While enjoying our meal during break in one of the Conferences
of the Summit Lighthouse in Australia a few years ago, I overheard one member
on the other table said, “My girlfriend is a Christian-atheist”; then seemingly
surprised, the other member spoken to asked, “How could she be a Christian and
at the same time atheist?” I didn’t hear the answer but I also wondered how
that could be. I didn’t bother to ask even at one occasion when he introduced
his girlfriend to me. But a few days after the conference I found myself in one
of the library in Melbourne and I chanced upon a book “Religion for the
Atheist” by Alain de Botton. I borrowed the book and there I learned that the
author raises a brand of atheism where it acknowledges the beauty and merits of
organized religion where atheist can enjoy without having to believe in God. It
somehow bridges the gap between theists and atheists. The author upholds that atheists
can enjoy the arts and culture in the religious organizations as well as social
interactions and perhaps including ideas and projects for the betterment of
society. This approach will somehow create rapport between believers and
unbelievers instead of reinforcing conflicts between the two. The perceive problem
here could be some members of the congregation would give a sour attitude to
them; but if they intimate that they honestly attend with good intent to make
friends and do not proselyte, I think everything will work out fine. This probably is the answer to my question
about the Christian-atheist mentioned above. Alain De Botton is himself an
atheist since childhood because he grew up with atheist parents. He is a
practitioner of Buddhist’s mindfulness but rejects the belief on reincarnation.
There is no doubt that his brand of atheism is better than the militant atheism
that adamantly criticize and attack the organized religion and seeks to convert
the believers into their fold.
Another type of atheism is secular humanism that holds
humanity as the central and highest social figure and that problems of humanity
can best be solved without adopting religious doctrine. To them ethics and
morality is part of universal culture and is not a sole province of religion.
There is also Atheistic Buddhism. They do not believe in
Creator-God because they maintain that Buddha does not mention any God in his
doctrine. But they believe in life after death and law of karma and
reincarnation. They simply regard this law to be the natural process of
existence or universe. There are many Theistic Buddhists, however.
If you do a little web search, you can find that there are
many types and factions in atheism. They disagree and criticize one another
like what usually happens in various religion and their different sects. Other
people even consider atheism a type of religion because of this attitude
including their acts of proselyting. I wonder how they could say that the world
would be better off without religion. The
truth is we are living in imperfect world and so, we can only expect
imperfections in every aspect of human endeavor. What is important is we ought
to be progressing to live harmoniously in this human environment. I think most
atheists erred in assuming that simply because of flaws in various religion they
need to be totally discarded. If they will only take an honest look with the
various merits that religions are bringing in our society they will find that
it helped substantially in the progress of evolution in higher consciousness.
If they will only gather together all the pieces of good and useful teachings
and concepts from these various religions, it will help a lot in self-improvement
thence on human society. They probably should imitate Alain de Botton. Better
still if they follow the atheistic Buddhists who believes in afterlife if, for
some reason they remain atheists instead of becoming a pure materialist. As I
will explain later, pure materialistic point of view of existence will soon
fade away as there are now convincing evidences of existence of consciousness
outside the brain.
I believe that faith and belief in God is deeply rooted in
human psyche. It is part of our collective consciousness. As I have explained
before, when GOD created us we once enjoy direct communion with our
individualized God Presences. We simply have lost that ability because of continual
misuses of our freewill. But it is still intact and etched in our memory body.
In other words, we all had a taste of individualized God Presence. Contrary to science and atheistic belief we
are not Homo Sapiens, a type of animal that came from apes as byproduct of
biological evolution. Atheists would explain that the belief in God began when
primitive men observe and experience bolts of lightning, rains and storms and
other disastrous natural events. They regarded these occurrences as an act of
angry God up there. I think this is a
wrong presumption. In my opinion, if those primitive men have apes as their
forefathers they will never think of anything like God (assuming apes have no
God) regardless of the circumstances. They will simply accept those disastrous
occurrences as part of existence. If a concept of supernatural God occurred to
them, it was because there is a sort of vague reignition in their memory of
what was once true. (There is new study however, indicating that Apes and
humans have common ancestors in the past.
