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What Is Reincarnation?

Reincarnation, Rebirth

A Series of Lifetimes

Cycle of Rebirth

According to Edgar Cayce (Clairvoyant & Healer, 1877-1945), reincarnation is the concept that each of us – specifically unliberated souls still bound by karma – goes through a series of lifetimes for spiritual growth and soul evolution. It’s often associated with the concept of the cycle of birth and death (samsara). Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher) offers a logical explanation for reincarnation using the example of a person born blind (Bhagavad Gita, 2:22). As Buddhism explains, reincarnation can answer the question that plagued us from childhood — why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people?

Several philosophies and religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism, accept the concept of reincarnation. It’s thought that early Christianity did at one point but later declared reincarnation as heresy (Bhagavad Gita: 2:13 & Autobiography of a Yogi: 16:151). Autobiography of a Yogi (35:281-282) even implies that in The Bible, John and Jesus in previous incarnations were, respectively, Elijah (Elias) and his disciple Elisha (Eliseus). Edgar Cayce implies that the general sequence of Jesus’s incarnations were Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph, Joshua, Jeshua, and his final incarnation as Jesus before awakening Christ Consciousness to become Jesus Christ. He further explains that each life is necessary for the soul’s development and the purification and perfection of will (Readings: 2072-4, 5749-14).

Where We Reside After Death

Is there a correlation between our material attachments and where we reside after death? The Law of One (10:9. 48:7. 71:6) explains that where we ultimately end up after death and which body we activate coincides with our consciousness level and spiritual disposition: service to others (STO) and service to self (STS). The Bhagavad Gita (9:25, 18:12, 18:40) explains that where we reside is based on our actions, karma, and guna predominance (sattva, rajas, and tamas).

For example, Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher) explains that after physical plane death, unsuccessful yogis could reside in celestial kingdoms before reincarnating into different types of families on the gross physical plane. One type of family could be pious or religious which could nurture their spirituality from childhood. Another could be a wealthy family where all their material needs are taken care of, leaving more time for spiritual pursuits (Bhagavad Gita: 6:41-42, 9:32).

Paramahansa Yogananda (Monk, Yogi & Guru, 1893 – 1952) suggests that we typically have three options after existing our gross physical bodies. We can repeat the cycle of traversing the subtle astral and gross physical planes – resting, working off karma, and/or helping others to do so. Or we can traverse the causal plane – resolving the last seeds of our karma or helping others to shorten their life spans in the causal body. If we’re no longer bound by the gunas and karma, then we can drop our material bodies to be in total harmony with Source (Autobiography of a Yogi, 43:364). Whether or not there’s a time limit in each plane is unknown to us, but making spiritual progress seems to be encouraged.

Difficult Spiritual Paths

Those Who Don’t Surrender

The Bhagavad Gita (7:15) explains that there are four kinds of people who do not surrender to Source:

  1. The Ignorant – those lacking spiritual knowledge
  2. The Lazy – those who have spiritual knowledge but don’t exercise their willpower to spiritually progress
  3. The Deluded – those with deluded intellects who lack faith and devotion
  4. The Demonic – those who are aware of Source but choose to work against Source

This suggests, that yes, there are souls who endure more difficult existential paths for incarnations (Bhagavad Gita, 7:15), choosing paths associated with ignorance, fear, and separation versus love, devotion, and unity. One of the reasons behind this could be because intensity accelerates spiritual development, as explained by the Law of One  (36:17, 105:16). Was this the case for Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan, and Rasputin (Law of One: 11:8-15)? It’s even said that Rasputin and Genghis Khan were able to access higher consciousness levels this way.

But, no judgment here fellow souls. We try to show all entities compassion, similar to Jesus who stated, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Bible: Luke: 23:34). The Law of One (67:11) explains that the best way to diffuse fear and darkness is to send entities love, light, peace, and joy, and bid them well. Yes, it can be difficult to show empathy and compassion, especially when our fellow souls are performing heinous atrocities. So why should we show compassion to these fellow souls?

Showing Compassion

If one resonates with the concept that everything derives from Source, then this means we’re all connected — like spiritual siblings, but not in a creepy way. And we show compassion to our siblings, right? Ergo, what happens to one, affects all to some degree. And if the material universe is not what it seems – but more like a VR simulation, thought, or dream – then perhaps our true selves can detach from this temporary reality (remove the VR headset) once we transcend our egos, ditch our material attachments, and work out our karma. 

Plus, and this is the real kicker, the Law of One (71:13) explains that all paths eventually lead to Source since all dualities and polarities are abandoned after mid-level 6 consciousness (78:25). So the real question is, should we really spend an exorbitant amount of time dwelling on that which is temporary? Is it simply a matter of realizing that our true selves (souls) are eternal and our true nature is love?

Although, here’s the thing fellow souls. Because of free will we could choose to stay in an ignorance is bliss mode. It’s not called ignorance is bliss for no reason. Sometimes avoidance can seem more bearable that suffering. But would staying in a state of spiritual ignorance simply delay the inevitable? We resonate with the concept that Source is our final destination and true essence. And as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz stated, there’s no place like home. So yes fellow souls, our research suggests that achieving harmony with Source will happen one way or another.

Also, it’s worth noting that helper groups and guides are said to protect us from any permanent separation from unity, as explained by the Law of One (50:5). This inevitability brings us comfort since it suggests that even those overcome by fear, separation, or ignorance have the potential and capacity to embrace love and unity – specifically through love and devotion to Source, according to the Bhagavad Gita (9:30). For us, this potential for love is definitely worthy of our compassion.