Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundationhomepage>NotebooksofPaulBrunton>Category9:FromBirthtoRebirth>
Chapter2:RebirthandReincarnation
RebirthandReincarnation
1
Thewheeloflifedoesnotstopforlongsoonitwillturnagainandpassfromthepointof
deathtothepointoflife.
2
Thethoughtofthebody,ofbeingidentifiedwithit,guaranteesthatadyingpersonwill
comebackhereagain.
3
Naturehastakenalongtimetopreparehimforthismomentlongerthanheknowsand
usedmanydifferentformstodoso.
4
Maneagerlyseeksafleshlytenementthroughreincarnationorisdrawnintoitbyhis
desiresdescribeitasyouwish.
5
Tiedtothegreatwheelofbirthandrebirthastheyarebydesiresandlongings,thereisin
themstillnowishforrelease.
6
Theoldpeoplewhowalkwithmelancholyface,feelingcondemnedtodierelatively
soon,willdobettertorecognizetheinexorablefatalitywhichmakesdeathalwaysfollow
birth,butwhichthenmakesrebirthfollowdeath.
7
Thementalwavelengthonwhichwetuneinhelpstodeterminethekindoflifewehave,
thekindofenvironmentweget.
8
Boththethingswedesireandthosewedreadbringusintoincarnationagain.
9
Betterthanbeingborntowealthyparentsisbeingborntowiseones,forthenthechild
willnotonlybetaughtspiritualvaluesbutwillseethemdemonstratedbeforehiseyes.
10
Tobebornandbroughtupinanatmosphereofhighthinkingandwidesearchingthisis
thechancewhichreincarnationgives.
11
Achildisbornintoafamilynotbymerechancebutastheresultantofforcessetagoing
inthepreviousbirthsbothbythenewlybornandbyitsparents.
12
Parentsmaydowhattheywishtoencouragethegoodanddiscouragetheevilinthe
charactersoftheiroffspring,butinbringingthemintotheworldtheytookachance.For
thechildrenbroughttheirowncharacterswiththemfrompreviousincarnations.
13
Whenachildisbornoramandies,thenewworldofhisexperiencecannotbesaidtobe
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
1/25
14/5/2015
eitherareadymadeoneoranentirelypersonalone.Thetruthliesinacombinationof
both.Themysteryofexistenceliesinthewonderfulwayinwhichsuchacombinationis
broughtabout.
14
Noneofusisthrownintothisworldagainsthiswill.Allofusareherebecausewewant
tobehere.
15
Wereincarnateinpartthroughthepressureofaccumulatedkarmaandinpartthroughthe
pressureofhabitualtendencies.
16
Someareeagertodescendintoabodyagain,butothersarereluctantandarehalfdragged
down.
17
Allmencomebacktobodilylifeagainiftheyleavearesidueofkarma.Allkarmathatis
notbroughttoanendbybringingthemind'sbondagetotheegothoughttoanend,makes
reincarnationinescapable.
Theinfluenceofpasttendencies
18
Thetendenciesbroughtoverfrompastbirths,theexperiencesandcontactsmadethenas
wellasinthepresentone,explainhisactingashedoes,andhisbeingwhatheis.
19
Heexcuseshisweaknessesbycomplainingagainstnature,whichhasprovidedhimwith
instinctsandpassionsleadingtothem.Butthatwhichhecallsnatureisreallythe
inheritanceofhisowntendenciesfromformerlives.
20
Atanygivenmoment,amanthinksandactsaccordingto,andasaresultof,hiswhole
mentalandphysicalexperienceoflifeandhiswholecharacterandnature.Thesecannot
belimitedtothesingleshortlifeonearthhenowknows,forthatwillnotexplainmanyof
histendenciesandtraits.Theymustincludeallhispreviouslives.
21
Allthingscontributetothemakingofmanthehistoryofhispastandtheclimateofhis
land,thepeopleamongwhomheisborn,andhisownparticulartendencies.Themost
importantishiskarma.
22
Themodernworldisacrucible,intowhichisthrownalltheideassofarrecoveredfrom
thepast,togetherwiththoseborninthepresent.
23
Hefindshimselfwithintheframeofthetendencieshehasbroughtoverfromearlier
births,modifiedorcorrectedorsupplementedbytheconditionsofhispresentbirth.
24
Whetherornottheadvanceofageandtheaccumulationofexperiencehascausednew
ideastosupersedehisolderones,theunconsciousmindkeepsitsownregisterofevery
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
2/25
14/5/2015
occasionandsituation.
25
Thepastputsitselfintoeverythought,everyact,everyperceptioneven.
26
Thematerialistsstretchthetenetofhereditytoanirrationaldegree.Nomanmerely
reproducesthecharacteristicsofhisparentsorofhisdistantforefathers.Thedifferences
existandareplaininmostcases.Onthecontrary,thereisalwayssomevariationwhich
separateshimfromhisancestry,alwayssomethingoriginaltohimself.Andthisis
explicableonlyonabasisofreincarnation.
27
Theoreticalacceptanceofthedoctrineofreincarnationleadsustocanceloutpartofthe
claimofthematerialiststhattheinfluenceofenvironmentmakesthewholeofman.For
asaspiritualbeing,theman'sessentialselfisalreadythereevenfrombirth,andisreally
unfoldinghimselfintoamaterialenvironment.Thelatterprovideshimwithconditions
whichenablehimtoexpresshimself,orbyfailingtoprovidethoseconditionshinderthat
expression.Buttheenvironmentcannotwhollychangeamanorcannotwhollyeliminate
histruecharacter.Whathereallyiswillsoonerorlatercomeoutandshowitself,withor
withoutthehelpofenvironment.Itistrue,however,thatapartofhimmightbeunableto
expressitselfaltogetherowingtoacompletelyadverseenvironmentorsetofconditions.
Nevertheless,theunexpressedpartwouldstillremainlatentlyexistentwithinhis
characterandevenifitneverexpresseditselfatallthroughoutthewholeofhislifetimeit
wouldreappearandexpressitselfinalaterreincarnation.
28
Weareasmuchthevictimsofourowntendenciesasofourenvironment.Theyshape
happenings,deeds,reactions,decisions,aspirations,andgrovelings.
29
ThebeliefiscommoninEuropeandAmericathatwestartlifeasbabeswithablank
characterorwithoneinheritedpartiallyortotallyfromparentsandancestors.
30
Thecomplexesandtendenciespreexistingthepresentbirthandhiddendeepinhis
subconsciousmind,mustsoonerorlatercomethroughtothesurfacemind.
31
Inthefinalaccountingitislesswhatamanreceivesfromeducationthanwhathe
receivesfromformerlivesthatmattersmost.Hiseducationmayhelptobringitoutand
rounditoutbuthisinnatestockwilllargelybethemeasureofhisassets.
32
Ancestrymaybringaman'sbody:itdoesnotbringhisgenius.
33
Thetraitsandtendencieswhichamanreceivesfromtheprecedingbirthsconstitutein
theirtotalitythepersonalselfwhichheknowsas"I."
34
Whatamanbringsoverfromformerbirthsarethefixedideasinhisconsciousness,the
habitualdirectionofhisfeelingsandtheinnateimpulsesofhiswill.
35
Thehabitsofthought,feeling,andconductwhichsettleuponamanreallyconstitutethe
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
3/25
14/5/2015
man.Foritisthosewhicharebroughtoverfromtheexperiencesofearlierbirths,which
sproutupinhisyouthandripeninhismaturity,andthusexpressthemselvesthroughhis
particularpersonality.
36
Whatamanis,needs,orhasdoneputshimjustwhereheis.
37
Thatcharacterisshapedbycircumstanceandenvironmentonlyspiritualdreamersmay
deny,butthatitiswhollyshapedbythemonlymaterialistdreamersmayaffirm.Akeen,
subtle,andsensitiveintelligencecantracebylogic,imagination,orintuitionthefactof
itsownpreviousexistenceandhenceacceptthenecessityofitsdevelopmentthrough
reincarnation.
38
Theegoinheritsthetendencies,theaffinities,andtheantagonismswhichhaveshaped
themselvesinalongseriesofbirthsbehindthepresentone.
39
Theinnatetendenciesofhismentallifegiverisetothenaturalcompulsionsofhisactive
life.Hecannotbehavedifferentlyfromthewayhedoesthatis,ifheisnotonthequest
andthereforenotstrugglingtorisebeyondhimself.Hisownpastanditstretchesback
fartherthanheknowscreatedthethoughts,theacts,andtheconditionsofthepresent.
40
Thereisadefiniterelationbetweenaman'scharacter,capacity,andtalentincombination
andhisfortunes,opportunities,andfrustrations.
41
Thefutureofanyindividualispartlyforeseeabletotheextentthathischaracter,past
history,andhiscapacitiesgiveaclue.
42
Wearehitinthefacebyourownsins.