I do not subscribe to this study either because I put more weight in the
Ascended Master Teachings telling us that de-evolution occurred in human history
until they become apelike, instead of evolution. See my previous post, the Story of Adam and
Eve)
I believe this is the primary reason there are many believers
of God because there already stored in their psyche past spiritual
experiences. I believe we are living in the universe where return to its
original state of perfection is possible. Many of the lifestreams evolving in
this planet have elected to return to oneness to their God Presence, although
there are hindrances in the process. But I also believe that there is a chaotic
universe which is already on the brink of destruction where all residents, by
misuse of free will, have elected to embody such fatal end. (I believe in
parallel universes or multiverse as put forth by some scientists/physicists
including Stephen Hawking)
Even non-believers were once believers. Their conversion to
skepticism was probably the result of negative experiences in their life while
embracing certain religious belief. Perhaps they were merely misguided by their
intellect as we can find that many of them are highly intellectuals. Perhaps
they lack nurturance of faith and in such a case it is our duty to help them
find their way back to God. Or perhaps like Alain de Botton, they were atheists
since childhood. Whatever be the case, I believe the circumstances that led to
their becoming atheist were of their own making as an out-picturing of what was
recorded in their memory field/body. They probably had ended up in the astral
plane, instead of etheric/heavenly plane, when they died in previous life. (Astral plane has a negative connotation in
the parlance of Ascended Master Teachings. It is considered a lower plane of
existence in the spirit world as opposed to etheric plane where Higher souls
and Heavenly beings reside. According to
Theosophy, there are -33 levels in the astral plane and +33 levels in the
etheric plane. Lord Maitreya for example is known to reside in the 11th
level of etheric plane known as the Tushita Heaven. Most fallen angels who
reside in the lowest level of astral plane (-33) are probably just awaiting
their second death). Thus, there in
the astral plane these souls found out that there is no heaven nor hell as normally
understood by mainstream exoteric religion. Then they felt that they had been
deceived by organized religion while on earth. Perhaps they were once a
Christian or a Moslem or Jew who were promised of a sure way to go to heaven. Thus,
they resolved not to believe anymore in any religion the next time they embody
here on earth. We can say that it was a wrong resolve, but that could be the
reason.
A philosopher once said that all of us including
non-believers are on the journey towards reunion with God. Though the path
maybe filled with mazes and stumbling blocks we will eventually reach our
destination. We never know, we might had also been an atheist in one of our
past lives; the atheists today are probably simply late comers in this journey.
Who knows, they could overtake us in our spiritual path. Remember the
conversion of Saul in Damascus who became St Paul, a staunch follower of
Christ.
You know, one of the advantages from the atheist’s side is
their practicality; they are very practical in many aspects. Since they don’t
believe in God, they don’t pray and don’t expect any Deity to help them do the
work. Thus, they completely rely on their own effort and bear full
responsibility of their tasks at hand and life’s duties. And they obtained
great deal of accomplishments and success for that matter. (although there is
surely involved the operation of karmic law) Whereas some believers pray much
and expect that God will do the rest when all they ought to do is simply exert
some effort and act practicality.
PRAYER AND
PRACTICALITY
We know that when we pray and converse with God, we can’t
hear God talking back to us because our inner/spiritual ears are simply dulled
by our dense vibrations. But I believe God
answers all prayers. Sometimes the apparent answer comes immediately or the
next day or months. Sometimes He answers through dreams, through hints and synchronicity
as we go through our daily activities if only we keep ourselves attuned to Him.
And there are times when your prayer seems to be not granted, and that most
likely is God’s answer. And your God Presence who has an all-seeing eye, who
knows what is best for you had surely impressed upon your mind the reason why
it cannot be granted but you simply could not receive it. Thus, ofttimes God
will simply hold the immaculate concept for us expecting that we will accept
the situation and will simply go through the natural course or practicalities
of life but unbeknownst to us He is there constantly caring and guiding every
step of the way. Thus, God always resort
to practicality in guiding us for it is usually through this avenue that he can
reach us. This reminded me of a dictation through the messenger where an
Ascended Master said that sometimes we should live as if there is no God. This
implies that we must completely rely on our own effort and be practical. But we
know that sometimes we are confronted with difficult problems and situations
that we don’t know what is the most practical thing to do. So, we pray and rely
for Divine guidance. Being practical therefore doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t
pray (at least from the point of view of the believer). Pray we must, and Jesus
said pray unceasingly. Unbroken communion with God should be the order of the
day. However, prayer does not always mean
asking God to get what you want which is usually focus on satisfying your human
creation and wants. It is better to pray for spiritual strength, guidance, protection,
acquiring Christly virtues and then act and apply it in our daily life. Prayer
is not appeasing God. Prayer is for sharpening and strengthening our spiritual
senses. Prayer is for self-renewal that brings us intimately closer to our God
Presence. So, when God did not grant your prayer, maybe God has a better
alternative that can improve your spirituality.
Yes, we can pray for material needs and help during times of
difficulties and sufferings and God does answer and grant these things but not
always. This is because of certain karma that must be passed first. This is
because the cycle of karma has returned for you to balance. And you must pass
it!
