6Theoldpeoplewhowalkwithmelancholyface,feelingcondemnedtodierelativelysoon,willdobettertorecognizetheinexorablefatalitywhichmakesdeathalwaysfollowbirth,butwhichthenmakesrebirthfollowdeath.

7Thementalwavelengthonwhichwetuneinhelpstodeterminethekindoflifewehave,thekindofenvironmentweget.

8Boththethingswedesireandthosewedreadbringusintoincarnationagain.

9Betterthanbeingborntowealthyparentsisbeingborntowiseones,forthenthechildwillnotonlybetaughtspiritualvaluesbutwillseethemdemonstratedbeforehiseyes.

10Tobebornandbroughtupinanatmosphereofhighthinkingandwidesearchingthisisthechancewhichreincarnationgives.

11Achildisbornintoafamilynotbymerechancebutastheresultantofforcessetagoinginthepreviousbirthsbothbythenewlybornandbyitsparents.

12Parentsmaydowhattheywishtoencouragethegoodanddiscouragetheevilinthecharactersoftheiroffspring,butinbringingthemintotheworldtheytookachance.Forthechildrenbroughttheirowncharacterswiththemfrompreviousincarnations.

13Whenachildisbornoramandies,thenewworldofhisexperiencecannotbesaidtobe



eitherareadymadeoneoranentirelypersonalone.Thetruthliesinacombinationofboth.Themysteryofexistenceliesinthewonderfulwayinwhichsuchacombinationisbroughtabout.

14Noneofusisthrownintothisworldagainsthiswill.Allofusareherebecausewewanttobehere.

15Wereincarnateinpartthroughthepressureofaccumulatedkarmaandinpartthroughthepressureofhabitualtendencies.

16Someareeagertodescendintoabodyagain,butothersarereluctantandarehalfdraggeddown.

17Allmencomebacktobodilylifeagainiftheyleavearesidueofkarma.Allkarmathatisnotbroughttoanendbybringingthemind'sbondagetotheegothoughttoanend,makesreincarnationinescapable.

Theinfluenceofpasttendencies

18Thetendenciesbroughtoverfrompastbirths,theexperiencesandcontactsmadethenaswellasinthepresentone,explainhisactingashedoes,andhisbeingwhatheis.

19Heexcuseshisweaknessesbycomplainingagainstnature,whichhasprovidedhimwithinstinctsandpassionsleadingtothem.Butthatwhichhecallsnatureisreallytheinheritanceofhisowntendenciesfromformerlives.

20Atanygivenmoment,amanthinksandactsaccordingto,andasaresultof,hiswholementalandphysicalexperienceoflifeandhiswholecharacterandnature.Thesecannotbelimitedtothesingleshortlifeonearthhenowknows,forthatwillnotexplainmanyofhistendenciesandtraits.Theymustincludeallhispreviouslives.

21Allthingscontributetothemakingofmanthehistoryofhispastandtheclimateofhisland,thepeopleamongwhomheisborn,andhisownparticulartendencies.Themostimportantishiskarma.

22Themodernworldisacrucible,intowhichisthrownalltheideassofarrecoveredfromthepast,togetherwiththoseborninthepresent.

23Hefindshimselfwithintheframeofthetendencieshehasbroughtoverfromearlierbirths,modifiedorcorrectedorsupplementedbytheconditionsofhispresentbirth.

24Whetherornottheadvanceofageandtheaccumulationofexperiencehascausednewideastosupersedehisolderones,theunconsciousmindkeepsitsownregisterofevery



occasionandsituation.

25Thepastputsitselfintoeverythought,everyact,everyperceptioneven.

26Thematerialistsstretchthetenetofhereditytoanirrationaldegree.Nomanmerelyreproducesthecharacteristicsofhisparentsorofhisdistantforefathers.Thedifferencesexistandareplaininmostcases.Onthecontrary,thereisalwayssomevariationwhichseparateshimfromhisancestry,alwayssomethingoriginaltohimself.Andthisisexplicableonlyonabasisofreincarnation.

27Theoreticalacceptanceofthedoctrineofreincarnationleadsustocanceloutpartoftheclaimofthematerialiststhattheinfluenceofenvironmentmakesthewholeofman.Forasaspiritualbeing,theman'sessentialselfisalreadythereevenfrombirth,andisreallyunfoldinghimselfintoamaterialenvironment.Thelatterprovideshimwithconditionswhichenablehimtoexpresshimself,orbyfailingtoprovidethoseconditionshinderthatexpression.Buttheenvironmentcannotwhollychangeamanorcannotwhollyeliminatehistruecharacter.Whathereallyiswillsoonerorlatercomeoutandshowitself,withorwithoutthehelpofenvironment.Itistrue,however,thatapartofhimmightbeunabletoexpressitselfaltogetherowingtoacompletelyadverseenvironmentorsetofconditions.Nevertheless,theunexpressedpartwouldstillremainlatentlyexistentwithinhischaracterandevenifitneverexpresseditselfatallthroughoutthewholeofhislifetimeitwouldreappearandexpressitselfinalaterreincarnation.

28Weareasmuchthevictimsofourowntendenciesasofourenvironment.Theyshapehappenings,deeds,reactions,decisions,aspirations,andgrovelings.

29ThebeliefiscommoninEuropeandAmericathatwestartlifeasbabeswithablankcharacterorwithoneinheritedpartiallyortotallyfromparentsandancestors.

30Thecomplexesandtendenciespreexistingthepresentbirthandhiddendeepinhissubconsciousmind,mustsoonerorlatercomethroughtothesurfacemind.

31Inthefinalaccountingitislesswhatamanreceivesfromeducationthanwhathereceivesfromformerlivesthatmattersmost.Hiseducationmayhelptobringitoutandrounditoutbuthisinnatestockwilllargelybethemeasureofhisassets.

32Ancestrymaybringaman'sbody:itdoesnotbringhisgenius.

33Thetraitsandtendencieswhichamanreceivesfromtheprecedingbirthsconstituteintheirtotalitythepersonalselfwhichheknowsas"I."

34Whatamanbringsoverfromformerbirthsarethefixedideasinhisconsciousness,thehabitualdirectionofhisfeelingsandtheinnateimpulsesofhiswill.

35Thehabitsofthought,feeling,andconductwhichsettleuponamanreallyconstitutethe



man.Foritisthosewhicharebroughtoverfromtheexperiencesofearlierbirths,whichsproutupinhisyouthandripeninhismaturity,andthusexpressthemselvesthroughhisparticularpersonality.

36Whatamanis,needs,orhasdoneputshimjustwhereheis.

37Thatcharacterisshapedbycircumstanceandenvironmentonlyspiritualdreamersmaydeny,butthatitiswhollyshapedbythemonlymaterialistdreamersmayaffirm.Akeen,subtle,andsensitiveintelligencecantracebylogic,imagination,orintuitionthefactofitsownpreviousexistenceandhenceacceptthenecessityofitsdevelopmentthroughreincarnation.

38Theegoinheritsthetendencies,theaffinities,andtheantagonismswhichhaveshapedthemselvesinalongseriesofbirthsbehindthepresentone.

39Theinnatetendenciesofhismentallifegiverisetothenaturalcompulsionsofhisactivelife.Hecannotbehavedifferentlyfromthewayhedoesthatis,ifheisnotonthequestandthereforenotstrugglingtorisebeyondhimself.Hisownpastanditstretchesbackfartherthanheknowscreatedthethoughts,theacts,andtheconditionsofthepresent.

40Thereisadefiniterelationbetweenaman'scharacter,capacity,andtalentincombinationandhisfortunes,opportunities,andfrustrations.

41Thefutureofanyindividualispartlyforeseeabletotheextentthathischaracter,pasthistory,andhiscapacitiesgiveaclue.

42Wearehitinthefacebyourownsins.

43Thesethoughtshavebecome,byconstantrepetition,longstandinganddeeprooted.Thatistosay,theyhavebecomeinherenttendenciesandgoverningcomplexesoftheman'scharacter.Hehimselfseldomrealizeshowmuchandhowoftenheisattheirmercy.

44Thereisasagacitywhichcomesfromripenedexperienceandanotherwhichcomesfromdeepenedexperience.

45Menarenotseparatedfromeachotherbytheyardsbetweentheirbodiesalone,butevenmorebytheinequalityoftheircharactersandthediscordbetweentheirattitudes.Mendonotbecomeneighboursmerelybecausetheirbodiesliveneartoeachother,butbecausethereisaffinitybetweentheircharactersandharmonybetweentheirattitudes.Twolovingfriendsareneareachothereventhoughtheirbodiesareinseparatecontinentstwohatingenemiesarefarfromeachothereventhoughtheirbodiesareinthesameroom.

