Past Lives

[Rana]

Do you believe in past lives? Have you ever felt any echos of these in your experience?

Is a topic that reoccurs as Buddism  & other religions certainly encompass the notion.

I myself had a funny occurrance as a child - and though it proves nothing one way or another - even now it strikes me as weird.

I was one of those children who were fortunate in being able to read at a high level at an early age and loved reading.  I could read the newspapers before I went to school and can remember that though the words made sense what they often described was confusing to me - I seemed to have the idea that the British Empire still existed post WWII, am sure my questions often used to bug my parents.  Also my questions about dinosaurs & stuff used to seriously irritate the nuns teaching me religious education 

Anyway, I was reading that American Classic "The Red Badge of Courage"  (which in itself is strange in that its author was too young to have experienced the Civil War, yet was able to describe conditions in a way that suggested actual involvement).

I knew very little about American history other than confused notions of Indians, the American war of Independence Danl Boon & Davy Crockett, the fact that the Japanese sunk all your battleships at Pearl Harbour & we had to come to your assistance in the South Pacific (I know, I know, but I was very young - blame my Dad for that   )

Anyway reading the book till I came to the passage about the dead Confedeate soldier - where it hit me like a physical blow, The Confederacy, Confederate Soldier, was really the strangest feeling without knowing anything about the civil war I suddenly immediately identified with the Confederacy and all it stood for.  I cannot explain it but following that I had to read up on all I could about the American history & the war that to me from then on was the "War of Northern Aggression"

Even now after all those years it strikes me as strange    Anybody else had an experience like that ?

Rana

[Julie Marie]

While I've never had any experiences like that I do believe they are for real. I studied near death experiences for years and read enough to make me believe there is life after death and it's possible we can come here many times. The theory goes we come here to learn something and we may choose to come back again. Sort of like going back to school to get another degree. Sylvia Brown says there are many souls who don't have the strength or courage to come here and that all who do are heros. I like that concept. It helps me appreciate everyone here.

It seems you are highly gifted. I recognize this because I have a son who is. When he was four he memorized all the fish names in the Encyclopedia Britannica , in Latin. He too has had experiences like yours. Sometimes I think the most intelligent among us are able to do that because they can get rid of all the nonsense around them and focus on the moment.

[Buffy]

I keep having a dream, all the time about being in the deep south during the Civil War ( A bit like Gone with the wind)

At times I think I must have been there asthe colours, landscape, smells seem so real.

I don't know how as I am not even American!

Buffy

[Chaunte]

Rana,

I don't know what to think on this!

There have been times when I've deja vu'ed.  I was a pilot in the Mighty 8th (8th Air Force) stationed in England during WWII.  My Fortress never came back...  It might explain why I have such a fascination with the plane nowadays!

Maybe it also explains why I get so choked up when I sing Christmas in the Trenches.  It's as if I was there and remember the Christmas Truce of 1914...

Chaunte

[Rana]

Thank you everyone for your posts here.

While nothing could be seen as any proof of past lives (and indeed how could you ever prove this).   Peoples experiences to seem to hint at .....somthing.
My own experience which was never more than a strange recognition or conviction - Buffy who also had a feeling about the South but with an added dimension of sights, smells sounds (and yes Buffy I am not American either, the US was a sort of alien landscape for my youth     ).  Tinkerbell with an eeiry and sombre experience,  Chaunte's  I dunno strikes me as a more upbeat feeling - why ever this should be?  but  makes me think of Glenn Miller, his music & other worthy things that happened back then.  I also am fascinated by aeroplanes - the ones with propellers, jets tend to leave me cold

It makes me think of the point and purpose of it all.  Why are we here?  to do what.  Tinkerbell I sort of agree with what you say about classes in the college of existence.  I am not Buddist, yet there is much that is worthy in that religion (and I believe it is more resistant to being tainted by worldly politics than Christianity, Judasism & most certainly Islam are).  I have been thinking a lot about this sort of stuff lately.  And will post my take on it all later.
In truth I cannot believe that transexuality is a "punishment"  Buddists are wrong there I reckon.  In fact I now don't believe in the concept of punishment at all.  Maybe transexuality is a test and a burden placed on those with the strenght to bear it?