ATHEISM IS
FAITH-BASED TOO
The downside of atheism is lack of belief system in the
unseen spirit specially the materialist. They do not believe in God because to
them His existence cannot be proven; leaning on scientific proof alone. Most of
them believe that life has no purpose; and is just a result of random events. Their
philosophy maybe let us eat and drink and make merry for tomorrow we may die and cease to
exist. Thus, some of them became hedonist, taking pleasure in all material and
sensual things in life to the point of ruining their health and life. Some are
wiser that they take care of their body and control their appetites and senses
to maintain health and prolonging life. But they distrust any religious belief
because to them this is simply based on faith. They want scientific evidence. To
me that sounds unreasonable. Because many
atheists believe on scientific theories which can be said to be based on faith
alone not unlike the religious ones. For example, there is no evidence that man
evolve from apes or life comes from non-life (abiogenesis) yet they believe in
it. They believe that consciousness/awareness
is solely generated by the brain but there is no evidence of it. They have no explanation about miraculous
healings. There are many things that science cannot answer, yet they continue
to believe that someday it can be. In
one online religious forum that I read, one member explained that this physical
universe harbors intelligence. These intelligent beings (like humans) could
someday be able to create planets, suns, solar systems, galaxies or another
universe. What if the universe we are in was just a creation of intelligent
beings (alien) from another universe? Will you accept it? It may be tempting to
some atheists to accept. In fact, you can read in some online religious debates
that some atheists have faith in aliens. It becomes apparent that atheism is
also a belief system that is faith-based. It seems that it is unavoidable to
have a faith-based belief system because reasoning and science has limitations.
There are things that are incomprehensible specially when we are talking of
vast universes or invisible forces of nature or God as the First Cause. For
this reason, wouldn’t it be better for the theists and atheists to respect each
other’s belief system. What is important is our belief system is helpful to our
well-being, makes us a better person and contributes to harmonious society and
for a better world; that we uphold universal goodness, love, ethics, morality
and eternal verities of life.
MIND AND
CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT BRAIN
To me, the existence of God (as Spirit/as God Presence)
cannot be proven through rationality. But the God Presence can be experienced.
It may take a lifetime to experience God or maybe it may need many lifetimes
(reincarnation) as it entails continual spiritual disciplines and
self-purification that usually cannot be attained in one lifetime by many
seekers. I am talking about mystical experiences. If you have no patience and
lacking spiritual faith, it is likely that you will fall into the trap of
non-belief in God. Many atheists will immediately dismiss this mystical occurrence
as simply a product of brain processes. In fact, any so-called supernatural
phenomena will be labelled as myth, deception, or by-product of hallucination,
delusion or schizophrenia.
This is because they firmly believe that mind and consciousness
is generated solely by the brain. To them, the consciousness cannot exist
outside the brain. Those are intertwined. Thus, they don’t believe in the
so-called ESP like remote viewing, mental telepathy, foreseeing the future,
etc. because scientifically the brain waves cannot travel very far and they
don’t believe in akasha/ether (not ether as defined in science) where future
can be shown. It is also for this
reason that they don’t believe in life after death, spirit, soul, seeing and
hearing a Deity or dead loved ones. They
criticize religious literatures because those are filled with accounts of
supernatural phenomena. To them, we are purely a physical being.
I think the primary reason why they are skeptic about this
supernatural experience is they do not experience it themselves. Once they
experience any of those I have no doubt that they will believe it. This is the
reason many atheists who experienced such supernatural phenomena were converted
into believers. Example is the physicist, Fred Hoyle, who when a flash of
intuition occurred to him was immediately convinced of ESP. Atheist/materialist
is inerrant to say that such supernatural experiences are simply a product of
brain disorder because they didn’t experience it themselves. Once they
experience it, they will be absolutely sure of its reality.
To give personal explanation, I myself had frequent déjà vu
experiences in the past. It is the feeling that you had been in a particular
place or situation although you had not. The feeling is hard to explain. It is
not that probably you had such similar situations in the past that you simply
had forgotten. It is not that. You have an extra-ordinary feeling that you are
absolutely sure that it happened before, even if it hadn’t. I can remember
during those times that my déjà vu experiences had become frequent that I began
to think that if the situation had already happened to me I could predict
what’s going to happen next. I remember an occasion when I and my colleagues
were playing dart in the faculty room. When it’s my turn to throw, a déjà vu
occurred to me; I suddenly foresaw what’s going to happen next. I foresaw that
I hit the bulls eye and how everyone in the room would exactly move. That
happened exactly how I foresaw it. I even screamed “bulls eye!” even before I
throw the dart. The experience lasted in a matter of seconds, however. By and
by, I began to think that if déjà vu experience enabled me to predict what will
happen, I could also change what’s going to happen. This is logically speaking.
So, there was a time when a deja vu experience occurred to me again. I was
playing table tennis with one of my co-faculty members that time when I foresaw
that I was defeated in that game and my opponent was teasing me for being
beaten by him. I resolved to change the situation that I will not allow myself to
be beaten so I did all my best in that game hitting many drives with my racket
and beat him. Afterwards in the faculty room, he was speechless when I told him,
“You’re gonna tease me if you beat me huh!”. It is interesting to note here that even a
future so close to happen can still be changed. How much more if it is a remote
future. Perhaps simply a change of attitude and doing violet flame decrees can
change the situation for the better. The skeptics who will read this may think
I am just making this up or perhaps my prediction was just a coincidence in my
thoughts. This is a problem with skeptics, they will not trust anyone perhaps
even their own relatives when they speak about something supernatural. By the
way, the déjà vu experiences do not happen to me anymore for a long time now. I
don’t know why. But I am sure if that kind of thing happen to atheist/skeptic
they will absolutely believe that it is real.
