Reincarnation, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that one's 'Spirit' ('Soul' depending on interpretation), 'Higher or True Self', 'Divine Spark', 'I' or 'Ego' (not to be confused with the ego as defined by psychology) or critical parts of these returns to the material world after physical death to be reborn in a new body. The natural process is considered integrative of all experiences from each lifetime. A new personality feature, with the associated character, is developed during each life in the physical world, bas ...

Including:

• Reincarnation - Overview
• Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions traditions and philosophies
• Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions
• Reincarnation - Western religions and traditions
• Reincarnation - Contemporary movements and thinkers
• Reincarnation - Common variations in the belief
• Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research
• Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation
• Reincarnation - Theories put forward to explain the phenomenon
• Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Encyclopedia - Reincarnation

See also:

Reincarnation, Reincarnation - Overview, Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions traditions and philosophies, Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Western religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Contemporary movements and thinkers, Reincarnation - Common variations in the belief, Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research, Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation, Reincarnation - Theories put forward to explain the phenomenon, Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research

Objections to metempsychosis include: that personal identity depends on memory, and we do not remember our previous incarnations. An answer given by Hindu philosophers (like Swami Vivekananda) is that though we do not remember our infanthood, we cannot deny its reality. Another common answer is that this perforce requires the limiting of memory to the known life, thus creating a circular argument; the past life cannot be real because they are not remembered, because whatever it is that is claimed to be a memory does not meet the definition of memory as belonging to ...

See also:

Reincarnation, Reincarnation - Overview, Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions traditions and philosophies, Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Western religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Contemporary movements and thinkers, Reincarnation - Common variations in the belief, Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research, Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation, Reincarnation - Theories put forward to explain the phenomenon, Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation

Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions. In India this doctrine was thoroughly established from ancient times. While metempsychosis was not established in the older sections of the Vedas, it was explicated first in the Upanishads (c. 1000 BC - AD 4), which are philosophico-mystic texts held to be the essence of the Vedas. The idea that the soul reincarnates is intricately linked to karma, whose first explication was also seen in the Hindu books of the Upanishads. The idea is that individua ...

See also:

Reincarnation, Reincarnation - Overview, Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions, traditions and philosophies, Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Western religions and traditions, Reincarnation - Contemporary movements and thinkers, Reincarnation - Common variations in the belief, Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research, Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation, Reincarnation - Theories put forward to explain the phenomenon, Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions, traditions and philosophies

What is the process of reincarnation?

Carnate means flesh. The word reincarnate means to "reenter the flesh." We Hindus believe the soul is immortal and keeps reentering a fleshy body time and time again in order to resolve experiences and thereby learn all the lessons life in the material world has to offer. To hindus, it explains the natural way the soul evolves from immaturity to spiritual illumination. I myself have had many lives before this one and expect to have more. Finally, when I have it all worked out and all the lessons have been learned, I will attain mukti. This means I will still exist but no longer be pulled back to incarnate in a physical body.

Read more here: » Hinduism: What is the process of reincarnation?

Basics of Hinduism: Do Hindus believe in reincarnation?

Yes, we believe the soul is immortal and takes birth time and time again. Through this process, we have experiences, learn lessons and evolve spiritually. Finally we graduate from physical birth.

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Double Birthmarks: The Case Of Titu

The case of Titu Singh that appeared in the London-based magazine Reincarnation International is one of the more fascinating cases of double birthmarks. This story was first broadcast in 1990 on the BBC TV news program "Forty Minutes." The case of Titu who named names and details of his own murder made for exciting TV drama. By the way, the resemblance to the case of Ravi Shankar is not surprising because cases of murdered victims returning in a new body to haunt their murderers is not an uncommon theme in these past life cases.

Read more here: » Double Birthmarks: The Case Of Titu

Nine Questions About Hinduism

Prepared for the July 4th, 1990 meeting of the youth of the Hindu Temple of greater Chicago, by Gurudeva, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

1) What is the Hindu definition of God-monotheistic or polytheistic?

2) Could you describe the process of reincarnation?

3) What is karma?

4) Why do Hindus regard the cow as sacred?

5) Are Hindus idol worshippers?

6) Is there a rule about Hindus eating meat?

7) Why do Hindu women wear the dot on the forehead?

8) Is the memorization of slokas and mantras essential to being a good Hindu?

9) How can we use scriptures and the Bhagavad Gita or religious books as a practical guide to growing up in the United States?