43
Thesethoughtshavebecome,byconstantrepetition,longstandinganddeeprooted.That
istosay,theyhavebecomeinherenttendenciesandgoverningcomplexesoftheman's
character.Hehimselfseldomrealizeshowmuchandhowoftenheisattheirmercy.
44
Thereisasagacitywhichcomesfromripenedexperienceandanotherwhichcomesfrom
deepenedexperience.
45
Menarenotseparatedfromeachotherbytheyardsbetweentheirbodiesalone,buteven
morebytheinequalityoftheircharactersandthediscordbetweentheirattitudes.Mendo
notbecomeneighboursmerelybecausetheirbodiesliveneartoeachother,butbecause
thereisaffinitybetweentheircharactersandharmonybetweentheirattitudes.Twoloving
friendsareneareachothereventhoughtheirbodiesareinseparatecontinentstwohating
enemiesarefarfromeachothereventhoughtheirbodiesareinthesameroom.
46
ThemoreIreflectaboutmyglobaltravels,observations,andstudies,themoreIhold
firmlytothistruth:"Characterisfate."
47
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
4/25
14/5/2015
Theimperfectionsinourcharactermeasureaccordinglytheunpleasantnessesinour
experience.
48
Acompleteknowledgeofwhatmenareoughttoleadtoacompleteforeknowledgeof
howtheywillact.Butactuallythereisalwaysamarginofunpredictability.
49
Itistruethatthewholeofwhatmanexperiencesisnotwhollyofhisowndirectmaking
andthatonlyapartofitisso.Butthatisthelargestpart.Itistruethathisnation'slife
affectsandisresponsibleforsomeofthecolourwhichhisowntakeson.Butwhywashe
borninthatparticularnationduringthatparticularperiod?Theanswermustagainbethat
heisgettingtherecompenseofhisownpastmaking.Forhisnationmayliedefeatedand
wounded,oritmaystridetriumphantandprosperous.
50
Weautomaticallytrytorepeattheoldpatternsofbehaviourcreatedinformerlives
whethertheyarebeneficialorinjurioustous.Thishappensbecausewecanhardlyhelp
doingso.
51
Therecurrenceoftheseoldsituationswillgoonlifetimeafterlifetimeuntilthelessonis
learnt.
52
Wearevictimsofourownpast:itcreatesagrooveofimpetusandmomentumalong
whichwemove.Thisleavesnoroomforthenew,thecreative,toenterin.
53
Wemayhaveforgottentheearlyandoriginalsourceofapresentbelief,aninveterate
attitude,oranintensefeeling,butyetitmayhaveapowerfulholduponusandexerta
powerfulinfluenceonouracts.
54
Anaspirantmayresolvetodropthepastfrommemoryafterhehasabsorbeditslessons,
toletitgobecauseitstillbelongstotheillusionoftime.Neverthelessitsconsequences
arestillthere.Theyarepresentinhiminwhatheisnow.
55
Tendencies,habits,anddesiresinheritedfrompastlivesmaybeworthfollowing.But
theymayalsobeharmful,ornegativeandnoteasilydislodged.
56
Itisneitherfeasiblenordesirabletoeliminatealltracesofthepastfromhismind.
57
Whatwewereinthepastisnotimportant.Whatwearenowisimportant.Whatwe
intendtomakeofourselvesinthefutureisvitallyimportant.
58
Amancanrespondtoeventsortoprophets,todemandsortoexperiences,onlyonthe
levelofhisowncapacityandmentality.Wehavenorighttoaskthatheshallbebetteror
wiser.
59
Characterandculturearetobegradedbytheinnerattributeswhichformerliveshave
developedbutwhichmaynotyet,inthepresentlife,befullyunfolded.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
5/25
14/5/2015
60
Thepatheticthoughtsofwhatmighthavebeentormenthim.Butaretheyfutile?Ifthey
showhowactionscouldhavebeenimprovedanddecisionsbettered,theysowseedsfor
thenextbirth.
61
Thisclingingtohabitsstandsinthewayofourhealthandevenofoursalvation.
62
Wecomeintobirthasdistinctpersonsevenbabiesbegintoshowtheirindividual
differenceswithcharactersformedalreadyinpreviousexistences.Thisisonereasonwhy
someamountoftolerance,someacceptanceofoneanotherasweare,isnecessaryifwe
aretolivepeaceablytogether.
63
Wisdomhappens.Itmaybefoundamongtherichorrespectable,oritmaytakeaplayful
turnanddismaysnobsbybeingbornamongthepoororpariahs.Onlyfoolstrytotie
class,race,ornationalistlabelsontothesoul.
64
Theessenceofcountlessexperiencesandstatesthroughwhichhehaspassedishereand
nowwithhimasthedegreeofcharacter,intelligence,andpowerwhichhepossesses.
65
Hewhohastakenmanybirthshasagreatwealthoftotalexperiencebehindhim.This
manifestsitselfnaturallyinwiserdecisionsandbetterselfcontrol.
66
Memoryisaspiritualfacultyinasmuchasitgivesusthechanceandmeanstoextract
teachingwisdomandguidancefromthepast.Itenablesustovisualizepastexperience
andmakeiteitheraguideorawarningindealingwithpresentproblems.
67
Thatatruthwhichissocleartotheirownmindscouldbesoobscuretootherminds,is
easilyexplicablebythegradingprocessesofreincarnation.Eachman'spresentstateand
viewsaretheoutcomeofhispastexperiencesinpastlives.
68
Somespendawholelifetimetryingtogetenlightenment,othersgetitinafewyears.The
differenceisaccountedforbythedifferenceinreadiness,ingrowth,andinbalance.
69
Inreactionsanddesires,inneedsandmentalpatterns,intastesandinterestswemay
searchtheplanet'smillionsbutfindnotwoindividualsabsolutelyalike.Differenceand
varietyareimprinteduponthehumanrace.
70
Wildanimalsaremercilessbuthumananimalsareamixedlot.Somearekindly,others
cruel.Thedifferencebetweenthewildandhumanvarietiesissimplyadifferencein
evolution.Thedistancebetweenthemisfilledwithbirths,experience,theresultant
lessonsabsorbedleadingtotraitsdeveloped.
71
Thesamesituationwhichleadstooneman'sdevelopmentleadstoanotherman's
degradation.Thisissobecausetheircapacitiestodrawrightlessonsfromexperienceare
unequal.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
6/25
14/5/2015
72
Justaseachmanhasaseparateidentity,soallmenhavedistinctivetraitsandmarks,form
andappearances.Naturedoesnotindulgeinthemonotonyofuniformity.
73
Themanwhofindshismindsuddenlyilluminated,butdoesnotknowwhyitcameabout,
mayfindhisanswerinthedoctrineof"tendencies"prenatalandkarmicreappearing
fromformerlivesandheldhithertointhedeepermentallevels.
74
Whereexperienceoflifeislimitedtoasmallarea,knowledgemaybejustassmall.The
resultreallydependsonwhatamandoeswithhismind,ifweassumethathehashada
lotofexperienceinpreviousincarnations,eventhoughhemayhavehadlittleinthis
presentincarnation.
75
Thenotionthatwisdomcomeswithageisridiculedbytheyoungpeopleoftoday.They
seesenilefoolsormiddleagedfailuresorleaderswhosepeoplefallintonewerandmore
numerousdifficultiesandconcludethattheythemselvesnotonlyknowbetterbutcando
better.Yetthenotionisnottobedismissedsolightly.Thereisadeepgroundforitstruth,
toodeepperhapsforcommonsight,andhenceonlyforthoseofinsight.Theagewhichis
grownintoaftermanybirths,ratherthanmanyyears,ismellowwithwisdomquite
naturally.
76
Weoughtnottoaskmentoexpressqualitiesofcharacterandmindwhichneither
experiencenorbirthenablethemtoexpress.
77
Itiseasytodespiseasstupidthoseofobviousinferiorintelligence,butitwouldbewell
torememberthatwewereonceatthesamelevel.Thenotionofrebirthteachestolerance.
78
Theadvancedmysticreachesapointinhislifewherehefindsitnecessarytoovercome
thepullofthosepastperiods,whenhewasabletoliveinamorecongenialatmosphere
thanpresentdaycivilizationprovides.Becauseoftheworldcrisiswhichdominatesevery
aspectoflife,heknowsitisnecessarytolookforwardandnotbackward.Andheknows,
too,thatthisiswhyhefeelsimmenselyattractedtoaparticularplaceEgyptandIndia
arecommonexamples.
79
Weareallbiasedandblindedbythepast.Weneedtoforceourselvestofacethepresent
bythelightofthefuture,asamanforceshimselftobeartheburdenofprolongedhard
workwherefromhehopestoreaphishighreward.
80
Thisincarnationwillbeworthwhileifonlyitisusedtorectifysomeofthemistakesof
earlierincarnations.
81
Wheneverthereisachoicetobemadebetweenthetruthofthephilosophicviewandthe
falsityofthematerialisticview,theman'sspiritualagewillrevealitself.
