Reincarnation from a Western Medical Perspective: Past Life Regression Therapy Research (III)

Dr. Weiss's third book, "Only Love Is Real" describes how two people meet during many lifetimes and how they meet again in this lifetime. Two people of different sex came at about the same time to Dr. Weiss for therapy. They both had never met and yet, Dr. Weiss found to his surprise that both spoke of similar events during RPL. The man recalled his life as a Jew who lived in Jerusalem, and excelled in making earthenware. He recalled that Roman soldiers dragged him to death. He died in his daughter's arms. The woman recalled the same event, but through the eyes of the man's daughter. Generally, Dr. Weiss had seen married couples and their family members with shared memories. It was fascinating to have two patients, total strangers, recalling the same events and a shared life. Given the ethical restrictions of his profession, Dr. Weiss was unable to disclose to either one the other's story. However, he arranged a meeting in his office to acquaint them with each other. Dr. Weiss at no time violated his professional ethics. Yet, life's events are surprising. Did Mr. Li Hongzhi not tell his disciples that all human lives are pre-arranged based on karmic events from past lives? Both were ready to return to their respective homes after the completion of their therapy sessions. They went to the airport to catch different flights. Fate intercepted. One person's flight was cancelled because of an accident. This person was able to get a seat on the same flight. They met again, continued their conversation, kept seeing each other, fell in love and got married. Nothing is coincidental in this world. The script has already been written. One will not get what he/she asks for until the proper time. When it is time, the predestined event will occur, and one cannot avoid it.

Dr. Weiss is not the only past-life therapist to cure patients by using hypnosis. Dr. Bryan Jameison had done similar research and conducted past-life therapy sessions since the late sixties. One evening in 1968, when Dr. Jameison was driving home, he heard one of his esteemed colleagues on the radio discussing the subject of reincarnation. Somehow, this discussion raised Dr. Jameison's interest in this subject. Then, fate intercepted again. He met a lady at a party who was an experienced hypnotist. She used hypnotism for past life regressions. About one week later, Dr. Jameison invited that woman to his house, as he and a friend wanted to experience PRL. Dr. Jameison recalled during his first PRL that he was a blacksmith, living around 1550. He lived in Holland, and was very slow-witted. The most memorable moment he recalled was when, at the age of 37, he ate a good meal. He was too poor to marry anyone, and was too clumsy to know how to live a good life. He died in an accident at the age of 38. He remembered his surprise that, although he had died, he was still alive. He floated and could see beneath him. Then he rose towards a wonderful light.

From then on, Dr. Jameison began to study hypnotism and became an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of past-life therapy. A book review of Dr. Jameison's books indicated that "during the course of his career he explored 73 of his own former lives, facilitated more than 25,000 regressions, trained nearly 2,000 past-life therapists, delivered more than 600 lectures and appeared as guest on numerous radio and television programs. He stated, "Through regression one can see how much each incarnation is not merely an isolated event, but is rather an integral part of a much greater whole." Therefore, he wanted to be able to help others to become a whole person through PRL and to be able to live life fully. He was very nervous when he hypnotized someone for the first time, even though the session went very well. Moreover, his test patient was very satisfied with the results. To learn and understand more about PRL he tested his hypnosis skills on a number of people, whom he called his hypnotism testers. He observed the testers during PRL and metaphorically thought that it was like watching a piece of clay dry out. Jameison experimented and found a method that allowed PRL through non-hypnotic past-life regression. It is where the patient induces his own state of tranquility that then allows for PRL. Soon all of Dr. Jameison's volunteer testers could not be used for any further testing. Fortunately, it was during a time when being a "hippy" was popular. Many hippies idled around the radio station where Dr. Jameison worked. Among them, many were interested in becoming Dr. Jameison's testers. Surprisingly, he found one common aspect among all the hippies. All of them had either been American Indians, or had lived in the mid or late 19^th century America. These hippies' living styles had many similarities with that of the ancient American Indians. However, the most startling discovery was that the white people who had killed them were either their mother or father in this lifetime. That makes me think of what Chinese parents say to their children when they become angry, "You evil creature." I'm sure they did not have the slightest idea that what they said could have held a kernel of truth. If they had known, they would not have lost their temper.

