• Thank you to Carol and Steve Bowman, the forum owners, for our new upgrade!

Reincarnation - and Compassion

deborah

deborah

Director Emerita
Staff member
Super Moderator
I have been pondering on a few thoughts regarding reincarnation - it' s purpose -- the outcome and where we are headed. More precisely -- where am I headed. I have read volumes and volumes of books -- and had many many experiences that have convinced me of the truth of reincarnation. I have searched and researched science, ancient religious texts and read many many personal experiences in this forum, in e-mails and in books. There is one thing - that stands out to me -more than anything else recently - so I thought I would share my thoughts.

COMPASSION

From a scientists perspective - Fred Alan Wolf states;

The pattern of the self, whether in the form of a garbled message originally from the soul or in a rational vibrational pattern, suddenly expands and there is, associated with the expansion, a feeling of release or letting go. At such a moment the self feels released from tension. It's a bright new day, suddenly you feel good again. This could represent freeing the soul from physical bounds at the moment of death. When the self talks to the soul, the box expands. In such a moment the self feels release from tension and selfless communion with God and all sentient life forms in the universe. Buddhists call this nirvana. Christians call it faith or consciousness of God. I call it realized compassion.
Click to expand...

Of course there is a whole book leading up to this point The Spiritual Universe -One Physicist's vision of spirit, soul, matter, and self- all of which I cannot post here.

My second post will reflect ancient spiritual texts - which I hope will bring the premise round full circle. I hope to hear others opinions as well as your research and experiences after my second post..
 
continued

Fred Alan Wolf Ph.D. spoke of realized Compassion

Gregg Braden in his book Walking Between The Worlds -The Science of Compassion speaks of Compassion's Gift. He suggests that there is an inner knowing that was stated clearly through the language of ancient texts over two thousand years ago. Even - before. This knowing is a reminder that we are a living expression of a highly sophisticated union, a sacred marraige between the elements of earth and a non-physical force -some call SPIRIT.

One of his references is as follows;

Three are the dwellings of the Son of Man, and no one may come before the face of the (One) who knows not the angel of peace in each of the three. These are body, thoughts, and feelings - Adapted from the Essene Gospel of Peace
Click to expand...

He suggests that the PEACE we seek in our world and in our own bodies is the same peace referenced above. "Compassion is defined as a quality of thought, feeling and emotion."

Compassion may be demonstrated as a quality of conduct in our daily lives. The vitality of our body, the quality of our blood and breath, our choice of relationships and emotion, even our ability to reproduce appears to be directly linked to our ability to embrace the force of compassion in our life. To the degree that you embrace compassion in your life, change passes gracefully, with ease. For those who require proof, that proof is now available. For others, simply knowing that there is a direct relationship between emotion and DNA comes as a welcome validation for an inner knowing that has driven the course of their lives for years.
Click to expand...
 
Later tonight I'll post why this is so important -from my perspective. I will also post HOW we are to use Compassion -and the importance of and why we are to --- Remember the Feeling.

to continue - BUT -- I am connecting the dots. You can check out this older thread titled DNA Research and Spiritual implications.
 
Hi Deborah,

"...the concept of vibration - resonance and living vital energy -- fine tuned."

I see exciting connections with what you've got here and my own "inner work" of late. Though I get a bit out of my range delving into things like "String Theory" and constantly thinking about the makeup of Time.. still, the common thread that runs through everything appears to come more into focus every day.

... inside every grain of sand are billions of tiny atoms. Every atom is made of smaller bits of matter, electrons orbiting a nucleus made of protons and neutrons, which are made of even smaller bits of matter called quarks. But string theory says this is not the end of the line. It makes the astounding claim that the particles making up everything in the universe are made of even smaller ingredients, tiny wiggling strands of energy that look like strings. Each of these strings is unimaginably small. In fact, if an atom were enlarged to the size of the solar system, a string would only be as large as a tree!

