Rather, it is not reincarnation in a “learn your lessons” sense. Again, can’t speak for these other religions.
This will come across as arrogant, but I don’t think the Buddha would reject the Brahmaan. He, and I, both reject the Aatma, though.
lekatt,
One distinction I should make is that there is no separate spiritual realm. Physical reality is just a manifestation(“maya”) of the emerging flux. Also, there’s no hierarchy of “higher” and “lower” spirits.
When it comes to philosophy or any organized critical analysis, the fundamental problem (and benefit) is that analysis is incremental and essentially a cascading process. Mostly, one is more likely to question assumptions which are layered near the top of the analysis and not even recognize, as assumptions, the base axioms. It requires considerable detachment to break down your chain of reasoning into a well-demarcated tree labelling assumptions and conclusions. And then be able to test them progressively.
I think these concepts of “higher” and “lower” spirits and “merging with the whole” are artifacts of a faulty foundation, inculcated and fostered by the relatively simplistic modes of categorizing that we use in our daily lives.
Possibly - however the Buddha never really propounded much on ultimate metaphysics. I think this was taken up by his followers after his death. In fact, if I remember correctly there were certain schools of thought that arose that led to a “summit”, so to speak, where the issue was hashed out.
OK, the spiritual realm does create the physical, so in a sense the physical is only part of the spiritual. But the words I use are directed at those who have little or no spiritual training, so some latitude is taken. The same with lower and higher spirits. In the sense of value or worthiness, we are all the same level. But some are older spirits with more knowledge, love, and faith. The light that surrounds them is brighter and fuller than those with less knowledge, love, and faith.
We discuss conditions of spirit that have little meaning. The goal is love, learning to love.
Love
You will return many times, reincarnation is for learning. One seldom gets it right the first time. So the same lessons are presented over and over until learned.
Reincarnation has more physical data revealing it’s nuances than any other spiritual concept. Thousands of writings on it, if you care to read them.
I was told this is my 59th trip around, in my spiritual experiences.
In my first I took care of horses for the army in Greece.
Love
I assume, then that you can remember how to speak Greek. Please translate this for me:
“In explaining a thing, no more assumptions should be made than are necessary.”
The brain “fires” only when spirit tells it to. Brain researchers are still looking for what it not there. They have been looking for over a hundred years, and will continue looking for it a hundred more. At least some of them, many researchers are taking note of the veridical NDE, which clearly shows “we” can live separately from the brain. Proving the brain does not create us.
When you really think about that, the brain, a biological organ that we can clearly see contains nothing in the way of memory, thoughts, etc. is thought to produce a personality as complex as man. The more you think about it, the more absurd it becomes. We all speak separately of our bodies, and ourselves. There is a reason for that.
As for the razor, I know what it means, just another theory.
Love
This shows that you don’t know what it means, I’m afraid.
Goodbye.
I think the language at that time and the language now are very different.
I posted that to show that I was not a famous person as many say they are in past lives. While I don’t know the details of them all, the only one I achieved any fame in was as a General leading a large army into battle. I lost. No, I was not Napoleon.
I don’t know if “General” is the right word for the era.
Do past lives effect present ones? Yes, to some degree, in my first life I was kicked in the head by a horse and died painfully. In this life, when young, I had a great fear of horses. I wouldn’t even ride the Merry-Go-Round at the fair. But, I have gradually overcome the fear, and horses don’t scare me anymore.
We bring forward our knowledge trapped in emotion, great loves and great fears,
and our spiritual growth from life to life.
Now, I did know of a retarded child living in a special hospital in town, that could read Japanese without ever being exposed to the language. One of the staff at the hospital visited Japan and brought back some “wall signs” in Japanese. It was a real shocker when she found out the young girl could read them. She had to ask a languages professor at the local university what they said to verify it. No, she was not Japanese.
There are thousands of these stories out there. I know, don’t tell me, not acceptable because they are personal experiences. I sigh when I think of all the people out there who really believe that nonsense.
I will post what I deem necessary to expain myself.
Love