Rana

PS  Julie Marie thank you for your most kind words.   I think I had the potential to be truely gifted, but I never lived up to that.  Or, as I said in another post that the potential belonged to a woman name of Rana, and as a male I never was able to fill her shoes  - the Rana here is a sort of shadow of someone who could/should have existed.

[Bob]

Boy Tinkerbell ! how can to minds come up with the same explination and never have had any contact with each other ...? that is errie ! .
I too believe in past lives.... many  bits and fragments in my minds eye appear as almost wakeing dreams, but feel so very very real as if i was there.... and indeed i believe i truly was.
I am here as I knew from my early teens , to learn and gain as much knowledge as i possably can.... I have gone as Tink put it back to school many times.... i am an old hand at this life stuff.... i feel as if i am doing my thesous for graduation... and I must get it right this time ! no more mistakes....this is the big one .... and i can't shake the feeling of that importance.  but on the other hand I feel that it doesn't realy matter as i can just do it over again should i miss the point or something. and i don't know how to reconscile these feelings.
  I think my most vivid reconition of a past life was when I was a Oriental prince or king of some sort, i think in Tiwan but i am not positive, and probly arround the 14th century....  how i come to that conclusion is the sword i carried was of such workmanship as i have never seen one like it ..... later i looked up swords and all to no avail but i finally found the sword type , with a weighted tip.... oriental,14th century.
that supprized me as i thought it not that far back in time. but time seams to have little relivance to the city of white when we choose life and push the begin button so to speak.   I certainly do not know much about it, but i do know i believe it because i feel it in my bones ! in the deepest parts of my soul  if you will.
there are too many people saying the same thing for it to be just amagination in my view
...though it has little importance in this life except as a courousity.... i am in this life now and that is what is important ....make every day count !
.......
Bob........

[sky]

I am sure there are past lives & I have some vivid memories.

One was sitting by an old leaded window while it rained. I was looking out at the trees and my father & some other men were riding out on horseback to something. I was in what looked like an 16th century room and two large dogs were asleep by a large open fireplace. There was a woman sewing by the fire too. It was so vivid I stil see it when I hear or see rain on a window pane.


Sky XXX

[umop ap!sdn]

I used to believe in past lives. I guess, I still want to believe - and the sense of having been there is too vivid to ignore easily. For me it's especially tempting to believe in those lives in which I was a GG.

[Bob]

Well, to me  Life after death is a given .
One reason is energy is never destroyied, it just changes form . and our bodies contain energy, not much but energy just the same.
and I have astral projected successfully once or twice in my life and it gave me a new outlook on life in general.  everything had an aura except the rocks, the bushes ,trees and people, critters any life form glowed.
so if we die where does that energy go ? it isn't burried with the body... it is no longer held in by the body... i believe our souls or our being is held in to our bodies by the "Feraday cage " effect. our nervice system makes a fantastic feraday cage! and this makes it dificult to get away from it ! but when the nervis system shuts down  you are no longer anchored to the body.  this explains many of the near death experiences to a T...
once the body re- starts we are snapped back. or go back on our own...and life resumes.
from a purely scientific look at it I'ed say  there has to be some sort of life after death because of the "energy is not being destroyied, it just changes form", side of it.
my Past life experiences or those i believe i had  cement the life after death ishue to me . i eather have a real good amagination or they realy took place and I guess i won't know for certain till i  die angain ! <grin>
IN all my years I have never incountered one thing that came back to life once it was dead... but i have whitnessed Ghosts if you want to call'em that, many times.
from my recently departed pets to a grand parent.  so I definately don't believe  this flesh is all there is to life.
  ofcorse these things can be explained away as a psycotic delusion or missinterpiting other things you name it ...
...
the problem is that all of this changes nothing... we are still in this life and we must make the best of it , its fun to speculate in the world of IF but it realy doesn't help much, oh it might calm your mind a bit to know if you screw up real bad in this life you can alwayse do it over ....but thats about all.
I have read stories of people going off the "Deep END" of sanity when getting too tied up in this line of thinking, so it can be harmfull if taken to extreams, as just about anything in extreams is harmfull as well .   I take the outlook of "I'll cross that bridge when i come to it " , weather i find heavon or hell or the city of white  is un important now , this life is whats important NOW !
but it is something that makes you wonder !
......
Bob......

