This is a brief introduction to Reincarnation, and its purpose is to help you understand a concept, that opens the door of your own understanding, and makes away with the misconceptions that have been handed down to us in the course of centuries.

It is not a dogma, and the teaching is imparted in true brotherhood of spirit. It may, or may not, fit into your own pattern of acceptance, as each of us must experience all creation, throughout the many lives we lived, and will live, in an infinite present.

Belief is not required, simply your own sincerity of purpose, and the total expression of what you feel is right, or wrong, within the frame of your present experience on the earth plane. If this concept is acceptable to you, it will widen your own perceptions of life; if it is not, do not be dismayed, and follow your own intuitive values. It is your own life and your own experiences. Just open up your heart to all that comes to you, in life, and remember the old saying:

The idea of reincarnation may, nowadays, seem incredible, or even absurd, to the many followers of the Christian and Judeo-Christian Faith, because the concept does not meet the prerequisites of their respective religions, and challenges the ideas and principles that have been the basis and the strength of their church for the past two thousand years.

The notion of a Paradise where they will, at last, see God face to face, and find happiness, after the transition that we, erroneously, call death, seems very attractive, for it is an answer to their longings, and their need of reassurance and security, as to the fate that awaits them in this continuity of life, which according to the tenets of Christian religions, assumes the appearance of a wonderful Paradise, where they will, at last, find peace, happiness and immortality.

This said, it is important to stress the fact, that the concept of reincarnation, is not contrary to Christian and Judeo-Christian teachings concerning Paradise. However, where Christians see it as the goal, and the reward, of a single earth life, the reincarnationist perceives it as the ultimate goal, the culmination of many lifetimes and experiences on the earth plane, or any other planet of our cosmic universe.

Time and space are tridimensional realities. There is no past and present in the multidimensional univers, and the Paradise we yearn so much for, is already there within our grasp. It is not a place, but a state of mind that we grow to, if we only care to shake off all preconceived ideas and beliefs, that hinder our growth and eventual enlightenment. And here, there is no digression from the subject because, in order to grasp the full impact of reincarnation in our everyday life, we must have a clear idea of the process, that, through successive lives, allows us to experience creation in all its aspects, sounds, colors, races and religious beliefs.

There is a tendency to confuse reincarnation with transmigration (as understood by earth people), which, in some eastern religions, is the belief that we return to earth in animal bodies. Since the Fall, physical man can no longer enter animal bodies to experience physical life, and the spirit must reincarnate in the same human form, but in a different body.,

For those who share that point of view, it is obvious that the spirit (the soul) is not created at birth. Being immortal, it existed, as an individuality, from the moment it was thrusted out of the Logos, and became a tiny spark of life, a co-creator with the God from which it sprang. And as it was granted free-will, it chooses, life after life, the environment and the parents, who will match its karmic patterns, and offer the best challenge, and the best opportunity, to fulfil its life's mission. All spirits are an intrinsic part of that Universal Consciousness we call God, and as such, we are all responsible for one another. We are, indeed, our brother and sister's keeper. In leaving this life, the spirit finds itself in a dimensional world (the Astral), which, although of a finer essence, or vibration, is but another aspect of the tridimensional world that we inhabit. It will remain in that state of mind, or vibratory level, for as long a period of time as is necessary, to assess its past earth life, and learn the lessons that will further its progress on the long and narrow path that leads to spiritual development and illumination. After a while, it will, of its own volition, and according to its development, progress to higher dimensional planes, or reincarnate on the physical planes, where, once again, it will choose the environment ,and the parents, who will become the channels and the karmic counterparts of its future life.

Some of you may already be scandalized because, in a world mostly centered on scientific and technological achievements, and whose main concern is war, gain and profit, it is very difficult to venture outside the frontiers of orthodoxy and dogmas. Reincarnation is the very basis of a coherent and structured society, that is, a society that will justify, or explain, the injustices and the apparent disorder of the world. However, even though it is a sane and logical theory, it is, nevertheless, very difficult to prove, in a tangible manner, a concept as intangible as that of successive lives.

In this respect, the works of Pr. Ian Stevenson, and those of Dr. Raymond A. Moody Jr., have been of tremendous help in getting people accustomed to the concept of reincarnation, and the reality of other dimensions of life. They have brought to light certain facts that tend to prove, that life after death and reincarnation, are not far-fetched ideas as some would have us believe.

Pr. Ian Stevenson conducted an intensive study, and thoroughly investigated numerous cases of reincarnation. He proved, undoubtedly, that young children of two, three, four and five years old, could, and did recall, with great accuracy, events of a past incarnation they lived in a totally different environment, and far from their present location. These children gave an accurate description of the village, or town, they used to live in, describing their house and family, father, mother, brothers, sisters and relatives, even disclosing intimate facts, that were, later on, confirmed as true.