46ThemoreIreflectaboutmyglobaltravels,observations,andstudies,themoreIholdfirmlytothistruth:"Characterisfate."

47



Theimperfectionsinourcharactermeasureaccordinglytheunpleasantnessesinourexperience.

48Acompleteknowledgeofwhatmenareoughttoleadtoacompleteforeknowledgeofhowtheywillact.Butactuallythereisalwaysamarginofunpredictability.

49Itistruethatthewholeofwhatmanexperiencesisnotwhollyofhisowndirectmakingandthatonlyapartofitisso.Butthatisthelargestpart.Itistruethathisnation'slifeaffectsandisresponsibleforsomeofthecolourwhichhisowntakeson.Butwhywasheborninthatparticularnationduringthatparticularperiod?Theanswermustagainbethatheisgettingtherecompenseofhisownpastmaking.Forhisnationmayliedefeatedandwounded,oritmaystridetriumphantandprosperous.

50Weautomaticallytrytorepeattheoldpatternsofbehaviourcreatedinformerliveswhethertheyarebeneficialorinjurioustous.Thishappensbecausewecanhardlyhelpdoingso.

51Therecurrenceoftheseoldsituationswillgoonlifetimeafterlifetimeuntilthelessonislearnt.

52Wearevictimsofourownpast:itcreatesagrooveofimpetusandmomentumalongwhichwemove.Thisleavesnoroomforthenew,thecreative,toenterin.

53Wemayhaveforgottentheearlyandoriginalsourceofapresentbelief,aninveterateattitude,oranintensefeeling,butyetitmayhaveapowerfulholduponusandexertapowerfulinfluenceonouracts.

54Anaspirantmayresolvetodropthepastfrommemoryafterhehasabsorbeditslessons,toletitgobecauseitstillbelongstotheillusionoftime.Neverthelessitsconsequencesarestillthere.Theyarepresentinhiminwhatheisnow.

55Tendencies,habits,anddesiresinheritedfrompastlivesmaybeworthfollowing.Buttheymayalsobeharmful,ornegativeandnoteasilydislodged.

56Itisneitherfeasiblenordesirabletoeliminatealltracesofthepastfromhismind.

57Whatwewereinthepastisnotimportant.Whatwearenowisimportant.Whatweintendtomakeofourselvesinthefutureisvitallyimportant.

58Amancanrespondtoeventsortoprophets,todemandsortoexperiences,onlyonthelevelofhisowncapacityandmentality.Wehavenorighttoaskthatheshallbebetterorwiser.

59Characterandculturearetobegradedbytheinnerattributeswhichformerliveshavedevelopedbutwhichmaynotyet,inthepresentlife,befullyunfolded.



60Thepatheticthoughtsofwhatmighthavebeentormenthim.Butaretheyfutile?Iftheyshowhowactionscouldhavebeenimprovedanddecisionsbettered,theysowseedsforthenextbirth.

61Thisclingingtohabitsstandsinthewayofourhealthandevenofoursalvation.

62Wecomeintobirthasdistinctpersonsevenbabiesbegintoshowtheirindividualdifferenceswithcharactersformedalreadyinpreviousexistences.Thisisonereasonwhysomeamountoftolerance,someacceptanceofoneanotherasweare,isnecessaryifwearetolivepeaceablytogether.

63Wisdomhappens.Itmaybefoundamongtherichorrespectable,oritmaytakeaplayfulturnanddismaysnobsbybeingbornamongthepoororpariahs.Onlyfoolstrytotieclass,race,ornationalistlabelsontothesoul.

64Theessenceofcountlessexperiencesandstatesthroughwhichhehaspassedishereandnowwithhimasthedegreeofcharacter,intelligence,andpowerwhichhepossesses.

65Hewhohastakenmanybirthshasagreatwealthoftotalexperiencebehindhim.Thismanifestsitselfnaturallyinwiserdecisionsandbetterselfcontrol.

66Memoryisaspiritualfacultyinasmuchasitgivesusthechanceandmeanstoextractteachingwisdomandguidancefromthepast.Itenablesustovisualizepastexperienceandmakeiteitheraguideorawarningindealingwithpresentproblems.

67Thatatruthwhichissocleartotheirownmindscouldbesoobscuretootherminds,iseasilyexplicablebythegradingprocessesofreincarnation.Eachman'spresentstateandviewsaretheoutcomeofhispastexperiencesinpastlives.

68Somespendawholelifetimetryingtogetenlightenment,othersgetitinafewyears.Thedifferenceisaccountedforbythedifferenceinreadiness,ingrowth,andinbalance.

69Inreactionsanddesires,inneedsandmentalpatterns,intastesandinterestswemaysearchtheplanet'smillionsbutfindnotwoindividualsabsolutelyalike.Differenceandvarietyareimprinteduponthehumanrace.

70Wildanimalsaremercilessbuthumananimalsareamixedlot.Somearekindly,otherscruel.Thedifferencebetweenthewildandhumanvarietiesissimplyadifferenceinevolution.Thedistancebetweenthemisfilledwithbirths,experience,theresultantlessonsabsorbedleadingtotraitsdeveloped.

71Thesamesituationwhichleadstooneman'sdevelopmentleadstoanotherman'sdegradation.Thisissobecausetheircapacitiestodrawrightlessonsfromexperienceareunequal.



72Justaseachmanhasaseparateidentity,soallmenhavedistinctivetraitsandmarks,formandappearances.Naturedoesnotindulgeinthemonotonyofuniformity.

73Themanwhofindshismindsuddenlyilluminated,butdoesnotknowwhyitcameabout,mayfindhisanswerinthedoctrineof"tendencies"prenatalandkarmicreappearingfromformerlivesandheldhithertointhedeepermentallevels.

74Whereexperienceoflifeislimitedtoasmallarea,knowledgemaybejustassmall.Theresultreallydependsonwhatamandoeswithhismind,ifweassumethathehashadalotofexperienceinpreviousincarnations,eventhoughhemayhavehadlittleinthispresentincarnation.

75Thenotionthatwisdomcomeswithageisridiculedbytheyoungpeopleoftoday.Theyseesenilefoolsormiddleagedfailuresorleaderswhosepeoplefallintonewerandmorenumerousdifficultiesandconcludethattheythemselvesnotonlyknowbetterbutcandobetter.Yetthenotionisnottobedismissedsolightly.Thereisadeepgroundforitstruth,toodeepperhapsforcommonsight,andhenceonlyforthoseofinsight.Theagewhichisgrownintoaftermanybirths,ratherthanmanyyears,ismellowwithwisdomquitenaturally.

76Weoughtnottoaskmentoexpressqualitiesofcharacterandmindwhichneitherexperiencenorbirthenablethemtoexpress.

77Itiseasytodespiseasstupidthoseofobviousinferiorintelligence,butitwouldbewelltorememberthatwewereonceatthesamelevel.Thenotionofrebirthteachestolerance.

78Theadvancedmysticreachesapointinhislifewherehefindsitnecessarytoovercomethepullofthosepastperiods,whenhewasabletoliveinamorecongenialatmospherethanpresentdaycivilizationprovides.Becauseoftheworldcrisiswhichdominateseveryaspectoflife,heknowsitisnecessarytolookforwardandnotbackward.Andheknows,too,thatthisiswhyhefeelsimmenselyattractedtoaparticularplaceEgyptandIndiaarecommonexamples.

79Weareallbiasedandblindedbythepast.Weneedtoforceourselvestofacethepresentbythelightofthefuture,asamanforceshimselftobeartheburdenofprolongedhardworkwherefromhehopestoreaphishighreward.

80Thisincarnationwillbeworthwhileifonlyitisusedtorectifysomeofthemistakesofearlierincarnations.

81Wheneverthereisachoicetobemadebetweenthetruthofthephilosophicviewandthefalsityofthematerialisticview,theman'sspiritualagewillrevealitself.

82MenactuallydefendthemselvesagainsttheTruth,soattachedaretheytotheirancientthoughtformsandbeliefs.



83Ofwhatuseisittoquotetheneedforfollowingtraditionandobeyingauthorityorforjoininginprotestandrebellion?Menmoveintoactionoftheoneortheotherkindastheirtendenciesdictate,inaccordancewiththepressuresfromtheirpreviousbirths.ThisiswhatBuddhasawwhenhepenetratedandanalysedhumannatureandwhyheinsistedontheemancipationofoneselffromoneself.