82
MenactuallydefendthemselvesagainsttheTruth,soattachedaretheytotheirancient
thoughtformsandbeliefs.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
7/25
14/5/2015
83
Ofwhatuseisittoquotetheneedforfollowingtraditionandobeyingauthorityorfor
joininginprotestandrebellion?Menmoveintoactionoftheoneortheotherkindas
theirtendenciesdictate,inaccordancewiththepressuresfromtheirpreviousbirths.This
iswhatBuddhasawwhenhepenetratedandanalysedhumannatureandwhyheinsisted
ontheemancipationofoneselffromoneself.
84
WhydosometaketotheTrueDoctrineatfirstglancewhereasothersandtheyarethe
majorityspurnit?Theansweristobefoundintheinternalageorprenatalexperienceor
reincarnatedtendencies.
85
Whenintuitiverecognitionsoftruth,swiftflashesofunderstanding,comeonhearingor
readingtheseinspiredstatements,thisisasignofhavingbeenengagedinitsquestduring
formerreincarnations.
86
Weareinbondagetoourownpast.Whocandeliverus,saveourselves?
ReincarnationandMentalism
87
Thatmenareatvaryingstagesofmentalcapacity,differentdegreesofspiritualresponse,
andunequalincharacter,manners,selfcontrol,orreactions,isamatterofeveryday
observation.Thetheoryofreincarnationinmentalismoffersalogicalexplanationof
thesedifferences,andadeeperonethanmaterialism's.
88
Thetruthabouttheuniversecannotbehadunlessatthesametimewegetoutsidethe
limitedviewsandemotionalprejudicesofthepersonallife.Norcanwegetatthetruth
aboutourselvessolongaswethinkintermsofasingleearthlylifetime.Todosoleadsto
mentalshortsightednessandgivesanincorrectvisualimageofhumanlife.Allthis
showswhyweneedboththequest'sdisciplineandphilosophy'sknowledge.
89
Thereisnodirectandincontrovertibleproofofreincarnation,butthereislogical
evidenceforit.Whyshouldtherebecertainabilitiesalmostwithoutprevioustraining?
WhyshouldIbepossessedatanearlyageofthementalabilitiesofawriter,orsomeone
elseofamusician?Heredityalonecannotaccountforit.Butitisperfectlyaccountedfor
ifweconsiderthemtoasubconsciousmemory.Iamunwittinglyrememberingandusing
againmyowncapabilitiesfromaformerbirth.ThisispossibleonlybecauseIammind.
Mindalonecancontinueitself.Capacitiesinanyfieldcannotappearoutofnothing.The
individualwhoshowsthemforthisrepeatingthemoutofhisowndeepermemory.There
istheevidenceofNature.WhenIwakeupinthemorning,IpickupallthatIhadtheday
before.Iremembermyownindividualityandusethesameliterarytalentsasbefore.
Otherwise,Icouldneverwriteagain,orsomeoneelsecouldneversing.Thebasisofthis
reminiscenceisnotaphysicaloccurrence,butamentalone.
90
Itisnecessarytoknowhowmenthinkinordertounderstandwhytheythinkastheydo.
Thestructureofthemindinhumanbeingsexplainswhytheyarriveatparticular
conclusionsoracceptcertainbeliefsineachparticularcase.Butwithouttheideaof
rebirththisexplanationremainsincomplete.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
8/25
14/5/2015
91
Theviewswhichanyoneholdsintellectuallyarerelativetohisexperienceandstatus,his
innatecharacterandreincarnatoryhistory.
92
Isittruethatsoonorlateafterdeathweemigratetoanotherphysicalbody?Cansucha
doctrinebepartofareasonableman'sviews?Theanswerisyes.Norneedreasonalone
guideusinthismatter,forthevariedevidenceshavebeencollectedandstatedbyavery
fewauthors.Psychicalsensitivitytoinvisiblerecordsofthepastoffers,forwhatitis
worth,someconfirmations.
93
ThecapacitytocommunewiththeOverselfexistsinallmenitisauniversalone.Butit
doesnotexisttoanequaldegree.Forthosewhocanacceptthedoctrineofrebirth,the
explanationofthisinequalityliesthere.
94
Whetherwehavelivedonthisearthbeforeandshallliveonitagainisamatter
susceptibleonlyofmetaphysicalandnotofphysicalproof.
95
Theverynatureofreincarnationpreventsanyonefromcompletelyprovingit.Butthereis
noothertheorythatissoreasonabletohelpusunderstandourevolution,history,
capacity,genius,character,andinequalitynoothersousefultohelpussolvethegreat
problemofwhywearehereonearthatall.Thisdoctrine,thattheegorepeatedlyvisits
ourplaneinfreshphysicalforms,isdemandedbyreason,suppliedbyintuition,and
verifiedbyrevelation.
96
Anymanisfreetousehismemoriesandexperienceseitherdestructivelyor
constructively:itisuptohimwhichusehemakesofthem.Thatenvironment,
circumstances,heredity,andotherwellknownfactorsmayinfluencewhathedoeswith
themistrueenoughbutwhatheis,whatcharacterandtendenciesheexpresses,were
transmittedfromformerbirths,werepresentbeforeheacquiredtheattributesmentioned.
97
Allhisexperiencesduringtheagesuponagesofhisexistenceasafinitecentreoflifeand
consciousnesshavelefttheirrecordinthemysteriousandmeasurelessseedatomofhis
body.
98
Freud'spostulateoftheUnconsciousmindasastructureofforgottenunrecoverable
memoriesisaprecursoroftherebirththeory.Itpreparesthewayforscientificacceptance
ofthelatterandshouldinevitablyleadtoit.Inturn,itthrowslightonthedoctrineof
karma.Fortheegowhichrevivesoutofapparentnothingnessistheconsciousmind
whichreappearsoutoftheunconscious.Whentheproductionoftheseideaenergies(that
is,tendencies,samskaras)isbroughttorest,thentheycanneveragainobjectifyintoa
physicalenvironment,afreshrebirth,andthusmanbecomeskarmafreeandenters
Nirvana.Aslongashebelievesthatheisthebodyhemustreincarnateinthebody.
99
Thereincarnationswhichprecedethepresentonecontributetoitscharacteristicsandhelp
toshapeitshappenings.Butthisdoesnotmeantheygiveallitscharacteristicsand
happenings.Somedevelopoutoftheouterfactsandinnerreactionsofthispresentbirth.
100
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
9/25
14/5/2015
Thestrangefeelingofhavinglivedbeforeandthereforeofhavingbeensomeoneelse
mayflashbrieflythroughconsciousness.
101
Hisconductwhilealivewillcontributetothekindofbodyandenvironmenthegetsnext
time,histhoughtandfeelingstoo.Weearnfromlifeandpassuphigherorgodown
lowerlikepupilsingradedschool.
102
Whereisanyman'sbiographywhichismorethanfragmentary,opinionated,andbiased?
Forwithoutthebackgroundpictureofearlierlivesinotherbodiesthematerialsare
thinnerthanthecompilerbelievesthemtobe.
103
Onewhoknowssomethingofhispastliveshassomethingtothrowlightinsomewayon
hispresentone.
104
Thecommoncomplaintagainsttheideaofahumanreembodimentisthatwehaveno
rememberedknowledgeofwhathappenedand,therefore,ofthecausesofpresent
troublesforwhichwearepersonallyresponsible.Itisforgottenthatsuchknowledge
couldonlybehadatthecostofresufferingallthehorrorsandmiseriesofthepastas
wellasitsjoys.
105
ThebenevolentshieldofNatureprotectsusfromtheunhappypastotherwisewewould
sufferfutilely,asTaylorCaldwell,famedAmericannovelist,sufferedwhenshehad
recurrentnightmaresoflivinginadungeonduringtheMiddleAges.
106
Ifthousandsofprenatalmemoriesweretocomecrowdingintogether,themind'slife
wouldbehorrible,crazy.Worse,one'sownpersonalidentitywouldbelost,mergedinall
theothers.
107
Itisnotatallnecessarytolearnhowwelivedinpastlivesinordertoknowhowbestto
liveinthisone.Suchknowledgemightbeusefulbutitalsomightbequitedangerous.It
couldleadtoattemptstoevadewhatiscomingtousasaconsequenceofwhatwehave
donebefore.Suchevasioncouldrobusofachancetolearnthelessonsofthat
experience,whiletheattemptstogainthisknowledgecoulditselfleadtopsychism.A
sufficientpracticalguidecanbefoundinPhilosophy'smoralwisdom,togetherwithone's
ownconscience.
108
Speculationsonformerbirthscandevelopintohallucinations.Itiswisetokeepoffthese
uselessimaginationsandattendtothehereandnow.
109
Whetheraman'slifebegovernedbyamoralitybaseduponreligionoranethics
inculcatedbybreeding,oruponneither,thereisasubconsciousconsciencealways
presentwhichisahiddenundergroundfactorinhisoutlookanddecisions.Itcomesfrom
formerbirths.