In the same vein but on a different level, Dr. Raymond Moody conducted a thorough investigation of people who were declared clinically dead, but were revived through mechanical means. They came back to life only to declare that they had not 'died'; that they were very much alive during the interval, and death was not the frightening reality they had been led to believe. Some of them had the sensation of being pulled through a dark tunnel, or funnel, of some kind, at the end of which they saw a brilliant light. Others heard celestial music, or became aware of spiritual entities, and mentally conversed with them. Many of these people found themselves floating over their hospital bed, astonished to discover that the form lying on the bed below was theirs.

It would be impossible to relate here all the experiences of those who, for a brief moment had a glimpse of what's in store for them in the after-life, but it seems quite obvious, that, far from being in a state of lethargy, or asleep, till Judgment Day, we find ourselves very much alive and conscious, after the transition to that next dimensional world. Whether this vision of the astral world fits into our own belief system, or not, does not alter the fact that all humans, whatever their faith, religion or conception of God, will make the transition to this astral world. It will be so, until the time when each of us will be able to transcend materiality and become a Christ of God. And if we all go to the same place, it is normal to assume that we will be met by those who preceded us, our loved ones, our friends, and the guides who will offer a helping hand to all those who ask for it.

Assuming the theory to be sound, and considering reincarnation as the centerpiece of a vast cosmic puzzle, then all missing pieces fall into place. The difficulties and pitfalls aroused by our false morality concepts are removed, and the physical world, and its constant birth and rebirth process, is seen in a bright new light. In this new perspective, it is possible to analyze and understand physical, psychological and psychical phenomena on the basis of a logical and rational explanation.

Let's suppose, for a moment, that someone is hit by a car, and is injured in the process. On a physical level, it can be viewed as a simple accident with no intent on either part, for example, a slippery road, or low visibility. It can also be a hit and run, or a premeditated crime, and the guilty party, if caught, will have to face the law. In our tridimensional reality the matter stops there. However, in the multidimensional reality, the karmic patterns are set in motion, and 'as you sow so shall you reap' becomes the focal point of judgment, where the individual is confronted with his own shortcomings and with the experiences of his past lives, as well as those of the present one. Then, the 'simple accident' is no longer an accident, and, even though there seems to be no apparent cause, or responsibility, the person, or persons so involved, may be reaping, in the present life, what they sowed in a previous one. However, it is not seen as retribution, but rather as a lesson of life that we must go through in order to expand our awareness and progress in the higher circles of life.

We view the world as a tridimensional reality, because we limit ourselves to tridimensional perceptions. In a small way, psychics perceive a greater reality, and they have occasional glimpses of other realms, or dimensions of life. So, to understand ourselves, we must also recognize that we are multidimensional beings, with ties and obligations reaching far beyond our own limited concept of time and space. The fact that we are experiencing one aspect of creativity, does not eliminate all the other aspects. The least we can do is keep an open mind, and be ready to acknowledge whatever happens in our life, regardless of all these orthodox beliefs and ideas that have been instilled into our conscious mind, and into the (super)conscious mind of all the former selves we have been (the reincarnational process) since the beginning of creativity. Thus, we come to the realization that there are no coincidences, or accidents in life. It is all part of a vast cosmic process of which we understand very little, because we cling to the orthodoxy and dogmas of the past, and we refuse to recognize and accept the unlimited potential of our own thought forces.

One of the main objections to the theory of reincarnation, is the fact that very few people remember past lives. Some, apparently, have this faculty, but those who do not (and this is true for most of humanity) find themselves in a state of temporary amnesia, where they view the progression of their present life as the ultimate fulfillment. They fail to see the unending sequence of lives that each of us has already, and must in the future, experience, in order to unveil, should it take a year, or a million years, the Christ Consciousness within themselves.

For example, very few people remember how they learned mathematics, and yet, their knowledge of numbers, allows them to solve all sorts of mathematical problems. Similarly, we have no memory of certain events of our childhood, that ,nevertheless, influenced our adult life, and yet this fact does not affect our present identity. Our childhood remains an integral part of the present life, just as much as the present life remains an integral part of all the lives we have lived, and the ones yet to come.

Seen in that perspective, a musical skill will be the result of many lives of intensive studies in the field of music, and Mozart is certainly the best example to that effect. Isn't it more logical, and less frustrating to the rest of us, to assume that his talent was the result, not of what we, earth people, call his genius, but of many lives of concentrated efforts in the pursuit of his art, efforts that allowed him to play at the age of four, and compose everlasting symphonies. The cardiologist, the lawyer, the architect and the composer have all developed their skills through many lifetimes of concentrated efforts, either in the medical schools of Alexandria, the praetoriums of Athens, the architectural schools of Rome or the musical settings of the Renaissance.

We are all actors on the stage of life. Each of us has an important part in the present play, and we must concentrate all our efforts to make of this play a complete success. The part we are playing, will have repercussions on the play, and on all the actors in the play. However, in order to play his part correctly, the actor must temporarily forget all the other parts that he played.

