Reincarnation

I am grateful to my friend Samoan for discussing the truth with me. Recently we were discussing the possibility of reincarnation.

Some people do seem to have memories of past lives (which I don't doubt), and Eckhart Tolle talks about reincarnation in his book, The Power of Now.

In my opinion, advocates of reincarnation theory are probably clinging to a personal self concept. One definition describes reincarnation as the non-physical essence of a living being (usually described as my soul), begins a new life in a different physical form or body after biological death.

I have a few problems with reincarnation theory.

Is 'my soul' different than 'my consciousness'? In my experience, there is no difference. In my experience I am always referring to the same "I". So the question remains, where is the evidence of a separate consciousness? This is what needs to be continuously questioned until we are certain.

Second, the concept of reincarnation is not nearly a big enough of a shift. Reincarnation is a minor shift in understanding (if that). It is an alternate ending to my current belief system. Almost every belief I've ever had can remain intact with reincarnation theory. In wisdom, nothing I ever believed is true.

Someone might say they used to believe in heaven. And then for a while they believed that the death of the body is the absolute end. And now, after some spiritual work, they might believe in reincarnation. Either way, not much has changed. The separate self remains as secure as ever. They are simply trading beliefs as to what happens when the body dies.

The truth, however, requires a gigantic shift in understanding.

Therefore, I'm not really interested in debating the merits of reincarnation until we are first in agreement on the much more important question of understanding the reality of this current experience.

Once we are in agreement on reality, we are then naturally (most likely) going to agree on the possibility of reincarnation. But the context will have shifted from the perspective of the person, to the perspective of reality.

Also, the importance of reincarnation fades in proportion with our understanding of reality. In other words, who cares.

Generally speaking, for most people, reincarnation is rooted in the premise that time & space represents some kind of baseline reality, does it not? It is based on the belief that the person is real, with it's own independent conscious existence. But is it true? This is where we need to focus our investigation until we are clear.

If we agree that Consciousness/Being = Reality, then yes, I can absolutely imagine objects transforming into other objects, including the possibility that some memories will seemingly re-appear to a different form in time and space. Such a thing has never happened to me but anything is possible.

In a previous glimpse, I was able to see current perceptions morphing into something that has nothing to do with time and space or anthropologic beings. Under normal circumstances, the human mind cannot imagine something that is not rooted in time and space. It's too limited. The mind can only imagine in terms of it's own limited senses and experiences.

Nevertheless, the attention of the mind is misplaced in the wrong direction.

Reincarnation theory usually places our attention onto the image/object of perception, which is always some kind of an illusion. That's why people that believe in reincarnation, in my opinion, are probably missing the mark. We should be more interested in the gap between the perceptions, since it is the source/reality of the perceptions.

In other words, as usual, our focus is lost on the content of Consciousness rather than Consciousness itself. In wisdom, I am always safe. In wisdom, I'm enjoying the show.

In summary, reincarnation theory usually grants too much reality onto the thing that is supposed to reincarnate, otherwise, it would not be a concern. In other words, we are identifying with a fragment, rather than the knowing reality in which it is appearing in.

I would rather re-define reincarnation as 'reality morphing into something else', which it is always doing anyway, since perceptions are always changing. We just need to enjoy the current 'experience' of reality rather than worry about what happens next.

The current experience of time & space is always reality in motion or just 'pure experiencing'. Joy and safety comes with understanding. As always, understanding is everything. Enjoy the show. It's amazing!