Reincarnation
Reincarnation is also
known as the transmigration of the soul. Rebirth after death. The earth
is reborn constantly just like the spirit; a mild example would be to
look at the earth as it cycles from summer, to winter, back to summer
and from the Full moon, to new moon.
The reason for reincarnation is because the spirit/soul never dies and
comes to earth many times. Yet the body acts rather like a casing or a
house for the spirit. This body dies and decomposes and the spirit
inhabits another body which isn’t necessarily human.
Some people often mix reincarnation up with metamorphosis and
resurrection. These are not the same, as in metamorphosis the body
doesn’t die but it changes from one form/identity to another. In
resurrection the body dies and comes back to life, the spirit doesn’t go
to a new body but re-homes in the old body.
In the Bible there are many quotations related to reincarnation;
including Christ saying “unless a man is reborn; he is unable to enter
through the Gates of Heaven.”
Egyptians believed in reincarnation; this is why they embalmed the body
so that it was preserved for its journey along Ka (the animating force
believed to be a counterpart of the body).
The belief of reincarnation is thought to have come from primitive
people, certainly a long time before that of Egyptians.
As knowledge of reincarnation developed and grew it was found that the
soul left the body at death and entered at conception. The soul also
leaves the body during sleep and sometimes while being awake in astral
projection. The soul leaving the body was often painted showing white
wisps or vapors entering and leaving via the mouth and nostrils. This is
probably because in the early concept of reincarnation they had to find
a logical method of how a soul could possibly leave the body and the
mouth and nose being obvious openings were used due to this reason.
Pythagoras was one of the first philosophers to define the terms of
reincarnation. He taught people that the soul was immortal and just
resided in the body. Therefore, when the body died, the soul didn’t die.
Plato another philosopher also taught this; but with one difference. He
taught that the soul becomes impure during its life and through the
reincarnations of the soul and if it does something good, the bodily
impurities that it has gained will return to its pre-existence state. He
also believed that if the soul did something bad then it would be sent
to a place of eternal damnation. This could be what the Christians know
and call hell.
Many people have tried to recover their past lives, and have found
evidence of their past lives that they have proved with research.
Reincarnation helps us to understand, gain knowledge and wisdom and the
power of unconditional love. Through reincarnating we can learn the
mistakes from our lives, and in rebirth make sure we don't re-live these
mistakes. So one day, we will live the perfect life!
There is particularly no evidence amongst the early Hebrew people about
reincarnation but later it became part of the Kabalistic teaching.