Let us assume, for an instant, that an actor is presently playing 'Hamlet', by Shakespeare. After weeks of rehearsal, he knows his part by heart, his cues are right on time, and the play goes on without a hitch. He is, as they say, right inside the part, he thinks of nothing else, and he has truly become the character he plays. What if, during the play, scenes of another play happened to cross his mind? For example, scenes of 'Macbeth' that he played a few months earlier, or scenes of various parts that he played during his career? This would be quite unthinkable for an actor! His experience and professionalism, release a mechanism of self-defense, that blots out any memory, other than the part he is presently playing.

However, the experience gained while playing all these various parts allows him to play the present role with much more ease and self-confidence. He has learned to control his voice. He is now much more relaxed and his gestures come naturally. The actor that he is today represents the sum of all the experiences he has gained in all the various parts he played as an actor. Each new play draws him closer to the perfection he seeks, and to the apotheosis of his career.

We are presently the sum of all the lives we have lived, and the soul represents all our plays on the stage of life. We do not remember them, all engrossed that we are in our present role, but they, nevertheless, influence, in a deep way, our present life. Karma, the law of cause and effect, is closely intertwined within the concept of reincarnation. It represents our constant striving towards the ultimate goal of our life, the course of which is always in alignment with the promptings of the spirit. which does not recognize the carnal needs of the physical body, and always reacts according to the best interest of the spiritual self. The talents we acquired in past lives, manifest themselves in the present one, just as the errors we made, will act as deterrent, and prompt us to take another course of action. This is the law of Karma, which states that all action triggers an immediate, or future reaction, or as written in the ancient sanskrits, as you sow, so shall you reap. Every single thought and action of past experiences, has a direct influence on the present life. Each grain of sand is accounted for in the great Universe of God.

Karma is not synonymous with reward, or punishment. It is synonymous with the words Order, Balance, Harmony, Growth, God-Perception, Love and Compassion. These are the Laws of the Universe, and the main purpose of all past, present, and future experiences, on earth or any other plane, is to create within ourselves a state of harmony that will bring about the balance of our spiritual, mental and physical bodies, so that the Prodigal Sons that we are, can, at last, return to their Father's Home. The concept of sin has greatly defiled the soul of man. The moment we stop considering ourselves as sinners, and look at the positive side of our experiences, we will realize that life is a continuous rebirth process. It allows us to gain experience and momentum from our past 'errors', thus bringing us closer to the moment when, at last, we can transcend the limitations of the physical world, and become, once again, the total and divine being we have always been.

We, human beings, have an erroneous conception of what we call 'sin.' The sins, or errors, that seem of no importance in our material world, are more than often considered as very serious in the spiritual realms. That is to say, harsh judgments, racial prejudices, mockery and religious conflicts such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, and more recently, the religious wars in Iran and Ulster, these are the starting point of all the calamities that have plagued humanity since the beginning of creativity. They are disturbing the spiritual realms to the point where there is now a need of a cleansing process, that will eradicate all negative conditions, and bring about a new order on the planet.

Isn't it preposterous to think that we can, in a short life span, reach the level of development, that will enable us to become in atonement with the Universal Source of All Life, or God? Isn't it more logical to believe that, like the comedian or actor, we return, life after life, on the great stage of life, each time playing a different role, and each time gaining wisdom, but always in search of new experiences and unending challenges, that will draw us closer to the perfection we seek, and to the apotheosis of our mission in the world.

As the diver puts on his diving suit to go under water, and then removes it when he comes back to the surface, so the spirit, at birth, clothes itself with a human body, and then gives it up, and throws it away, at the time of transition. The play of that specific life ends, and the actor takes off his costume (the body) and readies himself for the next play.

This transition is no more difficult than astral travel, where the spirit leaves its human shell, to travel in the outer dimensions, and then return to the body when it regains consciousness. It is our fears and our limitations, that make this transition painful and difficult, not the transition itself. The body does not leave the soul. It is the spirit that has control over that body, and decides to leave it, when it becomes obvious, that the cells can no longer fulfil their function, in a form that refuses to see, that the body, free of earth's limitations, is immortal.

Many of us were raised in a religious atmosphere where it was unthinkable to challenge papal authority, and even less the dogmas and doctrines that churches have, in the course of centuries, inserted in their respective religions. Very early in life, we have learned that we are sinners, and we must abide by the teachings, rites and Sacraments of our respective church in order to be saved. Saved from what? We are immortal beings, and as such, we will live eternally and, notwithstanding rites or Sacraments, always according to the standards we have set for ourselves, life after life.

Thus, instead of offering spiritual directives that would allow human beings to express themselves 'individually' on this tridimensional plane, religions have confined them in a labyrinth of dogmas and orthodoxy, from which they can extirpate themselves 'only' by following the Ariane's clew of their own individuality, that small voice within, which is the most direct line to this Universal Source we call God.

Because it is almost a forbidden subject in Christian churches, the theory of reincarnation may frighten many Christians, and prevent them from searching, and integrating, in their own life, the very ancient doctrine of successive lives. And yet, the first Christians believed in reincarnation, and it was an integral part of the teachings of the first Fathers of the Church.

