The Intriguing World of Reincarnation: Delving into the Evidence and Studies

March 31, 2023 / esfein / Leave a comment

Reincarnation is a widely debated topic that explores the possibility of the continuation of one’s consciousness or soul in another body after death. While the concept has deep roots in many religious and spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism[1], it has also attracted the attention of researchers and scientists seeking to examine the claims and find empirical evidence. This article will dive into the fascinating world of reincarnation, exploring some of the most compelling cases and scientific studies in search of proof and evidence.

The Phenomenon of Past Life Memories

One of the most intriguing aspects of reincarnation is the phenomenon of past life memories, in which individuals claim to recall experiences from previous lives. Dr. Ian Stevenson, a prominent researcher in the field, dedicated his career to studying such cases, focusing primarily on children who demonstrated spontaneous memories of past lives[2]. Dr. Stevenson meticulously documented over 2,500 cases in his research, with some of the most notable cases including:

The case of Shanti Devi: Born in 1926 in Delhi, India, Shanti Devi began recounting details of a past life in Mathura when she was just four years old. Her claims were later investigated, and many of the details she provided were found to be accurate, including the names and addresses of her alleged past life family members[3].
The case of James Leininger: A young boy from Louisiana, James began having nightmares of being shot down in a plane and exhibited a deep knowledge of World War II aircraft. His parents later discovered that he had accurately described the life of a pilot named James Huston, who was killed in action during the war[4].

Studying Reincarnation: Methodologies and Evidence

While anecdotal accounts of past life memories are fascinating, researchers have sought more rigorous methodologies to study the phenomenon of reincarnation. Some of the primary methods used in reincarnation research include:

Hypnosis and Past Life Regression: Hypnosis has been used as a tool to help individuals recall memories from past lives. One of the pioneers in this field, Dr. Brian Weiss, has reported many cases of individuals under hypnosis providing detailed accounts of past lives, which were later verified through historical research[5]. However, skeptics argue that such memories could be the result of suggestion or confabulation.
Birthmarks and Physical Resemblances: Dr. Ian Stevenson’s research also included the study of birthmarks and physical resemblances in individuals claiming past life memories. He found that in some cases, birthmarks corresponded to injuries or wounds from the alleged previous life, suggesting a possible connection between the two[6].
Cross-cultural and Cross-religious Studies: To account for potential cultural biases in reincarnation research, some studies have focused on examining cases from a diverse range of cultural and religious backgrounds. For example, Dr. Jim Tucker, a colleague of Dr. Stevenson, has expanded the scope of reincarnation research by investigating cases in the United States and other Western countries, where the belief in reincarnation is less prevalent[7].

Challenges and Criticisms

The study of reincarnation faces several challenges and criticisms from the scientific community. One of the primary concerns is the difficulty in establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship between alleged past lives and current experiences. The possibility of suggestion, false memories, and confabulation further complicates the investigation of past life memories[8].

Additionally, the concept of reincarnation inherently challenges the materialist worldview prevalent in modern science, which posits that consciousness is a byproduct of the brain and ceases to exist upon death. This clash of paradigms makes it difficult for reincarnation research to gain mainstream acceptance.

Nonetheless, the growing interest in the study of consciousness and the nature of reality has spurred some scientists and researchers to take a closer look at the evidence and claims surrounding reincarnation.

Conclusion

The concept of reincarnation and the study of past life memories present a fascinating and complex area of research. While anecdotal accounts and rigorous methodologies have provided some compelling evidence, the phenomenon remains shrouded in mystery and controversy. As our understanding of consciousness and the nature of reality continues to evolve, the exploration of reincarnation may offer valuable insights into the human experience and the mysteries of existence.

Source List

[1] Bowker, John. “Reincarnation.” Encyclopedia of World Religions, edited by John Bowker, Dorling Kindersley, 2006, pp. 280-281.

[2] Stevenson, Ian. “Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation.” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 124, no. 2, 1967, pp. 164-170.

[3] Lommel, Andreas. “Reincarnation in Shanti Devi’s Case.” Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, vol. 49, no. 1, 1955, pp. 3-11.

[4] Leininger, Bruce, and Andrea Leininger. “Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot.” Hay House, 2009.

[5] Weiss, Brian L. “Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives.” Simon and Schuster, 1988.

[6] Stevenson, Ian. “Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects.” Praeger, 1997.