[jaded]

i do believe in past lives just because id like to believe


Posted at: August 05, 2006, 08:23:55 PMoh and i like answer Bob

[taylor]

I believe in past lives with out question. It is threw many lives that our "spirits" achieve the level of growth they need for a greater purpose. The bible even makes reference to this. I think to assume that our energy just is no more, is a bit lacking because we know energy moves on, takes  on a different form.  I also believe that there may be some evidence found that we are the "alliens" that we keep looking for.  Advanced life forms of humans, as we also continue to evolve here on earth.

I believe that if we ever advnace our knowledge on the parts of the brain that we seldom can use, we will also disclose even more about the actual nature of the human being... we are so much more than we even know.

I enjoy these topics, thanks for bring it up.

Peace,

Taylor

[Bob]

Indeed Taylor !
we are so much more than what we see.
I Love the stories of mericals, and they abound throut the planet, the one that fanisinated me the most was a real life observation of a person serving Gandi...
where a throng of people came to wish him well and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a fish.... where the observer knew there was no fish... and he did it again and again many times... Gandi said " Whatever your Magnificant and powerfull mind can concieve and Believe ,will come to pass"  or words of some such...
Belief is the key... Even Christ said that as well.   But my frail mind can but wonder how such belief can be achieved.  I have tried Most of my life to believe and change my curcumstances... but it has not changed.  the Bible says "Fathe is the gift of god, not of works lest any man should boast"...if we could but Believe anything would be possable!
.....
   I remember Running as a child with my arms spred wide trying to fly... and if i jumpped just right and thought just so it would work... I seam to remember actually flying like that.... and I mentioned it to the wife one time and found that she had done the same thing.... So perhaps we can actually change our reality by our thoughts.
what a fantastic thing that would be eh ?

Bob.......

[taylor]

Hey Bob,

You bring up a very important aspect to our state of being.  I am facing some real wierd challenges in my life right now. And there is always adversity to things, because society is saturated with resistance.  Now I am not sure I can have this make a lot of sense, but let me say this...what drives me is that my arms are indeed held out and I do believe with everything in me I can fly... and I will, and here is why...( at least how I see it)  because I believe that I am backed by a energy force (God) that can tare down resistence where it is needed.  It does not mean that I will not face more resistance, there could be a cause for it that I am clueless of, because while I may be focused down the road, I cannot see down the road as clearly as a higher being than myself can ( God).

If I where to switch over to a negative energy, then I am out of sync with the positive energy (God) and I become a part of my own resistance... hope this is making sense, writing this stuff is harder than thinking and feeling it lol....

Anyway, it is not for me all about willing something to be, it is about supporting something with my energy that I believe is to be. I fully believe that adversity and challenges bring experience, growth and strength within not just my character, but my spirits being.

If I spend my life focused on what all has gone against me, then I cannot find peace in the energy that flows with me, supports me, and allows me to make gains that previously I could not have ever imagined, and have a future that holds realities that I cannot even see as possibilities right now.

Ok, I am going to stop here, because I feel like to say more would complicate my point. lol

Well one more brief thing.... It is not believe that I see working, it is active faith...people often confuse the two. I believe in a lot of things, but I do not place my faith in them. I place my faith in positive energy (God) and I sync my energy there.  It is kind of like saying, "Doing God's will, even when I don't totally get it"  I believe in negative energy too, I just don't put my energy/faith behind that force. Some call it Satin, or whatever, I don't give it a name have never seen a need to I guess.


