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Roger Ebert on reincarnation

Thank you for posting this littlebug. Very interesting.

Is reincarnation possible from a scientific, rationalist point of view? For my purposes today I'm going to argue that it is. We will never, however, be aware of it, and indeed "we," as we like to think of ourselves, will be completely out of the picture. I'm going to approach the problem from the point of view of quantum mechanics--
 
While reading Mr. Ebert's missive I got several warm feelings or sensations that I have learned are my guidance telling me to pay attention, that we're viewing a truth. From a practical standpoint though, all it told me is we are way more than anything we can currently conceive...and less.
 
Great article.


I am bringing this up again and adding a quote. I hope others enjoy it!

Therefore, our identities were assembled from this quantum material, or Ether, by the organizing principle of our conception of ourselves. We bring ourselves into being. Our consciousness is the gravitation. We came from whirling nothing, we return to whirling nothing. The dust we came from and the dust to which we return are not really there, but thinking makes it so.
These bits might as comfortably be at the other end of the universe as where they are. Only by the act of regarding them do we hold them together. You assemble your bits, I assemble mine, and when we cease thinking they all fly back into the general pool of Everything, Everywhere.


So you and I temporarily consist of ourselves, and someday may well consist of other selves. We will be back, but a precious lot of good it will do us, because we won't know it. So, yes, reincarnation is possible from a rationalist, scientific point of view. We have been and will be reincarnated as part of the vast store of everything there is. We will be suns, moon, stars, rain. Look for us in the weather reports.
 
Deborah said:
I am bringing this up again and adding a quote. I hope others enjoy it!
Isn't this how the Buddists believe? This type of belief seems to be the opposite of any kind of individual soul theory. My beliefs are that the individual soul goes through each incarnation to learn lessons so it may one day achieve a 'heavenly' type of understanding and existence.
 
The first books I read after trying to get a handle on consciousness and memory were on quantum physics. I don't pretend to understand even 10% of what I read but it did remind me that we know very little of the universe and that the building blocks of life (amino acids) exist in space independent of planets to exist on and that particles can and do spontaneously wink into and out of existence. After all this, re-incarnation is not only possible, but also likely and natural. The Buddhists also believed that we are one with the universe and that consciousness is universal, that's why they meditate, and I don't think they're too far wrong, but I would like to know how they found out sooner than the rest of us!


Peace!
 
kenikeli said:
I would like to know how they found out sooner than the rest of us!
My friend is very much into the zen of things, whether buddhism, taoism, and spiritual awakening in general. We were discussing a similar subject some time ago and he mentioned that most likely when we started off as humans here we were a bit more spiritual and connected to our "greater self". Then with each generation we start to forget more and more and the old ways we knew innately start to become religion instead as only few masters still have a connection. This then devolves completely into the religion we know today where none of the masters(priests) are connected to the larger universe and instead interpret the old texts.


I thought it was an interesting take on this all. My friend, a philosopher, muses that we might actually be in an upturn swing which will result in reawakening. It would be interesting to think that is the reason for greater awareness and interest in reincarnation and the mystical in general.
 
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We bring ourselves into being. Our consciousness is the gravitation. We came from whirling nothing, we return to whirling nothing. The dust we came from and the dust to which we return are not really there, but thinking makes it so. - Roger Ebert


I, for one, will miss him.
 
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