84WhydosometaketotheTrueDoctrineatfirstglancewhereasothersandtheyarethemajorityspurnit?Theansweristobefoundintheinternalageorprenatalexperienceorreincarnatedtendencies.

85Whenintuitiverecognitionsoftruth,swiftflashesofunderstanding,comeonhearingorreadingtheseinspiredstatements,thisisasignofhavingbeenengagedinitsquestduringformerreincarnations.

86Weareinbondagetoourownpast.Whocandeliverus,saveourselves?

ReincarnationandMentalism

87Thatmenareatvaryingstagesofmentalcapacity,differentdegreesofspiritualresponse,andunequalincharacter,manners,selfcontrol,orreactions,isamatterofeverydayobservation.Thetheoryofreincarnationinmentalismoffersalogicalexplanationofthesedifferences,andadeeperonethanmaterialism's.

88Thetruthabouttheuniversecannotbehadunlessatthesametimewegetoutsidethelimitedviewsandemotionalprejudicesofthepersonallife.Norcanwegetatthetruthaboutourselvessolongaswethinkintermsofasingleearthlylifetime.Todosoleadstomentalshortsightednessandgivesanincorrectvisualimageofhumanlife.Allthisshowswhyweneedboththequest'sdisciplineandphilosophy'sknowledge.

89Thereisnodirectandincontrovertibleproofofreincarnation,butthereislogicalevidenceforit.Whyshouldtherebecertainabilitiesalmostwithoutprevioustraining?WhyshouldIbepossessedatanearlyageofthementalabilitiesofawriter,orsomeoneelseofamusician?Heredityalonecannotaccountforit.Butitisperfectlyaccountedforifweconsiderthemtoasubconsciousmemory.Iamunwittinglyrememberingandusingagainmyowncapabilitiesfromaformerbirth.ThisispossibleonlybecauseIammind.Mindalonecancontinueitself.Capacitiesinanyfieldcannotappearoutofnothing.Theindividualwhoshowsthemforthisrepeatingthemoutofhisowndeepermemory.ThereistheevidenceofNature.WhenIwakeupinthemorning,IpickupallthatIhadthedaybefore.Iremembermyownindividualityandusethesameliterarytalentsasbefore.Otherwise,Icouldneverwriteagain,orsomeoneelsecouldneversing.Thebasisofthisreminiscenceisnotaphysicaloccurrence,butamentalone.

90Itisnecessarytoknowhowmenthinkinordertounderstandwhytheythinkastheydo.Thestructureofthemindinhumanbeingsexplainswhytheyarriveatparticularconclusionsoracceptcertainbeliefsineachparticularcase.Butwithouttheideaofrebirththisexplanationremainsincomplete.



91Theviewswhichanyoneholdsintellectuallyarerelativetohisexperienceandstatus,hisinnatecharacterandreincarnatoryhistory.

92Isittruethatsoonorlateafterdeathweemigratetoanotherphysicalbody?Cansuchadoctrinebepartofareasonableman'sviews?Theanswerisyes.Norneedreasonaloneguideusinthismatter,forthevariedevidenceshavebeencollectedandstatedbyaveryfewauthors.Psychicalsensitivitytoinvisiblerecordsofthepastoffers,forwhatitisworth,someconfirmations.

93ThecapacitytocommunewiththeOverselfexistsinallmenitisauniversalone.Butitdoesnotexisttoanequaldegree.Forthosewhocanacceptthedoctrineofrebirth,theexplanationofthisinequalityliesthere.

94Whetherwehavelivedonthisearthbeforeandshallliveonitagainisamattersusceptibleonlyofmetaphysicalandnotofphysicalproof.

95Theverynatureofreincarnationpreventsanyonefromcompletelyprovingit.Butthereisnoothertheorythatissoreasonabletohelpusunderstandourevolution,history,capacity,genius,character,andinequalitynoothersousefultohelpussolvethegreatproblemofwhywearehereonearthatall.Thisdoctrine,thattheegorepeatedlyvisitsourplaneinfreshphysicalforms,isdemandedbyreason,suppliedbyintuition,andverifiedbyrevelation.

96Anymanisfreetousehismemoriesandexperienceseitherdestructivelyorconstructively:itisuptohimwhichusehemakesofthem.Thatenvironment,circumstances,heredity,andotherwellknownfactorsmayinfluencewhathedoeswiththemistrueenoughbutwhatheis,whatcharacterandtendenciesheexpresses,weretransmittedfromformerbirths,werepresentbeforeheacquiredtheattributesmentioned.

97Allhisexperiencesduringtheagesuponagesofhisexistenceasafinitecentreoflifeandconsciousnesshavelefttheirrecordinthemysteriousandmeasurelessseedatomofhisbody.

98Freud'spostulateoftheUnconsciousmindasastructureofforgottenunrecoverablememoriesisaprecursoroftherebirththeory.Itpreparesthewayforscientificacceptanceofthelatterandshouldinevitablyleadtoit.Inturn,itthrowslightonthedoctrineofkarma.Fortheegowhichrevivesoutofapparentnothingnessistheconsciousmindwhichreappearsoutoftheunconscious.Whentheproductionoftheseideaenergies(thatis,tendencies,samskaras)isbroughttorest,thentheycanneveragainobjectifyintoaphysicalenvironment,afreshrebirth,andthusmanbecomeskarmafreeandentersNirvana.Aslongashebelievesthatheisthebodyhemustreincarnateinthebody.

99Thereincarnationswhichprecedethepresentonecontributetoitscharacteristicsandhelptoshapeitshappenings.Butthisdoesnotmeantheygiveallitscharacteristicsandhappenings.Somedevelopoutoftheouterfactsandinnerreactionsofthispresentbirth.

100



Thestrangefeelingofhavinglivedbeforeandthereforeofhavingbeensomeoneelsemayflashbrieflythroughconsciousness.

101Hisconductwhilealivewillcontributetothekindofbodyandenvironmenthegetsnexttime,histhoughtandfeelingstoo.Weearnfromlifeandpassuphigherorgodownlowerlikepupilsingradedschool.

102Whereisanyman'sbiographywhichismorethanfragmentary,opinionated,andbiased?Forwithoutthebackgroundpictureofearlierlivesinotherbodiesthematerialsarethinnerthanthecompilerbelievesthemtobe.

103Onewhoknowssomethingofhispastliveshassomethingtothrowlightinsomewayonhispresentone.

104Thecommoncomplaintagainsttheideaofahumanreembodimentisthatwehavenorememberedknowledgeofwhathappenedand,therefore,ofthecausesofpresenttroublesforwhichwearepersonallyresponsible.Itisforgottenthatsuchknowledgecouldonlybehadatthecostofresufferingallthehorrorsandmiseriesofthepastaswellasitsjoys.

105ThebenevolentshieldofNatureprotectsusfromtheunhappypastotherwisewewouldsufferfutilely,asTaylorCaldwell,famedAmericannovelist,sufferedwhenshehadrecurrentnightmaresoflivinginadungeonduringtheMiddleAges.

106Ifthousandsofprenatalmemoriesweretocomecrowdingintogether,themind'slifewouldbehorrible,crazy.Worse,one'sownpersonalidentitywouldbelost,mergedinalltheothers.

107Itisnotatallnecessarytolearnhowwelivedinpastlivesinordertoknowhowbesttoliveinthisone.Suchknowledgemightbeusefulbutitalsomightbequitedangerous.Itcouldleadtoattemptstoevadewhatiscomingtousasaconsequenceofwhatwehavedonebefore.Suchevasioncouldrobusofachancetolearnthelessonsofthatexperience,whiletheattemptstogainthisknowledgecoulditselfleadtopsychism.AsufficientpracticalguidecanbefoundinPhilosophy'smoralwisdom,togetherwithone'sownconscience.

108Speculationsonformerbirthscandevelopintohallucinations.Itiswisetokeepofftheseuselessimaginationsandattendtothehereandnow.

109Whetheraman'slifebegovernedbyamoralitybaseduponreligionoranethicsinculcatedbybreeding,oruponneither,thereisasubconsciousconsciencealwayspresentwhichisahiddenundergroundfactorinhisoutlookanddecisions.Itcomesfromformerbirths.

110Onemayexperienceasenseoflossifhehasnotrecoveredthedegreeofawarenessachievedinpreviousincarnations.



111Whatweknowfrompastbirthsdoesnothavetobelearnedagainfromexperiencesofthesamekindinthepresentbirth,unlesswedonotknowitorfeelitstronglyenough.

