In the old days, I was a liberal Democrat, and my comrades believed in social welfare and promoted a strong central government that could take care of us all. Part of that ethos was living in service to others as a good in itself.
Then the Liberal Establishment became co-opted, wandered off into a world of worshiping The Science (TM) and burying CO2 and shunning people who are guilty of microaggressions.
Now I am a pen-wielding warrior for freedom and my comrades are libertarian capitalists who see individual competition as the highest guide to life.
I'm grateful for friends like Madhava who retain the spirit of service, compassion, and cooperation, even as we take a stand against the mad megalomaniacs who are using medical deception in their bid to take over the world.
It's great to be on your team of pen-wielding warriors too. My fear is that we bring too much animosity into our hearts as we combat the psychopaths and the ignorant.
I am reminded of a story of a Samurai who was tasked with killing a blood thirsty warlord at the behest of his commander. He slipped into his heavily guarded compound under darkness and crept into the man's inner chambers to find him alone and unarmed.
He faced his quarry and drew his sword when the man spit in his face and insulted him. The Samurai sheathed his sword and turned away and crept into the darkness leaving the warlord unharmed. He returned the next night to finish the task.
The Samurai operated with the wisdom that taking the life of another with anger in your heart leads to dark places.
Hi Madhava! Lovely article, and very interesting to read the bit about Groundhog Day. I never saw that movie.
I second the belief that acting “as if” reincarnation and karma as real can change one’s perspective dramatically on the world. Everyone we meet becomes someone whom we have met before- which creates a curiosity that heightens the interaction. Every meeting becomes also a reminder that we have karma with that person.
One of the ways I’ve come around to acting “as if” something is real is what I call the “carpenter entering a new house” analogy:
For the average person who doesn’t know how buildings are built: when they enter a new house, they notice the things for which they have pre-existing concepts: the colors, familiar smells, the types of furniture.
But when the carpenter or builder enters a new house, they notice specifics: how it was built (timber frame? ICF? Steel load bearing beams? ) They can picture in their mind the steps necessary to build the structure - because they have the concepts already in mind.
The same analogy can be made for any type of speciality: clothing construction. Silicon chip design. Identifying physical maladies.
Back to reincarnation and karma: if one takes the time to work with the ideas of reincarnation and karma, thinking them through in a organized fashion, then when an opportunity arises, such as meeting a new person, the concepts are available. (“Oh! This is someone whom I have met before. We have pre-existing karma. I wonder what it is? What am I going to do to make this meeting as beneficial as possible for both of us?”)
One of the ideas described by Steiner about why reincarnation was removed from Christian theology (Council of Nicaea 325 AD) is that there was a certain wisdom to causing people to believe they had to work really hard in one life…personally, I think this was greatly distorted by the subsequent ideas of confession/absolution as removing sin.
The standard Gospels reference the reincarnation of Elijah as John the Baptist in a couple of places. I’m not sure how that is interpreted within Christian churches now.
Wonderful insights, Apophenia ;-). I agree that reincarnation is difficult to swallow for the reasons you offered. I believe that is why it was also deemphasized in the philosophy of non-dual Tantra.
This maybe why Christianity was so easy to accept. It's almost too easy. Repent on your death bed and all misdeeds are forgiven? It begs the question, how would we regard a mass murderer as they entered the pearly gates to join the rest of us? Why would we accept this as the way it works?
I love what you have explained earlier about the three basic concepts which can liberate: reincarnation, karma and a world with no blame.
And I should add - I really don't know how the different streams of exoteric Christianity view the 'repent on deathbed' concept. I'm not even sure how contemporary Catholics view it.
But: if one works themselves around to the no-blame concept - suddenly the mass-murderer is linked, through society and karma, to all of us. The simplistic explanations don't work for people like me (and probably you) but when explored through deep reflection, the simple words begin to represent whole other concept realms.
It seems that some of the comments left by readers are not appearing here, perhaps because of the mixup in the settings when I published this piece. This was a powerful comment left by a reader "Lo de Bo":
"Thank you so much Madhava for your written work shedding light on real health and existential questions like this one about what of life after death, what can we do here and now to contribute to make our and other's life better... You bring up here a much needed reflexion about religion and belief and what happens during and after our present incarnation. This is essential, though totally dismissed by the current materialistic cartesian pseudoscientific dogma.