In the year 543 of our present era, the Emperor Justinian convened a Synod in Constantinople, for the vile and unavowed purpose of condemning the teachings of Origen, on reincarnation. Origen was a Father of the Early Church, and in 'Encyclopedia Britannica' we find this statement:

It is certain that the Fifth General Council was convoked exclusively to deal with the affair of 'The Three Chapters' and that neither Origen, nor Origenism was the cause of it.

The three Chapters' dealt with the teachings of three so-called heretics, who had nothing to do with Origen, and it was used as a subterfuge to convene the Synod. Furthermore, the protest of Pope Vigilius, and his refusal to attend the proceedings, brought him the wrath of Justinian, who persecuted the prelate in the most despicable way. All this did not alter the fact that, ten years later, in the year 553, Justinian issued his anathemas against Origen, anathemas that cursed, among other teachings, the doctrine of the preexistence of the souls and other related teachings.

In the light of these substantiated facts, we can assume that Origen's teachings on reincarnation, were voluntarily removed from Church's doctrine, by the clever subterfuge of an emperor, who did not cherish the idea of having to reap, in a future life, the seeds of discord and cruelty he was sowing in the present one. He could not bear the thought of reincarnating in a lower role, or status, that would, unfortunately, allow him to have a taste of his own recipe. The anathema against reincarnation, reads as follows:

Such an edict was enough to frighten pious souls, and from all the reports to that effect, it is obvious that the idea of reincarnation was widely spread in the first centuries, at least to the extent of convening a Synod, even on false pretense, to call down curses upon those who paid no heed to the warning. The other anathemas are not mentioned here, as they are not related to the present subject. Suffice it to say that these 'interdictions' had to do with Christian teachings of the first centuries, as they were taught before the rulings of an emperor who had unduly interfered in the affairs of the Church.

Origen was a visionary, and one of the pillars of the ancient church. His teachings reflected those of Jesus, and it seems obvious that he was fully acquainted with everything that had been taught by the first Apostles and other disciples that followed them. It also seems quite unlikely, that a Father of the Early Church, such as Origen, would alter or distort the teachings. It is more reasonable to assume that, taking advantage of Church weaknesses, a pervert emperor decided to remove from Church doctrine, all those teachings he was unable to cope with, and amongst them, reincarnation. Unfortunately, the Church chose to obey his edicts rather than follow the teachings of the First Fathers of the Church. From that moment, reincarnation became a taboo subject throughout all christianity.

Augustine was another teacher of the Church and a visionary. In his 'Confessions' he says:

Based on this excerpt, we can assume, at least theoretically, that Augustine considered the concept of successive lives as a possibility. The intensity of his prayer to God, leads us to believe that he was greatly disturbed by the question, as must have been most of the great thinkers of that period.

Justin, a martyr of the Early Church, was also a teacher and a philosopher. From his 'Dialogues', it seems obvious that he was interested in the theory of successive lives, but he was caught between his allegiance to the Church and his personal beliefs concerning spiritual truths. It is no secret that many thinkers and spiritual teachers of the first centuries, were intrigued, and profoundly disturbed, by the concept of reincarnation. Although they did not fully understand it, they found the theory valid, and at least logical enough, to warrant a thorough study of the doctrine.

It is impossible to talk about reincarnation without mentioning the works of the Greek philosopher Plato, who was an inspiration to all those who followed in his footsteps. Plato truly believed in the pre-existence and immortality of the soul, and, although many of his teachings were bathed in poetry, they were, nevertheless, the reflection of a soul in search of its own identity. In 'Reincarnation, The Phoenix Fire Mystery,' we find this excerpt of The Republic:

Even though it is a poetic, and somewhat veiled story, it is obvious, here, that Plato is referring to reincarnation. The midnight clap of thunder is the moment when, forgetting all previous experiences, the soul takes on a human body, and begins a new earth life.

Now, it is not the intention, here, to quote all those who believed in, and wrote about reincarnation. Those who find the theory plausible will have no need for it, and it would not change the mind of those who do not find it acceptable. Each and everyone must find his own truth, and whatever question he may have regarding God, life, after-life, or reincarnation, it is only within the self that man will find the answers to what he calls the mysteries of life.

All these Church Fathers, philosophers, and teachers of the first centuries, exerted a considerable influence on occidental litterature and philosophy. With their help, platonic schools spread like mushrooms during the following centuries, until their abolition by a decree of the emperor Justinian. However, the latter could not completely destroy all those teachings. We rediscover them, today, in the writings of philosophers, theologians and teachers, who drew from this reservoir of esoteric wisdom, the spiritual truths that kept humanity, from being totally engulfed in the materialistic approach to life of the last centuries. Many of these enlightened beings have been outlawed by their respective church, but others, using a more subtle approach in expressing spiritual and esoteric truths, have been able to survive in spite of the numerous interdicts and inquisitions of the Church.