I will tell you another thing. Even a simple flash of
intuition will convince the atheist of the same. As you may know, a flash of
intuition like ESP suddenly comes without the aid of five senses so that we can
confidently say that its source did not come from the brain. It could probably
have been picked up by the brain. There was a time when I was at home solving a
difficult problem in physics when I was still a university student; I tried
many possible solutions to the problem, but I couldn’t get the correct answer
(which can be found at the back of the book). I even thought that maybe that
answer is wrong. I decided to leave my study table to take a break for a while
and went to the kitchen downstairs to eat. When I was about to eat,
suddenly a flash came to my mind how it will be solved, and I knew without a
doubt that that’s it. The wonder here is the answer came in a flash even if the
process of solving it will take a long time. When I came back I did the solving
as I retained it in my mind and I got the correct answer. That was amazing,
wasn’t it? I tell you when a mystical experience like that occurred to you, you
will be absolutely convinced of its reality. Skeptics who had experienced these
things and still insists that it is simply a wonder of brain function is
deluding themselves. They are cynics not skeptics.
Because I have such experience myself, I believe people who tells
their own story of something supernatural. Thus, I believe Mark Prophet, former
Messenger of GWB, when he tells that the entirety of founding the Summit
Lighthouse had occurred to him in the moment when he raised the sledge hammer
and pounded it onto the red-hot metal while working as blacksmith. I
also remember reading a Filipino esoteric book in one of the bookstore in the
Philippines where the author mentioned that “to an adept everything that
happens in his life is just a re-enactment”. I believed this because of deja vu
experiences that I had before. An adept will continually experience such
phenomena and thus will seem everything will simply be a reenactment. My
explanation of déjà vu experience is, you have sensed an immediate future that
is now beginning to happen. That’s why it seems that you had already
experienced it. To an adept he continually sees the future that is coming to
the present. (There is a type of déjà vu experience where a person was placed
in the spot where she lived in previous life)
NEAR-DEATH
EXPERIENCES (NDE)
I would like to proceed now to evidences of some paranormal
experience like Outside-the-Body Experience (OBE) of near-death-experiencers. I would like to quote the discussion posted
by a blogger Spiros Kakos in his blog “Human Consciousness and the end of
Materialism”: “But riddled throughout the NDE literature are accounts that seem to
suggest that there is more going on in these experiences than can as yet fit
into the materialist picture. In one widely reported case, a post-operative
patient correctly identified the nurse who had removed his dentures and the
drawer she had placed them in – while he was in a coma. In another, an
unconscious patient had an out-of-body experience after which she accurately
described a tennis shoe she had seen on the outside ledge of a third-floor
hospital window. The most dramatic case to date is probably the now famous
story of an Arizona woman named Pam Reynolds. In a last-ditch attempt to save
Reynolds from a brain aneurysm that threatened her life, doctors performed a
rare and dangerous “standstill” operation in which they lowered her body
temperature to below 60 degrees F, stopped her heart and respiration, and
drained all the blood from her body and brain. She was, by any reasonable
definition, brain dead. Her EEG was a flatline and brain stem showed no
response to the “clickers” placed in her ears. Yet, following her recovery from
the operation, doctors learned that not only she undergone a classic NDE, but
she was also able to recount with astonishing accuracy many of the details of
the operation, from the surgical instruments used to the conversation between
the surgeons and nurses. All of the above have led prominent researchers, such
as the late Nobel-winning neuroscientist Sir John Eccles, to propose a dualist
view of the problem, arguing that the human mind and consciousness may in fact
constitute a separate, undiscovered entity apart from the brain.” There are
critics of the case of Pam Reynolds notably Keith Augustine and Gerald Woerlee.
