tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post7405438305740706811..comments2024-03-28T14:11:24.265-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: Ian Stevenson And ReincarnationShravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-44275260971662185702018-07-20T11:59:36.386-07:002018-07-20T11:59:36.386-07:00" Nonetheless, Wilson’s book contains some ve... " Nonetheless, Wilson’s book contains some very interesting research and it well worth reading. It’s enough to make anyone with an intelligent interest in reincarnation very cautious of much of the ‘evidence’ presented in its favor of reincarnation and I used to recommend this book to people " -<br /><br /> Well you seem to have an inherent bias against reincarnation. May I presume , it comes directly from Buddha's teaching that - " There is no SELF which is Reborn. Only Sankharas are Reborn "Ramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368877490992242423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-16869895058991792232018-07-20T11:54:47.876-07:002018-07-20T11:54:47.876-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368877490992242423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-505274437095647442010-03-06T06:48:31.765-08:002010-03-06T06:48:31.765-08:00According to His Holiness Maharaj Sahab (1861-1907...According to His Holiness Maharaj Sahab (1861-1907), the 3rd Spiritual Head of Radha Soami Faith, “during satyayuga,………..in consequence of their greater spirituality and of the high purity of their heart, had no difficulty in getting access at times into the astral planes and holding communion with the departed spirits.” (Source: Discourses on Radhasoami Faith). Greater Spirituality as mentioned above is linked to the size of pineal gland. In Satyauga pineal gland was highly developed but in Kaliyuga the pineal gland is a rudimentary (undeveloped) organ. This is downward evolution of humankind. We should ascertain the period taken from highly developed pineal gland to undeveloped pineal gland. This will determine the Age of Human Existence on this Earth Planet. Other arguments, as I think, will not help much.<br />In Bhagavad-Gita Lord SriKrishna says to Arjuna:<br />“I taught this immortal Yoga to Vivasvan (sun-god), Vivasvan conveyed it to Manu(his son), and Manu imparted it to (his son) Iksvaku. Thus transmitted to succession from father to son, Arjuna, this Yoga remained known to the Rajarisis (royal sages). It has however long since disappeared from this earth. The same ancient Yoga has this day been imparted to you by Me, because you are My devotee and friend, and also because this is a supreme secret”.<br />At this Arjuna said: You are of recent origin while the birth of Vivasvan dates back to remote antiquity. How, then, I am to believe that you taught this Yoga at the beginning of creation? Lord SriKrishna said: Arjuna, you and I have passed through many births. I remember them all, you do not remember.<br />1. Radha Soami Faith was founded by His Holiness Param Purush Puran Dhani Huzur Soamiji Maharaj on the prayer of His Holiness Huzur Maharaj who later on became second Spiritual Head of Radha Soami Faith. The prime object of the Radha Soami Faith is the emancipation of all Jeevas (Souls) i.e. to take the entire force of consciousness to its original abode. There is a tradition of succession of Gurus or Spiritual Adepts in Radha Soami Faith. I am one of them as is evident from the following facts or ….<br />“My most Revered Guru of my previous life His Holiness Maharaj Sahab, 3rd Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith had revealed this secret to me during trance like state.<br />HE told me, “Tum Sarkar Sahab Ho” (You are Sarkar Sahab). Sarkar Sahab was one of the most beloved disciple of His Holiness Maharj Sahab. Sarkar Sahab later on became Fourth Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith.<br />Since I don’t have any direct realization of it so I can not claim the extent of its correctness. But it seems to be correct. During my previous birth I wanted to sing the song of ‘Infinite’ (Agam Geet yeh gawan chahoon tumhri mauj nihara, mauj hoi to satguru soami karoon supanth vichara) but I could not do so then since I had to leave the mortal frame at a very early age. But through the unbounded Grace and Mercy of my most Revered Guru that desire of my past birth is being fulfilled now.”Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11254935427230839567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-47112776007346117172009-11-23T16:37:10.046-08:002009-11-23T16:37:10.046-08:00You can recall your past life if you can meditate ...You can recall your past life if you can meditate up to at least the First Jhana stage, using the Anapanasati method. It’s not easy and you need to practise meditation conscientiously. If interested, a good text “Basic Meditation” by Ajahn Brahmavamso is available online.<br />The link on this Stevenson post leads to yet another rebirth sceptic on youtube. It is futile for scientists and philosophers to speculate and debate over reincarnation for decades when they can find out for themselves through correct meditation.merlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334673075246789213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-83110793716733055242009-11-20T09:50:16.168-08:002009-11-20T09:50:16.168-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.merlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334673075246789213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-36420172280823562592009-10-25T23:06:02.523-07:002009-10-25T23:06:02.523-07:00Hi Narinda,