112Ifhemustseektorememberpreviousexistencesnowlosttoconsciousness,lethimseekonlythosewhereinherosetohisspiritualbest,whereinhecameclosertoGodthanintheothers.

113Theunenjoyablelessonmaybeassimilatedbutthepasthasbeenrecorded.Memorycannotchangeit,cannotremoveitsunpleasantness.Sotheblanknessofthenewlyreincarnateblotsoutsuchmorbidsouvenirs.

114Thisfeelingthatwehaveseenthisplacebefore,passedthroughthatsituation,comesfromaformerpersonality.Thesoulisthesame,buttheoutermanisnot.

115Reincarnation.Wetellourchildrenstrangetalesthatbringayearningwonderintotheireyes,foroutofthefarpasttheirsimpleandunstainedsoulsrememberlandspeopledwithfairiesandgods.

116Isitsofoolishathoughttosaytooneself,"IsometimesidentifywiththeIndianssoclosely,sosympathetically,thatthisbeliefthatIwasonceoneofthemisquiteacceptable"?WhenIfirstheardofittheideaofreincarnationseemedinharmonywithNatureandneedednofurtherargumentinitsfavour.

117TherearesomewhofeelaspecialaffinitywiththeOrient,orratherwithaparticularOrientalcountry.Thisfeelinghassignificanceabouttheirpastprenatalhistory,andshouldbevaluedforwhatitis.Buttoletthepresentlifetimebewhollyovershadowedbythedeadpastisunwise.

118Ifthephysicalmemoriesofearlierlivesarelost,thementalcapacitiesandemotionaltrendspersist.

119Amanmaysitaloneinhissolitaryroomandstirbutlittlefromit,yetthewisdomofstrangelandsandstrangerageswillfloatintohismind.SuchaonehasreceivedahighinheritancedownthroughtheturningsofTime,agoodlypowerthatisthetestamenttohisstrenuouseffortsinsearchofknowledgeinformerlives.Somemenaresuchnaturalmysticsthattheyareborn,asitwere,withthethaumaturge'swandintheirhands.

120Itiscommonenoughtohearofpeoplewhowantaplaceinthereincarnatorysun,compensatingfortheirpresentobscuritybythediscoverythattheywereformerlyCleopatraorJuliusCaesarorthelikeintheirpreviousreincarnation.Welaughatsuchweaknessandvanitybutwemightasksuchpersonswhyshouldthepresenceofremembrancestopwiththelastbirth.Whataboutthebirthbeforethat?Whataboutthedozensofbirthsbeforethatultimateone?Whataboutthebirthsduringtheprehistoricperiod?Whypickononlythefirstandnotonthehundredthbirthfromthepresentone?

121



Thesameforceswhichbringusintotheexperienceofanewreincarnationalsodepriveusofthememoryofpreviousreincarnations.

122Wemayfeelthepullortherepulsiongeneratedbyeventsorbypersonsmetwithinotherlifetimes.Themeaningofsuchmeetingsshouldbesought,althoughitmaytakesometimeandexperiencebeforeitisfound.Ifaplaceorapersonseemsstrangely,eveneerily,familiar,sothatoneentersintoarelationshipwhetherasfriendorasenemyveryquickly,thiscanoftenbetakenasastrongconfirmationofaprenatalrelationship.

123Whatwelearnedinpreviouslivescomesbackagaininthepresentone,butitmaynotcomeearly,itmaycomelater.Muchdependsontheenvironmentastowhentheseoldqualitiescanreappear.Italsodependsupontheeventsandthehistoryoftheindividual.

124Eachnewbirthisneitheratotalreplayofpastonesnortotallydifferentfromthem.Therelationtoeachotherisnotonlythere,butalsototheWorldIdea,hencetothefargoal.

125Thehumanbeingdoesnotreachfullphysicaldevelopmentuntiltheskeletalstructure,particularlythewisdomteeth,reachesit.Thishappensbetweentheagesoftwentyfiveandthirty.Withthenewbodyfullyready,recapitulationoftheoldone'sexperiencesoonceases.

126Justasintheplayingofbilliardstheimpactofaballhittingasecondonegivesthelatteranimpetusandadirection,sothekarmaofonebirthisbroughtovertothenextbirth.Thisisnotthesameasaparticularentity,athingcalledego,beingcarriedover.

127Hisexperiencesinthislifewerelargelydecidedforhiminapreviouslifeonearth.

128Theconditionswhichsurroundamanarenoaccident.Theyaretherebecauseheiswhatheisandhispastiswhatitwas.IfanyoneignorestheLawofRecompenseandlimitshispasttothepresentknownlifetime,ignoringpreviousappearancesonthisplanet,thoseconditionswillmanytimesbeinexplicable.

129Thefeelingoffamiliaritywithsomeonemetforthefirsttime,ofvagueindistinctrecognitionwhichwesometimesget,mayhavevaryingsignificances.Butoneofthemisanechoofremembranceofpreviouscontactinapastbirth.

130Imaginehowmuchinconveniencewouldbecausedifscenesandoccurrencesfrompreviousliveskeptonintrudingintotheaffairsofthepresentone.

131Somefinditfascinatingtospeculateaboutwhomtheyarethereincarnationof,buttheyoughttokeepclearinmindthatthisisimaginationgivenfreeplay.Inothercases,however,thereisgenuineremembrance,whichmayappearineitherwakingordreamstates.

132Thesaintsweremartyrs.TheyacceptedalltheirsufferingascomingfromGodandeven



embracedit.ThePhilosophicwayistorealizethatitisoftenkarma,selfearnedandbroughtupononeselfhenceoneshouldanalyseitandtrytounderstandwhyithascomesothatthelessonwon'thavetoberepeated.

TheChristian,Muhammedan,andJewishreligionsmustacceptthedoctrinesofreincarnationandkarmaiftheywanttoestablishareasonableplaceforsufferingintheschemeofthings.

133Therearepeoplewhom,atasingleglanceandinasinglesecond,onefeelsonehasknownwellbefore.Withthemonemaydroptheconventionalpreliminaries,thetediouscircumlocutoryplayofmorewordsandfurthermeetingasbeingunnecessary.

134Whateverhelearnedinthepastyearsandbirthswasastepnotalwaysaforwardonetoberegardedasasourceoffurtherinstruction,experience,understanding,andpractice.

135Whenthebalanceisstruckattheendofeachreembodiment,whateverhehasachievedfallstothecreditofhisadvancement:itsvaluewillshowitselfinhisnextbirths.Butitisuptohimtoearnit,justasheisfreetoalimitedextenttodiminishwhathehadalready.TheEgyptianBookoftheDeadreferstoa"DayofJudgement."Thisisit.

136SinceitisnotfromtheanimalbutfromthehumanstatethattheEssenceofBeingcanberealized(becausetheanimaldoesnotpossessthenecessaryfaculties),theprocessesofrebirthmustfillthegapbetweenlowestanimaltohighesthuman.

137Whentheenergieshaverunout,andtheadvanceofyearsmustbemeasuredsadlywhenamanknowsatlastwhatheoughttohavedone,itistoolate.Thisiswhyanotherchance,anotherbirthonearthisneeded.

138Somethingdoesgetdistilledfromtheserepeatedexistences,howeverslowly.Thatmenlearnlittleornothingfromhistoryseemstruetomanymoralisticcriticstheyhaveagoodcase,butitstruthisonlyonthesurfaceofthings.

139Onlywhenthedesireforperpetuationofpersonalexistencefinallyleaveshimisamanreallynearthepointwhereevenalittleeffortproduceslargeresultsonthisquest.Butgettingtiredofthewheelofrebirth'sturningsdoesnotcomeeasily.

140Whyshouldthatwhichisperfectneedtobebornagainandagain?Thetenetofreincarnationistrueonlyfromthepointofviewoftheegoanditssenses.Itisnottruefromtheultimatepointofview.Itexplainsalltheinequitiesandsomeofthesufferingsoflifewithintheworlddream,butitismeaninglesswhenweawaketotherealworld.

141Butwhocancountthenumberoftimesalivingbeingmustincarnateintheplantworldbeforeitisreadytoentertheanimalkingdom?Nearlyahalfoftheaveragelifeisspentinrecapitulatingthepreviousincarnationaldevelopmentsothattheworkofanewincarnationdoesnotreallybeginuntilthen.

142



Itwouldseemthattheexperienceofawholelifetimeiswastedwhenpeopleexistinsuchspiritualtorpor,merelykeepingtheiranimalbodiesalive.Butofcourseitisnotreallysoforhoweverslightandoutwardlyunrecognizableinwardgrowthmaybe,itmustbethere,orNature'sprocessofreincarnationwouldbemeaninglessanduselessmechanicalrepetition.