Both are skeptics and atheists who published papers in the Journal of
Near-Death Studies emphasizing the hallucinatory features of NDEs. Long debates
ensued as can be seen in the commentaries and defenses. In my own understanding,
the result leans slightly in favor of the survivalists (who believe in the
survival of consciousness after death). I will leave to you to read the website on Near Death Experiences The responses and reply of Stuart Hameroff and Chris Carter (2012) to “Could
Pam Reynolds Hear?” by Gerald Woerlee and its rejoinder are very convincing to
me. Another is the article by Leo Mc Donald “Rebutting Keith Augustine’s
Objections to the Near-Death Experience”; and also, the articles on section 5 The Case Against Keith Augustine’s “Internet Infidels”
REINCARNATION
CASES
In addition to the above, there are scientific researches on
reincarnation that supports the possibility of survival of personality after
death. Let’s take the case of Shanti Devi first as this is one of the best
cases. Shanti Devi was born in Delhi, India in 1926 who at the age of four
began to talk of her past life in Mathura, another locality in India. She
mentions her husband and son as well as the cloth shop that his husband owned
there. At first her parents took no notice of it but became worried when she
began to talk about it repeatedly. She even narrates the details of different
foods that she eats, type of dress that she wears in Mathura and even describe
how her husband looks like including a big wart on his cheek. She even gave the
detailed account of her death following child birth. By and by her parents
began to think that these memories might have been of past life. As years went
by, given the details of what Shanti were saying, her parents would naturally
be able to pinpoint the exact location and the said husband in Mathura. Until
the time came when a distant relation in Delhi arranged for the said husband to
visit the place of Shanti and her parents to find out the truth of what Shanti
were saying. Instead the said previous-life husband suggested that one of his
relative Kanjimal who lived in Delhi be allowed to meet Shanti Devi. Upon their meeting, Shanti immediately
recognized Kanjimal as her husband’s cousin. She described to him in detail
their house in Mathura and even mentioned the location where she had buried
some money. When asked if she could find
the house in Mathura if taken there from railway station, she answered in the
affirmative. Impressed by this, Kanjimal went to Mathura to persuade Kedarnath
(the said previous-life husband) to come to Delhi to meet Shanti. Kedarnath
came to Delhi together with his new wife and his son with Shanti in her previous
life. Shanti was 9 years old by this time. Kanjimal misled Shanti by
introducing Kedarnath as the latter’s elder brother. Shanti Devi blushed and
stood on one side. Asked why she blushed, she answered in low firm voice that,
“No, he is not my husband’s brother. He is my husband himself.” Then she
addressed her mother that “Did’nt I tell you that he has a wart on his left
cheek?” When Shanti’s mother was preparing meal Shanti suggested to cook the
dish that Kedarnath wants to eat and Kedarnath wondered how she knows his
favorite dishes. Shanti even mentioned to Kedarnath why he married his present
wife when he promised not to remarry. Kedarnath was dumbfounded. After the
meal, Kedarnath had a chance to talk alone with Shanti and perhaps to establish
once and for all if she really was her past wife, she asked her about their
sexual intercourse. That fully convinced him that she really was his former
wife reincarnated. This news was spread and even caught the attention of
Mahatma Ghandi. Ghandi was able to talk to Shanti and requested her to stay in
his Ashram. He established a Commission
to study the case composed of 15 prominent people including parliamentarians,
national leaders and members from the media. The Committee persuaded her
parents to accompany them to Mathura. When they reached Mathura, Shanti
described in great detail the locality showing familiarity even to the people
whom she had not met before including her previous parents. The publication of
the Committee’s report attracted worldwide attention. And many learned
personalities studied the case some in support some as critics trying to prove
it a hoax. You can read in full detail the abovementioned reincarnation case
on the website of Carol Bowman
The above reincarnation case is included in the 3,000
reincarnation cases researched by Dr. Ian Stevenson while he worked at the
University of Virginia School of Medicine, department of psychiatry. He is the
founder and director of University’s Division of Perceptual Studies, which
investigates the paranormal. He authored 300 papers and 14 books about
reincarnation. Among these are “Twenty
Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation” (1966) which mostly occurred in India and
other countries where reincarnation is common belief; “European Cases of the
Reincarnation Type” (2003) where many people do not believe in reincarnation;
and “Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersects” (1997). The latter showed
numerous evidences that birthmarks of children in the present life corresponded
to injuries and wounds (usually fatal) of deceased people in their past lives.
For example, a birthmark on the chest was verified to correspond to a person in
past life who had died during heart surgery or shot on the chest.
As usual, there were critics of Stevenson’s works, usually
the materialists. In fact, most scientists ignored Stevenson’s early paranormal
researches. But lately his works are beginning to gain recognition after
earlier mockery that he stood up with. He also had supporters and some followed
his footsteps continuing similar researches. And many supportive books were
authored along this line of reincarnation studies. Among these are: Death and Personal Survival (1992) by
Robert F. Almeder, Old Souls: The
Scientific Search for Proof of Past Lives (1999) by Tom Shroder, Life Before Life (2005) by Jim B. Tucker;
Science, The Self, and Survival after
Death (2012) by Emily Williams Kelly and Return to Life (2013) by Jim B. Tucker.
Dr Stevenson’s work were only published in Scientific journals
and Academia. He refuses to sensationalize his work by not attending public and
media interviews, etc.
Let me mention that he himself do not want to commit fully on
reincarnation as the only explanation on his works. But he is also not convinced
that environment and heredity are solely the factors on development of human
personality. An alternative explanation is psychic abilities of most children who
could pick up memories and personalities of past lives. But to him
reincarnation is the best even though not the only explanation for the cases
investigated.