It would take many pages, and, as mentioned before, it would serve no real purpose to quote the many writings having to do with reincarnation. The few we have quoted have serve their purpose, and these are spiritual teachings, not a condensed version of other people's writings. However, some of these philosophers and writers are worth mentioning here, as they stand as beacons of their generation and the generations that have followed: Clement of Alexandria, Greek theologian; Albert Schweitzer, physician; Cardinal Mercier, philosopher; John Milton, British poet; Benedict Spinoza, Dutch philosopher; Voltaire, French philosopher; Benjamin Franklin, American stateman and philosopher; Immanuel Kant, German philosopher; Sir Walter Scott, Scotttish novelist and poet; Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher; Victor Hugo, French author; Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher; Charles C. Emerson, American trans-cendentalist; Walt Whitman, American poet; Leon Tolstoy, religious philosopher; Arthur Conan Doyle, British novelist; Henry Ford, American businessman; Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-american author; Edgar Cayce, American medium, clairvoyant and psychic diagnostician, and, of course, Elwood Babbitt, one of the few remaining true clairvoyants and mediums of the present era.

All these great men exerted a considerable influence on their generation. Their writings have contributed to the evolutionary process of a humanity, ceaselessly in search of its own identity, in a universe of which it knows so little. Some of them were pioneers in the fields of research and technological development, and the least that can be said of these eminent people, is that they had both feet firmly on the ground, and were respected figures among their contemporaries.

Yet, all these men questioned themselves, and were intrigued by the theory of reincarnation. In spite of the narrow-mindedness of their era, they had the courage and the boldness to openly express their beliefs and ideas with regard to a doctrine that brought hoped purpose in a world of uncertainty and chaos. Let us hope that we, their offspring, will show the same courage and the same strength in expressing what we believe to be the key to the understanding of human behavior and the purpose of life itself.

Another objection to the theory of reincarnation, and not the least, is that there is no mention of it in the Bible. The Bible is certainly one of the most enlightening book in the world, and the teachings it contains, although altered in the course of centuries, are the very basis of our spiritual evolution. However, the same could be said about the Koran, the Kabbalah, or the Tibetan Book of the dead. These books were all written by inspired men, and the teachings they contain are all expressions of the same Universal Truth. Throughout the many lives we spend on the earth plane, we must experience all these various aspects of creation, in order to understand the unity and universality of all Life.

All these enlightened spirits who came forth, tried to convey teachings that were not boundto, or limited by, the frontiers of dogmas and orthodoxy. Often using an indirect approach, or expressing themselves through poetry or fiction, they wrote about these lost esoteric truths that humanity is now rediscovering. Reincarnation has been taught and talked about for so long, that it is hard to believe it is still rejected by most of western religions who unfortunately feel that, if they start reconsidering their dogmas and beliefs, the whole edifice will crumble.

Surprisingly, some of the teachings on reincarnation have survived Justinian's purge, and there still exist, in the Bible, passages that clearly show, that Jesus and the common people were familiar with the theory of successive lives, and openly discussed reincarnation.

When Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying ' Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?' And they said: Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias and others, Jeremiah or some of the prophets. [Matthew 16: 13, 14.]

It would be well to remember, that Jesus had chosen his disciples among the common people. They were fishermen, craftsmen, laborers, and even tax collectors. How could these simple men ask such questions, if they were not familiar with the concept of past lives? For sure, everyone in the vicinity, and in the neighbouring towns, knew that John the Baptist had been beheaded some time earlier, and the prophets they were referring to, were no longer of this world! So this leaves us with one alternative: reincarnation was common knowledge in those days, and it was openly discussed during the ministry of Jesus, as it was an integral part of his teachings.

And as they came down the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: "Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man may be risen again from the dead.' And his disciples asked Him, saying: 'Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?' And Jesus answered them: 'Elias truly shall first come and restore all things, but I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they knew him no, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer from them.' Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist who had already been beheaded. [Matthew 17: 11,13]

This comes from the Bible. It is not a farfetched story invented for the circumstance. And here, the scriptures clearly show that the disciples understood the relationship that existed between John the Baptist and Elias and took for granted John's existence in a previous life as Elias, and his rebirth as John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus who became the Christ.

Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John: 'Verily, I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen greater than John the Baptist... and if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear! [Matthew 11: 7, 14, 15]

Here again, Jesus implicitly states that, among men born of women, therefore incarnated on the earth plane, none is greater than John the Baptist. He goes on to confirm that John is the Elias that was to come. Thus the preexistence as Elias is clearly confirmed, and the rebirth as John the Baptist is a matter of records, and no one will challenge the Bible on that fact. Jesus couldn't have been more explicit. The directness of his message shows that reincarnation was, indeed, common knowledge amongst the priesthood and the common people who were not afraid to openly discuss the theory of successive lives., Here, it is important to note that, when it came to challenging the Jewish rites and customs, Jesus often spoke in Parables. However, it would seem thathe could, openly, talk about successive lives, wherever he went during his ministry, and, as far as reincarnation was concerned, he was not bothered by the priesthood, or the Sanhedrin. Fact worth mentioning, these beliefs were never challenged during the trial of Jesus, as it is clearly demonstrated in the Gospels of John, Mark, Luke and Matthew.

