Past-life memories research and karma

Good question @Ninshub . Although above I've tried to separate some of these ideas from longer term existence (whether involving reincarnation or not), a lot of my ideas were formed out of current-life experiences which I consider only make sense as a consequence of having a previous earthly existence.

I seem to have had two aspects to my present life, the early years when I was often as free and uncluttered as if this was my first-ever existence. Followed by a change as I reached adulthood where I suddenly became a very complex person filled with often painful feelings and a shift in personality  which seemed to come out of nowhere. I regard that as a kind of awakening of past-life recall. Hence some of the things I've been dealing with seem to be a continuation of a previous existence. At the same time I'm sure I've added things to that heap during the current life. At any rate, for me personally, I do think it matters in some longer-term sense. That is regardless of whether we think in terms of reincarnation or not, in my opinion.

Actually even if taking a purely materialist view where the assumption is that we are simply annihilated at the death of the body, there still can be good reasons for considering these things. I've often considered that we must live both as though we are immortal and as though we are mortal.

I'm also reminded of some life-review during an NDE where there is a great deal of amusement at how we humans take everything so very seriously. Sometimes it seems we should take things more lightly. Like, yes things matter, but don't be weighted down by taking them so seriously. Just letting go and letting things be whatever they are, that seems important too. And being able to see the humour in things.

[Ninshub]

The content in both those posts speaks to me, Typoz.

I am very wary of introducing terms like developmental karma, processual karma etc - they remind me of the 50 different types of free will that some people like to discus!

I don't know  to what extent past lives discovered by hypnotists and other therapists are valid, but there you come across the idea that the soul actively chooses its next life with the intention of experiencing as many situations as possible.

I wish I knew what we do with all that experience!

Honest question - has there ever been evidential cases of past life regression? I ask because I don't think I've ever seen such a case, though I do think there are people who have had - at least to them - convincing past-life regressions.

One person I know even used it to get rid of a particular phobia.

Honest question - has there ever been evidential cases of past life regression? I ask because I don't think I've ever seen such a case, though I do think there are people who have had - at least to them - convincing past-life regressions.

One person I know even used it to get rid of a particular phobia.

That is a good question!

I seem to remember one of the pioneers in hypnotic regression stated that he had made some enquiries which indicated that the previous life had taken place - sorry I can't remember who reported that.

I think the issue here is that young children remembering previous lives are much more attractive to study because their minds are less influenced by other things. How, for example, would you 'prove' that a patient aged 30 (say) had not read something that inspired their feeling of having lived before.

It might be interesting to contact Tucker and ask him if he thinks hypnotic regression is accessing the same basic phenomenon.

David

[Laird]

Honest question - has there ever been evidential cases of past life regression? I ask because I don't think I've ever seen such a case

Does the case of Detective Robert Snow meet your criteria?

[Laird]

Doooh ! If I must !

Yes, tim, you must! Did you?!

Does the case of Detective Robert Snow meet your criteria?

I've always liked that case - at one point he was actively appearing on podcasts and so on, there probably are multiple videos of his case on youtube. I actually bought one of his books too, though it mainly seemed to duplicate the content of his video talks, albeit in a more organised manner.

I think the issue here is that young children remembering previous lives are much more attractive to study because their minds are less influenced by other things. How, for example, would you 'prove' that a patient aged 30 (say) had not read something that inspired their feeling of having lived before.

The issue of adult reincarnation recall, whether via hypnosis or spontaneous recall, comes up against that standard objection. i.e. the possibility of having acquired knowledge from some mundane source.  One way to respond to that objection is to identify verifications in obscure locations, of various kinds. One example was a woman, from Australia I think, who recalled some detail of markings on the dust-covered floor of some disused old barn or old stone building in England, a place she had never visited. Such information simply isn't available by any ordinary means.

It might be interesting to contact Tucker and ask him if he thinks hypnotic regression is accessing the same basic phenomenon.

I'm not sure of Tucker's views. I know Jim Matlock is quite dismissive of hypnotic regression. When pressed he explained that he wasn't saying that it didn't ever give valid results, only that the possibilities of the mind having created a sort of false memory or other complications meant he recommended to avoid it. I tend to think he is too harsh in his evaluation, but these things come down to individual opinion.

I'm not sure of Tucker's views. I know Jim Matlock is quite dismissive of hypnotic regression. When pressed he explained that he wasn't saying that it didn't ever give valid results, only that the possibilities of the mind having created a sort of false memory or other complications meant he recommended to avoid it. I tend to think he is too harsh in his evaluation, but these things come down to individual opinion.

Well of course, if you have access to the words of children who are far too young to have been 'poluted' with other information, why not use it? The secondary question is of course, can we trust hypnotic regression to give us the same answer?

We have to remember that hypnotic regression also gave us the 'satanic ritual abuse' scandals - so we have to be cautious!