Based from what I read in Wikepedia, it seems that all the
blah blahs of Stevenson’s critics did not hold out as it did not hit
specifically the stronger evidences of reincarnation cases that Stevenson
studied. Some critics like Robert Baker tried to explain the reincarnation case
as caused by known psychological factors such as a mixture of cryptomnesia and
confabulation and other normal means. This to me is unsatisfactory because some
of the stronger case had no contact between the child and the relatives of
alleged deceased past life person. Even arguing that the child’s recall of past
lives is the equivalent of imaginary playmates is less than satisfactory
because how can a child know in great details and accuracy of the past life
including names, and familiarity with places without prior knowledge and
contact. The chief critic of Stevenson’s work is the
philosopher Paul Edwards, editor-in-chief of Macmillan’s Encyclopedia of Philosophy. He criticized Stevenson’s work
including personal attacks in his books Immortality
(1992) and Reincarnation: Critical
Examination (1996). I think personal attacks is intended to strengthen his
point but has no bearing whatsoever on the truth and falsity of reincarnation
cases. He pointed out the weaknesses in Stevenson’s work and stated that it can
be found in all case studies. However, Edwards failed to specifically mention and
address the stronger cases (although few in numbers) where there had been no
contact between the families of the deceased and of the child before the
interview. In my view, even if there had been contacts between the two
families, the cases can still be considered strong if it can be established without
doubt that there were no fraud happened. It is probably this reason that one of
the supporters of Stevenson, Almeder, argued that Edward’s “dogmatic
materialism” had forced him to the view that Stevenson’s case studies must be
examples of fraud delusional thinking. It seems that many of criticisms against
Stevenson’s works did not hit the nail on its head so to speak that’s why
Stevenson’s supporters continue to uphold his works. “And many people,
including skeptics and scholars, agree that the cases presented by Dr. Ian
Stevenson offer the best evidence yet for reincarnation.”( Reincarnation Research ) One of
Stevenson’s research that offers objective and graphic proof of reincarnation
is his study on children’s birthmarks and deformities that appears precisely on
the same spot in the body of the supposed previous life. Only 30% to 60 % of
the cases can be put down to genetic factors, virus infections or chemical
causes. But the 40% to 70 % of these cases has no medical explanations and cannot
be attributed to mere chance.
Wealth of information supporting reincarnation studies and children's past lives can be
found on Carol Bowman webpage.
Dr Jim Tucker who worked with Dr. Ian Stevenson and took over
the project when the latter retired in 2002 has written two books, “Life before
Life” and “Return to Life”. You can find his media interviews on his webpage www.jimbtucker.com.
Return to Life focuses on
reincarnation cases in United States. He invites skeptics to come with him
during his investigations, but it seems no one bothered to accept his
invitation. His media interviews are very convincing to me. If you want to read
and watch those just click on the media icons on the webpage.
The abovementioned investigations about NDEs and
reincarnation should somehow jar the skeptics’ unbelief and begin to consider
the existence of consciousness outside the brain; that our consciousness and
memory continue to exist even after death of the physical body.
Actually, there are studies indicating that memory is stored
not only in the brain’s synapses or neurons but also in other cells and organs of
our body. There were cases of heart transplant where the patient had experience
changes of behavior and personality that is similar to the organ donor. She
even had flashed of past experiences that were experienced only by the donor.
See the following studies about Organ Transplants and Cellular Memories. However, the studies show only 20% of the patients exhibit changes of
personality. Although it is only 20%, this in no way can be attributed to
mere chance. As they say, if you wish to upset the law that all crows are
black… it is enough that you prove one single crow to be white. (Not all crows
are black by the way). Do you know that a long time ago it was once believed
that all swans are white until the discovery of Australia where they found lots
of black swan?
Recently, an International team of Researchers led by
Scientists from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) has discovered
that some bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exhibit memory that can be pass
from one generation of cells to the next, all without central nervous system or
any neurons. Can’t this also indicate that even in humans, memory can be stored
elsewhere?
It is fascinating to cite here the paper published in Scientia Ricerca authored by
Psychologists Jason Buttigieg and Duffy C. Jason Buttigieg is a clinical Psychologist
in Monash University at Clayton, Victoria, Australia. The paper is about
“Transplant Psychology: Exploring the Fundamental Origins of Cell Memory and
Personality”. The paper proposed that memory originates well within the realms
of atomic signatures (i.e. magnetic wave forms produced by atomic activity) of
the biological cells that determines their functionality which in turn governs
neurological activity thence person’s personality. The paper also explains why
sometimes the personality of the organ donor can be transferred to the
recipient and sometimes not at all depending upon the energy, intensity, and
frequency of the atomic signatures of one over the other. Although the paper may border within the
realm of speculations, it may very well be true.
Actually in esoteric teachings and religions like Hinduism
and Mahayana Buddhism everything has varying degrees of consciousness even
inanimate objects like rocks, mountains, chairs, houses, and possibly even
computers and Artificial Intelligence. Some mystics who achieved enlightenment
like Ramakrishna , Jacob Boehme, Jane Goodall and many others have experienced Oneness with
everything. In fact, every atom and subatomic particles have consciousness. Jesus
knew this. Remember what he said in Luke 19:40 during triumphal entry in the Temple of Jerusalem
while the crowd is shouting and greeting him; when the Pharisees asked him to rebuke his disciples, he said, “the rocks will cry
out if they were stopped from their merriment” Isn’t that an indication
that Jesus is aware that rocks have consciousness? I do not know if it can be
proven scientifically someday that subatomic particles and inanimate objects
have consciousness.