And here's the key idea. Just as different vibrational patterns or frequencies of a single cello string create what we hear as different musical notes, the different ways that strings vibrate give particles their unique properties, such as mass and charge. For example, the only difference between the particles making up you and me and the particles that transmit gravity and the other forces is the way these tiny strings vibrate.

Composed of an enormous number of these oscillating strings, the universe can be thought of as a grand cosmic symphony.

From "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene
Click to expand...

It seems Resonance, especially by way of emotion/intention... may truly be far more powerful than we've ever imagined.

I should say that no where in Nova's presentation of Brian Greene's work did emotion or spiritual concepts get discussed. Though I've not read much by him, what I have seen in reference to "Spirit" I read on an archived chat. He was asked: "What does string theory say about religion?" He replied: "Nothing. String theory is compatible with a broadly interpreted religious notion, but it says nothing about any particular religion."

Love,
Angie
 
Hi Everyone!

Forgive me, as I find myself at a mental block here. Maybe it is fear that I will not express myself correctly.

I've read and reread and reread. Powerful expressions here and in the other threads.

Compassion - Is it the common thread of humanity? Do we feel it freely for others or because we can remember and therefore can relate - thus creating our compassion and the will to be involved and to lift others burdens?

From a personal perspective, there are times I feel compassion overload and yet at other times I feel nothing but numb. I've noticed in society a lack of compassion in people... and just when I want to give up on them...someone changes my mind and restores that faith.

I think that compassion is necessary to be connected with others.

The Zulu Personal Declaration of 1825 in South Africa

My neighbor and I have the same orgins;
We have the same life experiences and a common destiny;
We are the obverse and reverse sides of one entity;
We are unchanging equals;
We are the faces which see themselves in each other...
My neighbor's sorrow is my sorrow;
His joy is my joy;
He and I are mutually fullfilled when we stand by each other in our moments of need;
His survival is a precondition of my survival.

Dalai Lama - Ethics for the New millennium
We can reject everything else;
religion, ideology, all received wisdom,
But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion
This, then, is my true relision, my simple faith...
Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple,
The doctrine is compassion.
Click to expand...


Lots and lots to consider - especially when you begin to give up on humanity.

:D :D :D I'm still puzzling over Her Bride Chamber. ;)

Lots of love,
Julie
 
HI Julie,

Well -don't feel bad - I have had a mental block for days now. According to Braden - Compassion is not something we "do" - it is something we become. By intentionally feeling we can shift our awareness that provides astonishing clarity, comfort and guidance.

Regarding the reincarnation portion of this thread - which I have yet to address; If we look at our many many life times, and many years within this life time we work very hard to overcome difficulties and darkness, some call it evil. But the law's of energy explain why - ENERGY FOLLOWS ATTENTION.

In other words if we hate darkness and focus our attention on war, disease and illness -- guess what we are aware of and thus create - life after life?

The key according to Barden seems to be that while we choose light, we have to also compassionately allow for lights opposite expression. This will lead us to mastering compassion. With it comes responsibilities and yet personal power. We live in a world of polarities-it is by way of darkness that we come to know -- the light.

This is not to say that you will not be witness to other's expressions of darkness. Their darkness does not have to become your experience. Hating Lucifer and blaming others for fear and dark experiences provides just the opposite effect to that intended. Throughout history, our true Christ's and reference beings have never asked us to hate anything as a way of life.
Click to expand...

Cough Cough -sick me -more later. ;)
 
Hi Veronica,

Well, I have been thinking about this -- and really -- it boils down to choice, freedom of choice. A lot of people talk about freedom of choice, but perhaps we do not use that choice in consciousness.

If energy and attention are so linked, perhaps the lesson should be that we are not holding the pure forms of consciousness within - instead we hold onto the physical and what we have learned in the physical body which distorts our consciousness and thereby distorting what we will recreate in the future. So in a nut shell we have become a distortion of divinity by our own choosing -- because we lack understanding and direct experience with spirit -- through love and compassion. SO back to Braden - Compassion is not something we do - it is SOMETHING WE BECOME.