Jesus is taunted by the Israelites for setting Himself up as greater than Abraham. He replied: 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.' Then said the Jews unto Him: 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' And Jesus said unto them: 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am!' And they picked up rocks to stone Him. [John 8: 58,59]

The priests and the Sanhedrin were eager to catch Jesus at fault. If they tried to stone him at that precise moment, it was not because of these claims, but rather because, in their eyes, only a Messiah corresponding to their 'own standards' of what that word mean, could have existed before Abraham, and become their Savior. A man like Jesus, who challenged their laws, and scoffed at their religious customs, was certainly not 'their' Messiah. They were expecting a King, a Savior, and a Liberator against the oppressor. Instead of fulfilling their hopes, this man, this Jesus, spoke about love and forgiveness, and foolishly asked them to turn the other cheek. He scoffed at their customs, especially when he threw the merchants out of the Temple and averted their plans to stone Mary of Magdala. As if it were not enough, he considered the Gentiles as brothers and sisters and, ultimate insult, he socialized with Samaritans and sinners. How could such a man consider himself as the equal of their father Abraham! They did not understood that Jesus did not care about their materialistic rites, their petty quarrels, their fight against the conqueror, and their desire to free themselves from the bondage of Rome. His mission was to free them from the bondage of their own limitations and materialistic concerns, and help them discover and understand their own Divinity and their own oneness with God.

Jesus said: 'Glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. [John 17: 5]
God has chosen us in Him (the Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." [Ephesians 1: 4]

These two excerpts may seem strange and incomprehensible, to those who believe, that, for each newly born unto this earth, a soul is created, freshly sprung from the Thought of God. Wouldn't it be more reasonable and logical to believe, that, through a Divine Expression of Love, God, the Supreme Energy,, expanded, and multiplied Himself, into billions upon billions of sparks of life, or individualities, thus being able, through this individualization, to experience all creation.

In the light of what is written above, give yourself the benefit of the doubt. You are a unique individual with a mind-brain all of your own. Your belief system is part of a very personal experience, structured and reinforced by your present growth pattern, and influenced by all the experiences of your own past lives. Positive or negative, these experiences are valid and necessary to your growth. Through your sincerity of purpose and your desire to grow in understanding, they may become the stepping stones that will open your eyes to greater enlightenment.

So, it is not by coincidence, or accident, that you find yourself in a specific religion, or sect. By treading what may be a negative pathwa,y, you finally learn, that the only limitations you have, are the ones you accept within yourself. Even though you belong to a specific church, you have the right to question the doctrine of that church. A true doctrine will lead the way, but will never place any limitation upon people, as it your birthright to freely express your own individuality in the universe. So, forget about orthodoxy and dogmas, and ask yourself if the theory of successive lives is not a better alternative than the concept of a single earth life, spent in the hope that God will have mercy on our sinful souls.

Isn't it Jesus who said:

I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God, unless he is born again. [John 3: 3]

This admonition is both literal and symbolic: literal, in the sense that it shows the continuity of rebirth in the physical planes, as an essential element to soul's progress and development, and symbolic because we, as a manifestation of God, must also experience the rebirth of the Spirit, in order to become multidimensional beings in our 'present' physical body, as it was ordained in the beginning of our creative endeavours on the earth plane. This, of course, is only possible through constant rebirth and unending progression in the Circles of Life.

Many Christian denominations are reluctant, or simply refuse, to consider any idea that does not agree with the teachings of their respective religion. They were raised in a religious atmosphere, where it was mandatory to obey, and comply with, the tenets of their Church. The road to Heaven was mapped out in advance ,and 'that' was their road to Salvation.

Although these rules were laid down in good faith, they were, and still are, restrictive methods. When you plant a seed in the ground, you give it the nourishment needed to sustain life, but you do not interfere with the growing process of the plant. It grows naturally, feeding itself from the soil and the air. Why should it be different when it comes to our spiritual life? The mission of the Church, or churches, is to plant the seed of spiritual truths, and not interfere in the learning process of individuals. The wisdom, here, is to let them free to transpose the teachings in their life, so that they can progress according to their own growth pattern, without the 'iron curtain', or the unsurmountable barriers of dogmas and orthodoxy.

This is not intended as a condemnation of religions, for they have their place in the evolutionary process of mankind. It is to emphasize the fact, that true religion has no barriers and is within the self; that religions of the world are not 'the path', but a path. They are but a vehicle, a means that will help the faithful take the first steps, towards expanding their own awareness and understanding, in order for them to recognize that they, 'themselves,' are the Church. Their body is the Temple of the Living God, and, once they recognize this fact, they have no need of exterior manifestations and rituals of religions. All they need is the simple expression of their own beliefs and ideas regarding life, praising, not a Lord or a Savior, but the Divinity of their inner self, the Lord-God that they search in vain in the corridors of their own fears and insecurities of life.