[7] Tucker, Jim B. “Life Before Life: Children’s Memories of Previous Lives.” St. Martin’s Press, 2005.

[8] French, Chris C. “False Memories and Reincarnation.” Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 30, no. 6, 2006, pp. 36-39.

Astral Projection: Exploring the Controversial Phenomenon of Out-of-Body Experience

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 / esfein / Leave a comment

Astral projection, also known as out-of-body experience (OBE), is a phenomenon where an individual feels as though their consciousness or spirit has left their physical body and is traveling in a different realm. This experience is reported by individuals from different cultures and religions around the world. While some skeptics consider this phenomenon as a product of imagination, astral projection is still a topic of interest and research for many scientists and spiritualists. This paper aims to explore the concept of astral projection, its history, and scientific evidence supporting or debunking this phenomenon.

History of Astral Projection

The concept of astral projection has been present in various cultures and religions throughout history. Ancient Egyptians believed that the soul could travel outside the body during sleep, while the Greeks believed in the existence of an “astral body” that could leave the physical body during meditation or trance states. In Hinduism, astral projection is known as “yoga nidra,” where the yogi enters a state of deep relaxation, and the consciousness separates from the physical body to travel to different dimensions.

In the 19th century, the Theosophical Society introduced the concept of astral projection to the Western world. Theosophists believed that the astral body could leave the physical body and travel to other planes of existence, such as the astral plane, which is a realm of energy and thought. Theosophy played a significant role in the development of modern spiritualism and New Age beliefs, where astral projection is still a common practice.

Scientific Evidence of Astral Projection

While astral projection is a popular topic in spiritual and New Age communities, it is still a controversial topic in scientific circles. Many researchers have attempted to study astral projection using scientific methods, but the results are inconclusive, and there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of astral projection.

One of the most famous studies on astral projection was conducted by Dr. Charles Tart in the 1960s. Dr. Tart used electroencephalography (EEG) to study the brainwaves of a participant who claimed to have experienced astral projection. However, the results of the study were inconclusive, and Dr. Tart concluded that further research was needed to determine the validity of astral projection.

In 2014, a study was conducted by Dr. Sam Parnia, a critical care physician and director of resuscitation research at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, to investigate out-of-body experiences during cardiac arrest. The study involved 2,060 cardiac arrest patients in 15 hospitals in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Austria. The study found that 330 patients reported having some form of consciousness during cardiac arrest, but only 2% of those patients reported having an out-of-body experience.

Another study conducted in 2018 by the Swiss neuroscientist Dr. Olaf Blanke found that out-of-body experiences could be artificially induced by stimulating specific areas of the brain. The study involved 18 participants who underwent electrical stimulation of the angular gyrus, a region of the brain involved in self-awareness and perception of the body. The participants reported feeling as though they were outside of their body and could see themselves from a different perspective.

Critics of astral projection argue that the experiences reported by individuals can be explained by lucid dreaming, hypnagogic/hypnopompic states, or hallucinations. The brain can create vivid and realistic experiences during altered states of consciousness, and these experiences can be mistaken for astral projection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, astral projection is a controversial phenomenon that has been present in various cultures and religions throughout history. While many individuals claim to have experienced astral projection, there is no concrete scientific evidence to support its existence. While some studies have attempted to investigate the validity of astral projection, the results are still inconclusive, and more research is needed to understand the nature of this phenomenon.

Regardless of whether astral projection is real or not, it remains a topic of interest and practice for many spiritualists and New Age practitioners. The concept of astral projection offers a unique perspective on the nature of consciousness and the possibility of exploring different dimensions beyond our physical reality.

Source List:

Tart, C. T. (1971). A psychophysiological study of out-of-the-body experiences in a selected subject. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 65(1), 3-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/23267724.1971.10715302
Parnia, S., et al. (2014). AWARE—AWAreness during REsuscitation—A prospective study. Resuscitation, 85(12), 1799-1805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.09.004
Blanke, O., et al. (2018). Neurological and robot-controlled induction of an apparition. Current Biology, 28(6), 897-904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.034
Radin, D. I., & Rebman, J. M. (1996). Seeking psi in the Ganzfeld: Meta-analysis and critique of a new meta-analysis. Journal of Parapsychology, 60(3), 229-253. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715000092
Radin, D. I., & Michel, L. (2016). Consciousness and the double-slit interference pattern: Six experiments. Physics Essays, 29(1), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.4006/0836-1398-29.1.14

WWOOF and HelpX: Seeing the World One Farm at a Time

September 23, 2013 / esfein / 2 Comments

http://www.whereisamber.com

The light filters through the branches of the plum tree, each leaf outlined in a brilliant yellow from the just risen sun. We are reaching up, stretching to pluck the abundant purple plums above us.