Peace,

Taylor

PS  Resistance of course can be from a individual, a family , a group, a society, a culture etc. But whatever the case may be...positive energy cannot fail me or anyone else, it just never has, and that starts from within our thought process... at least to me it does.

Sorry this was so long.... But Bob I really dug what you wrote here !

[Bob]

Way to go Taylor !
  I'ed have quoted your post but I'ed have had to quote the entire thing ! well stated  and right on the money !
...
here is the important thing... as You mention Fathe and Belief are not the same thing...
and alowing a Higher power to acomplish those desires For you takes away your ability to do it or not ...its out of your hands, His will be done not mine!
this is an extreamily important part of this Mind power thing. because we see ourselves as being too weak to accomplish anything like that Flying thing.
when we were Kids we didn't know any better... now that we're older the resistance has built up so strong in our minds that its vurtually impossable to get any positive energy through... 
  But my point is You don't need to "give it to God" because you do not know what he will do with it....that in itself introduces Resistance....UNLESS !
Unless You believe that It is Gods will that you will fly then that would be a formula for success indeed.
  I used to be very religious, but left the teachings of others for their ideas of what God wants to Surch my own hart and find that God resides inside of us all.  Else how do we know right from wrong, good from evil.
I am true to that God within my hart, i have never wavered or fallen from that path.  I do whats right because of it.
  So how does one generate this kind of Fathe and belief ?  You can "give it to God" and let his will be done. but that is not focuseing the fathe that is spreying it out in any direction possable... hense Resistance.
You simply Know that it is Right. if it is right... it is gods will... and therefore Will happen. end of story case closed no if's and's or buts...
its a Logical conclusion to the inputed information.
the problem with this idea comes from ...is it realy Right or not?  another point of resistance...
It must only take a small amount of resistance to styfel the energy completely and make it flow into a "bit bucket"  because in my own life i have seen "answered Prayers" miricals if you would. that just could not happen any other way...
this Mirical I whitnessed when I was about 15 years old, and an old lady at church was dieing of cancer... and we prayed aloud  for god to ease her pain and all that stuff... and the more i hurd the madder i got.... all these people were secentanceing her to death...they had accepted the enevitable and
so I prayed alowed  and said in effect "I know you can do anything, there is nothing you cannot do, I know that You can use this woman more to do your will on earth. so Lord simply bring her back to us."
  in a week she was back at church and everyone was amazed but me ... I knew she would be...  I had fathe because for that instance alone I knew it was Gods will.......
   But knowing Gods will is a Fickel thing... its not easy to discern sometimes...and there for I have lost the nack so to speak.
I know the power is still there as it alwayse has been.  i just have too much doubt anymore now that I have lived a life and seen so many things that look bad at first and turn out so great... or look so great that turn out so very bad.... I didn't have that burden back when I was 15yrs old. but I did believe. and had fathe as well.

  So I know it works, its the Resistance that stops us ... the doubt.
the unknown... 
  You can overcome this doubt by believeing completely...to where there is no longer any room for any doubt at all. then you'll have it !
....

Bob.......

[Melissa]

First of all, yes I believe in past lives.  We live many lives and as our soulds grow older, they also grow wiser.  I don't remember any of my past lives, but I am positive that this is not my first.  For some reason, I think there has been 3 or 4.  Many times the younger souls like first-lifers tend to clingto religions such as classic christianity and take the bible at it's word.  These are also the people who typically discriminate against us.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots

Because they are young souls, they do not know what they are doing is bad.  Older souls tend to be more open-minded because they have experienced more in life and don't take it at facte value.

Second of all, I completely agree with you Bob about having faith and anything being possible.  I firmly believe it is God's will for me to transition.  There are way too many signs for me to ignore.  My body actually started changing on it's own and every necessary opportunity has presented itself along the way that has made this possible.