110
Onemayexperienceasenseoflossifhehasnotrecoveredthedegreeofawareness
achievedinpreviousincarnations.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
10/25
14/5/2015
111
Whatweknowfrompastbirthsdoesnothavetobelearnedagainfromexperiencesofthe
samekindinthepresentbirth,unlesswedonotknowitorfeelitstronglyenough.
112
Ifhemustseektorememberpreviousexistencesnowlosttoconsciousness,lethimseek
onlythosewhereinherosetohisspiritualbest,whereinhecameclosertoGodthaninthe
others.
113
Theunenjoyablelessonmaybeassimilatedbutthepasthasbeenrecorded.Memory
cannotchangeit,cannotremoveitsunpleasantness.Sotheblanknessofthenewly
reincarnateblotsoutsuchmorbidsouvenirs.
114
Thisfeelingthatwehaveseenthisplacebefore,passedthroughthatsituation,comes
fromaformerpersonality.Thesoulisthesame,buttheoutermanisnot.
115
Reincarnation.Wetellourchildrenstrangetalesthatbringayearningwonderintotheir
eyes,foroutofthefarpasttheirsimpleandunstainedsoulsrememberlandspeopledwith
fairiesandgods.
116
Isitsofoolishathoughttosaytooneself,"IsometimesidentifywiththeIndiansso
closely,sosympathetically,thatthisbeliefthatIwasonceoneofthemisquite
acceptable"?WhenIfirstheardofittheideaofreincarnationseemedinharmonywith
Natureandneedednofurtherargumentinitsfavour.
117
TherearesomewhofeelaspecialaffinitywiththeOrient,orratherwithaparticular
Orientalcountry.Thisfeelinghassignificanceabouttheirpastprenatalhistory,and
shouldbevaluedforwhatitis.Buttoletthepresentlifetimebewhollyovershadowedby
thedeadpastisunwise.
118
Ifthephysicalmemoriesofearlierlivesarelost,thementalcapacitiesandemotional
trendspersist.
119
Amanmaysitaloneinhissolitaryroomandstirbutlittlefromit,yetthewisdomof
strangelandsandstrangerageswillfloatintohismind.Suchaonehasreceivedahigh
inheritancedownthroughtheturningsofTime,agoodlypowerthatisthetestamentto
hisstrenuouseffortsinsearchofknowledgeinformerlives.Somemenaresuchnatural
mysticsthattheyareborn,asitwere,withthethaumaturge'swandintheirhands.
120
Itiscommonenoughtohearofpeoplewhowantaplaceinthereincarnatorysun,
compensatingfortheirpresentobscuritybythediscoverythattheywereformerly
CleopatraorJuliusCaesarorthelikeintheirpreviousreincarnation.Welaughatsuch
weaknessandvanitybutwemightasksuchpersonswhyshouldthepresenceof
remembrancestopwiththelastbirth.Whataboutthebirthbeforethat?Whataboutthe
dozensofbirthsbeforethatultimateone?Whataboutthebirthsduringtheprehistoric
period?Whypickononlythefirstandnotonthehundredthbirthfromthepresentone?
121
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
11/25
14/5/2015
Thesameforceswhichbringusintotheexperienceofanewreincarnationalsodeprive
usofthememoryofpreviousreincarnations.
122
Wemayfeelthepullortherepulsiongeneratedbyeventsorbypersonsmetwithinother
lifetimes.Themeaningofsuchmeetingsshouldbesought,althoughitmaytakesome
timeandexperiencebeforeitisfound.Ifaplaceorapersonseemsstrangely,eveneerily,
familiar,sothatoneentersintoarelationshipwhetherasfriendorasenemyveryquickly,
thiscanoftenbetakenasastrongconfirmationofaprenatalrelationship.
123
Whatwelearnedinpreviouslivescomesbackagaininthepresentone,butitmaynot
comeearly,itmaycomelater.Muchdependsontheenvironmentastowhentheseold
qualitiescanreappear.Italsodependsupontheeventsandthehistoryoftheindividual.
124
Eachnewbirthisneitheratotalreplayofpastonesnortotallydifferentfromthem.The
relationtoeachotherisnotonlythere,butalsototheWorldIdea,hencetothefargoal.
125
Thehumanbeingdoesnotreachfullphysicaldevelopmentuntiltheskeletalstructure,
particularlythewisdomteeth,reachesit.Thishappensbetweentheagesoftwentyfive
andthirty.Withthenewbodyfullyready,recapitulationoftheoldone'sexperiencesoon
ceases.
126
Justasintheplayingofbilliardstheimpactofaballhittingasecondonegivesthelatter
animpetusandadirection,sothekarmaofonebirthisbroughtovertothenextbirth.
Thisisnotthesameasaparticularentity,athingcalledego,beingcarriedover.
127
Hisexperiencesinthislifewerelargelydecidedforhiminapreviouslifeonearth.
128
Theconditionswhichsurroundamanarenoaccident.Theyaretherebecauseheiswhat
heisandhispastiswhatitwas.IfanyoneignorestheLawofRecompenseandlimitshis
pasttothepresentknownlifetime,ignoringpreviousappearancesonthisplanet,those
conditionswillmanytimesbeinexplicable.
129
Thefeelingoffamiliaritywithsomeonemetforthefirsttime,ofvagueindistinct
recognitionwhichwesometimesget,mayhavevaryingsignificances.Butoneofthemis
anechoofremembranceofpreviouscontactinapastbirth.
130
Imaginehowmuchinconveniencewouldbecausedifscenesandoccurrencesfrom
previousliveskeptonintrudingintotheaffairsofthepresentone.
131
Somefinditfascinatingtospeculateaboutwhomtheyarethereincarnationof,butthey
oughttokeepclearinmindthatthisisimaginationgivenfreeplay.Inothercases,
however,thereisgenuineremembrance,whichmayappearineitherwakingordream
states.
132
Thesaintsweremartyrs.TheyacceptedalltheirsufferingascomingfromGodandeven
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
12/25
14/5/2015
embracedit.ThePhilosophicwayistorealizethatitisoftenkarma,selfearnedand
broughtupononeselfhenceoneshouldanalyseitandtrytounderstandwhyithascome
sothatthelessonwon'thavetoberepeated.
TheChristian,Muhammedan,andJewishreligionsmustacceptthedoctrinesof
reincarnationandkarmaiftheywanttoestablishareasonableplaceforsufferinginthe
schemeofthings.
133
Therearepeoplewhom,atasingleglanceandinasinglesecond,onefeelsonehas
knownwellbefore.Withthemonemaydroptheconventionalpreliminaries,thetedious
circumlocutoryplayofmorewordsandfurthermeetingasbeingunnecessary.
134
Whateverhelearnedinthepastyearsandbirthswasastepnotalwaysaforwardoneto
beregardedasasourceoffurtherinstruction,experience,understanding,andpractice.
135
Whenthebalanceisstruckattheendofeachreembodiment,whateverhehasachieved
fallstothecreditofhisadvancement:itsvaluewillshowitselfinhisnextbirths.Butitis
uptohimtoearnit,justasheisfreetoalimitedextenttodiminishwhathehadalready.
TheEgyptianBookoftheDeadreferstoa"DayofJudgement."Thisisit.
136
SinceitisnotfromtheanimalbutfromthehumanstatethattheEssenceofBeingcanbe
realized(becausetheanimaldoesnotpossessthenecessaryfaculties),theprocessesof
rebirthmustfillthegapbetweenlowestanimaltohighesthuman.
137
Whentheenergieshaverunout,andtheadvanceofyearsmustbemeasuredsadlywhen
amanknowsatlastwhatheoughttohavedone,itistoolate.Thisiswhyanotherchance,
anotherbirthonearthisneeded.
138
Somethingdoesgetdistilledfromtheserepeatedexistences,howeverslowly.Thatmen
learnlittleornothingfromhistoryseemstruetomanymoralisticcriticstheyhaveagood
case,butitstruthisonlyonthesurfaceofthings.
139
Onlywhenthedesireforperpetuationofpersonalexistencefinallyleaveshimisaman
reallynearthepointwhereevenalittleeffortproduceslargeresultsonthisquest.But
gettingtiredofthewheelofrebirth'sturningsdoesnotcomeeasily.
140
Whyshouldthatwhichisperfectneedtobebornagainandagain?Thetenetof
reincarnationistrueonlyfromthepointofviewoftheegoanditssenses.Itisnottrue
fromtheultimatepointofview.Itexplainsalltheinequitiesandsomeofthesufferingsof
lifewithintheworlddream,butitismeaninglesswhenweawaketotherealworld.
141
Butwhocancountthenumberoftimesalivingbeingmustincarnateintheplantworld
beforeitisreadytoentertheanimalkingdom?Nearlyahalfoftheaveragelifeisspentin
recapitulatingthepreviousincarnationaldevelopmentsothattheworkofanew
incarnationdoesnotreallybeginuntilthen.