At the beginning of his research, Dr. Jameison wanted to find that there was truth in what he heard, and that these were real past lives. Therefore, he researched the PRL information of his testers. He found in many instances that what he heard was the truth. The majority of his first subjects did not believe in reincarnation. However, as all of them spoke of their past lives in a sleep-induced state, Dr. Jameison did not believe that they made up what he heard. He also found that after PRL most of them were no longer afraid of death. He found that for most of his subjects PRL had a positive effect on their way of thinking. They became much more positive and did not view life as a chore. Even some of his subjects were no longer afraid of becoming sick and felt no longer depressed. Therefore, from that time onwards, Dr. Jameison concentrated on the study of past life therapy. He accumulated 30 years of experience. In his latest book, The Search for Past Lives: Exploring Reincarnations' Mysteries & the Amazing Healing Power of Past-life Therapy, Dr. Jameison presented 300 cases.

Isn't it funny? I used to enjoy reading southern Mainland China's authors' who made up stories during the 1960's. However, I must admit, none of their novels were more dramatic than these cases. Certainly, Dr. Jameison presented the most interesting cases in his books. He told of the search by his patients to find meaning in their lives, and the reason of their anxieties, fearfulness, depression, anger, etc. He showed how he gave his patients the tools to find the source of their problems. His words showed the moments of truth when the source of a problem was discovered in a previous life. He saw the emotions, sorrows and happiness. These past-life stories were similar to the climaxes of tragedies.

Dr. Jameison discussed an interesting case about a woman called Nancy. Ever since she could remember, she had felt guilty in being alive, although her family life was pleasant and without many problems. She had attempted suicide three times, but all had failed. She was always on the verge of committing suicide and yet, she could not imagine why. There was nothing in her present life that would make her susceptible to a death-wish. She agreed to past life regression therapy, though nothing significant was found during the first few sessions. However, she continued with her regression therapy as somehow both she and Dr. Jameison felt that they would finally find the cause for her compulsion to commit suicide. Then, as expected, she finally found the cause for her depressive moods. And surprisingly it was not so long ago. She recalled her life during the World War II. She was sixteen years old and getting ready to have dinner with her family. She vividly could see the Gestapo breaking into her house ordering her family to go with them. Her father protested and was killed. She, her mother, and younger brother were dragged down the stairs and pulled out into the street. Then, they were pushed into a truck. Her younger brother tried to run away and was killed. At that moment, she felt dizzy, saw the earth spinning around, and fainted. When she woke up, the truck had started to move. Later on, they were cramped with others into a train. Metaphorically speaking, it felt like sardines in a can. They ate, drank, soiled, vomited and urinated where they stood. After arriving at the train station, they were driven to a labor camp, like animals. Their hair was cut, and they were forced to put on prison garb and work as slaves. A few days later, one Nazi took her and another girl to a big house next to the labor camp. The Nazi asked them to take a shower, put on makeup and dress up, which made them to look more presentable. They were then forced to prostitute for the Nazis.

As she played the piano rather well, she was forced to provide musical entertainment for Nazi officers. A young Nazi fell in love with her, and even delivered flowers to her on one occasion. She was lonely, he was nice to her, and she started to seek his companionship and enjoy his company. She even imagined that she would live with him after the war. One day, while this Nazi took her to the yard of the forced camp, a lot of prisoners were waiting in the line to take showers. After the Nazi saw her curiosity, he told her that she was lucky because of him. These prisoners thought they were going to take a shower; instead, they were going to be sent to the gas chamber. At this moment, a woman turned around, and looked pleadingly at her with tears in her eyes. Nancy recognized her mother. When their eyes met, she was completely overwhelmed by unbearable pain and guilt. She felt dizzy. She could not free herself of the guilt for knowing that while her mother was going to be murdered, she was seeking the companionship of a Nazi. She finally committed suicide by cutting her wrist. While her life ebbed away she still felt guilty for abandoning her family and for associating with a Nazi. Under the guidance of Dr. Jameison, Nancy was able to let go of her guilt and come to peace. Not surprisingly, she no longer wanted to commit suicide. She also realized while listening to a replay of the particular regression therapy session that during this life, her younger brother from that life was her son, and her mother was her daughter.