I am French and was raised in a traditionnal catholic family. Early on I fell in love with Christ and his universal mystic of fraternity. At age 7, I was determined to become a nun, a spouse of Jesus. But at the same time, deep theological questions hit me. Christ said clearly that all humans are children of God, then catholic church tells that only the believers of its faith will have access to God's kingdom.
This doesn't sound coherent at all with the crystal clear message of the son of God. If I had been born into a hindu, muslim or animist family and culture, then I would have no access to god or heaven ? This didn't make sense - much too unfair and cruel to be the plan of the God of Love.
Also I had a great tenderness for my elder sister, my "little mother". She was going out with boys, thus comitting mortal sins according to the catholic preach. So I decided to work on comitting mortal sin too to go to Hell with her rather to go to Heaven without her. Age 13, I lost my catholic faith during a mass, the veil was torn, this ritual was a hoax. Shortly after, I entered the rebel adventure of sex and drugs and rock n'roll. But I always kept my love and belief in the message and energy of Christ as he stood and stands for all that I feel true in my heart. In my early twenties I decided to abandon the synthetic drugs and went on a quest for true love and understanding the world. After many heartbreaks and depression, 30 years later, I chose to embrace the path of consciousness, diving into meditation practice, looking for understanding myself and looking for inner peace ti contribute to planetary peace, learning from different spiritual traditions, transforming destructive patterns into positive ones (changing the "I want to die" mechanical.mantra for the chosen "I am happy to be alive").
I just entered my 60's and now offer my devotions to Christ, holy spirit, sacred heart as well as Shiva Shakti (consciousness energy) and the divine mother in all her forms - Holy Mary, Durga, Tara, Guan Yin, Gaïa... I believe all (or most) religions adress the same essential divine essence in each of us under different cultural and historical shapes but perverted the universal sacredness of Life and Love with political power games and abusive dogmas.
I believe humanity is a fraternity and that our mission in incarnation is to discover and fullfill our soul's force and desires. And I believe in the holyness of Beauty in all forms of life, mineral, vegeyal and animal and of their interdependancy... Mitakuye oyasin. In lakesh Thank you for reading my spiritual testimony."
I love these types of articles, how they weave relatable, everyday biographical anecdotes with Big Thoughts and toss in a review of a classic movie to illustrate the points.
Now, as to your questions, back when I was in my early 20s in the 1990s, I had a lot of trouble finding my place in a world that just felt off in a very deep way and I found temporary solace in drugs, eventually leading to an addiction that almost killed me.
Fortunately, by the grace of God who appeared in a powerful acid trip and showed me that not only was this a beautiful world but I, and everyone around me, had that same beauty within, I gained the courage to tell my loving parents what I’d become and they helped me escape that life.
In the aftermath, still seeking answers, I found the burgeoning field of Near Death Experience (NDE) reports (including, a few years later, Ian Stevensen!). From the wide variety of reports by people all over the world with various worldviews, I took away the powerful message that what we do to others is ultimately the most important “judgment” of our lives, because when we have our Life Review in the Afterlife, not only do we re-experience our experiences and emotions, we experience the emotions of those we touch.
One aspect of this that always stood out is that doing the little things—a kind smile to a fellow patient in a waiting room, stopping to help pick up some groceries that an elderly person dropped—without expectation of reward is one of the best uses of our time, because those things show a generous heart and really mean the world to others.
Anyway, I’ve done my best to live my life this way, and have long felt if more people took to heart this concept from the NDE experience, it really could change our world (because it’s changed mine).
Last, I don’t think we necessarily need to have the same fundamental beliefs, besides the basics like loving each other as one loves oneself and a commitment to not use violence to achieve an ends. Those alone are challenging for humans in our current level of consciousness, of course! But I also believe that, as individual expressions of God, we came into this world to have a diversity of experiences, so I’m wary of going too far with “rules” we all must follow.
Yes, the accounts of those who have had an NDE are very powerful, not just their experience while "nearly dead" but in how they have reframed the rest of their life. Fascinatingly even though they now regard this lifetime as only part of a story that is unfolding over much longer periods, they instead consider it to be even more precious while at the same time allowing it to unfold naturally with fewer demands placed upon it.