142
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
13/25
14/5/2015
Itwouldseemthattheexperienceofawholelifetimeiswastedwhenpeopleexistinsuch
spiritualtorpor,merelykeepingtheiranimalbodiesalive.Butofcourseitisnotreallyso
forhoweverslightandoutwardlyunrecognizableinwardgrowthmaybe,itmustbethere,
orNature'sprocessofreincarnationwouldbemeaninglessanduselessmechanical
repetition.
143
Ifanewbirthisanewopportunitytogainspiritualexperience,itisalsoanew
opportunitytocommiterrorsandacquirevices.
144
Lookingatthemonstrouswickednessandfollyintheworldtoday,itwouldseemastupid
andhopelessefforttobelievethathumancharacterwillbecomeanybetterthanitwas
andstillis.Butthefactofreincarnation,withitstremendouspossibilities,restoresthis
hope.
145
Wechangealittleinappearancewitheachincarnationwehaveto.Butsometimeswe
changealtogether.
146
Weareincarnatedtobeeducated.Experienceprovidesthelessons,andnecessitygives
thedisciplines.
147
Hisreappearanceonearthwouldbejustifiedbytworesultsalonethatitgivesamana
chancetostartlifeanewandtomendcharacter.
148
Itwouldbeabsurdtoregardeveryfreshrebirthasafreshadvanceinwisdomandvirtue.
Thehumanentityisnotamechanicalentity.Therearelapses,regressions,failures,and
stagnationsinitslongjourney.
149
Justastheimpetusofonewavecausesanothertocomeintobeing,sotheimpetusofone
humanreincarnationcausesanothertofollowitinsuccession.Andjustasthesecond
wavemaybesimilartobutnotidenticalwiththefirstone,sothelateregomaybesimilar
to,butisnotidenticalwith,theearlierone.
150
Allthereincarnationswhicharenecessarytotheunfoldmentofhischaracterand
capacitiesmustbelivedthrough.
151
Theprospectofanendlessexistence,howevercyclicalandintermittentitmaybe,
keepingonandonandonisnotattractivetoeveryoneandcertainlynottothosewho
haveweighedwellthemeasuresofjoyandsufferinginearthlylife.Alldesiresare
meltingdownintoasingledesirefornonexistence,buttheyhavedonesoonlypartially.
152
Livingentitiescomeherefromlessevolvedplanetsjustaswegoontohigherones.But,
inbothcases,thismustbeaccomplishedwithincertainlimitedperiods.Afterthatthe
possibilityofentryceases.
153
Thenotionthatwehumansreturntoearthforarenewedlifethrillssomepersonswith
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
14/25
14/5/2015
pleasurebutotherswithdismay.Thisreactiondependsonthepersonalhistory,andonthe
physicalmentalcondition.
154
ItishardtounderstandwhyAdamandEveneededangelswithflamingswordstodrive
themoutoftheGardenofEden.Surelytheboredomofsuchaplacewasenough
inducementforthemtoleavevoluntarily,eveneagerly?Menpassthroughheavenduring
theperiodbetweenearthlyembodiments,yettheydonotremaintherebutmustreturnto
"thisvaleofmisery."Why?Dotheycometoatimewhenunalloyedhappiness,withouta
flawandwithoutanopposition,canbesustainednolongerandachangefromthisEden
likestate,anychange,seemsmorepreferable?
155
Therewouldbelittleadvantageingatheringmoreexperienceonlytorepeatevery
mistakeeverytime.Althoughthisseemstohappenquiteoften,itcannotbeapermanent
pattern.
156
Whydowehavetolearnthesesimplebasictruthsthroughsomanyreincarnationsandat
sohighacost?Thisisacomplaintsomepeoplemake.
157
Inanotherbody,borninanotherland,life`spersistencebringsushereagain.Theold
gameintermittentlyrecurs,bringingitsjoysandgriefs.
158
Thedevelopmentofthesefaculties,theunfoldmentofthesecapacities,andtheexpansion
ofthisconsciousnessarealsoincipientlypresentevenintheanimalreincarnationofthe
entity.
Beliefsaboutreincarnation
159
Reincarnationaccountsforthepredisposingfactors,thespecificurges,theparticular
additions,andthenaturalqualitiesofeachego.
160
Whenhelooksbackuponthelongseriesofearthliveswhichbelongstohispast,heis
struckafreshbythesupremewisdomofNatureandbythesupremenecessityofthis
principleofrecurringembodiment.Iftherehadbeenonlyonesinglecontinuousearth
life,hisprogresswouldhavebeenbroughttoanend,hewouldhavebeenclutteredupby
hisownpast,andhecouldnothaveadvancedinnewdirections.Thispastwouldhave
surroundedhimlikeacircularwall.Howunerringthewisdomandhowinfinitethemercy
which,bybreakingthiscircleofnecessity,giveshimthechanceofafreshstartagainand
again,setshimfreetomakenewbeginnings!Withoutthesebreaksinhislifesequences,
withouttheadvantagesoffreshsurroundings,differentcircumstances,andnewcontacts,
hecouldnothaveliftedhimselftoeverhigherlevels,butwouldonlyhavestagnatedor
fallentolowerones.
161
Thelawwhichpushesusinto,oroutof,physicalbodiesisacosmiclaw.Thereisno
blindchanceaboutit.
162
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
15/25
14/5/2015
(a)NotuntilthefourthcenturywhenoneChristianpartybecamesuccessfulenoughtobe
armedwithworldlypowerdidthepersecutionofGnosticsbegin.
(b)Intheattempttoeliminateunpalatabletenets,nolessthansevenCouncilswereheld
inthoseearlycenturies.Heresuchtenetswerebrandedasheresiesandarrangements
madetoexterminatethemthoroughly.EspeciallyattheCouncilofNicea(325a.d.)and
thegreatCouncilofConstantinople(381a.d.),rebirthwaspronouncedaheresy,allthe
booksteachingitwereferretedoutanddestroyed,anditsadvocatesthreatenedwith
severepunishment.
(c)YetnotonlyhadseveralChristiansectsbelievedinreincarnationbutsomeofthe
earlyChristianFathers,too.TheFatherswhoheldmetempsychosistobetrueincluded
Origen,whoflourishedabout230a.d.,JustinMartyr,140a.d.,ClementofAlexandria,
194a.d.,TertullianofCarthage,202a.d.ThesectswhohelditincludedBasilidians,the
secondcenturyMarcionitesofPontus,theValentiniensofEgypt,alsosecondcentury,
andtheSimonians.Moreover,allGnosticsectshelditandtheywereoncemore
numerousthananyothergroupofChristians.Thisisimportant,thatmostoftheearly
Christiansbelievedinthisdoctrine.
(d)TheManichaeansalsotaughtrebirthand,togetherwiththeGnosticsandSamaneans,
formedaconsiderablepartoftheearlyChristianworld.
(e)Wheretheliteraturewasnotdestroyeditwassoadulteratedorinterpolatedastomake
itappeareitherquiteridiculousorutterlyerroneous.Thehistoriansamongthelater
FathersevenaccusedtheGnosticsofeatingchildren!
(f)TheearlyGnosticscameclosertothetruth,butthelatercultswhichsprangupamong
themdepartedfromitbyintermixingitwithnonsenseandcorruptingitwithfalsehoods.
(g)Philo,himselfaJew,explicitlystatesthattheEssenesgottheirknowledgefrom
IndianBrahmins.EveryoneknowsthatrebirthwasanessentialfeatureoftheBrahmins'
faith,soitisfairtoassumethatitwastakenupbytheEssenes,too.
163
Wearegivenonelife,oneday,onepresenttime,oneconsciousspacetimelevelto
concentrateonsothatNature'sbusinessinusshallnotbeinterferedwith.Yetotherlives,
otherdays,othertimes,otherlevelsofconsciousnessalreadyexistjustasmuchatthis
verymoment,eventhoughwedonotapprehendthem,andawaitourmeetingand
experiencebyafatednecessity.
164
IwasnotsurprisedwhenJungtoldmethathecouldnotaccepttheideaofreincarnation
butcouldaccepttheideaofkarma.
165
Werepeattheseappearancesonearthinaconstantprocessandalongcycleoftime.But
contrastitwiththebeginninglessnessandendlessnessoflifeitself.Whatisthisbuta
fractionofafractionofamoment?
166
Cantheinvisibleinnerbeingmigrateatdeath,afterasuitableinterval,fromonebodyto
another?
167
ReincarnationisnowoneofthemostromanticandabusedoftheOrient'scommonplace
ideas.ItislikeaservantstruttingintheelegantclothesofaCountess.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
16/25
14/5/2015
168
Ifwebelievethatourpersonallifehasnomoresignificancethanarippleonthesurface
oftheocean,itiseitherbecauseweareblindedbymaterialismorbecauseweareblindto
theultimatesecretsofhumanpersonality.