143Ifanewbirthisanewopportunitytogainspiritualexperience,itisalsoanewopportunitytocommiterrorsandacquirevices.

144Lookingatthemonstrouswickednessandfollyintheworldtoday,itwouldseemastupidandhopelessefforttobelievethathumancharacterwillbecomeanybetterthanitwasandstillis.Butthefactofreincarnation,withitstremendouspossibilities,restoresthishope.

145Wechangealittleinappearancewitheachincarnationwehaveto.Butsometimeswechangealtogether.

146Weareincarnatedtobeeducated.Experienceprovidesthelessons,andnecessitygivesthedisciplines.

147Hisreappearanceonearthwouldbejustifiedbytworesultsalonethatitgivesamanachancetostartlifeanewandtomendcharacter.

148Itwouldbeabsurdtoregardeveryfreshrebirthasafreshadvanceinwisdomandvirtue.Thehumanentityisnotamechanicalentity.Therearelapses,regressions,failures,andstagnationsinitslongjourney.

149Justastheimpetusofonewavecausesanothertocomeintobeing,sotheimpetusofonehumanreincarnationcausesanothertofollowitinsuccession.Andjustasthesecondwavemaybesimilartobutnotidenticalwiththefirstone,sothelateregomaybesimilarto,butisnotidenticalwith,theearlierone.

150Allthereincarnationswhicharenecessarytotheunfoldmentofhischaracterandcapacitiesmustbelivedthrough.

151Theprospectofanendlessexistence,howevercyclicalandintermittentitmaybe,keepingonandonandonisnotattractivetoeveryoneandcertainlynottothosewhohaveweighedwellthemeasuresofjoyandsufferinginearthlylife.Alldesiresaremeltingdownintoasingledesirefornonexistence,buttheyhavedonesoonlypartially.

152Livingentitiescomeherefromlessevolvedplanetsjustaswegoontohigherones.But,inbothcases,thismustbeaccomplishedwithincertainlimitedperiods.Afterthatthepossibilityofentryceases.

153Thenotionthatwehumansreturntoearthforarenewedlifethrillssomepersonswith



pleasurebutotherswithdismay.Thisreactiondependsonthepersonalhistory,andonthephysicalmentalcondition.

154ItishardtounderstandwhyAdamandEveneededangelswithflamingswordstodrivethemoutoftheGardenofEden.Surelytheboredomofsuchaplacewasenoughinducementforthemtoleavevoluntarily,eveneagerly?Menpassthroughheavenduringtheperiodbetweenearthlyembodiments,yettheydonotremaintherebutmustreturnto"thisvaleofmisery."Why?Dotheycometoatimewhenunalloyedhappiness,withoutaflawandwithoutanopposition,canbesustainednolongerandachangefromthisEdenlikestate,anychange,seemsmorepreferable?

155Therewouldbelittleadvantageingatheringmoreexperienceonlytorepeateverymistakeeverytime.Althoughthisseemstohappenquiteoften,itcannotbeapermanentpattern.

156Whydowehavetolearnthesesimplebasictruthsthroughsomanyreincarnationsandatsohighacost?Thisisacomplaintsomepeoplemake.

157Inanotherbody,borninanotherland,life`spersistencebringsushereagain.Theoldgameintermittentlyrecurs,bringingitsjoysandgriefs.

158Thedevelopmentofthesefaculties,theunfoldmentofthesecapacities,andtheexpansionofthisconsciousnessarealsoincipientlypresentevenintheanimalreincarnationoftheentity.

Beliefsaboutreincarnation

159Reincarnationaccountsforthepredisposingfactors,thespecificurges,theparticularadditions,andthenaturalqualitiesofeachego.

160Whenhelooksbackuponthelongseriesofearthliveswhichbelongstohispast,heisstruckafreshbythesupremewisdomofNatureandbythesupremenecessityofthisprincipleofrecurringembodiment.Iftherehadbeenonlyonesinglecontinuousearthlife,hisprogresswouldhavebeenbroughttoanend,hewouldhavebeenclutteredupbyhisownpast,andhecouldnothaveadvancedinnewdirections.Thispastwouldhavesurroundedhimlikeacircularwall.Howunerringthewisdomandhowinfinitethemercywhich,bybreakingthiscircleofnecessity,giveshimthechanceofafreshstartagainandagain,setshimfreetomakenewbeginnings!Withoutthesebreaksinhislifesequences,withouttheadvantagesoffreshsurroundings,differentcircumstances,andnewcontacts,hecouldnothaveliftedhimselftoeverhigherlevels,butwouldonlyhavestagnatedorfallentolowerones.

161Thelawwhichpushesusinto,oroutof,physicalbodiesisacosmiclaw.Thereisnoblindchanceaboutit.

162



(a)NotuntilthefourthcenturywhenoneChristianpartybecamesuccessfulenoughtobearmedwithworldlypowerdidthepersecutionofGnosticsbegin.

(b)Intheattempttoeliminateunpalatabletenets,nolessthansevenCouncilswereheldinthoseearlycenturies.Heresuchtenetswerebrandedasheresiesandarrangementsmadetoexterminatethemthoroughly.EspeciallyattheCouncilofNicea(325a.d.)andthegreatCouncilofConstantinople(381a.d.),rebirthwaspronouncedaheresy,allthebooksteachingitwereferretedoutanddestroyed,anditsadvocatesthreatenedwithseverepunishment.

(c)YetnotonlyhadseveralChristiansectsbelievedinreincarnationbutsomeoftheearlyChristianFathers,too.TheFatherswhoheldmetempsychosistobetrueincludedOrigen,whoflourishedabout230a.d.,JustinMartyr,140a.d.,ClementofAlexandria,194a.d.,TertullianofCarthage,202a.d.ThesectswhohelditincludedBasilidians,thesecondcenturyMarcionitesofPontus,theValentiniensofEgypt,alsosecondcentury,andtheSimonians.Moreover,allGnosticsectshelditandtheywereoncemorenumerousthananyothergroupofChristians.Thisisimportant,thatmostoftheearlyChristiansbelievedinthisdoctrine.

(d)TheManichaeansalsotaughtrebirthand,togetherwiththeGnosticsandSamaneans,formedaconsiderablepartoftheearlyChristianworld.

(e)Wheretheliteraturewasnotdestroyeditwassoadulteratedorinterpolatedastomakeitappeareitherquiteridiculousorutterlyerroneous.ThehistoriansamongthelaterFathersevenaccusedtheGnosticsofeatingchildren!

(f)TheearlyGnosticscameclosertothetruth,butthelatercultswhichsprangupamongthemdepartedfromitbyintermixingitwithnonsenseandcorruptingitwithfalsehoods.

(g)Philo,himselfaJew,explicitlystatesthattheEssenesgottheirknowledgefromIndianBrahmins.EveryoneknowsthatrebirthwasanessentialfeatureoftheBrahmins'faith,soitisfairtoassumethatitwastakenupbytheEssenes,too.

163Wearegivenonelife,oneday,onepresenttime,oneconsciousspacetimeleveltoconcentrateonsothatNature'sbusinessinusshallnotbeinterferedwith.Yetotherlives,otherdays,othertimes,otherlevelsofconsciousnessalreadyexistjustasmuchatthisverymoment,eventhoughwedonotapprehendthem,andawaitourmeetingandexperiencebyafatednecessity.

164IwasnotsurprisedwhenJungtoldmethathecouldnotaccepttheideaofreincarnationbutcouldaccepttheideaofkarma.

165Werepeattheseappearancesonearthinaconstantprocessandalongcycleoftime.Butcontrastitwiththebeginninglessnessandendlessnessoflifeitself.Whatisthisbutafractionofafractionofamoment?

166Cantheinvisibleinnerbeingmigrateatdeath,afterasuitableinterval,fromonebodytoanother?

167ReincarnationisnowoneofthemostromanticandabusedoftheOrient'scommonplaceideas.ItislikeaservantstruttingintheelegantclothesofaCountess.



168Ifwebelievethatourpersonallifehasnomoresignificancethanarippleonthesurfaceoftheocean,itiseitherbecauseweareblindedbymaterialismorbecauseweareblindtotheultimatesecretsofhumanpersonality.

169Thebeliefinreincarnationisnotsofoolishasitseemstosomepeople:thereisreasonablefoundationforit.

170Todescendintothebody,toreincarnateinthefleshisitselfakindofcrucifixion.Notethattheheadandtrunkarerightangledbytherightandleftarmsformingacross.Thisissymbolicpartlyofthelossofhigherconsciousnesswhichthisdescententailsandpartlyofthepainsandmiserieswhichappearintermittentlyduringembodiment.