The idea that everything is conscious, which is termed
panpsychism is gaining recognition from some neuroscientists like Giulio Tononi
and Christof Koch. They have developed the Integrated Information Theory (IIT)
of consciousness. That the higher level of consciousness (such as that of human
brain) arises out of “any complex and interconnected mechanism whose structure
encodes a set of cause-and-effect relationships.” If we will start off with
particles of matter having consciousness as its property and then if by way of
some integrated complex mechanisms, a higher degree of consciousness emerges;
this will still fit to materialistic view of existence. The spiritual existence
is taken out of the equation. I think those who favor the above theory should
first adequately answer the abovementioned NDEs and reincarnation cases where
it points out the existence of consciousness after death? Will they simply turn
a blind eye on these? Or should they find other theory?
There is a theory associated with quantum mechanics proposed
by Stuart Hameroff, M.D. and Physicist Sir Roger Penrose. They ascribe
consciousness to quantum computing in microtubules inside neurons. Simply, they consider consciousness as
quantum process and therefore non-local. I tend to agree with them. However,
quantum field to me is not part of spiritual realm. Albeit,I speculate that it can serve as
bridge between physical and spiritual realm. This is because quantum field is
detectable by scientific instruments, which is to say that its frequency is
within that of physical light. The frequency in spiritual realm is million
times higher than physical realm according to Ascended Master Teachings (AMT). That means the law of physics will simply not
be applicable in that realm. It will have an entirely new law unknown to mortal
man.
If you will ask me, I don’t need proof of reincarnation or
life-after-death. The concept of law of karma and reincarnation is enough for
me to believe in it. Because this ancient esoteric concept is the only
explanation that will make sense of the seeming disorder and problems to the world we live
in as I have mentioned in my previous posts. Besides, the sacred scriptures of
Hinduism, Buddhism, and other mystical religions are conveying this concept;
and I don’t think that those are merely human invention. These I believe, are
written under Divine inspiration. Do you know that many astronomical and other scientific facts are already written in the Hindu Vedas and Puranas long before science discovered it? Even the atomic structure is described
in this scripture as well as the exact number of living species in our physical
universe.
What more? How about the plethora of well-documented mystical experiences of the Saints and Sages of East and West down through the ages? Do
you suppose that those are all hallucinatory or fraud?
I have a simple analogy to portray why it is likely that
there is spirit world. Like the life in microbial community or in the fishpond,
microbes and fishes are barely aware of our human existence because of the
limitations of their perception that is adapted only to their own environment.
Similarly, we as human beings have limited perception that we cannot perceive
the existence of the spirit world. But if we can expand and transform our
consciousness, which only few individuals can do at present stage of evolution,
we can see and perceive the beings in spirit world. Or when we transit to their
world through death we will know them. It is like a life of a caterpillar
living only within the limited branches of a tree. Once it shed its cocoon and
transform into a butterfly, it will have new experiences and environment far grander
and wonderful than what it used to be.
LIFE IN THE
SPIRIT WORLD
Based on what I learned from various sources especially
Ascended Master Teachings and even from mediumships and channelings it is just
natural for the soul to exhibit such feat as teleportation, mind reading, etc.
They can go to any places instantaneously at will. They can see the earth and observe
what is happening, watch their relatives and their thoughts. They can explore
and experience the details of the blade of grass, the lives of plants and trees,
ensoul the mountains, birds and other animals; they can swim under the ocean,
explore the bedrocks, study and investigate the center of the earth, and even
the sun, go to other planets, galaxies and universe and many more. They can
probably study all the books in the world or even watch all the millions of
films in the world simultaneously and retained in their memory. You’d say that
is impossible! That is because you compare them to us humans with physical bodies
and brains that think linearly and sluggishly. Remember that they don’t have
brain and physical body hence freed from confines of time and space. Their life
is unimaginably different from ours. Another
natural capability that they can do in their realm is whatever they think
becomes very real and concrete. It’s like our dream that seems very real and
upon awakening we realized that it was just a dream. But in their world, it is
real and solid much like here on earth, because they are not dreaming. What you
think and imagine becomes very real. If you think you are in your house cooking
menu for dinner, you are. If you think you are in one of the beautiful beaches wading
the waters, you are. You can feel the gentle touch of the winds and the
coolness or warmness of the sea waters. If you think you are in bed dreaming,
you are. Thus, if a soul had just passed away and had not adjusted yet to life
in spirit world, it will be hard for her to tell whether what she experiences
is a product of her own mind or it is real. Truly, there are souls who died
suddenly and do not know that they are dead (especially if they firmly believe
that there is no life after death) because they are probably thinking of
themselves still living on earth. They became lost souls and will need a
guardian angel or other souls closely related to them to help them navigate the
spiritual world. These guardian souls can see and experience what is in your
mind and they can enter into it and communicate with you. By and by as you
adjust you too can do that with ease and you will be able to tell whether what
you experience is simply a product of your mind or it is fixed creation. In
Hindu literature, they have what they call Devachan, a place in the spirit
world where you can realize your unfulfilled dreams on earth. I don’t know if
this soul capability can only be manifested at certain planes in the spiritual
world or it applies to all planes whether in astral or etheric level.