Thank you Dr. Setty, for this insightful, entertaining and rejuvenating essay. I also have a very warm nostalgia for arcades and old school video games: star castle, missile command, galaga, etc. Many quarters, many hours. I still use the moniker, "challenging phase" when life gets interesting or unpredictable.
Also, "Groundhog Day" is a transcendent movie that has certainly achieved "Great" status. A highly recommended experience for anyone who has not seen it.. I also enjoy movies of this vintage where the cast and all the supporting actors and extras are depicted living perfectly normal, happy, fulfilling lives without a device in their hands.
I once had a physics professor who posed the concept of reincarnation with a logical twist. "If we are living in a finite universe, meaning the number of atoms, elements, molecules, albeit expanding, is static and the concept of time is infinite, there is a 100% mathematical probability that the combination of elements that make up your being will re-occur, an infinite number of times". He was a fantastic instructor who had a knack for metaphorically explaining concepts like the fourth dimension so that young minds could expand into the unknown. A talent you seem to share, not that my mind is young anymore, haha.
"Acceptance without understanding" is another concept that I try to hold closely. The mystery of not knowing is half the fun. if there are 8+ billion people in the world then there are 8+ billion completely valid belief structures. It is up to you. There will be Good and Evil, for such is the duality of life that surrounds us: Light and Darkness, Asleep and Awake, Breathe in-Breathe out.. I drift toward the concept that we are all part of one living essence and I will patiently wait for the collective consciousness to understand that non-violence and symbiotic living is the path to peace on Earth. As Carl Sagan once stated, " an organism at war with itself is doomed to die".
Thanks again for being a bright light for all your readers.
Thank you for the comment. "Challenging Phase"? From Galaga, right?
I wholeheartedly agree that the mystery of not knowing is half the fun. It's also essential, if you subscribe to karma. In my opinion it's one thing to do the "right" thing because you are sure that you will be rewarded. It's quite a different thing to be selfless not knowing or caring if there will be a payback in the end.
Ian Stevenson was a very interesting man. His work, fascinating. I recommend the books '20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation' and 'Old Souls' There is also the interesting documentary 'The Boy Who Lived Before' about a Scottish boy who tells details of a previous life in which Stevenson's successor plays a role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGX1YCsvAM&t=284s
The idea that an evil cabal is using reincarnation for world domination would make an interesting premise for a sci-fi series, or maybe the Marvel cinematic universe. I wonder how they would have figured out how to hack the system to make sure they come back as a Rothschild rather than a weasel. I seem to live my life as if reincarnation happens. A psychic reading from long ago told me that "I" had been developing "my" mind for many lifetimes. It's nice to think that all the time I spend reading rather than accomplishing stuff in the world might be paying off. Something an old hippie told me has stayed with me all these years and might be relevant here--"we're all equal, but not at the same time."
Well, we sometimes contemplate about the "secret" knowledge held by "secret" societies and the "secret" rituals that are reportedly performing. If there were such societies and knowledge I would suggest that being able to engineer the circumstances of one's rebirth would be part of it. I have also heard that some yogis notify others how and where to find them in their next incarnation. Who knows?
"It's nice to think that all the time I spend reading rather than accomplishing stuff in the world might be paying off."
I love this! This is me today and most days, much to the chagrin of my husband who in this life is focused on his physical well being. For whatever reason (probably because in general I have had great health without trying too hard, though that is changing), I can't seem to be bothered!
You have placed your finger on the pulse of humanity in a brilliant way. Thank you. There are others including myself, and likely more than I could enumerate, who also sense and articulate the emergence of a transcendent ontology. It is thought that we ride the crest of a wave, unseeing and unable to sense where it goes and how it falls, but we recognise we're in the throes of a Divine event. I believe that a time will come when too many will simply walk away, having withdrawn their social license and submission to be governed, knowing that to continue to do so constitutes a spiritual and corporeal death sentence, the death knell of humanity. Instead, to move forward independently, co-operatively, supportively, responsibly, lovingly and in a manner that nurtures our divine spark, well, wouldn't that be a heaven on Earth?
(I left a comment, but it disappeared when I clicked to see more replies. Will try again.)