There are so many amazing past-life regression stories. Some of them recounted dramatic events, while others are just every-day life happenings. One does not know what one will remember and how it will affect one's future. And yet, most of those who agreed to undergo RPL were cured. More often than not their phobias, anxieties, anger, depressions and other symptoms disappeared. They found that often those who experienced the tragedy or other past-life event with them were still part of their life. They found that they could redress the wrongs they had done in a past life and understood better what drove their actions.

There was another case history which I remember vividly. It has to do with someone's fear of birds. Most people are not afraid of birds and often find them beautiful and enjoyable to watch. And yet, Barbara was terribly afraid of birds and broke out in a sweat whenever she thought of or saw birds. However, she did not have this phobia in her youth. She began to be afraid of birds about twenty years ago, at the age of twenty-seven. She remembers the time that this phobia started vividly. She took a stroll on the beach with her friend. Her friend stretched out a hand with popcorn. One sea gull hovered down, and its wing swept over Barbara's face slightly. The scene of "The white birds coming to get the food in gracefull flight" triggered her extreme fear. Since then, she would not leave her home or get out of a car, without checking carefully if there were any birds near by. Whenever she left her house she carried an umbrella to protect herself from birds that were flying low.

During past-life therapy she recalled that she was a white man who lived in the southwestern part of America at the end of 19th century. He was 27 years old. One day, after he got drunk, he raped an Indian girl. Once the victim's family found out about this, they had several strong Indian men to seize him. They bound him tightly, took off his clothes, and threw him into the desert. They wanted him to die a horrible death. But before they left, they made a cut on his chest and abdomen. He bled a lot. Under the strong sunshine, he felt very hungry and thirsty, and became dehydrated rather quickly. He noticed several birds flying above him. After a while, one vulture landed on the ground next to him. His screams stopped the vulture from moving further, but the vulture immediately realized that he was unable to defend himself. He soon found that the first one and five other vultures landed next to him and began to peck his body. To his dismay, more and more vultures appeared. One large vulture started to gouge his eyes. He could no longer feel the birds pecking, gouging and pulling off meat, as he had died from the fright. Her phobia in this life started exactly at the age of 27. Although this past-life therapy helped Barbara to let to of her fear, she still wondered why she had such a painful experience. She understood instinctively that she had to pay for a debt from a prior life, but she wanted to understand and see what she had done to deserve such a death. Dr. Jameison agreed to continue with his past-life therapy. This time she lived in France during the time of religious intolerance. She was a male guard in the prison, in charge of torturing the so-called "enemies" of the church. He enjoyed gouging out the victims' eyes.

I believe that the police in Mainland China's prisons and labor camps should read these true past-life regression stories. This could be their "wake-up call." How will they have to suffer for all the torture and evil deeds? How will all humans have to suffer for the misdeeds done during any of their lifetimes? An orthodox Fa practitioner will ponder if they will be allowed to reincarnate again, or will their souls have to suffer eternally? From these past-life cases one can see that one has to pay for ones actions, if not in the same life, then in another. The wrong done to another will have to be repaid, even if centuries go by. A practitioner is certain that all deeds are recorded. Gods will not miss anything, no matter how small or large. They will notice all wrongdoings, whether done in the light or in darkness. No one can hide before the eyes of the gods. There are so many different examples which clearly show that nothing goes unpunished. Mr. Li Hongzhi told his disciples that the elder Chinese are telling the young people, who just will not believe it, that one accumulates virtue or gives away virtue during ones lifetime. Do these case histories into past-life regression give ample prove that this saying is true?

