Is Reincarnation Real?

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:

1. India: One of his earliest and most frequently visited locations was India, where the cultural and religious backdrop often facilitated reporting such cases. He came across many instances where children gave specific details about their alleged past lives, families, and the manner of their deaths. One well-documented case was of Shanti Devi, a girl from Delhi who remembered a past life in Mathura, details of which Stevenson verified.
2. Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, Stevenson researched and documented multiple cases. One of the most striking was the case of a child named Anuradha Seneviratne, who recounted life in a different village, with details that were later verified.
3. Alaska: Stevenson traveled to remote villages in Alaska and documented cases among the indigenous Tlingit and Yup'ik populations. These cases were particularly intriguing because they often involved birthmarks corresponding to injuries or wounds from a remembered past life.
4. Lebanon: One of the compelling cases from Lebanon was that of Imad Elawar, a boy who remembered living in a nearby village and provided over 50 specific details about his previous life, family, and how he died, many of which were verified.
5. Brazil: Stevenson traveled to Brazil and documented cases such as Marta Lorenz, who remembered being her daughter in her previous life. This case was intriguing due to the close relationship between past and current life.
6. Burma (Myanmar): Here, he documented the case of Ma Tin Aung Myo, who claimed to be the reincarnation of a Japanese soldier killed during World War II. Her knowledge of Japanese culture and language was puzzling, given her background.
7. West Africa: Stevenson also documented cases in tribes of West Africa. These cases stood out because they occurred in cultural contexts where reincarnation beliefs differed from those in Asia.

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.”

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:

1. The Rhine Research Center. Originally affiliated with Duke University, the Rhine Research Center was among the first to conduct scientific investigations into psychic phenomena, including telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.
2. The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). Founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell, IONS researches the nature of consciousness, including phenomena like intuition, distant healing, and mind-matter interactions.
3. The Parapsychology Foundation. Founded in 1951, this organization supports the scientific investigation of psychic phenomena. It supports research, conferences, and publications in the field of parapsychology.
4. The Koestler Parapsychology Unit. Located at the University of Edinburgh, this unit researches areas like telepathy, the feeling of being stared at, and the possible survival of human consciousness after death.
5. The Consciousness and Transpersonal Psychology Research Unit at Liverpool John Moores University. This unit looks into altered states of consciousness, spiritual experiences, and the effects of meditation and mindfulness.
6. Center for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP) at the University of Northampton. CSAPP researches areas related to the extended mind hypothesis, the survival hypothesis (which includes reincarnation), and the effects of belief in the paranormal.
7. Division of Neuroscience at Lund University, Sweden. This division has researchers like Etzel Carde?a, who study hypnosis, dissociation, and anomalous experiences, including parapsychological phenomena.
8. California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). CIIS offers academic programs incorporating transpersonal psychology, including studying spiritual or transcendent experiences, such as altered states of consciousness.

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.

1. The Druids. The ancient Celts, mainly their priests known as the Druids, are believed to have believed in reincarnation. Classical sources, including the writings of Julius Caesar in "De Bello Gallico," suggest that the Druids believed that the soul did not die but passed on to another body after death. This belief influenced their bravery in battle and their approach to life and death. The Druidic tradition emphasized the cyclical nature of existence, mirroring the cycles of nature.
2. Pythagoras. The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras is famously believed to have remembered his past lives. He claimed that he had lived four lives that he could recall in detail, and this belief in the transmigration of souls was a significant component of the Pythagorean doctrine. Some accounts even suggest that Pythagoras remembered being present at the Trojan War in a past life.
3. Plato. Another towering figure in Greek philosophy, Plato, discussed reincarnation, particularly in his works "The Republic" and "Phaedrus." In "The Republic," he describes a myth where souls choose their next lives, followed by a period of forgetting (Lethe) before being reborn. In "Phaedrus," Plato elaborates on the soul's journey, its multiple incarnations, and the process by which it can achieve perfection.

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.

Sources:

1. Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), University of Virginia: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/
2. Stevenson, I. (1974). Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation.
3. Tucker, J. (2005). Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives.
4. Edwards, P. (2002). "Reincarnation: A Critical Examination" Prometheus Books.
5. Rivas, T. (2003). "Three Cases of the Reincarnation Type in The Netherlands" Journal of Scientific Exploration.

This article was originally published here on Substack.