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Various Cultures that believe in Reincarnation

deborah

deborah

Director Emerita
Staff member
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I want to start a thread the reflects on some of the beliefs of other religions, other cultures, who have included Reincarnation as part of their belief system.

Please feel free to post an excerpt from an ancient text or the research of historians or prominent authors who have found evidence within various traditions and or religions.

I'll start -

The Sioux Indian. -

Many of the Indians believed that one may be born more than once, and there were some who claimed to have full knowledge of a former incarnation. ---Ohiyesa - 1911
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The Batak people of Indonesia believe that ....

...
everything a person experiences is determined by his or her soul, or toni, which reincarnates from one body to the next and is a medium capable of reproducing not only the behavior, but the physical attributes of the persons former self. Michael Talbot.
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The Ojibway Indians --

...believed a person's life is scripted by an invisible spirit or soul and is laid out in a manner that promotes growth and development. If the person dies without completing all the lessons they need to learn, their spirit body returns and is reborn in another physical body. Michael Talbot
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Anyone know of more? If not - I will add more later. ;)
 
Oh yes -and -

From the Pistis Sophia -- The Gnostics -

"Souls are poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies of the world." Jesus

And of course -- the Egyptians taught the concept of reincarnation. Scwaller de Lubicz - believed that the reason Egyptian society maintained itself for millennia is because the way of renewal held its people on a righteous track, certain that DEATH IS BUT CHANGE IN LIFE'S CONTINUITY.
 
Hi Deborah!

Just a quotation on parellels between Egyptians and Aztecs on reincarnation:

"Aztec diety Quetzalcoatl, who for us, is closely related to Osiris of the Egyptians. As Quetzalcoatl and Osiris are both related to reincarnation, so is Kukulcan. The ear of corn is a symbol of reincarnation, also, as the kernels of corn are planted, new life comes forth. So we see that OrishaOko and all the other forms of agricultural gods are related closely to the belief in reincarnation. Likewise, the followers of our religion are also believers in reincarnation. Reincarnaton is one of the basic tenets of most of the world's "old" religions. It is only in the last two thousand years that "new" religions such as Christianity and Islam appeared to question the validity of that age-old doctrine".

Orishaoko-God of the Earth.
 
*S*S*S

Hi,

Can I ask what is your religion? So that we can add it to the list here? :) You said ---

Likewise, the followers of our religion are also believers in reincarnation.
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And.......

The ancient Greeks considered all learning to be "remembering." To them, life was but the act of recollecting knowledge the soul had forgotten at the moment of birth into the physical body. Reincarnation and the idea of past lives were an integral part to their worldview. Perhaps this explains why the word “education” originally meant “to draw from that which was already known.”
 
Hi Deborah!

Sorry I don't have the bibliographic data for Orishako in my quotation above. Orishako is one of the African divinity relate to the agriculture. Many gods or godess relate with agriculture have some link with reincarnation or the life fore ever. For innstace among Aztecas and Mayas, Quetzalchoatl is also relate with agriculture especially with corn as symbol of life. If you walk in Mexico you will see many murals with that symbols that offer in the myth and art the life of a person in a half of corn and a half human being coming to the existense in this universe.

Another point is when Spaniard came to America they found a lot of "gods" - they called them "pagan gods" -, according to the Spaniard understanding of this area of Latin America spirituality, and they replaced the name of the "Indian's gods" for European saints. In Brazil Shango was replaced for Santa Barbara, In Mexico Tonanzin for the Virgin of Guadalupe in such of way that even today, after more than five hundred years, people told me they visit the church in Mexico City, which honor Guadalupe, but they still worship Tonanzin in the deep of their souls, because is their "Eternal Mother", the Mother of the all gods.

My last point is that many times we found some gods who play male or female roles. Gender was not an issue to express a process of life, and not like "she" or "he" for us.

Peace to you people of this universe.
Alberto
 
In the second century B.C.

The Essenes were an integral part of spreading the belief in reincarnation among Jewish people. The Essenes were the leading mystic order of their time.

In the Jewish Book the Zohar - it specifically expresses the knowledge that humans continue to be reborn until they achieve a degree of "perfection."
 
There was - and still is - widespread belief in reincarnation in American Indian tribes. The Dakota tribe taught that man reincarnated and in between those lives he lived with the Gods and received instruction in magic and healing. Many of the Indian medicine men claimed to remember past lives. References and further reading:

Amerindian Rebirth: Reincarnation Belief Among North American Indians and Inuit -- by Antonia Mills (Editor),
 
Hinduism, if I am not mistaken, is centered around a belief in reincarnation.

The ancient Greeks believed that in between lives, the soul (eidolon) was dunked in the River of Forgetfulness so that no person would remember their previous incarnations.
 