Read more here: » Hinduism: Nine Questions About Hinduism

"Who do you say I am?" (Luke 9:20, NIV) The question was first asked of Peter by Christ nineteen centuries ago, and has continued since then to the present day to be the litmus test of spiritual authenticity. Perhaps never in the history of the Christian church has this question been more relevant than it is today. One reason for this is that New Agers have taken the New Testament sculpture (if you will) of Christ, crafted an esoteric/mystical chisel, and hammered away at this sculpture until a completely new image has been formed.

Read more here: » New Age Movement: The Christ of the New Age Movement � Part II

Carol Bowman is an author, and the maintainer of a web site dealing with Children's Past Lives, which is also the title of one of her books. In her books and on her web site, she writes about cases of children who seem to recall past lives (spontaneously, that is, without the need for hypnosis). These cases seem to offer some evidence of reincarnation. To some degree, Carol Bowman builds upon the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, but her books are slanted more toward the casual reader, and generally do not contain the meticulous research and documentation found in Dr. Stevenso ...

Read more here: » Carol Bowman: Encyclopedia - Carol Bowman

Algernon Henry Blackwood (March 14, 1869 – December 10, 1951) was a British writer of tales of the supernatural. Although Blackwood wrote a number of horror stories, his most typical work seeks less to frighten than to induce a sense of awe. Good examples are the novels The Centaur, which climaxes with a traveller's sight of a herd of the mythical creatures; and Julius LeVallon and its sequel The Bright Messenger, which deal with reincarnation and the possibility of a new, mystical evolution in human consciousne ...

Including:

• Algernon Blackwood - Selected Works
• Algernon Blackwood - External link

Read more here: » Algernon Blackwood: Encyclopedia - Algernon Blackwood

Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God emphasizes the value of personal experiences as the most natural way back to God. The current spiritual leader of Eckankar (since October 1981) is Harold Klemp. They are generally regarded as a new religious movement begun in 1965, but it is their opinion that they are a sort of "Perennial Philosophy", with ancient origins. However, extensive research by current and ex-members have never been able to substantiate any ancient origins. Klemp has done much to distance himself and the movem ...

Including:

• Eckankar - Teachings
• Eckankar - ECK masters
• Eckankar - Splinter groups
• Eckankar - Teachings borrowed?
• Eckankar - Is Eckankar a Cult?

Read more here: » Eckankar: Encyclopedia - Eckankar

Raëlism is the belief system promoted by the Raëlian Movement, a quasi-religious organization which believes that scientifically advanced extraterrestrials known as the Elohim (taken from the Hebrew texts of the Christian Bible and the Torah and usually translated into God in English but translated by those who came from the sky in the Raëlian message) created life on Earth through genetic engineering, and that a combination of human cloning and "mind transfer" can ultimately provide immortality. Raëlism is a new religious movement and has been perc ...

Including:

• Raëlism - The Elohim
• Raëlism - Immortality through science?
• Raëlism - Confusion about human cloning
• Raëlism - Confusion about reincarnation
• Raëlism - Order of Angels
• Raëlism - Geniocracy
• Raëlism - Criticism and the Allegation of being a Cult
• Raëlism - Related Religious Movements

Read more here: » Raëlism: Encyclopedia - Raëlism

Edgar Cayce (March 18, 1877 – January 3, 1945) (pronounced /'keɪsiː/) was an American psychic who channeled answers to questions on subjects such as astrology, reincarnation, and Atlantis while in trance. He may have been the source for the idea that California would fall into the ocean (though he never said exactly this). Although Cayce lived before the emergence of the New Age moveme ...

Including:

• Edgar Cayce - Claimed abilities
• Edgar Cayce - The Readings
• Edgar Cayce - Major themes
• Edgar Cayce - Biography
• Edgar Cayce - 1877 to 1920--the Kentucky period.
• Edgar Cayce - 1920 to 1923--the Texas period
• Edgar Cayce - 1925 to 1945--the Virginia Beach period
• Edgar Cayce - Timeline
• Edgar Cayce - Precepts
• Edgar Cayce - Other Cayce-like figures
• Edgar Cayce - Criticism
• Edgar Cayce - Sources of Cayce's Beliefs

Read more here: » Edgar Cayce: Encyclopedia - Edgar Cayce

Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis (born December 31, 1945) is an American science fiction writer. She is one of the most honored science fiction writers of the '80s and '90s winning, among other awards, eight Hugo Awards and six Nebula Awards. She lives in Greeley, Colorado with her husband,a professor of physics at the University of Northern Colorado. She also has one daughter, Cordelia. Willis is known for her accessible prose and likable characters. She has written several pieces involving time travel and a group of his ...