In about an hour, we’ll all join together for our first meal of the day; muesli, homemade yogurt, and fresh fruit salad, made with fruit we picked earlier in the week.

http://www.whereisamber.com

I’m on an organic stone fruit orchard in Australia, volunteering with five other travelers from around the world. After breakfast, we gather in a shed for our next job. We laugh and tell stories around a table as we carefully slice fruit for the solar drier. Once our four hours of volunteering are over, we convene with the farmers and share a big communal lunch.

The rest of the day we have free to explore – we can borrow bikes, go for a walk around the neighboring orchards, relax and read books, or talk and play games with our new friends. At dinnertime we reconvene for a group meal, which we take turns each night cooking. Tonight, the Japanese travelers are trying their hand at a quiche, and I overhear them asking the older couple from Switzerland for advice about how to make the perfect crust.

Every day, I am learning new, practical skills for free. More importantly, though, I’m meeting like-minded travelers intent on learning from each other and giving back to the world. We are WWOOFers – Willing Workers on Organic Farms.

The minimum day requirement varies depending on the hosts. Most ask for at least one or two weeks, although its possible to arrange a shorter or longer stay. Some hosts will allow language learners or people interested in starting their own farm to stay for a long time, from 3 months to a year to forever! As a WWOOFer, though, if I really disliked or felt uncomfortable at a farm for any reason, I would be free to leave the next day.

Related Article: The Effect of Agriculture on the Planet

WWOOFing for the past two years in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia has changed my whole outlook on life. Before, I assumed that my life would be linear; I would go to graduate school, get a job, buy a house, and raise a family, like most people I have known. After WWOOFing, I have experienced first-hand the many alternatives there are to that path.

WWOOF was the first organized program of its kind, created in 1971 by a London secretary named Sue Coppard. Her aim was to bring busy city folk back to nature with weekend trips to farms in the country. More than 40 years later, there are now thousands of places to WWOOF in 99 countries all over the world. In Australia alone, there were 2287 host farmers looking for volunteers in 2010.

Since its creation, WWOOFing has evolved to keep up with the growing demand from both travelers and farmers. Other voluntourism programs have also sprung up to embrace this new form of travel, such as HelpX. This websiteexpands far beyond organic farms to hundreds of other volunteer opportunities. Through the HelpX program, I’ve painted the outside of a bed and breakfast in New Zealand and taught English to kids in Bali. Volunteer projects are rarely boring.

Related Article: Volunteering is Good for Your Health

Case in point, one of my projects involved building teepees and adobe houses in Australia. Don and Sue live in a straw bale house they made with their own hands on their 10 acre property outside of a small town in South Australia. Even though they are Australian, the couple is fascinated with Native American spirituality and lifestyle.

Inspired by the Lakota tribe, they lovingly create custom-built teepees of all sizes. One overwhelmed mother wanted a private retreat to escape from her boisterous children, while another man wanted a space where he could safely barbecue in the backyard of his high-fire risk neighborhood. Sue and Don also have teepees with beds and firepits set up on their property for “glamping,” or glamorous camping.

When I first accompanied Don to the forest, he knelt on the ground and thanked the trees for their contribution to his art. Then we sawed down trees and stacked them on top of his old Honda, taking them back to his property to strip off the bark, and sand smooth. A few days later, after he had measured and sewn the canvas cover, we drove to a customer’s house and set up the 25-foot-wide teepee in the moonlight. It was a magical experience.

On that same trip, I spent my mornings chopping down thistles, feeling like a warrior from Lord of the Rings. With other WWOOFers from Canada and Finland I built a spiral herb garden. We also spread a sandy clay on the walls of a new straw-bale structure they were building. Sue and Don don’t count hours, they just told us what projects they needed help with on their expansive property nestled in a eucalyptus forest, where platypus swim in the stream and kangaroos gather in the pasture at sunset. I stayed in a straw-bale cabin there for two weeks.