169
Thebeliefinreincarnationisnotsofoolishasitseemstosomepeople:thereis
reasonablefoundationforit.
170
Todescendintothebody,toreincarnateinthefleshisitselfakindofcrucifixion.Note
thattheheadandtrunkarerightangledbytherightandleftarmsformingacross.Thisis
symbolicpartlyofthelossofhigherconsciousnesswhichthisdescententailsandpartly
ofthepainsandmiserieswhichappearintermittentlyduringembodiment.
171
FrommyunderstandingoftheteachingsoftheBuddha,themanwhohasannihilatedthe
illusionofapersonalselfandwhohasbroughthismindundercompletecontrolwillnot
berebornagainsthiswill,eventhoughheshouldindulgeinsuchnonBuddhistic
practicesaswearingleathershoesandeatingcheese.
172
WhenamanhasestablishedhimselfintheUniversalself,intheawarenessofitsoneness,
theseriesofearthlyreincarnationsofhispersonalselfcomestoanend.Forhimself,they
wouldservenofurtherpurpose.
173
Bringingrebirthtoanendhastwoesotericmeanings:(a)TheArhatisfreefrom
ignorance.(b)Eventhoughheisrebornphysicallyinordertohelpothers,still,ashe
enjoystheawarenessofAtman,whichheknowstobedeathlessandunborn,hedoesnot
lookathimselfasbeingreborn.
174
Itiswelltorealizethatbeliefinreincarnation,orrebirth,isnotthesoledetermining
considerationofouractivities,asitisamongmanyinstitutionalizedapproachestoTruth
intheOrient.
175
TheChristianChurchwantedtoemphasizeitsdoctrinethatthenewlydisincarnatedsoul
wentstraighttoheavenorhell.Thisisonereasonwhythebeliefinrebirthwaslater
stampedwiththemarkofheresy.Anotheristhatitcontradictedtheteachingofthe
resurrectionofthebody.
176
IoftenwonderedinthepastwhyitisthatthelandofBritainwhich,nearlytwothousand
yearsearlier,acceptedandvaluedthedoctrineofreincarnationandthereforelookedon
deathasanintervalbetweentwoearthlives,shouldhavesofarforgottenitsformer
allegianceastodwellintheduskbetweenthenarrowlimitationsofsingleembodiment
beliefandthehopelessoutlookofagnosticismoratheism.Itispleasanttowelcomethe
contemporaryrevivalofinterest,inmanycases,andacceptanceinothers,whererebirthis
discussed.
177
SomewhereinShakespearethereisthatphraseaboutourhuman"exitsandentrances"
which,withitsreversalofthenaturalorderofbirthanddeath,Itaketomeanour
reincarnation.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
17/25
14/5/2015
178
In1938SomersetMaughamwrote,inTheSummingUp,afairreferencetothetheoryof
reincarnationbutendeditbysayinghefounditincredible.In1944hereferredagainto
thesametheoryandfoundit"theonlyplausibleexplanationfortheexistenceofevil,"
althoughbeyondhumanverification.
179
Ifallthoseprominentpersonswhoholdthisbeliefinrebirthweretocomeforwardand
boldlyproclaimit,andifallthoseProtestantministersofreligionandCatholicpriestsor
bishopswhoholditsecretlyweretoconfess,theworldwouldbeastonished.
180
Wegliblyusethetermreincarnationwhen,undercertainconditions,theterm
metamorphosisismorepertinent.
181
Ifasharpintellectshutsthedooronallauthoritiesexceptone,ithasonlyitsown
foolishnesstothankwhenitshutstruthoutwithitsaction.Sokeen,witty,andlogicala
mindasSaintAugustine'sbrusquelyrejectedthedoctrineofthehumanentity's
successivereincarnationsonearth.Yet,inthesamebook,TheCityofGod,he
unhesitatinglyacceptsthecomputationthattheageofthehumanraceislessthansix
thousandyears.Hebaseshisreckoningonnothingmorethanthepettytribalhistories
containedintheOldTestament.Herejects,too,thegrandconceptionofthepagan
thinkerswhoprecededhim,thattheworldhaspassedthroughcountlesscyclesand
consistsofaninfinitenumberofworlds.
182
Thedoctrineoftransmigrationofsoulsintoanimalformswasgivenoutfor,andledto
thesameeffectsas,thedoctrineofafterdeathpunishmentinhell.TimaeusLocrius,the
teacherofPlato,saidasmuchandobservedthat"ifthemindwillnotbeledbytrue
reasoning,werestrainitbyfalse."TheBuddhistandChristianpictureofthesoulsof
murderersbeingburntinthefiresoftheunderworldservesthesamewarningand
disciplinarypurposeastheHindupictureofthosesoulsincarnatingintothebodiesof
wildbeasts.Transmigrationofthiskindisnottobetakenliterally.Brahminpriestswho
teachitpubliclydonot,iftheyarealsoinitiatesinphilosophy,believeitprivately.Itis
theexception,nottherule,andopposedtotheevolutionarycourseofNature.
183
Anotherresultofafullcomprehensionofmentalismisthatitmakespossibleachangeof
attitudetowardsthedoctrineofreincarnation.Thosewhorejectthisdoctrinebecausethey
arenotinterestedinanypastorfuturepersonwhoisnotcompletelyidenticalwiththeir
presentperson,donotperceivethatthislackofinterestarisesoutoftheirtotalself
identificationwiththephysicalbody.Theyregardittobethereal"I."Butthisisutter
materialism.Fortheydonotseethatthemental"I"ismorereallytheirselfthanthe
fleshlyone.Mentalismcanhelpgreatlytorectifytheirerror.
184
Ifthedoctrinedidnothingmoreinitspracticaleffectsthaninspireitsbelieverswitha
senseoflife'scontinuityandimpressthemwithawarningofpersonalresponsibilityfor
theirfortunes,itwouldhavedoneenough.
185
Wemaybesurprisedthatsomanyintelligentpeoplerefusetobelieveinreincarnation
andkarma,eventhoughtheycannotexplainGod'sjusticewithoutthem.Thetruthisthat
theyaredefectiveinintuitionanddependentonintellectandemotion.Butemotionand
intellectalonearetoolimitedasinstrumentsforfindingtruth.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
18/25
14/5/2015
186
Whateverweconstantlyconcentrateonprovidesoneofthefactorsinreincarnation.Ifwe
lovearaceoranindividualstronglyenough,weshallsoonerorlaternecessarilybe
drawnintotheirorbitwhenreincarnating.Itisequallytrue,however,thatifwehatea
raceoranindividualstronglyenoughweshallhavethesameexperience.Bothloveand
hateareformsofconcentratedthought.Thenatureofconcentration,whetheritbethatof
likeordislike,attractionorrepulsion,doesnotalteritsstrength.
187
Thetransmigrationofsoulsfromhumantoanimalbodiesisafiction.Theindividual
consciousnesswhichhasoneormorespecificallyhumanattributes,cannotbebrought
naturallyintothebrainandnervoussystemofanycreaturewhichhasonlyanimal
attributes.Thatmillionsofpeoplestillbelieveinitspossibilitymerelyshowshow
widespreadissuperstition.
188
ThepopularHindutheoryofthetransmigrationofsoulsisnotquitethesameasthe
philosophictheoryoftheevolutionofsouls.Accordingtothefirst,amanmayonceagain
becomeananimaloratreeaccordingtothesecond,thisisnotpartoftheordinary
processesofNature.Manysuperstitions,however,hidesometruthamongtheirnonsense,
andthisisoneofthem.JustaseverybiologistknowsthatNaturesometimesproduces
freaks,andeveryphysicianknowsthatmonstrositiesaresometimesbornintothehuman
race,sotherearecaseswhereaderangedmindfranticallythirstingforaphysicalbody
afterthelossofitspresentonemaysucceedindrivingouttheinnerbeingofananimal
formandtakingpossessionofit.Ifthismindisalsoveryevilaswellasderanged,itwill
utilizethatformtoterrorizeahumancommunity.Butsuchhappeningsarebreakaways
fromtheordinaryprocessesofNatureand,therefore,uncommon.Thepenaltyforsuch
unnaturaltransmigrationisinsanity,whichisthepricewhichwillhavetobepaidinthe
nexthumanbirth.Theegowillthenbetiedtoabodywhichitwillbeunabletouse,yet
unabletoescapefrom.
189
Whatevertheworldlyandphysicalexperiencesofamanmaybe,howevermaterialistic
hismentalattitudeandpersonalfeelingsmaybecome,hisessencebeingremains
untouchedandunpolluted.Buthislinkwithitisanothermatter.Ifhefallstoolowthis
linkmaybesothinnedthatheisthrownbackintoananimalbodyinhisnextbirth,to
makeanotherattemptatnormalprogressionintothehumancondition.