Including:

• Connie Willis - Writing Style
• Connie Willis - Selected bibliography

Read more here: » Connie Willis: Encyclopedia - Connie Willis

The term déjà vu (French: "already seen", also called paramnesia) describes the experience of feeling that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously. The term was created by a French psychic researcher, Emile Boirac (1851–1917) in his book L'Avenir des sciences psychiques (The Future of Psychic Sciences), which expanded upon an essay he wrote while an undergraduate French concentrator at the University of Chicago. The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense ...

Including:

• Déjà vu - Scientific research
• Déjà vu - Links with disorders
• Déjà vu - Parapsychology
• Déjà vu - Dreams
• Déjà vu - Types of déjà vu
• Déjà vu - Déjà vécu
• Déjà vu - Déjà senti
• Déjà vu - Déjà visite
• Déjà vu - Related phenomena
• Déjà vu - Popular References
• Déjà vu - References and notes

Read more here: » Déjà vu: Encyclopedia - Déjà vu

Vaishnava Theology is the theological discourse concerning the Hindu deity Vishnu and/or one of His avatar. Vaishnava Theology - Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools. Radhavallabha Theology, espoused by Harivamsa Gosvami. Vishishtadvaita, espoused by Ramanuja Dvaita, espoused by Shri Madhvacharya Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology, espoused by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan Shuddhadvaita, espoused by Vallabhacharya Dvaitaadvaita, ...

Including:

• Vaishnava Theology - Vaishnava Philosophical/Theological Schools
• Vaishnava Theology - Contemporary Vaishnava Theological Discourse
• Vaishnava Theology - Bhaktivedanta College and Vaishnava Theology
• Vaishnava Theology - The Journal of Vaishnava Studies
• Vaishnava Theology - Dasavatara
• Vaishnava Theology - Puranic Vishnu Avatara

Read more here: » Vaishnava Theology: Encyclopedia - Vaishnava Theology

A ghost is an alleged non-corporeal manifestation of a dead person (or, rarely, an animal). It is often thought to be the spirit or soul of a person who has remained on Earth after death. According to some beliefs, a ghost may be the personality of a person after his or her death, and not tied directly to the soul or spirit. Every culture in the world carries stories about ghosts, but they vary across time and place, with disagreements both as to what ghosts are and whether they are just f ...

Including:

• Ghost - Beliefs about ghosts
• Ghost - Skeptical analysis
• Ghost - Famous ghosts
• Ghost - Ghosts in fiction
• Ghost - Ghost messengers
• Ghost - Ghost stories
• Ghost - Other uses of ghosts in fiction

Read more here: » Ghost: Encyclopedia - Ghost

The term New Age describes a broad movement of late twentieth century and contemporary Western culture, characterised by an individual eclectic approach to spiritual exploration. Collectively, New Age has some attributes of an emergent religion, but is currently a loose network of spiritual teachers, healers, and seekers. The movement is most visible where its ideas are traded—for example in specialist bookshops, music stores, and New Age fairs. The name "New Age" also refers to the market segment in which its goods and servi ...

Including:

• New Age - Definitions
• New Age - History
• New Age - Beliefs
• New Age - Quotations
• New Age - Lifestyle
• New Age - Underlying assumptions
• New Age - Language
• New Age - Critiques of the New Age
• New Age - Medicine
• New Age - Music
• New Age - New Age communities

Read more here: » New Age: Encyclopedia - New Age

The Jonang or Jonangpa school of Tibetan Buddhism was founded in the early 14th century by Sherab Gyeltsen, a monk trained in the Sakyapa school. The Sakya school is constituted of it's main-branch of Ngor, of Tsar, of Bodong and of Jonang. The Jonangpa school was widely thought to have become extinct in the late 17th century at the hands of the Fifth Dalai Lama who forcibly annexed the Jonangpa monasteries to his Gelugpa school. Recently, however, researchers were surprised to discover that some remote Jonangpa monasteries esc ...

Including:

• Jonang - History of the Jonangpa
• Jonang - Stated reason for Jonangpa suppression: the Shentong heresy
• Jonang - Additional reasons: monastery financial reform and Tibetan geopolitics
• Jonang - Current status and rediscovery by the outside world

Read more here: » Jonang: Encyclopedia - Jonang