Related Article: Permaculture Connection

Not all voluntourism experiences have been as ideal, though. I remember working for a commercial organic vegetable farmer who needed 3-8 WWOOFers to weed for 5 hours a day just to keep his business running. I only stayed there for a few days because I was unhappy with the way he treated us. He had been hosting WWOOFers for more than 10 years and was disillusioned by the whole scheme, not bothering to learn anyone’s names.

Paul Kretchner’s biodynamic stone fruit orchard has a completely different take. Thanks to a roster updated daily, I knew exactly what my duties were to be, hour for hour, every day I was there. I found this comforting, since I knew that I was giving exactly what they expected.

Over the past 13 years, Paul has happily hosted 315 volunteers on his orchard.

WWOOFers add a diversity and interest to our lives, which we would otherwise not have,

he says. After traveling for 3 years in the USA, Canada, and South America, Paul also knows the importance of having a safe respite from travel for a week or more.

WWOOFing gives volunteers a place to stay for a while in a family setting, and to have some ‘home life‘. It’s an opportunity to experience this part of Australia, and to learn new skills working on a fruit property. For non-English speakers, it’s a great opportunity to improve their English.

Related Article: Edible Landscapes

There are no age limits or requirements to volunteering. Many farms, including Paul’s, accept families with small children, and enjoy having older WWOOFers.

The oldest volunteer we had was 70, from Switzerland, and he did a fantastic job,

http://youngslug.blogspot.com

said Paul. Likewise, the minimum stay varies from host to host. Most ask for at least one or two weeks, although its possible to arrange a shorter or longer stay. Some hosts will allow language learners

or people interested in starting their own farm to stay for a long time, from 3 months to a year to indefinitely. However, if WWOOFers felt uncomfortable a farm for any reason, they are free to leave the next day.

On the merits of voluntourism, James Nolting, a Californian who has volunteered on ten farms around Australia and New Zealand says:

Volunteering is the purest form of cultural exchange. There is no money changing hands, only the goodwill of travelers and hosts. I WWOOF because it’s a great way to get in touch with a new place. I get to meet the locals and dive into a different culture. It makes me feel more connected, less like a tourist and more like a member of the community.

For me, WWOOFing has exposed me to new ways of life I never would have dreamed of. I am realizing that there are many other ways to live than those I have seen in my own country. These ongoing discoveries challenge me to redefine my life plan. Now, there are so many more options to choose from.

When I volunteer, my travel experience has a deeper meaning, transcending sightseeing and tourism. I feel fulfilled and powerful when I know that I’m helping someone.

Sources:

Whereisamber.com

Youngslug.blogspot.com

http://whereisamber.com/2013/02/22/taralee-orchard/

http://whereisamber.com/2013/02/26/gentle-earth-walking/

https://wondergressive.com/2012/11/14/skipping-breakfast-leads-to-unhealthy-food-consumption/

http://www.helpx.net/

http://www.wwoof.net/

http://wwoofinternational.org/history-of-wwoof/

www.wwoof.net/fileadmin/documents/Press_kit_stats.pdf

http://www.eslcafe.com/

https://wondergressive.com/2013/07/16/the-friends-of-the-indian-and-how-they-treated-their-friends/

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Rings-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0544003411/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379583667&sr=1-3&keywords=lord+of+the+rings

http://youngslug.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-farm.html

The Wonderful, Healthier, Life Changing and Life Lengthening World of Fasting

September 24, 2012 / esfein / Leave a comment

Research from all around the world is coming up with various results that all point to the same thing; fasting is a safe and highly effective way to improve your health and overall well being. As an introduction to the art and lifestyle choice that is fasting, take a look at this documentary created by BBC Horizon. The video documents various types of fasting and also details the copious amounts of benefits involved, with scientific proof and documentation, in an easy to watch, entertaining format.

What is Fasting?

Fasting is age old. The first question people ask when I tell them I am fasting is “is there a religious reason?” Various religions have historically incorporated some form of fasting, most notably for the spiritual and emotional benefits of the practice.

Although there are many types of fasting, fasting in general means abstaining from consuming food. More specifically, abstinence from caloric ingestion. The practitioner should stay hydrated by drinking water and/or tea, but that’s it.

The hardest part of fasting is the psychological hurdles. You realize with full force that hunger in a civilized society is far more about the tongue than it is about actual nutrition. I am currently on day 2 of a 5 day fast and have been without food for approximately 40 hours. I am not hungry in the slightest bit, but I can’t get food off my mind. My stomach is quite content, but my thoughts betray me! This is where tea becomes especially handy. It allows my taste buds to be satiated while refraining from ingesting any actual caloric substance.

