Big Think

Bruce Allen on January 18, 2008, 7:19 PM

It makes sense to me. I’m writing a book about it…

“Brain Transmission – An Alternative to Reincarnation”

Jacqui Eyres on January 18, 2008, 7:26 PM

I believe that there is no new matter on this planet of ours, so the revolving door of reincarnation makes sense. Why would we spend so much time learning, to live such (relatively) short lives and waste what we know and who we have become. Reincarnation gives us the shance to progress along the spiral. Maybe that is where the saying “Only the good die young” comes from. They have nothing left to “learn” before moving up.

Christopher Stubbs on January 18, 2008, 7:50 PM

Randall, you might enjoy reading up on the Aboriginal Australian concept of the Dreamtime, a philosophy that in one version or another has existed for thousands of years but is not frequently referenced in western discussion on the topic. It has at its center a profound and extremely interesting circular time process. I think you might find some similarities to your own ideas.

Randall Menser on January 18, 2008, 7:51 PM

thanks for the reference

Derek Pritchard on January 18, 2008, 9:01 PM

Reincarnation.. synthesis of religion. Ok first of all randall the human conscience isn’t as great as people percieve it to be. The developed “conscience” isnt a “spirit” per se. A conscience is the illusion of multiple impulses creating a reality making it seem as though we are “special,” therefore making reincarnation an option. So you would have to believe in a spirit that is completely separate from logic. First know what you believe before you were to trust in reincarnation. I just dont see how someone could believe in reincarnation open mindedly, if there is a thorough understanding of biology and the anatomical processes. Once again, life is a provactive sense in the survival of “senses.” Reincarnation is an explanatory sense for spirituality and a more divine meaning to life. Life isnt “special” its a struggle. Theoretically speaking, when i die, my individual circuits will not be alike that of any other animal. Even cloning doesnt share a sense of the same perspective from what I understand for another point of sense of mind. Reincarnation it seems, you would have to believe in a form of divine design for life itself. Personally I see it much differently than converting opposites for that of which you speak.

Derek Pritchard on January 18, 2008, 9:12 PM

Then again reincarnation could just mean the reuse of atom particles. But whats so special about that to name it.

Randall Menser on January 18, 2008, 9:14 PM

you derived far too much from my idea, Derek. I never indicated a belief in a spirit or perpetual identity. I suggested reincarnation was possible in principle only. That could simply mean that the matter that you are comprised of can be recycled and portions of which could very well be used again in another living organism.

Randall Menser on January 18, 2008, 9:15 PM

well looks as if you got in there real quick like and anticipated my response. you’re far too crafty for me.

Derek Pritchard on January 18, 2008, 9:19 PM

lol keep up the ideas! click on some of mine see what you think

Bruce Allen on January 18, 2008, 9:46 PM

Sorry if this is a bit out of sequence, but I’ll post it anyway…

DP — What you say makes good sense. It amazes me that some humans, with complete sincerity, can arrogantly suggest that our species is special. It’s all part of the need in some to feel a part of the bigger-picture, and religion plays this to the hilt.

RM — I find your concept of using the template of a current-life to define the after-life, an interesting one. However, I fail to find any logic as to why this should be so. Can we assume that what preceded the Big-Bang was a template for what followed?

Without giving a plug for my book [ it’s still way off being published anyway ], here is the title – “Brain Transmission – An Alternative to Reincarnation”. There are serious clues in that title as to my thoughts on reincarnation. I don’t deny there are some extremely well documented cases that could be interpreted as reincarnation, by since I don’t subscribe to that, I needed to find another explanation. I don’t expect the book to sell well in Christian bookshops.

a a on January 21, 2008, 1:03 AM

If you like reincarnation, check out Hindi, but you might not like some of the implications I’m aware of. For instance, your next incarnation depends on how you live this life, and is the basis for the social casts of India. People from different casts aren’t allowed to marry each other and such things. That’s really about as far as I got with it and decided to move on. It’s sad to think that all those 100’s of millions of “Untouchables” were so bad in their previous lives.

Robert Ryan on January 21, 2008, 11:49 AM

Central to the concept of reincarnation is the existence of a soul or self that is independent of the body and is able to move from one life to another. During a triple by-pass operation, my step-dad, who was as agnostic as they come, experienced coming out of his body and hovering over the operating table, where he watched the surgeons trying to save his life. He had a complete sense of self in that bodiless state. Then suddenly he experienced being drawn back into his body—the surgeons were successful—and he recovered from the operation. Immediately thereafter he searched for published accounts by others who had had the same experience. They are numerous, available in most bookstores.

Rajarian Rekhana on January 22, 2008, 12:51 PM

I think the ancient/original concept of caste in India is that souls are on a path of evolution, starting out as lower forms of life, working up and through the animal kingdom, etc., and then becoming human, which is the stage where, using your highly developed brain and consciousness, you have the opportunity to discover your Source and merge with it once again, this time with total awareness. In the ancient times, to be born in a lower caste was seen not so much as punishment for being higher before and blowing it, but as the next step in the natural progression of your evolution, i.e., a higher state than you had enjoyed before. At each stage you have some kind of work to do, knowledge to be gained, experience to be had, and on the basis of that you move to the next stage. In those days, there was little abuse of the lower castes by the higher castes. The moral precept was something like this: Every Brahmana has a past and every Shudra a future. One advantage of the caste system as a social organization was that it divided the labor. It was efficient because you learned early the profession of your family and carried that tradition forward easily. There was no rat race, no dog-eat-dog, as is our modern way. Unfortunately, caste today is a torn remnant, its original intent misunderstood, the lower castes abused by the higher, etc. A total mess.

Eric Djebe on February 5, 2008, 4:49 PM

DerekPritchard: Good point. That is more or less why Buddha said that no identity is being transferred in reincarnation, only a sort of life impulse. Identity cannot be transferred because identity is an illusion, it comes from the patticca-sammupadha which is a vortex of blind impulses generating each other.

I find it very impressive how well Buddhas personal insights 2500 yrs ago go together with what we begin to understand about the human mind.

dennis ilic on February 20, 2008, 12:47 AM

randall menser, you are invited to participate in the idea “What is your definition of God? 100 words or less”. Your input will be appreciated.

dennis ilic on February 27, 2008, 12:01 AM

Thank you for your contribution, randall menser, I enjoyed it. There were a lot of good lines but my favourite was: “The idea of God has served its purpose, but God’s purpose remains unknown”. Thanks again, it’s appreciated.