As mentioned before, the Bible was written by human beings and, as any other writing, it is subject to bias and misinterpretations. Therefore, it is normal to assume that some of the teachings were not always accurately reported. Others, written many years after the Ascension, were relayed to us in the style and thought of the author, and did not express, word for word, the original message of the Master. It is also possible that teachings that had to do with reincarnation were not emphasized in the Gospels, because theologians of early Christianity were unable to give an accurate interpretation of the theory of successive lives. It was, definitely, more effective to waive the spectre of Hell and Punishment, than teach the heathen the law of cause and effect, and the karmic considerations that arise from it: whatever we sow in a lifetime, that we must reap in that lifetime, or a subsequent one, coming back, life after life, until we finally learn all the lessons that life presents.

The concept of reincarnation fills many gaps in the Bible, and solves many of the so-called mysteries of life. It sheds a light on human behavior, helping us realize that, in the final analysis, there exists an ultimate cause to the sorrows and the misfortunes, but also the joy, happiness and success that we encounter in this life. These cannot be brushed away simply by ascribing them to the will of a benevolent, or avenging God, as each of us is an intrinsic part of that God.

The disciples questioned Jesus, concerning the man who had been born blind: "Who did sin, this man or his parents? And Jesus replied: 'Neither him or his parents, but it is so that the works of God be manifested in him'." [John 9: 1,3]

Here again, it is quite obvious that the disciples were familiar with the concept of reincarnation, for, otherwise, their question would have been totally out of context, or incomprehensible. The answer of Jesus shows, that a choice of life is not a karmic retribution, and the spirit may decide to enter a limited, or defective, body for the spiritual gain it will provide. Therefore, body defects ,or physical afflictions, will be chosen on the basis of past lives' experiences. However, it is not retribution, but a means to learn. The lessons they provide will allow the individual to understand the laws of the universe, and avoid repeating the same mistakes. The retribution comes, when the individual does not give heed to the lessons of past lives, amd must, therefore, learn these lessons all over again. One may feel that a crippled person must be paying a heavy karmic debt, but it is, most of the time, the parents, or relatives of that individual who is going through a learning process, or learning the same lessons all over again.

Such a positive concept is much more attractive than the theory of a single life of pain and sufferings, and it concerns hundreds of thousands of blind, mute, and deaf people, cripples, chronic patients, orphans, widows and lonely people, who could all ask the same question: "Who did sin, o God, me or my parents?, or again "What did I do to deserve this punishment?

How many times have we heard that expression: "the ways of God are inscrutable." This is a fallacy, for the ways of God have never been hidden from us. God is an open Book. We are the blind ones, and it is up to us to pierce the veil of our limitations, and unravel all the so-called mysteries of life. Is it possible that a benevolent God should allow such injustices? Would there be two kinds of justice, one for the rich and the healthy, and one for the poor and the cripple? Why is fate, or what some would call fatality, so dead set on apparently innocent people, when some others, much less worthy 'to our eyes' live happily ever after? Why do some squander money, when others barely survive? Why should one lie in a hospital bed, alone and frightened, when others enjoy the comfort of their home, surrounded by family and friends? How can we ask all these people to believe in God's justice, without giving them at least some kind of explanation?

As previously mentioned, Karma is the law of cause and effect, intertwined within the concept of successive lives. This implies that we are definitely the sum of all the lives we have lived. Whatever our 'fate' in the present life, we can be sure it is the direct consequence of our own thoughts and actions, in this life, or a past one. This concept gives us a much better idea of God's justice, placing, not upon Him, but upon mankind alone, the responsability of its own fate and its own Salvation. The spirit has total control over the soul and the body of man. Its mission is to perfect that body, and, whether we believe it or not, it will return, life after life, into a human form, until all the lessons are learned and put into practice. The man, or woman, we are today, has been shaped by who we were in previous lives, and will most definitely shape the man, or woman, we will be tomorrow, or in a future life. This is the law of justice, the law of Karma.

Open your eyes and look around! Everything in the Universe of God evolves in perfect order. The heavenly bodies harmoniously follow their course through space. Everyday, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West. The trees come into leaf in the spring, and graciously cast them off in the fall, only to become verdant again the following spring. The rebirth of nature is apparent in every corner of God's Kingdom, but, in his constant search for material gain, man has failed to see that he is the maker of his own universe. Because of his scientific approach to the spiritual aspects of life, he has, unfortunately and voluntarily, estranged himself from nature, self-confident that he can solve in his laboratories all the so-called mysteries of the Universe, that we, as a microcosmic replica, represent. Man has failed to realize that the God he worships, is present in, and animates, every single atom in the universe.

In fact, there is nothing in all the galaxies of life that does not have a spirit and soul. If it were not so, nothing, and nobody, would be able to vibrate in the full symphony of life. Animals, too, have a spirit and soul, but, unlike us, humans, they are not curtailed to the five physical senses, and they are constantly exposed to the spiritual substance around them. However, they do not see it as another world of beings, but rather they flow in the oneness of all creation. They, too, have their reincarnational process, and those animals that you have in your home, or that are near to you in your life, evolve with you in their own understanding, as you assume a new body, or they assume a new growth pattern, whereby the cat that you know now could have been the lion that you knew in former lifetimes.