190
Itissomethingrare,abnormal,andexceptional,butnotimpossible,forahumanbeingto
beputbackinananimalbody.Thenitbecomesanimprisonmentforonelifetime,andas
suchapunishment.
191
HadthetenetofrebirthnotbeenrejectedfromofficialChristiandoctrinebutincorporated
intoit,EuropeanandAmericanhistorywouldhavemovedtoaslowertempoand
Westernmaterialachievementwouldhavereachedalowerheight.
192
SeveraloftheearlyChurchFatherstaughtthedoctrineofreincarnation.Origenevencalls
ita"generalopinion."JustinMartyrdeclaresthatthesoulinhabitsahumanbodymore
thanonce,andClementofAlexandriaassertsitwassanctionedbyPaulinRomans5:12,
14,and19.Despitethis,theCouncilofNiceapronounceditaheresyin325a.d.,the
CouncilofChalcedoncondemneditinthesamecentury,andfinallyinthereignof
JustinianattheCouncilofConstantinoplein551553a.d.,itwasagainrepudiatedandits
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
19/25
14/5/2015
supportersanathematized.TherewasnoroomforitalongwiththerestofCatholic
theologyandespeciallywiththeteachingsonredemptionandpurgatory.Thereisno
roomforboththedoctrineofreincarnationandthedoctrineofeverlastingtormentin
purgatoryoneortheothermustgo.Sothefirstwasbrandedaheresyanditsbelievers
wereexcommunicatedorpersecuted.Thesecondreasonforopposingitwasthat,the
doctrineofAtonementwasbroughtinlittlebylittleuntilitdisplacedthedoctrineof
metempsychosis,asitwasintendedtodo.Thesetwoalsocouldnotexistsidebyside,for
onecontradictedthetruthoftheother.Thethirdreasonwasthatinthecontentionsfor
supremacyamongthevariousChristiansects,thosewhichlateraroseinGreekand
RomanpeoplestriumphedoverthosewhichexistedearlieramongOrientaloneswho
believedinreincarnation,asmostOrientalsdoeventoday.
193
ThecommoninterpretationoftheBiblicalsentence,"Dustthouart,andtodustthoushalt
return,"wasinterpretedbytheJewishmedievalKabbalistsandbyinitiatedRabbisof
antiquityasreferringtoreincarnation.
194
Greekswhobelievedstronglyintheideaofrebirthwerenotonlytheinitiatesofthe
OrphicMysteries,butalsoamongthemostcelebratedthinkers,especiallyPlato.
195
SomeupperrankmembersoftheCatholichierarchywhoprivatelybelievedbutpublicly
rejectedthetenetofreincarnationgaveme,astheprincipalobjectionamongafewothers,
thatitallowedtoolongatimeforpeopleeithertoworkforsalvationorreceive
punishmentforsins.
196
Thereissomethingawesomeinthethoughtthatbirthanddeathwithinthehumanspecies
havebeengoingonformillionsandmillionsofyears.Todayweseetheoutcomeofall
thisvastlineofexperience.
197
Buddhatriedtogethisfollowerstoabandonthewilltolive,buthedidnottrytogetthem
tocommitsuicideofthephysicalbodyrathertokilloutthecravingsanddesireswhich
tiedthemtoreincarnationandledtotheirreturntothatbody.
198
Ifdeathissomuchafeatureofthedivinearrangementsintheuniverse,wemustaccept
thatthedivinewisdomisnotfaultedhereandthat,likethephoenix,outofthedeathof
everycreatureshallariseanewone,anewform,apparentlyanewlife.
199
Tocarrytheburdensofexistenceinonebodyafteranotherthroughalongseriesmay
seemanunpleasantprospecttosomeminds,asitdidtoGautamainIndiaand
SchopenhauerinGermany.
200
Certainreligiousbeliefshavecomequiteclosetotheideaofrebirthbutatthecrucial
pointhavegoneoffatawidetangentandmissedthetruthaltogether.Onebeliefleadsto
theexpectationofaphysicalresurrectionofthedeadtheothertothepracticeofa
physicalpreservationofthedead,asinmummification.
201
Toassertthattimedoesnotreturnonitself,thathistorydoesnotrepeatitsstory,isto
showanignoranceofthefactofhumanreembodiments.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
20/25
14/5/2015
202
Itisnotoftenworthallthetroublesandpainsofbeingbornandenduringallits
consequences,evenallowingforthepleasantinterludes.Buddhawouldcertainlynot
agreewithanyoptimistaboutthismatter.
203
InthelengthywritingsofthefathersoftheearlyChristianChurch,wecanfindapproval
ofbeliefinthedoctrineofreincarnationexpressedbySaintMethodius,Origen,Synesius,
andPamphilius.
204
Eachcomestothefrontofthestage,playsouthisallottedrole,andmovesaway.
Shakespeare'spicturesquestatementofthehumanpredicamentcomestolargermeaning
wheninterpretedintermsofrebirthinseries.Allmankindbecomeacompanyofactors,
appearinginplayafterplay,eachstorydifferent,eachpartactedinanewbody.
205
TheperiodicreturntoearthlifewasabeliefsharedbypoetslikeGoethe,Shelley,and
Browning,bythinkerslikePlato,Schopenhauer,andSwedenborg.
206
Hasthecelebratedthinker,theVeryRev.Dr.W.R.Inge,becomeanadherentofthe
Hindudoctrineofthereincarnation?Thisisthequestionaskedfollowinghisconfession
inaLondonnewspaperarticleinMarch,1944,thathebelievesthereisan"elementof
truth"inthistheoryofpersonalitycommontotheIndianmassesandmysticsofall
countries.
DeclaringthattheerrorofWesterncivilizationincrisisliesinawrongideaofthehuman
personality,hesaysthatthetruthisexpressedinthe"mostfamousIndianpoem"which
says,"Neverthespiritwasbornthespiritshallneverceasetobebirthlessand
changelessanddeathless,thespiritabidethforeverdeathcannottouchitatall,death
thoughthehouseofitseems."
Thismeans,hesays,thatimmortalityisnotastringwithonlyoneend,whichisdifficult
tobelieve.Withinthetimeseries,thatwhichhasnoendcanhavehadnobeginning."The
IndiansandGreeks,bothconvincedofsurvivalandpreexistence,standorfalltogether."
Dr.Ingeconsiderstheabsenceofmemorynofatalobjectionfortheremaybe
unconsciousmemory."Whotaughtthechickentogetoutofitsegg?Icannottell,but
thereisnomysteryaboutallthis.
DefendinghimselfagainstthecriticismthatadignitaryoftheAnglicanChurchhasno
businesstodabbleinsuch"heathenbeliefs,"Dr.Ingedeclaresthatrebirthisnotaliento
Christianthoughtandassertsthatitisimpliedinmanytexts."
ComingfromoneoftheintellectualleadersoftheEnglishChurchandaformerDeanof
SaintPaul'sCathedral,theforegoingadmissionisofoutstandinghistoricalimportance.
ThedoctrinemustnowbeconsideredworthseriousdiscussionbyallWesterneducated
personsandnolongerlefttoafewqueerdreamersassomethingbizarreandexotic.Its
increasingacceptancewillalsobeatriumphovermaterialism.Rebirthidentifiesaman
morewithhismindthanwithhisbody.Itthusaccordsperfectlywithmentalism.
207
GurdjieffandhisonetimediscipleOuspenskyrevivedthedoctrineofEternalRecurrence
andputitforwardasabetteralternativetothedoctrineofReincarnation.Ifweexamine
thehistoricTibetanBuddhistsymbolcalled"TheWheelofLife,"weseepicturesof
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
21/25
14/5/2015
humanbeingsbeingmovedthroughcontrastingphasesofexperienceasthewheelturns
round.Butafteritcomesfullcircletheyaresubjectedtoexactlythesameconditions,the
samephasesasbefore.ItispertinenttorememberthatGurdjiefflearntaboutEternal
RecurrenceinaBuddhistmonasteryinCentralAsia,wherethesameversionof
BuddhismprevailsasinTibet.Itisalsopertinenttorememberthemonotonous
movementoflifeforthesomewhatprimitiveinhabitantsofthatwildregionforcenturies
untilverylately.Thepatternoftheirexistencerecurredagainandagaininthesameway.
Whatmorefittingintheirbeliefsthanthattheirrebirthswouldbesimilartoo?
208
Bydifferentturnsinthecourseofhismentalexistencehetakesdifferentbodies.
WidespreadinAsiafromtheearliesttimes,acceptedbymanyofthethinkersinancient
GreeceandRome,bytheDruidpriestsofBritainandtheDacianpriestsoftheBalkans,
thetheoryofreincarnationhasbeenbothknownandfavoured.
209
IntheBuddhistsymbolismthewheelofliferollson,draggingmanwitheachcomplete
turnthroughanotherreincarnation.Againandagainhegoesthroughthesame
experiencesuntilhegetswornoutandtiresofthemandseeksreleasefrombeingtiedto
thewheel,thereleasewhichiscalledNirvana.
