Is Reincarnation Real?
Clifford Jones
Author, brand-builder, and strategic facilitator. Founder of BrandEquityPlaybook.com, empowering brand-conscious creators and business owners.
Studying the Phenomenon of Existential Continuity
Did you know an entire department of academics at the University of Virginia has studied the phenomenon of existential reality for decades? Most people I ask about reincarnation don’t think much about it. Nor do they know about the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the University of Virginia. Because of my insatiably curious nature, I researched the subject further and decided to share what little I’ve learned.
What got me thinking about reincarnation was an encounter I had decades ago with a woman I met at a networking event. After the usual small talk, she said, “Let me see your hand.” After studying me and the palm of my hand for a minute, she said, “You were once a Native American chief who was killed during a battle against the army taking your lands.”?
I don’t know why, but I believed her. That encounter was enough to inspire me to learn more. And I’ve researched it ever since. At the risk of my readers rolling their eyes in disbelief, or worse, here’s what little I know.
Reincarnation Defined
The concept of reincarnation, or the rebirth of a soul in a new body after death, has captivated the human imagination for centuries. From the complex doctrines of Hinduism and Buddhism to folk tales and narratives around the globe, reincarnation has found a place in various cultural and religious contexts.
Reincarnation is the philosophical or religious concept that an aspect of a living being starts a new life in a different physical body or form after each biological death. It is a central tenet in many Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, but the idea also exists in various other cultures and belief systems worldwide. The notion of reincarnation suggests that the soul or consciousness is eternal and undergoes a cyclical process of birth, death, and rebirth in different lifetimes, often with the purpose of spiritual growth or karmic evolution.
The University of Virginia - DOPS
The Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the University of Virginia was founded in 1967. It was established by Dr. Ian Stevenson, who served as its director until 2002. DOPS was founded to study phenomena that challenge or don't fit into the accepted physicalist (materialist) assumptions of mainstream science. Such phenomena include near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, apparitions (or after-death communications), and children who claim to remember previous lives. The department, carried forward by Dr. Jim B. Tucker, has explored phenomena that challenge our current understanding of nature and existence, including reincarnation.
Dr. Stevenson's primary research interest was reincarnation, and he traveled extensively to investigate and document cases of children who remembered past lives. These investigations formed the foundation for many of DOPS's early studies, and his rigorous methodology set the tone for the division's approach to research.
Dr. Ian Stevenson is best known for his extensive fieldwork and documentation of children's spontaneous past-life memories. Over several decades, he meticulously collected and analyzed over 2,500 cases from various parts of the world. Here's an overview of some of his earliest travels and findings:
Stevenson's methodology involved rigorous cross-examination, checking the validity of statements made by the children, and ensuring that contamination (like suggestions from parents or other adults) did not influence the children's memories. He meticulously documented these cases, often including maps, diagrams, and photographs in his reports.
While Dr. Stevenson was careful not to claim these cases as definitive proof of reincarnation, he argued that consciousness's survival after death was the best explanation for many. He compiled his extensive research into a series of books, with "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation" (1966), one of his earliest and most influential works.
However, reincarnation also finds itself under the microscope of rigorous academic research, with scholars attempting to validate its occurrence through empirical evidence and historical references. Dr. Tucker continues Stevenson's work, and one of his striking case studies involves a young boy named James Leininger. James started recalling detailed memories of a downed World War II pilot, whose life and tragic death he could describe with an eerie accuracy that seemed beyond mere coincidence. Tucker discusses this case in his book “Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives.”
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Additional Academic Studies of Reincarnation
Apart from the Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) at the University of Virginia, several other academic institutions and programs worldwide have shown interest in studying phenomena related to consciousness, near-death experiences, reincarnation, and other related subjects. Some of these include:
These institutions and programs represent a segment of the academic interest in these phenomena. It's important to note that while studying such phenomena is approached with scientific rigor in these institutions, it often remains on the fringes of mainstream scientific discourse. As a result, researchers in these areas face both skepticism and methodological challenges. Nonetheless, these institutions' persistent exploration of these topics underscores the human fascination with understanding the full spectrum of consciousness and its potential mysteries.
Early Views of Reincarnation
While the research at DOPS and other institutions has provided some intriguing evidence, it's not the only source suggesting the possibility of reincarnation. Christian mystics and saints have, in various periods, entertained ideas of rebirth. The early Christian father Origen of Alexandria, in the 3rd century AD, advocated for the pre-existence of souls, a concept hinting towards a form of reincarnation. Though his views were later deemed heretical, they represent an intriguing subplot in Christian theological history. Considering this, I’m inclined to believe Origen.
St. Joan of Arc, a medieval Catholic saint, famously proclaimed she was the reincarnation of a legendary figure from an older time. Although the Church did not recognize this claim, it added another layer to the discussion about reincarnation in the context of Christianity.
Going back in history, we find these ideas of reincarnation or the transmigration of souls varied in detail and scope across different cultures and eras. They share a common thread: a belief in continuing the soul's journey beyond a single lifetime. In early Greek philosophy, these beliefs often coexisted with or were integrated into broader theological or philosophical systems, leading to rich and multifaceted interpretations of life, death, and the nature of the soul.
In conclusion, while reincarnation remains a phenomenon that science cannot conclusively prove or disprove, it presents a compelling question about the nature of life, consciousness, and the potential continuity of our existence beyond death. The research and the stories force us to consider our existence's profound mysteries and keep an open mind about the extraordinary possibilities of our life and death.
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This article was originally published here on Substack.
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3 周I believe I have lived as a great artist,painter. I paint and draw in bursts of energy. I may do 10 paintings and not do another for 10 or 20 years. My style always changes.
Semi Retired at None
12 个月“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and, above all, those who live without love.”??(the spirit of school headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) For me being reincarnated would be hell, which is largely about repetition of mostly unhappiness. I believe that Zen Buddhism even teaches that life is suffering or hardship occasionally interspersed with genuine happiness. Many chronically and pharmaceutically untreatable depressed people won’t miss this world. It’s not that they necessarily want to die per se; it’s that they want their pointless corporeal suffering to end. The greatest gift life offers such poor souls is that someday they get to die. Perhaps worsening matters is when suicide is simply not an option, meaning there’s little hope of receiving an early reprieve from their literal life sentence. ....
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1 年Thank you for creating this space. It has been ages since I read Dr. Stevenson's works. I came across him whilst researching angels and such from a multitude of cultures. I believe in reincarnation and distance healing and other things.
Senior Associate @ Meet Ventures | Driving Innovation & Growth for SMEs & MNCs ??
1 年Great insight, Thanks for posting
Great stuff Cliff! I'm a believer in this idea and all that you are doing! Keep up the great work!