I for one am learning - it's the journey and I know -I am responsible. ;)
 
Hi Deborah,
I suppose that's why we have to start all change within ourselves.

You summed it up so nicely that I can't think of anything to add. :)
 
Thanks Veronika,

It is a very difficult thing to express in words -somehow they only express a portion of what compassion means.
 
Hi Deborah,

So lovely to be talking to you again...

A few things: you know the story of the indian mother that tries to prevent her little child from touching the fire, until eventually letting him do so in order that he might learn? Well, one of the many lessons I have learned lately is precisely this: the reason we are here is to learn from experience. It is no use for someone wiser than us to say "do this" or "don't do this". We just have to get burned sometimes in order to learn...

This is why we reincarnate. We are here to learn from experience.

A Spiritual Entity said to me recently: "Nothing is ever lost inside time. Time is the great curer and the great teacher. Time is the great school."

I would say we descend into "time" in order to learn, and to progress...

With love,

Charles

PS: Oh yes, and two of the greatest lessons we are here to learn are those of LOVE and COMPASSION.
 
*S*S*S

HI Charles,

Nice to see you again too. Thank you for adding your thoughts to the thread. ;)
 
:cool

Hi Deborah,

I'm also glad to be back, but going slowly this time...

I know I came into a conflict stage with some of the views of others here, and I apologize, for each individual has his own experience and the right to his own understanding and beliefs.

From my own personal experience, I have no doubt that reincarnation is a fact. It is the only sensible explanation for the process we go through by incarnating on this Earth. As you know, my notion is one of spiritual evolution, through the lessons learned in our successive lives, and certainly the most important lessons to be learned here are those of love and compassion, faith and charity.

With love,

Charles
 
Compassion & Intention

Dear Deborah & All,

Compassion not only has to do with attention, I think, but also intention.

I have read two books lately that I think you should read if you haven't already: The Reconnection by E. Pearl and The Search for Shambala by J. Redfield (or Renfield, the 9th Insight guy).

The intention that we put into our prayer field should be love and compassion.

However, most protestants in America are taught that it is OK to "lust in your heart," etc. It really isn't. The real power is in controlling your thoughts, and focusing your intentions.

Compassion and love should be not only happening on the outside, but on the inside. Of course it is really hard to have that for ourselves all of the time.

I am a Reiki 2, and the prayer field concept, along with my intention of reading Pearl's book and finally doing it, has left one exchange friend to say that my energy is stronger, more palbable and more powerful. That is has gone from tight spirals to much lighter elipses of energy that sometimes form into the sign for infinity (the sidesways eight).

I don't know why, Deborah, but when you started this thread I had to share and ask if you had read either book?
 
Hi Kim,

Thank you for sharing your reflections. I am familiar with J. Redfield but have not read the book you recommended. It is interesting to me - that more and more authors, researchers and doctors are looking into consciousness in the manner you have described. Dr. Moss, Gary Zukov, Gregg Braden, J. Redfield, and others. The more I read -the more I understand
 
Do you think -- compassion -- creates harmony? Bluehayze mentioned harmony between individuals in another thread.

I liked what Kim said about INTENTION and prayer. How often do we project love and compassion? And how often during the day do we find ourselves frustrated, angry or upset with others?

Gregg Braden says -when you pray for others -it doesn't mean you agree, condone or accept their actions. Instead -you are merely sharing - positivity and opening new doors of positive change. Most likely - good karma as well.
 
Originally posted by Deborah
Do you think -- compassion -- creates harmony? Bluehayze mentioned harmony between individuals in another thread.

I liked what Kim said about INTENTION and prayer. How often do we project love and compassion? And how often during the day do we find ourselves frustrated, angry or upset with others?