You might find these previous posts o...Hi Narinda,<br /><br />You might find these previous posts of Ven. Dhammika interesting:<br /><br /><a href="http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/02/did-jesus-live-in-india-i.html" rel="nofollow">Did Jesus Live In india 1</a><br /><a href="http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/02/did-jesus-live-in-india-ii.html" rel="nofollow">Did Jesus Live In india 2</a><br /><a href="http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/2009/02/did-jesus-live-in-india-iii.html" rel="nofollow">Did Jesus Live In india 3</a>lzbluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893059895701603853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-73704217433753601632009-10-25T08:53:12.614-07:002009-10-25T08:53:12.614-07:00We were fortunate to be able to hear a lecture by ...We were fortunate to be able to hear a lecture by Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson, of the Department of Psychology, of the University of Iceland several years ago. His research is similar to Stevenson's and very impressive. His review of Stevenson's great works --Reincarnation and Biology and Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect is awesome! Sorry the html can't be accepted but it should be easy to look up. Since replication of results is what science requires, Haraldsson's work is important. He made the point in the talk that the most compelling research cases were those in cultures that didn't predispose to rebirth or reincarnation; the most interesting field work he described was within the Druze of Lebanon -- a fascinating case!Ken and Visakhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713910044241151429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-47837999288124219452009-10-25T01:32:12.892-07:002009-10-25T01:32:12.892-07:00Dear Venerable Dhammika,
I really like your blog....Dear Venerable Dhammika,<br /><br />I really like your blog. Well, I have no question nor opinion for the discussion, but want to share with all of you a blogger that contain some of article from Venerable Dhammika and some of Video from you youtube. I also want to ask all of you, especially Venerable Dhammika what is your opinion or what do you think toward the video clip name Where was Jesus for 18 years? and The Hidden Story of Jesus<br />from the following blog as attached below:<br />http://jesustobuddha.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Thanks,Narindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16744947268062220101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-59547756272919062202009-10-25T00:28:47.298-07:002009-10-25T00:28:47.298-07:00On page 16, Williams wrote:
"Buddhists do no...On page 16, Williams wrote:<br /><br />"Buddhists do not hold such a God exists.Thus I can no longer be a Buddhist."<br /><br />I believe Williams' rejection of Buddhism is based on two issues, ie. the existence God & rebirth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-69594029674396659822009-10-25T00:16:16.076-07:002009-10-25T00:16:16.076-07:00In line with the blog topic, what do you think abo...In line with the blog topic, what do you think about Williams' criticism of the Buddhists' theory of rebirth?<br /><br />Anyway, here's Visvapani review:<br />http://www.dharmalife.com/issue19/comment.html<br /><br />And Studstill's review:<br />http://www.arsdisputandi.org/publish/articles/000299/article.pdf<br /><br />There is also a review by O'Grady publish in Contemporary Buddhism, From Lhasa to Rome: Williams' Unexpected Way. (anyone interested may email me at rahula_80@yahoo.com<br />)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-3129774809869010952009-10-24T16:24:51.213-07:002009-10-24T16:24:51.213-07:00Dear Rahula,