Another of Dr. Jameison's test persons was a noble woman in one of her previous lives. When she rode through the streets in a splendid cart, she looked down at the beggars on the roadside with disgust. For her, such people should not be allowed to live in this world. Her arrogance, insensitivity and callousness were given a lesson during her next life. She was born into a poor family, became not only a beggar, but also a foolish person who didn't even know how to beg for food. People always feel conceited and believe that they are owed a given status in society. People pursue fame and profit without a thought as to whom they hurt in the process. Haven't we seen from these case histories that "He who plants the melon may have been a noble and rich man in another life?" Isn't it true that if one has the "virtue," fame and profit will be granted? Why try so hard? Why pursue things which one is or isn't entitled to? Any wrong action will have to be repaid. Dr. Jameison's found that in one of his previous lives he persecuted people who believed in reincarnation. As a result, in this life, there are those who will belittle his efforts and who will viciously attack his research efforts. You will find, especially, Christians, many of whom do not believe in reincarnation, among those who will attack his research.

We all agree that the majority of past-life remembrances are sad and often distressing events. But people are still willing to undergo past-life therapy to find the cause of their problems. Many people seem to know unconsciously that what they are suffering in this life is due to their own actions from earlier in this life or from prior lives. People are waking up to the truth. Maybe this could be the beginning of people changing, becoming better, and thinking before they say or do something as to how it will affect those around them. Yes, it is still a small population who is changing. But by publishing these cases, others will find out and they will ponder upon the lessons and from these stories and hopefully they will learn from them. Mr. Li Hongzhi said that life after life the human suppresses or receives treatments for health problems or are unable to repay old debts. Couldn't it be that some of these debts have not been paid for thousands of years? Though these memories also tell of good times, good deeds, and happiness. Recall often will allow one to understand ones mistakes and hopefully allow for redress of ones misdeeds. Relieving the pain one experienced in a prior life may bring closure and ease the confusions in this life. Similarly, experiencing love and happiness of a prior life may also ease the sadness and anxieties during this life.

Some of Dr. Jameison's cases make one chuckle and yet they also may bring tears to the eyes. For example one of Dr. Jameison's patients, a lady, missed her husband, who had passed away, and she hoped that she could find him in a prior life. She regressed to the earliest life they had lived together. She was disappointed at what she found. She regressed to a prehistoric period. It was a time when humans lived in caves. Her husband was so ugly. This was far from the romantic life that she expected. Yet, she saw the tenderness he held for her and in the things he did for her. Her husband brought animal carcasses to her, picked insects out of her hair, and saved her life from a vicious animal's attack. She could feel the deepest love surrounding her and her husband. She found inner peace, could let go of her grief, continue life as a happy person, as she found that she and her husband would meet again during their next life.

Dr. Jameison often mentioned a "higher self" in his writings. He discussed that this "self" knows about predestined relationships and that they were formed during past lives. He understood instinctively that this "self" knows what will happen in this and the next life. Doesn't that mean that people although living in the maze, have a "self" which is not in the maze? Doesn't this mean that one side is oblivious to anything what happened before and will happen in the future, while there is one part of us which does know? Maybe, each human has "a self" in different levels and each "self" has different wisdom. Maybe, everybody has more than one soul, and some of the souls are not in the maze.

In the state of tranquility, I see my lives through dreams;
I suddenly understand the karmic relationship between my previous life and the one ahead;
Over thousands of years, this long story of mine has been a sad one;
Having experienced the great changes of the world, I finally know what life is truly for.

References:

Ian Stevenson, Ph.D. Children Who Remember Previous Lives: A Question of Reincarnation. McFarland Press, 2001 (2nd edition; 1st edition 1987).
Ian Stevenson, Ph.D. Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect. Praeger Publishers; 1997.
Brian Weiss, M.D. Many Lives, Many Masters. Fireside; July 1988.
Brian Weiss, M.D. Through Time into Healing. Simon and Schuster; August 1992.
Bryan Jameison, The Search for Past Lives: Exploring Reincarnation's Mysteries & The Amazing Healing Power Of Past-Life Therapy. Driftwood Publications; March 1, 2002.

(Reprinted from PureInsight Net)