Melissa
[edit]Kimberly: Fixed quote tag.[/edit]

[Kimberly]

...
we see ourselves as being too weak to accomplish anything like that Flying thing.
...

Not all of us do.

As near as I can tell some of us are hamstrung by other factors.

Choice being a prime culprit.
Agreement being another.


Sand in the wind...

[taylor]

Often I think fear is the most powerful emotion we use against ourselves. Even if one believed they could fly, how many would be afraid they would fall? It is connected to the ole thing of afraid to succeed. I think many cases when people think they are afraid to fail they are often really afraid to succeed. With success comes expectations and responsiblity.  I am rather sure that effects our choice which Kimberly speaks of. 

Peace,
Taylor

[Kate]

I think many cases when people think they are afraid to fail they are often really afraid to succeed. With success comes expectations and responsiblity.

Heh... a recent journal entry of mine (yes, I'm talking to myself, lol):

"You stupid fool, what you EXPECTED, and why you started all this, was to FAIL. You EXPECTED to find it wouldn't work, you WANTED to find a roadblock, a reason, an impasse... and now, now you've actually realize YOU CAN HAVE THIS, and you've trapped yourself. It's more and more obvious that this WOULD work - and that's scaring the crap out of you. It sounds so stupid, but the idea of actually being a girl.. which you never though would really happen... is kinda, I dunno... demeaning? Weak? AND, AND that goes against everything you've fought against all your life... trying to HIDE this, look masculine, cover up the feminine body and features. It's like in FailSafe when the american guys are ordered to help the russians after a lifetime of being told to hide everything. It just cuts against all my defense mechanisms, all my training. I am NOT a girl... am NOT! NOT! Don't notice, oh PLEASE no one notice..."

[Melissa]

Sometimes I feel like I've fallen into this nice little woman "slot" in society.  Like I would actually have to put some effort to appear male.  It's actually kind of a comforting feeling, but it's still funny at the same time.  Sometimes it feels like it was too easy, but I look at it as I was supposed to be a woman.  My body is definitely telling me that.  Not trying to brag, but just an interesting perception I've experienced.  Maybe others have too?

Melissa

[Bob]

Interesting Melissa !
perhaps you are one of the very few like that , its very hard to say,
hopefully other M2F's will enlighten us...  I hope
I do think Kate is straddleing the fence and that is a very awquard place to be. I PM'ed her and told her one way or the other... get off the fence ! because that is No mans land "Litterly" and "figurtively!" being nither male or female is a hard place to find ones self in, being both is a diferent story,
but being nether is totally disruptive to every fiber of your being.
.... "Do or do not there is no try" as Kimberly is so fond of saying... and this is so very true.
  Sure its hard and scary, but look at the alternitive. if you single out just yourself and put aside all the other cares in your life for the moment, the answer to the question becomes more obvious.
  We all live in fear from time to time, but Like pain Fear can be controled
just as easily... turn it off. and as Sarah in the movie terminator said" so you feel Nothing?".....  and Reese didn't answer... but the answer is Yes so you feel nothing... its better than the pain, or better than the fear.
untill you arive at the point that you can handle those fears and pains... turn them off....  once you can handle them, and they don't overwelm you  you no longer need to feel nothing.

but this is Hijacking this thred of "Past lives"  and I feel that in many of my past lives I have used this method to survive terrable hartache and loss.
it works ! I know from past experience in this life that it works and is a viable alternitive.... turn it off, and don't think about it till some of the Pain subsides... to where it is more manageable.
this method takes a bit of practice to work effectively. so you may find it dificult if not impossable to do when you need it most... thats when other tricks come in handy as in going to "your privite place in you mind" or Clearing your mind of any thoughts what so ever. ( something i find extreamily hard to do!) such as when meditateing.
....
Life isn't easy, but it can be the most wonderious thing ever. take it as it comes and deal with it the best you can , thats all anyone can do !
....
Bob........