171FrommyunderstandingoftheteachingsoftheBuddha,themanwhohasannihilatedtheillusionofapersonalselfandwhohasbroughthismindundercompletecontrolwillnotberebornagainsthiswill,eventhoughheshouldindulgeinsuchnonBuddhisticpracticesaswearingleathershoesandeatingcheese.

172WhenamanhasestablishedhimselfintheUniversalself,intheawarenessofitsoneness,theseriesofearthlyreincarnationsofhispersonalselfcomestoanend.Forhimself,theywouldservenofurtherpurpose.

173Bringingrebirthtoanendhastwoesotericmeanings:(a)TheArhatisfreefromignorance.(b)Eventhoughheisrebornphysicallyinordertohelpothers,still,asheenjoystheawarenessofAtman,whichheknowstobedeathlessandunborn,hedoesnotlookathimselfasbeingreborn.

174Itiswelltorealizethatbeliefinreincarnation,orrebirth,isnotthesoledeterminingconsiderationofouractivities,asitisamongmanyinstitutionalizedapproachestoTruthintheOrient.

175TheChristianChurchwantedtoemphasizeitsdoctrinethatthenewlydisincarnatedsoulwentstraighttoheavenorhell.Thisisonereasonwhythebeliefinrebirthwaslaterstampedwiththemarkofheresy.Anotheristhatitcontradictedtheteachingoftheresurrectionofthebody.

176IoftenwonderedinthepastwhyitisthatthelandofBritainwhich,nearlytwothousandyearsearlier,acceptedandvaluedthedoctrineofreincarnationandthereforelookedondeathasanintervalbetweentwoearthlives,shouldhavesofarforgottenitsformerallegianceastodwellintheduskbetweenthenarrowlimitationsofsingleembodimentbeliefandthehopelessoutlookofagnosticismoratheism.Itispleasanttowelcomethecontemporaryrevivalofinterest,inmanycases,andacceptanceinothers,whererebirthisdiscussed.

177SomewhereinShakespearethereisthatphraseaboutourhuman"exitsandentrances"which,withitsreversalofthenaturalorderofbirthanddeath,Itaketomeanourreincarnation.



178In1938SomersetMaughamwrote,inTheSummingUp,afairreferencetothetheoryofreincarnationbutendeditbysayinghefounditincredible.In1944hereferredagaintothesametheoryandfoundit"theonlyplausibleexplanationfortheexistenceofevil,"althoughbeyondhumanverification.

179Ifallthoseprominentpersonswhoholdthisbeliefinrebirthweretocomeforwardandboldlyproclaimit,andifallthoseProtestantministersofreligionandCatholicpriestsorbishopswhoholditsecretlyweretoconfess,theworldwouldbeastonished.

180Wegliblyusethetermreincarnationwhen,undercertainconditions,thetermmetamorphosisismorepertinent.

181Ifasharpintellectshutsthedooronallauthoritiesexceptone,ithasonlyitsownfoolishnesstothankwhenitshutstruthoutwithitsaction.Sokeen,witty,andlogicalamindasSaintAugustine'sbrusquelyrejectedthedoctrineofthehumanentity'ssuccessivereincarnationsonearth.Yet,inthesamebook,TheCityofGod,heunhesitatinglyacceptsthecomputationthattheageofthehumanraceislessthansixthousandyears.HebaseshisreckoningonnothingmorethanthepettytribalhistoriescontainedintheOldTestament.Herejects,too,thegrandconceptionofthepaganthinkerswhoprecededhim,thattheworldhaspassedthroughcountlesscyclesandconsistsofaninfinitenumberofworlds.

182Thedoctrineoftransmigrationofsoulsintoanimalformswasgivenoutfor,andledtothesameeffectsas,thedoctrineofafterdeathpunishmentinhell.TimaeusLocrius,theteacherofPlato,saidasmuchandobservedthat"ifthemindwillnotbeledbytruereasoning,werestrainitbyfalse."TheBuddhistandChristianpictureofthesoulsofmurderersbeingburntinthefiresoftheunderworldservesthesamewarninganddisciplinarypurposeastheHindupictureofthosesoulsincarnatingintothebodiesofwildbeasts.Transmigrationofthiskindisnottobetakenliterally.Brahminpriestswhoteachitpubliclydonot,iftheyarealsoinitiatesinphilosophy,believeitprivately.Itistheexception,nottherule,andopposedtotheevolutionarycourseofNature.

183Anotherresultofafullcomprehensionofmentalismisthatitmakespossibleachangeofattitudetowardsthedoctrineofreincarnation.Thosewhorejectthisdoctrinebecausetheyarenotinterestedinanypastorfuturepersonwhoisnotcompletelyidenticalwiththeirpresentperson,donotperceivethatthislackofinterestarisesoutoftheirtotalselfidentificationwiththephysicalbody.Theyregardittobethereal"I."Butthisisuttermaterialism.Fortheydonotseethatthemental"I"ismorereallytheirselfthanthefleshlyone.Mentalismcanhelpgreatlytorectifytheirerror.

184Ifthedoctrinedidnothingmoreinitspracticaleffectsthaninspireitsbelieverswithasenseoflife'scontinuityandimpressthemwithawarningofpersonalresponsibilityfortheirfortunes,itwouldhavedoneenough.

185Wemaybesurprisedthatsomanyintelligentpeoplerefusetobelieveinreincarnationandkarma,eventhoughtheycannotexplainGod'sjusticewithoutthem.Thetruthisthattheyaredefectiveinintuitionanddependentonintellectandemotion.Butemotionandintellectalonearetoolimitedasinstrumentsforfindingtruth.



186Whateverweconstantlyconcentrateonprovidesoneofthefactorsinreincarnation.Ifwelovearaceoranindividualstronglyenough,weshallsoonerorlaternecessarilybedrawnintotheirorbitwhenreincarnating.Itisequallytrue,however,thatifwehatearaceoranindividualstronglyenoughweshallhavethesameexperience.Bothloveandhateareformsofconcentratedthought.Thenatureofconcentration,whetheritbethatoflikeordislike,attractionorrepulsion,doesnotalteritsstrength.

187Thetransmigrationofsoulsfromhumantoanimalbodiesisafiction.Theindividualconsciousnesswhichhasoneormorespecificallyhumanattributes,cannotbebroughtnaturallyintothebrainandnervoussystemofanycreaturewhichhasonlyanimalattributes.Thatmillionsofpeoplestillbelieveinitspossibilitymerelyshowshowwidespreadissuperstition.

188ThepopularHindutheoryofthetransmigrationofsoulsisnotquitethesameasthephilosophictheoryoftheevolutionofsouls.Accordingtothefirst,amanmayonceagainbecomeananimaloratreeaccordingtothesecond,thisisnotpartoftheordinaryprocessesofNature.Manysuperstitions,however,hidesometruthamongtheirnonsense,andthisisoneofthem.JustaseverybiologistknowsthatNaturesometimesproducesfreaks,andeveryphysicianknowsthatmonstrositiesaresometimesbornintothehumanrace,sotherearecaseswhereaderangedmindfranticallythirstingforaphysicalbodyafterthelossofitspresentonemaysucceedindrivingouttheinnerbeingofananimalformandtakingpossessionofit.Ifthismindisalsoveryevilaswellasderanged,itwillutilizethatformtoterrorizeahumancommunity.ButsuchhappeningsarebreakawaysfromtheordinaryprocessesofNatureand,therefore,uncommon.Thepenaltyforsuchunnaturaltransmigrationisinsanity,whichisthepricewhichwillhavetobepaidinthenexthumanbirth.Theegowillthenbetiedtoabodywhichitwillbeunabletouse,yetunabletoescapefrom.

189Whatevertheworldlyandphysicalexperiencesofamanmaybe,howevermaterialistichismentalattitudeandpersonalfeelingsmaybecome,hisessencebeingremainsuntouchedandunpolluted.Buthislinkwithitisanothermatter.Ifhefallstoolowthislinkmaybesothinnedthatheisthrownbackintoananimalbodyinhisnextbirth,tomakeanotherattemptatnormalprogressionintothehumancondition.

190Itissomethingrare,abnormal,andexceptional,butnotimpossible,forahumanbeingtobeputbackinananimalbody.Thenitbecomesanimprisonmentforonelifetime,andassuchapunishment.

