Reincarnation

**Drexxus Maximus** · March 06, 2007, 09:48 AM

Ok, first of all I'm not saying that I believe in it, but it is interesting how certain things/thoughts in life come out of nowhere.

Let me explain a bit. I woke up this morning, had sex, took a shower, stepped out of the shower and Bam!, was instantly struck with the thought "Strap on my armor and get down to business." kind of thing. I started to laugh because it was such an odd thing to pop into my mind, and immediately dismissed it because I've been watching a lot of HBO's Rome, so I thought thats what caused it. But the more I pondered it I realized that same thought, under the same and different circumstances has hit me before, through the years, many times actually.

So, I kept thinking about it. I started to ask myself 'Why am I and others so interested in certain eras of History and not so much others.' For example I was never introduced to ancient Rome or WW2 or any of the other time periods I love to study by anyone. They just seemed very interesting and natural to think about, almost like I'm not so much studying as I am remembering. It's not like I was born with a history prof as a father and force fed the stuff, it was never even brought up. So why dont I find the Aztecs for example as fascinating as others. I have nothing against the Aztecs, they're cool and all, but I dont have that same connection with them.

Heres the really weird part. I've had recurring dreams for as long as I can remember. The most common one, which I've had maybe 6-8 times in my life is simple, sweet and short. I see a birds eye view of a battlefield, littered with dead and wounded men,always a little bit different but very similar at the same time. Sometimes theres snow on the ground, sometimes it's sort of a wheat field. When I'm dreaming it, I know I'm down there somewhere but have no idea where to look, it's very frustrating actually. And no, I can never see any clues that would point to a certain era, the dream is too fast and I can never control it if you know what I mean.

Anyway that's the story. Like I said before, I'm not saying I believe in it, but it is strange. What drives us to go out of our way to learn and study these things with no outside interference? Why are we as amateur historians so fascinated by it?

Anyone have any similar stories or input into this? I swear I'm not crazy, hehe, but this has peaked my curiosity, and I thought what better place to pass around the theory than TWC. :hmmm: I've read theories in the past on why reincarnation cant be true, because of the population and all that, but I'd still love to hear other peoples thoughts on this.

**Zenith Darksea** · March 06, 2007, 11:05 AM

I suspect that the lust for battle in men is a primeval instinct that is derived from social evolution. I mean, I've felt adrenalin rushes at the thought of going to battle and so on (largely after playing Europa Barbarorum), though I'd put it down to simple male hormones rather than past lives. I'm inclined to think that it's just natural instinct.

And besides, if we're all just being recycled, why the continual population boom?

Oh, and there's another question I'd like to ask with regard to reincarnation (it may only apply to the Buddhist and Hindu view of reincarnation). As I understand it, if you lead a good life, you're rewarded by being given a better life next time around, and likewise if you're bad you'll have a worse life next time around, even up to the point where you can become a tree or a stone. But tell me, how does a stone lead a good life?

**rez** · March 06, 2007, 02:34 PM

Are you sure stones are included? They're entirely in-animate. That would be a rather serious flaw in Samsara.

I would think that when living as a creature that is barely self concious you are simply confined and punished by living out the long existence with absolutely no stimulus.

Basically you can only go up from there.

So, I kept thinking about it. I started to ask myself 'Why am I and others so interested in certain eras of History and not so much others.' For example I was never introduced to ancient Rome or WW2 or any of the other time periods I love to study by anyone. They just seemed very interesting and natural to think about, almost like I'm not so much studying as I am remembering. It's not like I was born with a history prof as a father and force fed the stuff, it was never even brought up. So why dont I find the Aztecs for example as fascinating as others. I have nothing against the Aztecs, they're cool and all, but I dont have that same connection with them.

Were you a Mexican or from some other south American country i would bet that you would be far more interested in the Aztecs. WW2 and the Romans were both defining moments in western history, as such you have something to identify with them.

Why do you think i love the Persians so much?

I tend to agree with Zenith and say that men are simply subject to a primeval lust for combat. Ancient warfare was the epitomy of the warrior's age (in my opinion) and as such the more you read about it the more likely you will fantasise about it.

**Cluny the Scourge** · March 06, 2007, 02:58 PM

Your subconscious interest in killing and slaughter is an indication of possible psychopathy. Dreams, visions, unbidden thoughts that surprise even you. Even more tellingly your thirst for violence is connected to sexual thoughts, such as your falling into a 'ready to kill' mindset just after having sex in the morning. Seek professional help.

**Drexxus Maximus** · March 06, 2007, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Cluny the Scourge

Your subconscious interest in killing and slaughter is an indication of possible psychopathy. Dreams, visions, unbidden thoughts that surprise even you. Even more tellingly your thirst for violence is connected to sexual thoughts, such as your falling into a 'ready to kill' mindset just after having sex in the morning. Seek professional help.

Lol. Well sheesh, thanks for that Cluny. Maybe that explains why I have a bust of Caligula as my avatar? :hmmm: I'm not dismissing what you said at all, but I'm a very mellow, calm individual. Plus I dont have the money to waste on a shrink atm.

**The Fish** · March 06, 2007, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by rez

Are you sure stones are included? They're entirely in-animate. That would be a rather serious flaw in Samsara.

I would think that when living as a creature that is barely self concious you are simply confined and punished by living out the long existence with absolutely no stimulus.

Basically you can only go up from there.

This is a bit of a confusing matter, because, as with most things concerning Hinduism, there are differing opinions. Some things I have read mandate that anything with a name and a form has a soul (and is thus subject to reincarnation). In this interpretation, a rock would have a soul. Personally, though, I find this to be a result of overly literal interpretations of poetic passages in the scriptures. For instance, passages in the Bhagavata Purana involve people yearning to be reborn as rocks in Krishna's house, just as a way to be closer to Him. This was then interpreted by some people as implying that rocks must have souls, while I think it's pretty obviously a case of simple poetic hyperbole. I identify more with the idea that anything capable of independent life has a soul, which would leave inanimate objects out. But Rez has it right, if a person is reincarnated as, say, a tree, they simply live out that life according to their previously accrued karma, and continue stepwise up the chain of increasingly self-aware/intelligent beings, until they are once again reborn as a human, and can make decisions regarding their own actions.