I read that the Greeks actually predate the Hindus on reincarnation.

I agree that no one remembers past lives. I think what people are usually doing when they say they are remembering past lives is reading the past. All events of the past are perfectly imprinted energetically within the earth. Theosophists call the phenomena the Akashic records.
 
Sufis

Hello all,

An interesting thread. I had no idea that some Native Americans faiths recognize reincarnation.

You were asking about what religions accept reincarnation??Obviously Hinduism and Buddhism come immediately to mind in which reincarnation is a central tenet. But one major group not mentioned so far are the Sufis - an ascetic and mystic branch of Islam that began in 8th century Persia and now has numerous Orders in many parts of the world, including the U.S.

They state the goal of the spiritual path is ultimate union with God attained through continual heartfelt remembrance and love of God. Many Sufis (Hafiz, Rumi & Attar are perhaps the best known) have written stunningly beautiful devotional poetry that pines with an intense longing to see God.

I've studied the lives of a few Sufi saints, and detect in them the authentic fire of divine experience and presence - similar to the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the great Christian saint of the 12 century.

My spiritual master Meher Baba (who said God did not below to any religion, rather all religions belonged to God) had both Hindu and Sufi masters.

Jonathan
 
Hi Jonathan,
I learnt recently that there are some very strong connections between Sufism and Egyptian Mysticism.

Those that still follow the ancient beliefs from Egypt, Baladi Egyptians, are called Sufis by others. However the present-day Egyptian mystics dislike being given a name that forces them to conform to doctrine. They know themselves as 'Seekers of the Ways'.

A 'Seeker of the Way' is one who believes it possible to have direct experience of God and seeks such a path. It is the assertion of a persons right to seek contact with the source of being and reality.

Have you come across these connections?

Best wishes,
Gemeni.
 
Let's not forget the Druids.

And by Druids I don't mean only the Neo Pagan people of today, I mean the Drurids in the past, way before Rome was Rome--when there was still Gaul and the Norse still thrived. By the way, the Norse believed in it too, if I am not mistaken.
 
Hi cacaia,
I have never heard that the Norse should belive in reincarnation. Which period are you thinking about? I thought that the Norse were the Vikings and they were after Rome. If you refer to the period before the Wikings then I'm not sure what they believed in when it came to the afterlife.

Do you have any source for this? I would find it very interesting if they did belive in it.

Veronica
 
reply

Hi Gemini,

Sorry for the slow reply. I had penned a response to you soon after your post, but had computer trouble and could not post it. Now all is working again.

I know next to nothing about Egyptian mysticism but from your description I agree there seem to be many similarities to the Sufis. Thanks for pointing out about "the seeker of the way".

Sometimes it seems to me as if the different religions are as different sides of the same mountain. When I have climbed real mountains, I am stunned at how differently the same peaks looks from different angles and sides, from different vantage points. As you climb the slope the vistas become more similar. And when you reach the peak all apparent sides converge and there is only ONE view, one mountain. Sometimes we argue about this path is best or that one, and never realize we are ascending the same mountain. Some call it by this name, some by that name, but the equipment and rules for climbing are the same.

Jonathan.
 
Re: *S*S*S (Afro-Cuban religions)

Originally posted by Deborah
Hi,

Can I ask what is your religion? So that we can add it to the list here? :) You said ---
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Deborah,

Do you about Santeria? It is a religion originated in Cuba and other Latin American countries which is basically a syncretism of Christianism (Roman Catholic) with some Afican traditions.

It is also linked to the Spiritism doctrine based on Allan Kardec's teachings.

Anyway, Reincarnation is major corner stone in Santeria, too.

Thanks and regards,
Ulysses
 
Prince,

I am a Cuban and I currenty live exiled in Miami.

I have never been to Brazil but I know there are many similarities between our cultures. Perhaps later you can tell us more about your beautiful country.

In Cuba it is possible to see Santeria practitioners getting baptized by the Catholic Church, then reading Allan Kardec's books and finally practicing the religion according to the African Yoruba traditions.

And in some places you can see Church going Christians gatthering in seanses following the European Spiritism traditions or giving Life Readings in Edgar Cayce's style. It is a wonderful religious melting pot as we all understand we come from the same place and eventually we will return there when we have learned the lessons we have to learn through reincarnation in this school we call Planet Earth.

Unfortunately, because of the current political situation in Cuba today, most of these religious movements are prosecuted by the comunist goverment and have gone underground.

Today these practices happen mostly privately in people's homes but I hope some day we will return to our roots.

Regards,
Ulysses
 
One more -

The Tibetan's believe in Reincarnation. They believe that those who have mastered the law of karma and achieve realization can choose to return in life after life to help others.