I read Williams ’book (The Unexpected...Dear Rahula,<br />I read Williams ’book (The Unexpected Way, 2002) when it came out with the intention of writing a review of it. In the end I decided that it wasn’t worth it. Williams uses most of his book to tell the reader how much he loves God and the Church. What can you say about that! He doesn’t really highlight anything wrong with Dhamma, not in any meaningful way anyway. As far as I know no one else has bothered to review it either.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-82533472633776495072009-10-24T13:52:23.448-07:002009-10-24T13:52:23.448-07:00Thinker presents Jesus' God as something exter...Thinker presents Jesus' God as something external to human heart/character but that Unborn aspect in Buddhism is Not separated from the true human being. And that, I think, is the reason why Buddha and Jesus in Thomas Gospel do not call that aspect - GOD. Living Father in that Gospel is never called God or Heavenly Father! And there is no need to have faith in Him - people should only know themselves. But this not the view of Christian Church, and its concept of God does not correspond to Buddhist Unborn.yurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459608592333995535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-48314521672197490872009-10-24T08:38:31.756-07:002009-10-24T08:38:31.756-07:00Hi Rahula,
If God is understood as the Unconditio...Hi Rahula,<br /><br />If God is understood as the Unconditioned, Unoriginated, Unborn, Uncreated (terms borrowed from a saying by Gotama Buddha according to a Buddhist scripture), then the god of Jesus could be compatible with the core of Buddhist worldview (not-self, emptiness, impermanence). The god of Jesus could be seen as "someone" who looks at the heart/character of a person and not the accuracy of one's beliefs (i.e. the UnConditioned, the Ground of Being, does not judge base on a person's mind but on a person's heart).thinkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00099748402248639287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-30498013031025133522009-10-24T08:02:51.408-07:002009-10-24T08:02:51.408-07:00The "God" that I had in mind was William...The "God" that I had in mind was Williams' God, or the Catholic God.<br /><br />On the other hand, I wonder if there are literature responding or defennding against Edward and Wilson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-88229316968294087362009-10-24T06:00:37.559-07:002009-10-24T06:00:37.559-07:00Dear James,
Good to hear from you. Our pilgrimage ...Dear James,<br />Good to hear from you. Our pilgrimage to Mt Kailash was exhausting but very rewarding. The details will be on my blog during November. <br />Dear Rahula,<br />Whether belief in a god is incompatible with Dhamma depends which god one believes in. The god of the Abraham faiths requires, nay demands, total allegiance and thus, I would say, belief in such a deity would require a rejection of Dhamma. As for more open-minded, less ‘jealous’ gods like Sat Nam of the Sikhs, Siva and most other Hindu gods, Ahura Mazda, Plato’s ‘The One’, and the ‘real’ god if he exists, the situation might be different.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-36256192086860226022009-10-24T05:12:45.639-07:002009-10-24T05:12:45.639-07:00Thank you for your response, Venerable Sir.
Ian W...Thank you for your response, Venerable Sir.<br /><br />Ian Wilson too, converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism.<br /><br />Well, is the believe in God and Buddhism compatible (in the case of Williams)? If it is, why bother convert. If not, then it is simply not compatible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-69735465958801432682009-10-24T04:44:40.792-07:002009-10-24T04:44:40.792-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-3798249003935173502009-10-24T04:42:43.388-07:002009-10-24T04:42:43.388-07:00Ven. Dhammika,
Thank you for this article; I real...Ven. Dhammika,<br /><br />Thank you for this article; I really enjoy your blog. I met you at Tibet Books in Thamel, Kathmandu before you made your trip to Mt. Kailash. I was the fellow with glasses and dark hair in the company of a Western monk (Tibetan tradition). I'm glad you made it back safely!<br /><br />-JamesAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01224312993813839971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-8453428521021101922009-10-24T04:25:28.324-07:002009-10-24T04:25:28.324-07:00In his book explaining why he converted from Buddh...In his book explaining why he converted from Buddhism to Catholicism Williams says ‘I never really gave up Buddhism. I just stopped running away from God’ (I’m quoting him from memory). He also says his friends shook their heads when he announced his conversion and said they thought he was mad. I’ll keep my opinion about his decision to myself. Paul Griffith is a convert from Anglicism to Catholicism and has never been a Buddhist. He is a scholar of Buddhism which is different from being a Buddhist.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-77657314489699971652009-10-24T04:04:19.205-07:002009-10-24T04:04:19.205-07:00Well, then, what do you think of Paul Williams'...Well, then, what do you think of Paul Williams' conversion to Catholicism?<br /><br />And there is also another scholar who is a Catholic, Paul Griffiths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-46515086172995374742009-10-24T04:02:43.382-07:002009-10-24T04:02:43.382-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com