191HadthetenetofrebirthnotbeenrejectedfromofficialChristiandoctrinebutincorporatedintoit,EuropeanandAmericanhistorywouldhavemovedtoaslowertempoandWesternmaterialachievementwouldhavereachedalowerheight.

192SeveraloftheearlyChurchFatherstaughtthedoctrineofreincarnation.Origenevencallsita"generalopinion."JustinMartyrdeclaresthatthesoulinhabitsahumanbodymorethanonce,andClementofAlexandriaassertsitwassanctionedbyPaulinRomans5:12,14,and19.Despitethis,theCouncilofNiceapronounceditaheresyin325a.d.,theCouncilofChalcedoncondemneditinthesamecentury,andfinallyinthereignofJustinianattheCouncilofConstantinoplein551553a.d.,itwasagainrepudiatedandits



supportersanathematized.TherewasnoroomforitalongwiththerestofCatholictheologyandespeciallywiththeteachingsonredemptionandpurgatory.Thereisnoroomforboththedoctrineofreincarnationandthedoctrineofeverlastingtormentinpurgatoryoneortheothermustgo.Sothefirstwasbrandedaheresyanditsbelieverswereexcommunicatedorpersecuted.Thesecondreasonforopposingitwasthat,thedoctrineofAtonementwasbroughtinlittlebylittleuntilitdisplacedthedoctrineofmetempsychosis,asitwasintendedtodo.Thesetwoalsocouldnotexistsidebyside,foronecontradictedthetruthoftheother.ThethirdreasonwasthatinthecontentionsforsupremacyamongthevariousChristiansects,thosewhichlateraroseinGreekandRomanpeoplestriumphedoverthosewhichexistedearlieramongOrientaloneswhobelievedinreincarnation,asmostOrientalsdoeventoday.

193ThecommoninterpretationoftheBiblicalsentence,"Dustthouart,andtodustthoushaltreturn,"wasinterpretedbytheJewishmedievalKabbalistsandbyinitiatedRabbisofantiquityasreferringtoreincarnation.

194GreekswhobelievedstronglyintheideaofrebirthwerenotonlytheinitiatesoftheOrphicMysteries,butalsoamongthemostcelebratedthinkers,especiallyPlato.

195SomeupperrankmembersoftheCatholichierarchywhoprivatelybelievedbutpubliclyrejectedthetenetofreincarnationgaveme,astheprincipalobjectionamongafewothers,thatitallowedtoolongatimeforpeopleeithertoworkforsalvationorreceivepunishmentforsins.

196Thereissomethingawesomeinthethoughtthatbirthanddeathwithinthehumanspecieshavebeengoingonformillionsandmillionsofyears.Todayweseetheoutcomeofallthisvastlineofexperience.

197Buddhatriedtogethisfollowerstoabandonthewilltolive,buthedidnottrytogetthemtocommitsuicideofthephysicalbodyrathertokilloutthecravingsanddesireswhichtiedthemtoreincarnationandledtotheirreturntothatbody.

198Ifdeathissomuchafeatureofthedivinearrangementsintheuniverse,wemustacceptthatthedivinewisdomisnotfaultedhereandthat,likethephoenix,outofthedeathofeverycreatureshallariseanewone,anewform,apparentlyanewlife.

199Tocarrytheburdensofexistenceinonebodyafteranotherthroughalongseriesmayseemanunpleasantprospecttosomeminds,asitdidtoGautamainIndiaandSchopenhauerinGermany.

200Certainreligiousbeliefshavecomequiteclosetotheideaofrebirthbutatthecrucialpointhavegoneoffatawidetangentandmissedthetruthaltogether.Onebeliefleadstotheexpectationofaphysicalresurrectionofthedeadtheothertothepracticeofaphysicalpreservationofthedead,asinmummification.

201Toassertthattimedoesnotreturnonitself,thathistorydoesnotrepeatitsstory,istoshowanignoranceofthefactofhumanreembodiments.



202Itisnotoftenworthallthetroublesandpainsofbeingbornandenduringallitsconsequences,evenallowingforthepleasantinterludes.Buddhawouldcertainlynotagreewithanyoptimistaboutthismatter.

203InthelengthywritingsofthefathersoftheearlyChristianChurch,wecanfindapprovalofbeliefinthedoctrineofreincarnationexpressedbySaintMethodius,Origen,Synesius,andPamphilius.

204Eachcomestothefrontofthestage,playsouthisallottedrole,andmovesaway.Shakespeare'spicturesquestatementofthehumanpredicamentcomestolargermeaningwheninterpretedintermsofrebirthinseries.Allmankindbecomeacompanyofactors,appearinginplayafterplay,eachstorydifferent,eachpartactedinanewbody.

205TheperiodicreturntoearthlifewasabeliefsharedbypoetslikeGoethe,Shelley,andBrowning,bythinkerslikePlato,Schopenhauer,andSwedenborg.

206Hasthecelebratedthinker,theVeryRev.Dr.W.R.Inge,becomeanadherentoftheHindudoctrineofthereincarnation?ThisisthequestionaskedfollowinghisconfessioninaLondonnewspaperarticleinMarch,1944,thathebelievesthereisan"elementoftruth"inthistheoryofpersonalitycommontotheIndianmassesandmysticsofallcountries.

DeclaringthattheerrorofWesterncivilizationincrisisliesinawrongideaofthehumanpersonality,hesaysthatthetruthisexpressedinthe"mostfamousIndianpoem"whichsays,"Neverthespiritwasbornthespiritshallneverceasetobebirthlessandchangelessanddeathless,thespiritabidethforeverdeathcannottouchitatall,deaththoughthehouseofitseems."

Thismeans,hesays,thatimmortalityisnotastringwithonlyoneend,whichisdifficulttobelieve.Withinthetimeseries,thatwhichhasnoendcanhavehadnobeginning."TheIndiansandGreeks,bothconvincedofsurvivalandpreexistence,standorfalltogether."

Dr.Ingeconsiderstheabsenceofmemorynofatalobjectionfortheremaybeunconsciousmemory."Whotaughtthechickentogetoutofitsegg?Icannottell,butthereisnomysteryaboutallthis.

DefendinghimselfagainstthecriticismthatadignitaryoftheAnglicanChurchhasnobusinesstodabbleinsuch"heathenbeliefs,"Dr.IngedeclaresthatrebirthisnotalientoChristianthoughtandassertsthatitisimpliedinmanytexts."

ComingfromoneoftheintellectualleadersoftheEnglishChurchandaformerDeanofSaintPaul'sCathedral,theforegoingadmissionisofoutstandinghistoricalimportance.ThedoctrinemustnowbeconsideredworthseriousdiscussionbyallWesterneducatedpersonsandnolongerlefttoafewqueerdreamersassomethingbizarreandexotic.Itsincreasingacceptancewillalsobeatriumphovermaterialism.Rebirthidentifiesamanmorewithhismindthanwithhisbody.Itthusaccordsperfectlywithmentalism.

207GurdjieffandhisonetimediscipleOuspenskyrevivedthedoctrineofEternalRecurrenceandputitforwardasabetteralternativetothedoctrineofReincarnation.IfweexaminethehistoricTibetanBuddhistsymbolcalled"TheWheelofLife,"weseepicturesof



humanbeingsbeingmovedthroughcontrastingphasesofexperienceasthewheelturnsround.Butafteritcomesfullcircletheyaresubjectedtoexactlythesameconditions,thesamephasesasbefore.ItispertinenttorememberthatGurdjiefflearntaboutEternalRecurrenceinaBuddhistmonasteryinCentralAsia,wherethesameversionofBuddhismprevailsasinTibet.Itisalsopertinenttorememberthemonotonousmovementoflifeforthesomewhatprimitiveinhabitantsofthatwildregionforcenturiesuntilverylately.Thepatternoftheirexistencerecurredagainandagaininthesameway.Whatmorefittingintheirbeliefsthanthattheirrebirthswouldbesimilartoo?

208Bydifferentturnsinthecourseofhismentalexistencehetakesdifferentbodies.WidespreadinAsiafromtheearliesttimes,acceptedbymanyofthethinkersinancientGreeceandRome,bytheDruidpriestsofBritainandtheDacianpriestsoftheBalkans,thetheoryofreincarnationhasbeenbothknownandfavoured.

209IntheBuddhistsymbolismthewheelofliferollson,draggingmanwitheachcompleteturnthroughanotherreincarnation.Againandagainhegoesthroughthesameexperiencesuntilhegetswornoutandtiresofthemandseeksreleasefrombeingtiedtothewheel,thereleasewhichiscalledNirvana.