In Tibet a tradition of recognizing such incarnations or tulkus began in the thirteenth century and continues to the present day. When a realized master dies, he (or she) may leave precise indications of where he will be reborn........the purpose of this tradition is that it ensures that the wisdom memory of realized masters is not lost.
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morning coffee questions

An interesting thought -seems to me the question should be -what religions DON'T believe in reincarnation. Western/Christian sects and Catholic. Anyone know of others that don't believe? I am interested in hearing about them too. Then of course- I am interesting in researching WHY. LOLO The activist in me. ;)
 
Originally posted by musicfan259
Hinduism, if I am not mistaken, is centered around a belief in reincarnation.
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Hi:o

This is my first post, so slight shyness happening out here.

I am a Hindu, and a deeply religious one, married to a Christian, who also deeply believes in his religion. Hinduism believes that our souls are born again and again until we attain enlightenment and become one with the Ultimate Soul or the Paramatma. I think it is a beautiful philosophy, as all it means (in its purest form, without the clutter of humans re-inventing the wheel) is that we take birth as many times as is necessary for us to attain union with Paramatma.

A question to all you out there - how many of you who remember your past lives find this statement appealing?
 
Meetu,

Welcome to the Reincarnation Forum. I am a Theosophist, so, of course, I believe in Atman and Para-Atman.
 
Isn't it true that some sects of the early Christian Church used to believe in reincarnation? Of course there's no evidence of it in the bible today, but originally there were many other gospels. After Jesus died, many accounts of his life and ministry were recorded. And some of them apparantly had stuff about reincarnation in them. There were many different versions circulating, and eventually they obviously just chose 4 (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). But it would be interesting to find out what we lost.
 
Reincarnation and fundamentalism

Judaism has a strong element of reincarnation -- it's "mainstream Hasidic," according to Rabbi Yonassan Gershom, who ought to know. Check out his site... it seems to be down for some reason, but here's the Google cache link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonassan_Gershom

I noticed that the religions whose mainstreams do not hold with reincarnation, but rather the terrifying duality of heaven and hell, are also the ones that were spread by warfare and forced conversion, and today have the most vicious extremist fundamentalists who are the most interested in acquiring political power by any means: Christianity and Islam. Makes perfect sense, considering that extremism, repression, intolerance and the desire to control all arise out of the same source: fear.

In peace,
Karen
 
Another one

I see that the Druze (also known as muwahhidun) were not mentioned. They are a minority group in the Middle East who follow a "secret" religion - but their major belief (which is not secret) is in reincarnation.

For more information:
http://i-cias.com/e.o/druze.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/druse.htm
http://www.druzestudies.org/

They believe that all children give hints as to their previous life and they let their children guide them in finding out who they were. For this reason they allow their children to "explore" (lead them to places and people). They believe that as the children grow their memory of their previous lives fades.

Sara
(who lived with the Druze for 7 years - wishes I was one, but I am not and they do not accept converts)
 
Mainly, I wish I was Druze because it would make my and my fiance's life a HECK of a lot easier. We plan to marry, but this is totally not acceptable (to marry a nonDruze) in his family and community - so we are facing a lot of hardships. Almost equal to this reason is a more unexplainable one. I have a very strong connection to them - almost feel like I understand them. I felt "at home" when I lived in a Druze village and I believe very strongly in their beliefs. Maybe I just like them. ;)

They do not accept converts since their "closure" and persecution in Egypt about 1000 years ago. They did this for their own protection (they were being killed by the Muslim Egyptians for their beliefs so they went underground).

Sara
 
Reincarnation supported by the Bhagavad-Gita

In Chapter II of the Bhagavad-Gita it talks about reincarnation.

From the Bhagavad-Gita Translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood:

"Worn-out garmets
Are shed by the body:
Worn-out bodies
Are shed by the dweller
Within the body.
New bodies are donned
By the dweller, like garments"

And from another translation from the Bhagavad-Gita, also from Chapter II:

"As a man casts off worn-out garments and puts on other new ones, so the embodied soul casts off the worn-out bodies and enters other new ones."

also from the same translation:

"For death is certain to the one who is born; to one who is dead, birth is certain; therefore, thou shouldst not grieve for what is unavoidable."
 
And Chinese too

My first post in the forum :)

The Chinese people also have a long history in believing in reincarnation. Only after the communism come into power, this kind of belief and other traditional values are regarded as superstition by government, education system, media, etc.

But I think elderly people, and many young people subconsciously, still believe in reincarnation. For example, it is very common for a mother to say to her trouble-causing kid that she think she own the kid karma debt in a previouse life (and that is why the kid always cause trouble).
 
The Australian aborigines believe that an infant is a reincarnation of deceased ancestors and that the soul is continually reborn. Some Indonesian peoples hold that ancestral souls reside in sacred animals, sometimes in preparation for a new incarnation.
 
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