Gregg Braden says -when you pray for others -it doesn't mean you agree, condone or accept their actions. Instead -you are merely sharing - positivity and opening new doors of positive change. Most likely - good karma as well.
Click to expand...

I try to project love and compassion at my job. It's a challenge here as it can be in some Social Service agencies. Instead of staying offended by people's questionable behaviors and attitudes, I simply help them out by making their jobs easier in any way I can. I expect nothing back. It gives me piece of mind and I can go on and do my own thing. I do have good thoughts and prayers for people with whom I don't condone or accept actions, simply because it's about creating the harmony. It can be so challenging at times, the adversity that is faced during a day, the times when it feels as if there's nothing left to do or say to someone, and yet, all you can do is hope for them and give them hope. :D When you find that you can't help someone or they aren't in that mode for change, it might be time to take your space respectfully from them. (I have had to do that with some friends and family as they were draining me of everything) And just hope that they find their way.
 
Compassion FAQ?

Dear Deborah,

I like the new icon/picture of yourself.

I was thinking that maybe this discussion, when closed, could go on the FAQ page.

I have read and reread it and it is a lot of GOOD soulful stuff to think about.

Peace, Joy, Comfort & Love, Kim
 
Very Nice........

HI,

Bluehayze - that was a very beautifully stated post. :):):)

Kim - Thank you - I figured it was time for a change. About this thread - I am not sure it is a frequently asked question - perhaps a very informative one. I will ask Forum Staff and see what they think. Regardless - I am glad you enjoyed it.
 
Nice thoughts -----

The premise in this thread is awesome. It is why I became a member here.

"Compassion is not something we "do" - it is something we become.
 
I've not seen this thread before and I too enjoyed it alot. I think I've said it other places...probably the greatest lesson I've learned in all of this reincarnation theory is compassion. Thanks for another great read Deb.
 
I think compassion comes from being able to understand and feel with someone else. There are two ways that can happen. The first is to have been there yourself, and that includes in past lives. It doesn't always work that way at first--in fact, the *least* tolerant person may be the person who was there in a past life, in the early stages. That's if one is in denial, reacting against that part of one's experience. The most judgemental person may be a former offender from past lives, in denial of his past. But later on, when that part of the "shadow" is integrated, then that person is the most compassionate and has the authority to help others in that space.

The second way compassion happens is by advancing spiritually to a point that one actually feels the true Self, God, within each person. I don't think that understanding this intellectually is equal to actually experiencing it. I also don't think that having brief flashes of it is equal to experiencing it continually. Speaking for myself, I understand it intellectually, and I have had brief experiences of it to varying degrees many times. But I cannot say that I "own" it or can claim it as something permanent. Many times I feel judgemental, or as someone else pointed out here, I feel numb. At those times one can choose to make one's decisions based on principle and on one's intellectual understanding.

Another way to develop compassion is to understand how many lifetimes we've all lived. If it really does go into the millions eventually, then we have been or will be just about everything, and we are not in a position to judge anyone. That doesn't mean we can't be *discerning*--we had better be discerning in this world, especially if we are responsible for other people, beings, and the planet. It is our responsibility to be discerning to protect those under our care (I have learnt this the hard way). But that doesn't mean judging them.

I met the yogi Baba Hari Dass once at a retreat in 1974. I asked him, "How can I serve God best?" He answered (writing on his slate with chalk), "Don't hate anyone." I was expecting some tangible instruction of a field to go into, etc. I was thinking to myself, "Well, *I* don't hate anyone, I'm a spiritual person." So, later on, I asked him again to see if I could get a better answer (I was young!) He patiently wrote out again, "Don't hate anyone."

Thirty years later I'm still working on it...
Steve S.
 
I noticed that Quan Yin's (Kwan Yin) pledge isn't in this thread and I couldn't find the original post I was referring too earlier. Must have been deleted. So I am adding it here.