ReincarnationandtheOverself
210
Wehavetobecomeinactualitywhatweareinpotentialityallourrebirthsareengagedin
thisprocess.
211
Whetherweconfrontthemysterycalleddeathortheequalmysterycalledlife,the
revelationmustcomeinoneortheotherstate:thereisaconnectionwithHEWHOIS.
ForthisarewebornandouroscillationbetweenthetwohappensattheMindofthe
World'sbehest.As,sosleepilyandunwittingly,weshapeandlightupthesefragmentsof
beingthatweare,quitesimplytheconnectiongetsuncoveredmoreandmore.
212
UntilhefindshisOverself,nomancanescapethiscomingbacktotheearthlylife.And
thisremainstruewhetherhelovestheworldorisdisgustedbyit.
213
Thelotusflowerofthesoulunfoldsbutslowlythroughmanybirths,yetitiscertainand
sure.Thisisindeedbetterthanthemerestuffingofthebrainwithlearnedlumberthathas
tobeabandonedwitheachdeath.
214
Wecomebacktothisearthofoursandnottosomeotherearthbecauseitisherethatwe
sowtheseedsofthought,offeeling,andofaction,andthereforeitisherethatwemust
reaptheirharvest.Natureisorderlyandjust,consistentandcontinuous.
215
Patience,littlemen,thereisnopossibilityofyourmissingsalvation.Whatifyouhaveto
waitthroughanumberofreincarnations!Youcannotlosethiswidestretchedgame,
playedallovertheplanet,foryoucannotloseyourinnermostbeing.TheCovenantwith
yourCreatorhasbeenmadeandmustbefulfilledintheend,howeverdubiousthe
prospectseemstoday.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
22/25
14/5/2015
216
Weneedmorelifetimesandplentyofthemevenhalfahundredwouldnotbeenoughto
dotheworkuponselfwhichhasbeenassignedusasourhighestduty.Thisiswhy
reincarnationisafact,andnotafable.
217
Hopecomestohimfromthisbenevolentsource,evildepartsfromhimashedrawson
thesehigherenergiesfordefense,andetherealpurposesurroundshisentirelifelikean
aura.Heknowsthathishistorydidnotbegininthecountrywherehewasborn.He
knowsthatitwillnotendinthebodyinwhichhedies.
218
Thepassagefromquesttoconquestwouldbeimpossibleformosthumansiftheyhad
onlyonelifetolive,onebodyforthestartandthefinish.
219
TherecanbenoSecondComingofChristtheConsciousnessforitneverwentaway.
TherecanbeareturnofJesusthemanembodyingandreflectingthatConsciousnessfor
thepersonmaybebornandrebornasGodwills.
220
TheLongPathideaofreincarnationisillusory.TheShortPathideaofitisthatitisan
undulatorywave,aripple,amovementupwardonwardanddownward.Sincethereisno
egoinreality,therecanbenorebirthofit.Butwedohavetheappearanceofarebirth.
Notethatthisappliestoboththemindandbodypartofego:theyarelikeabubble
floatingonastreamandthenvanishingorlikeaknotwhichisuntiedandthenvanishes
too.Wehavetoacceptthepresenceofthispseudoentity,theegothismentalthingborn
ofmanymanyearthlivessolongaswehavetodwellinthatothermentalthing,the
body.Butwedonothavetoacceptitsdominancewedonothavetoperpetuateitsrule,
forallisintheMind.Wherethenarethereincarnatoryexperiences?Appearanceswhich
werelikecinemashows.Theyhappenedinatimeandspacewhichwereinthemind.The
individualwhoemergedlosttheindividualityandmergedinthetimelessnessofeternity.
ThisistheunchangingindestructibleConsciousness,theOverself.
221
Areallthevariedjoysandsufferingsundergoneonlytocometoacompleteendindeath?
Isallthevastintelligenceofthisuniversewhichgavebirthtoourownminutefragment
tobeforeverseparatedfromus?No!Weshallliveagain,dieagain,andreturnagain
unlessanduntilwehavefulfilledthedivinepurposewhichbroughtushere.
222
Ifithadbeenpossibletoattainsalvationinthenonphysicalworlds,wewouldnothave
beenborninthisone.Weareherebecausenowhereelsecouldwe,inourpresentstateof
progress,findtherightenvironmenttoripenthosequalitieswhichwillleadusfurther
towardthisultimategoal.
223
Theeventualtrendofevolutionisthroughandawayfrompersonality,aswenowknow
it.Weshallfindourselvesafreshinahigherindividuality,thesoul.Toachievethis,the
lowercharacteristicshaveslowlytobeshed.Inthissense,wedodietotheearthlyself
andarebornagaininthehigherself.Thatistheonlyrealdeathawaitingus.
224
Thepossessionofmoralvalues,metaphysicalcapacities,andspirituallyintuitivequalities
whichdistinguishmoreevolvedfromlessevolvedmentakestimetoacquiresomuch
timethatreincarnationmustbeacontinuousprocess.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
23/25
14/5/2015
225
Ifitweretruethatabadmanmustalwaysremainbad,wherewouldthehopebefor
mankind?ButintheperfectwisdomoftheInfiniteMind,humanlivesaresoarranged
thatthebadmanwillgoongarneringtheuntowardresultsofhisdeedsuntilhismind,
firstsubconsciouslybutlaterconsciously,perceivesthelogicalandcausalconnection
betweenhisactandhissufferingandbeginstheattempttocontrolhiseviltendencies.
Boththiseducationandthiseffortwillcontinuethroughmanybirthsforasingleone
wouldbetooshortintime,toopoorinopportunity,forsuchatotalreformationtobe
achieved.
226
Eventhosewhoarewellintentionedandspirituallymindedmakemanymistakesinlife
simplybecausetheycannotseetheunfortunateresultstowhichtheirwrongdecisionsand
actionsmustnecessarilylead.Onlyexperiencecanleadtotheircorrectionandonly
reincarnationcangiveenoughexperience.
227
Whatishappeningtohischaracteristics,whatheislearningfromexperienceliesinmore
orlessdegreebelowthethresholdofconsciousness.Onlytime,withitsrepetitions,and
thought,withitsconclusions,willshiftthelessonorabilityintovisiblemanifestation
abovethethreshold.
228
Lifeinthefleshisagiftifweareusingitrightlybutitbecomesacurseifwearenot.
Everyincarnationshouldbeusedtohelponegetsomewhatfartherindoingthisjobof
achievinganOverselfinspiredexistence.
229
Thedifferencebetweensavageandsagemaybeonlytwolettersinspelledwordsbutit
maybetwothousandincarnationsinhistoricmeaning.
230
Whatevermistakestheaspiranthascommittedinthepastandwhateverresultsfromthem
heissufferinginthepresent,heshouldlooktothefuturewithsomehopeandneverletit
deserthim,forevenifthathopecannotberealizedinthepresentincarnationitmaybein
thenext.Timeispassing,wecomeandwego,andintheendtimeisillusory,butwe
remain:thebestinusremains,therestwillgo.
231
Thechangesofpersonalidentityundertheprocessofreincarnationaloneshowthatthe
littleego'simmortalityisareligiousillusion.Onlybyfindingitshigherindividualityis
thereanychanceofpreservinganyidentityatall,beforeNaturereabsorbswhatithas
spawned.
232
Plant,animal,andhumanbodiespassthroughthiscycleofgrowth,maturity,decayand
death.Allthismeansbeingexposedtodifferentforces,differentexperiences,resultingin
thedevelopmentofconsciousness.
233
TobecomeManasevolutionintendshimtobe,hemustdrawoutallhislatentresources,
filloutawideexperience.Thisiswhysomanyreincarnationsonearthareneeded.Until
then,hisrealizationasManwillbeanincompleteone.
234
Inthestrictestmeaningoftheterm,nomancangiveuphimself,fornomancangiveup
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
24/25
14/5/2015
hisinnermostbeing.Butwhatisreallymeantbythetermandwhateverymancouldgive
upisthefalsesenseofselfwhichmakeshimthinkthatheisonlytheegooronlythe
body.
235
There,inthisnecessityofdeveloping,balancing,andcoordinatingallthepartsofone's
being,isafurtherargumentforthenecessityofreincarnation.Asinglelifetimeistoo
shortaperiodinwhichtofulfilsuchatask.
236
Theripewisdomofasagecouldnotpossiblybethefruitofasinglelifetime,butonlyof
manylifetimes.
237
Theexperiencesoflifewillintheendovercometheseinnerresistances.Thesilent
instructionmultipliedduringthereembodimentswilldefeatthepsychologicaldefense
mechanismssetupagainstunpalatabletruthsornewideas.Itistherepetitionand
deepeningofalltheselessonsthroughtheaccumulatingrebirthsthatenableswisdomto
penetrateconsciousnesscompletelyandeffectively.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.
http://paulbrunton.org/notebooks/9/2
25/25