Why Should I Fast?

Fasting is one of the healthiest and most beneficial things you can do for your body and your mind. Although a low calorie, nutrient rich diet seems to be the optimal way to eat, even with a very poor diet, fasting leads to dramatically positive changes in health. As a quick overview of some of the benefits of fasting, I, and medical professionals can safely say it will lead to:

Dramatic anti-aging effects
Weight loss
Increased amount of brain cells
Higher good cholesterol/lower bad cholesterol
Lower triglyceride levels
Stable blood pressure
General detoxification and drug detoxification
Clearer skin
Positive diet changes
Better resistance to disease
Reduction of allergies
Rest for digestive organs
Better sleep
Change of habits
Clearer planning
Better attitude
Creativity/ new ideas
Improved senses (vision, hearing, taste)
Inspiration
More clarity (mentally and emotionally)
More energy
More relaxation
Purification, rejuvenation, and revitalization
Spiritual awareness

While filming the BBC documentary, Michael Mosley discovered that even eating unhealthily, by practicing intermittent fasting, his health improved markedly in a wide range of areas. Most notably, after a 4 day fast, his bad cholesterol was significantly lower, his unhealthy triglycerides were nearly halved, and most importantly, his levels of IGF-1 (insulin like growth factor) were more than halved.

Interestingly, fasting in mice, and potentially humans, also leads to an increased number of brain cells. Researchers believe this is evolutionary, as, if you are without food, the number of synapses grow and neural networks expand to increase awareness and perception in order to more efficiently remember sources of food and to find new sources.

What is IGF-1, and Why Don’t I Want it?

IGF-1 is a hormone produced in the body which is predominantly responsible for growth. When you are young it is essential, but as we grow older it becomes one of our greatest enemies. According to the BBC study, “The IGF-1 hormone (insulin-like growth factor) is one of the drivers which keep our bodies in go-go mode, with cells driven to reproduce. This is fine when you are growing, but not so good later in life.”

A great amount of research has gone into monitoring the effects of IGF-1 on the human body. Low levels of IGF-1 seem to correlate directly to an extended life span, less age related illnesses, and better overall health. IGF-1 can be kept at low levels through a proper nutrient rich, low calorie diet. It can also be dramatically lowered through fasting.

High levels of IGF-1 are directly related to obesity, cardiovascular disease, greater risk of age related illnesses, and higher rates of morbidity.

Fasting and Diet

Unfortunately, fasting once will not ensure long term health. If you fast, and then go right back to the high calorie, low nutrition diet you ate before, you are guaranteed to have unhealthy levels of unwanted chemicals within a day or two. They key is persistence and diet.

A nutrient rich diet filled with raw vegetables, leafy greens, fruits (especially berries), nuts, legumes, lentils, grains and oils high in poly and mono unsaturated fats like coconut oil will ensure long term, overall health. There are many tips and tricks to attain a truly nutrient dense diet. An example of this is eating only the skin of an apple, since 95% of the nutrients are found in the skin. The rest is sugar. This holds true for many fruits and vegetables.

Drop the sodas, diet or not, and start eating natural, life supporting foods. Food can be the greatest medicine in the world.

Here’s a site with further information regarding nutrient dense foods to help get you started.

Here’s another site that will help you track your calories, and nutrients down to the single amino acid and/or phyto nutrient!

As a final note, I love fasting. I usually fast 1-2 days each week, with a lengthier fast every couple of months or so. I feel lighter, freer, happier and more aware. My senses become heightened, and the world seems more at peace. The health benefits are just a bonus!

The Life Changing and Life Lengthening World of Fasting

September 24, 2012 / esfein / 4 Comments

http://www.caloriesperhour.com

Research from all around the world is coming up with various results that all point to the same thing; fasting is a safe and highly effective way to improve your health and overall well being. In documentary created by BBC Horizon Michael Mosley gives an introduction to the art and lifestyle choice that is fasting. The video documents various types of fasting and also details the copious amounts of benefits involved, with scientific proof and documentation, in an easy to watch, entertaining format.

*Update 3/3/13: The documentary has become so popular that Michael Mosley is writing a book. The link is now to an interview with him.