Kwan Yin - Pledge: - “Never will I seek nor receive private, individual salvation; never will I enter into final peace alone; but forever and everywhere will I live and strive for the redemption of every creature throughout the world from the bonds of conditioned existence.”
Click to expand...

I know I will be back; I have much to do, and many to love. I am a firm believer that love and compassion is the force that lifts us all - into creating, on all levels of existence.
 
Wow, I love that. Thank you for the quote, Deborah. It reminded me of something I used to feel when I was in high school, before my phobias got quite so overwhelming. Every day, as I was walking home, I would stare up at the sky and feel no separation between it and me, and for just a moment I would love and have great hope for the whole world. I miss that. I know you guys will understand I wasn't being morbid if I tell you that, in those moments, I used to say to myself, "This is what death must feel like."

There's a quote that the Dalai Lama is fond of...I can't quite remember who said it, but it goes, "For as long as space remains, for as long as sentient beings remain, may I too remain, and dispel the miseries of the world."

Those moments of freedom I used to have are the only times I really felt like that, like I could handle living again and again and again if I could help other people. Most of the time I'm far too self-absorbed... :)
 
I was thinking today about 'darkness', and 'evil powers' and how some people become entangled in fear - regarding both. Then I remembered this thread.

I have been inspired by Braden's work, year after year; the key, he suggests, is that although we choose light, we have to also compassionately allow for lights opposite expression. This will lead us to mastering compassion. With it comes responsibilities and yet personal power. We live in a world of polarities-it is by way of darkness that we come to know -- the light.

This is not to say that you will not be witness to other's expressions of darkness. Their darkness does not have to become your experience. Hating Lucifer and blaming others for fear and dark experiences provides just the opposite effect to that intended. Throughout history, our true Christ's and reference beings have never asked us to hate anything as a way of life. Gregg Braden
Click to expand...

A very sweet young lady recently reminded me that there is JOY in sadness.........she likened it to her grandmothers last days -and spending time with her: even though her grandmother didn't recognize anyone anymore - her grandmother recognized her. There was JOY and Love and Light for both before her passing.

I think the challenge then, is to find compassion for those who dwell in darkness; and for those who project evil and promote fear. It is similar to finding JOY in sadness.
 
"Light shines continuously; and it is only the dark clouds in the minds of men that shut it out." - G. de Purucker
Click to expand...

Most people are aware that darkness exists, but they do not acknowledge it for fear that in doing so, they are empowering the "evil". They do not realize that the opposite is true -- if you do not recognize its affect on your daily thoughts and experiences, you can do nothing to protect yourself and eventually, on some level, it will control you.

I believe that many people hold onto fear, resentment and anger. They use it as an excuse -- to project their own negativity upon others for whatever reason. Perhaps it is about a lack of control, or feelings of inadequacy in their own lives. Perhaps it is something as *simple* as jealousy, or the need for revenge. This attitude keeps them locked in fear and darkness. The longer a soul chooses to create these situations, the lower its vibrations become, making it more difficult to connect with the positive power of the Universe.

The ability to grow in love and compassion has almost been forgotten. Every soul is born into this life with the ability to love and to be compassionate in their hearts -- it is only through their own choices that these become "blocked". The more we choose to create with positive intent for the greatest good, the more awakened we become to the positive energies that surround us.

Forgiveness leads to healing, healing leads to gratitude, gratitude leads to compassion, which in turn leads back to forgiveness. Choosing to create this way -- enshrouds us in a neverending circle of Love and Light. Compassion is, in the truest sense, --- the very heart of Love.
 
Deborah said:
I was thinking today about 'darkness', and 'evil powers' and how some people become entangled in fear - regarding both. Then I remembered this thread.

I think the challenge then, is to find compassion for those who dwell in darkness; and for those who project evil and promote fear. It is similar to finding JOY in sadness.
Click to expand...

That would be an interesting achievement. Most people prefer to point fingers and throw labels around, in order to make themselves feel better. Compassion is as rare as unconditional love.

Phoenix
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top