ReincarnationandtheOverself

210Wehavetobecomeinactualitywhatweareinpotentialityallourrebirthsareengagedinthisprocess.

211Whetherweconfrontthemysterycalleddeathortheequalmysterycalledlife,therevelationmustcomeinoneortheotherstate:thereisaconnectionwithHEWHOIS.ForthisarewebornandouroscillationbetweenthetwohappensattheMindoftheWorld'sbehest.As,sosleepilyandunwittingly,weshapeandlightupthesefragmentsofbeingthatweare,quitesimplytheconnectiongetsuncoveredmoreandmore.

212UntilhefindshisOverself,nomancanescapethiscomingbacktotheearthlylife.Andthisremainstruewhetherhelovestheworldorisdisgustedbyit.

213Thelotusflowerofthesoulunfoldsbutslowlythroughmanybirths,yetitiscertainandsure.Thisisindeedbetterthanthemerestuffingofthebrainwithlearnedlumberthathastobeabandonedwitheachdeath.

214Wecomebacktothisearthofoursandnottosomeotherearthbecauseitisherethatwesowtheseedsofthought,offeeling,andofaction,andthereforeitisherethatwemustreaptheirharvest.Natureisorderlyandjust,consistentandcontinuous.

215Patience,littlemen,thereisnopossibilityofyourmissingsalvation.Whatifyouhavetowaitthroughanumberofreincarnations!Youcannotlosethiswidestretchedgame,playedallovertheplanet,foryoucannotloseyourinnermostbeing.TheCovenantwithyourCreatorhasbeenmadeandmustbefulfilledintheend,howeverdubioustheprospectseemstoday.



216Weneedmorelifetimesandplentyofthemevenhalfahundredwouldnotbeenoughtodotheworkuponselfwhichhasbeenassignedusasourhighestduty.Thisiswhyreincarnationisafact,andnotafable.

217Hopecomestohimfromthisbenevolentsource,evildepartsfromhimashedrawsonthesehigherenergiesfordefense,andetherealpurposesurroundshisentirelifelikeanaura.Heknowsthathishistorydidnotbegininthecountrywherehewasborn.Heknowsthatitwillnotendinthebodyinwhichhedies.

218Thepassagefromquesttoconquestwouldbeimpossibleformosthumansiftheyhadonlyonelifetolive,onebodyforthestartandthefinish.

219TherecanbenoSecondComingofChristtheConsciousnessforitneverwentaway.TherecanbeareturnofJesusthemanembodyingandreflectingthatConsciousnessforthepersonmaybebornandrebornasGodwills.

220TheLongPathideaofreincarnationisillusory.TheShortPathideaofitisthatitisanundulatorywave,aripple,amovementupwardonwardanddownward.Sincethereisnoegoinreality,therecanbenorebirthofit.Butwedohavetheappearanceofarebirth.Notethatthisappliestoboththemindandbodypartofego:theyarelikeabubblefloatingonastreamandthenvanishingorlikeaknotwhichisuntiedandthenvanishestoo.Wehavetoacceptthepresenceofthispseudoentity,theegothismentalthingbornofmanymanyearthlivessolongaswehavetodwellinthatothermentalthing,thebody.Butwedonothavetoacceptitsdominancewedonothavetoperpetuateitsrule,forallisintheMind.Wherethenarethereincarnatoryexperiences?Appearanceswhichwerelikecinemashows.Theyhappenedinatimeandspacewhichwereinthemind.Theindividualwhoemergedlosttheindividualityandmergedinthetimelessnessofeternity.ThisistheunchangingindestructibleConsciousness,theOverself.

221Areallthevariedjoysandsufferingsundergoneonlytocometoacompleteendindeath?Isallthevastintelligenceofthisuniversewhichgavebirthtoourownminutefragmenttobeforeverseparatedfromus?No!Weshallliveagain,dieagain,andreturnagainunlessanduntilwehavefulfilledthedivinepurposewhichbroughtushere.

222Ifithadbeenpossibletoattainsalvationinthenonphysicalworlds,wewouldnothavebeenborninthisone.Weareherebecausenowhereelsecouldwe,inourpresentstateofprogress,findtherightenvironmenttoripenthosequalitieswhichwillleadusfurthertowardthisultimategoal.

223Theeventualtrendofevolutionisthroughandawayfrompersonality,aswenowknowit.Weshallfindourselvesafreshinahigherindividuality,thesoul.Toachievethis,thelowercharacteristicshaveslowlytobeshed.Inthissense,wedodietotheearthlyselfandarebornagaininthehigherself.Thatistheonlyrealdeathawaitingus.

224Thepossessionofmoralvalues,metaphysicalcapacities,andspirituallyintuitivequalitieswhichdistinguishmoreevolvedfromlessevolvedmentakestimetoacquiresomuchtimethatreincarnationmustbeacontinuousprocess.



225Ifitweretruethatabadmanmustalwaysremainbad,wherewouldthehopebeformankind?ButintheperfectwisdomoftheInfiniteMind,humanlivesaresoarrangedthatthebadmanwillgoongarneringtheuntowardresultsofhisdeedsuntilhismind,firstsubconsciouslybutlaterconsciously,perceivesthelogicalandcausalconnectionbetweenhisactandhissufferingandbeginstheattempttocontrolhiseviltendencies.Boththiseducationandthiseffortwillcontinuethroughmanybirthsforasingleonewouldbetooshortintime,toopoorinopportunity,forsuchatotalreformationtobeachieved.

226Eventhosewhoarewellintentionedandspirituallymindedmakemanymistakesinlifesimplybecausetheycannotseetheunfortunateresultstowhichtheirwrongdecisionsandactionsmustnecessarilylead.Onlyexperiencecanleadtotheircorrectionandonlyreincarnationcangiveenoughexperience.

227Whatishappeningtohischaracteristics,whatheislearningfromexperienceliesinmoreorlessdegreebelowthethresholdofconsciousness.Onlytime,withitsrepetitions,andthought,withitsconclusions,willshiftthelessonorabilityintovisiblemanifestationabovethethreshold.

228Lifeinthefleshisagiftifweareusingitrightlybutitbecomesacurseifwearenot.EveryincarnationshouldbeusedtohelponegetsomewhatfartherindoingthisjobofachievinganOverselfinspiredexistence.

229Thedifferencebetweensavageandsagemaybeonlytwolettersinspelledwordsbutitmaybetwothousandincarnationsinhistoricmeaning.

230Whatevermistakestheaspiranthascommittedinthepastandwhateverresultsfromthemheissufferinginthepresent,heshouldlooktothefuturewithsomehopeandneverletitdeserthim,forevenifthathopecannotberealizedinthepresentincarnationitmaybeinthenext.Timeispassing,wecomeandwego,andintheendtimeisillusory,butweremain:thebestinusremains,therestwillgo.

231Thechangesofpersonalidentityundertheprocessofreincarnationaloneshowthatthelittleego'simmortalityisareligiousillusion.Onlybyfindingitshigherindividualityisthereanychanceofpreservinganyidentityatall,beforeNaturereabsorbswhatithasspawned.

232Plant,animal,andhumanbodiespassthroughthiscycleofgrowth,maturity,decayanddeath.Allthismeansbeingexposedtodifferentforces,differentexperiences,resultinginthedevelopmentofconsciousness.

233TobecomeManasevolutionintendshimtobe,hemustdrawoutallhislatentresources,filloutawideexperience.Thisiswhysomanyreincarnationsonearthareneeded.Untilthen,hisrealizationasManwillbeanincompleteone.

234Inthestrictestmeaningoftheterm,nomancangiveuphimself,fornomancangiveup



hisinnermostbeing.Butwhatisreallymeantbythetermandwhateverymancouldgiveupisthefalsesenseofselfwhichmakeshimthinkthatheisonlytheegooronlythebody.

235There,inthisnecessityofdeveloping,balancing,andcoordinatingallthepartsofone'sbeing,isafurtherargumentforthenecessityofreincarnation.Asinglelifetimeistooshortaperiodinwhichtofulfilsuchatask.

236Theripewisdomofasagecouldnotpossiblybethefruitofasinglelifetime,butonlyofmanylifetimes.

237Theexperiencesoflifewillintheendovercometheseinnerresistances.Thesilentinstructionmultipliedduringthereembodimentswilldefeatthepsychologicaldefensemechanismssetupagainstunpalatabletruthsornewideas.Itistherepetitionanddeepeningofalltheselessonsthroughtheaccumulatingrebirthsthatenableswisdomtopenetrateconsciousnesscompletelyandeffectively.

TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

2-rebirth and reincarnation - notebooks of paul brunton

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