Existence of Higher Spiritual Beings can be perceived to no
other than the dictations given through the messengers of the Brotherhood of
light as I frequently mention in this blogspot. Read them, study them and feel
them with your heart. You can use it for guidance and meditation purposes. You
will become close and have personal relationships with these Ascended beings
and experience them at work in your life when you pursue and apply their
Teachings and way of life.
POSTULATES ON CONSCIOUSNESS* AND REINCARNATION
I would like to give possible explanation on reincarnation
and how the consciousness exists out side the brain or our physical body in somewhat
scientific terms. I postulate that yes, it
can be said that the brain generates consciousness simply because the subatomic
particles, atoms, molecules and cells that make up the brain and body have
consciousness in the first place. Moreover, the non-local memory field of the soul
(that exists even after death) is anchored in the neurons and throughout the
cells of our body via certain process in the quantum field that we do not know.
This quantum process operates as a
step-down transformer or phase and frequency modulator that connects the
high-frequency memory field to the low-frequency cells of the brain or our
physical body. This quantum
connection makes it possible to register the physical brain processes into the
non-physical non-local memory field of the soul and vice versa. This will
explain why some NDEs are able to remember their experiences in spiritual realm.
The same is true for some children/person who can remember their past
life. After death the soul carries this
memory field that continually changes through experiences in spiritual and
physical realm. The soul will reincarnate when a new cell/life in the Mother’s
womb- which is a blending of two memory fields of parents - (sperm and egg
cells)- matches with the soul’s memory field. These process however, are all
adjudicated by the Lords of Karma. (Some school of thoughts regard the
process of reincarnation as automatic and doesn’t believe in the existence of
the Lords of Karma or Great Karmic Board.
This is probably because they fail to realize that the enormous high
frequency in the etheric realm will enable the Heavenly Beings/Karmic Board to
see, analyze, confer, deliberate and decide the karma of the soul in a fraction
of second of earthly time, which if viewed from their realm (or taken in slow
motion) could be equated to years of earthly time)
GOD IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE
Take note however that the existence of consciousness outside
the brain or life after death for that matter is no proof of existence of God
the creator of universes. As I have said before if a soul ended up in the lower
astral plane, he will not experience the magnificent etheric retreats in the Heaven
world. He will not be in the direct company of higher souls, angels,
Archangels, Ascended Masters, and Elohim. And even if a soul meets one of the
Ascended Masters or Angels who visit the astral plane, they will probably regard
them as simply beings in the spirit world and not God the creator – the First
cause.
Presumably, the reason why God is not mentioned in the
Buddhist teachings is because God will remain unknown and incomprehensible. He
can only be known partly through our individualized God Presence. To the
Buddhists, the process of reincarnation and experience in the spirit world is
regarded as a natural process of life/existence.
Imagine first when God created you as a soul. It will be like
you are an innocent newborn babe flung into the midst of innumerable universes.
But you have the Holy Christ Mind and the glorious eternal individualized God
Presence with whom you know the Law and eternal verities of existence. You are
free to taste and experience the fruits of these universes created in the mind
of God that is timeless and spaceless. You know that like your I AM Presence
you can be eternal and powerful as long as you keep wisely your free will to
experience only the perfect universes, i.e., obeying only the eternal verities
of life. You also know that you can
vanish yourself from existence if you choose to experience the imperfect
universe and continually misqualify the energy that God has given you till it
snuff out. It can be likened to the chessboard games bounded within 64 squares that
is governed by certain rules and laws. All the millions of games (representing
the innumerable universes) that can be played already exists in the invisible/etheric/imaginative
realm yet very real and dynamic. You are free to choose which games you want to
play or experience. The present imperfect universe that we are in is the one we
have chosen. Owing to disobedience to eternal verities and laws of life we lost
our direct connection with our Christ Self and God Presence and hence
restricted in time and space. However, this is a universe where there are
opportunities for the souls to come back to perfection freeing themselves from
the difficulties and cycles of time and space. And once we have reunited with
our Christ Self and I AM PRESENCE, we can once more enjoy the magnificent
eternal dance of creation. Perhaps as we move further up the infinite evolutionary ladder of
experiences we can be as Elohim, a co-creator with God, create universes. Like
our I AM Presence we are aware of our eternal existence, but still the First
Cause, our Source and Creator, remains unknown to us though we are aware that
He is birthless, deathless, and changeless. Perhaps because it is best to be
like that.
May you have a Blessed and Happy New Year everyone
==============================================================================
*Human consciousness
as defined in Ascended Master Teachings is different from definition adopted by
science which is simply awareness or perception. It is more than that. Even that
which you are not aware of such as past-life memories below the level of
consciousness is part of consciousness. Thus, often you will see terms like
purification or transformation of consciousness. Or raising one’s
consciousness.
