Birthmarks and Reincarnation

[C J]

Hi Yana,

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

It's really amazing how this reincarnation works isn't it? You still get a pain from a previous life, wow.
Even I was amazed by Dr. Stevenson's research finding that you can get marks or anomalies from previous life's.

One can explain all these using karma. You had to face that tragic incidence as a karma vipaka. But until you suffer your bad karma fully, it follows you (like a wheel on a bullock cart follows the bull) to your next life too.

Even-though I was born as a Buddhist, I had my doubts on reincarnation and karma until I read about Dr. Stevenson's research. At last a medical doctor, a professor, someone practice modern science had found real life evidence, how could anyone deny that? I don't understand.

One day, hundred years or may be thousand years from now science will accept reincarnation as a fact. That day, people will laugh at those who didn't believe reincarnation at our time. Same as we laugh at people who didn't believe that Earth is a globe. They laughed at the idea and asked, if earth is a globe why not people at the bottom fall down

Philosophy professor Dr. Robert Almeder of Georgia State University says "It's irrational to disbelieve it [Dr. Stevenson's research and reincarnation]".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhMDU9GcVg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mr Man]

Hi CJ
Have you read this interview with Ian Stevenson?
http://whitecrows.davidsmuse.co.uk/ian- ... interview/

Omni: Your new book discusses some misconceptions about the idea of reincarnation. What is the most common?

Stevenson: The idea that reincarnation must include what Hindus call Karma, especially retributive Karma.

----

Omni: In your new book you speak reprovingly of people easily persuaded by your evidence. Is your position that reincarnation can never really be demonstrated?

Stevenson: I don’t think I rebuke anybody for being convinced by the evidence. All I say is that maybe they shouldn’t believe on the basis of what’s in that particular book, because the detailed case reports are in my other books. Essentially I say that the idea of reincarnation permits but doesn’t compel belief. All the cases I’ve investigated so far have shortcomings. Even taken together, they do not offer anything like proof. But as the body of evidence accumulates, it’s more likely that more and more people will see its relevance.

[C J]

Hi CJ
Have you read this interview with Ian Stevenson?
http://whitecrows.davidsmuse.co.uk/ian- ... interview/

Omni: Your new book discusses some misconceptions about the idea of reincarnation. What is the most common?

Stevenson: The idea that reincarnation must include what Hindus call Karma, especially retributive Karma.

----

Omni: In your new book you speak reprovingly of people easily persuaded by your evidence. Is your position that reincarnation can never really be demonstrated?

Stevenson: I don’t think I rebuke anybody for being convinced by the evidence. All I say is that maybe they shouldn’t believe on the basis of what’s in that particular book, because the detailed case reports are in my other books. Essentially I say that the idea of reincarnation permits but doesn’t compel belief. All the cases I’ve investigated so far have shortcomings. Even taken together, they do not offer anything like proof. But as the body of evidence accumulates, it’s more likely that more and more people will see its relevance.

Thank you for mentioning, I had read it.

I think you are trying to imply that Dr.Stevenson did not favor karma.

But it is clear that through his research Dr.Stevenson came to believe in reincarnation. (That's why he kept a locked cabinet when he died http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/boz ... -stevenson" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).
That is what important here, scientific evidence supporting (not necessarily proving) reincarnation.

As Buddhists we don't expect him to prove karma. Buddha himself pointed-out that precise working out of results of karma as something that we can not be exact about and something we should not be worried about (AN 4.77 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html).

I think Dr.Stevenson's research is the beginning of new scientific era in psychology. There will be many to follow in due-course.