So all things in life, whether it is plant, or animal, or homo sapiens, are all in the pathway of evolution, and each force of life (the spirit) gives to these forms the energy needed to sustain the tridimensional reality, or what is commonly called the biological expression, in keeping with the laws of all creation.

Thus we find, that nature constantly renews itself, and this evolutionary process is an intrinsic part of all living matter. Nature is the best teacher in that respect, and we should look, not in the books of the world, but in the book of Life and Nature, where we can find all the answers. In the Mind of God, there is Order, Balance, Harmony, Growth, God-Perception, Love and Compassion. It is only in the minds of His creatures, that we can find the seeds of greed, envy, jealousy, and all the other capital 'sins', which delay their own spiritual development and their progression in the circles of life.

If nature, which is under our dominion, follows the process of birth and rebirth, isn't it reasonable to assume, that we, even more, follow the same evolutionary process, thus working our way up, along with all living matter, on the evolutionary path of life. Are we to believe that God, the Supreme Intelligence, has been less generous towards those who were created in His Image, than towards the rest of His Creation? And yet, earth man is convinced that he is the most intelligent creature in the Universe!

The theory of the Last Judgment, seems to be in conflict with the concept of successive lives, because it foresees an eventual finality to the evolutionary and never ending process of life. THERE IS NO LAST JUDGMENT! Every day, every hour, every second that we live, is Judgment Day. It represents a simplistic approach to God's Love and Justice, to believe that, on Judgment Day, God will reward some, while others will be damned forever. It is a proof of the egotism and lack of charity of human beings , who see their God as they see themselves, vengeful ,and ready to punish whoever does not follow the rules. No one is damned. It may take eons of time to reach their goal, but each spirit will eventually return to the Source from which it sprang.

There will never be a final judgment, because there will never be a finality to life. It is not judgment, it is simply and eternally CAUSE AND EFFECT. We are our own judge. Life after life, and every minute of those lives, we have to face the consequences of our own actions. How can we believe that God, who, according to Church teachings, is Justice Itself, could pass judgment on His own creatures without giving them, eternally, a chance to redeem themselves. And yet, He created us in His Image! We are the tridimensional reflection of God, His Personification on earth, and the physical manifestation of His Creative Power! Our own body is the extension of this creativity, and the 'constancy' of our thought (God's Thought) process, gives it the impulse to vibrate in the physical world, or any other world of the cosmic universe.

Thus, the theory of reincarnation gives us a true perspective of God's Justice. The admonition of Jesus, 'as you sow, so shall you reap', finds here its true meaning. The blind will not cry out: "What have I done to you, o God?", but rather: "What did I do, in this, or a previous life, to deserve, not this punishment, but this difficult lesson, that consists of being deprived, of something as important as the sense of sight? Have I been blind to the sufferings of others? Did I, in a thoughtless gesture, deprive someone of his sight? Of his family? Of his freedom?"

The blind, the deaf, the mute, or the lame, are not asking for pity. They want to understand, and they turn to churches for an answer to their dilemma. They are told that they must accept their sufferings, that the ways of God are inscrutable, and they must suffer, as Jesus did on the cross, in order to work out their salvation. And what about the others, those who go through life without any of these disabilities? Are they getting a special treatment from God, or are they just lucky?

This is where reincarnation comes into play. It teaches us that the blind, the mute, the deaf or the lame have, through the law of cause and effect, or Karma, accepted to enter an imperfect body. They have done so, to experience this specific aspect of life, thus learning the lessons, that will allow them to readjust the balance of their physical, mental and spiritual bodies, and take their rightful place in the many mansions of God's Kingdom. In God's Mind, there are no inequalities between human beings. We all have the same power and attributes, and these enable us to partake of all the good things in His Kingdom. The limitations that

After centuries of darkness, humanity must awaken to the reality of a Universe, quite different from the orthodox beliefs expressed by all those who cling to their materialistic and limited perceptions of life. We must awaken to the reality of a spiritual world that has little, or nothing, to do with the exterior manifestations of a limited religiosity, always inclined to express a materialistic and childlike approach to the spirituality of all life.

Humanity must now move beyond the frontiers of orthodoxy. It must open its eyes to the Universality of Truth, and realize that True Religion is within the self. First and foremost, it must realize that Love is the Energy that permeates and binds together the whole cosmic Universe.

The theory of reincarnation is the keystone of our spiritual evolution. Without the concept of successive lives, it is impossible to fully understand the true meaning of life, and realize our spiritual potential. It is not required that you believe in it, or any other doctrine for that matter. Simply ask yourself, if it isn't a better alternative, than a blind belief in a Judgment Day, where everything will balance itself.

The concept of reincarnation sheds a new light on the inconsistencies found in the teachings of Christian religions. Seen in this perspective, life makes sense, and men and women finally realize they are in full control of their spiritual, mental and physical body, as this body is, in fact, the tridimensional projection of God in the physical reality.