I do not know what Reality is--that's with a capitol "R." I have heard the testimonies of many near-death experiencers (NDErs), and spoken with a few. (This was life changing for me, BTW.) Nearly all who return to life from visiting at least the threshold of the spirit world say that they saw past and sometimes future lives, and sometimes they say all these lives exist in the now, as there is no time there. Nearly all report there is no ongoing Hell, though some speak of dark experiences at the beginning. Nearly universally they return to life a changed person, becoming more kind to all. No one talks about karma and some say this is not a part of our human reality. Nearly universally these NDErs report experiencing in the spirit world an unconditional love to which any love on Earth pales. For this last reason, once they experience this overwhelming love in the spirit world, I find it doubtful that those who wield too much power and manipulate with this power in this lifetime would choose to reincarnate with the same powers to control others in the next lifetime.
With appreciation to Madhava for starting such conversations!
And much appreciation to you, Frances for all the work you have done in the 9/11 Truth movement. The cognitive dissonance will be the biggest barrier to clarity, and you have done so much to help us with this.
With regard to karma, I believe it is more subtle and profound than some sort of punishment for doing "wrong". It could be a rebirth into a life where one becomes the persecuted, or having a chronic malady. But the point would not be to punish but to teach, so that the individual is offered an opportunity to examine every aspect of their essence, their broodishness, their vulnerability. It may take intense experiences for certain people to learn that we have all tendencies within us. And that we have agency to choose what we bring forth.
I also think that not every soul rejoices in love and light. Some are drawn to the mystery of the dark and the macabre. There is a reason why some enjoy the gruesome and horror in their entertainment. That doesn't mean that they are evil. It simply means that something within them finds that intriguing. Perhaps so much that they wish to spend a lifetime or two exploring those possibilities.
Thank you, Madhava. It is heartening to have a conversation in which worldviews are simply shared and explored, rather than stimulating argumentative reactions.
Loved this Madhava.. and to listen to it being read with your voice. In our inextricably interwoven microcosm macrocosm lives, partly I grooved into this because of a very personal story, of one sister in loops and loops of psychotic breaks in her 20s, due to being awash in a sea of primary adult grief/trauma as a two year old. The breakthrough and the end of the trauma reactivated refrain was marked by her watching Groundhog Day movie and having the properly mind-blowing epiphany that THAT is what she had been doing all along.
She was living in Paris at the time. We were in California. She called me excited to tell me "It's over.. It will not repeat, ever again." It never did.. AND, the magic of the day I got that call was that we two, here in California were snuggled up in bed watching a movie of our own that very day: Groundhog Day!
And yes yes yes to where you wove this Tale for our Times.
PS the way you wove all this together reverberated through me as I rode my bike around town this afternoon.., found myself singing Bob Dylan
"You masters of war
You who build to destroy
You play with our world
like it's your little toy....."
I searched it up when I got home and found this:
"In the liner notes to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Dylan says of "Masters Of War": "I've never really written anything like that before. I don't sing songs which hope people will die, but I couldn't help it with this one. The song is a sort of striking out, a reaction to the last straw, a feeling of what can you do?"
Dylan would be labelled a conspiracy theorist if he released this song today. In it, he bitterly points the finger at hidden "masters" who manufacture wars for profit and gain."
Yes. Especially in light of what the crazy spirit woman assured me: that prey animals CHOOSE to be eaten. I often joke with my friends that if I could choose my death it would be to be eaten by sharks. It would finally answer the question, “What would it be like to be eaten by a shark?” Maybe there’s some deep karmic wisdom to be derived from the experience? Also it addresses the issue of free will in non-human entities.
I went to read “Coming To” and realized I’d read it before. Still, I reread it and might do so once more. It failed to convince me that reincarnation is real, but through these two articles and our dialogue I realize that NEEDING to believe is an invitation to suffering (2nd Noble Truth). I do act as though my actions have consequences; whether those consequences manifest tomorrow or a thousand years from now is not really that important. I don’t spend my money on hookers and blow, not because I worry about my next life, but because I worry about the repercussions in this life. Where I end up in my next life doesn’t drive my behavior as much as where I’ll end up, mentally, tomorrow, next week, at the end of This Life.
So back to meat-eating… This is the only reason I NEED to believe in reincarnation, and that the animals I eat have chosen to be eaten. The only way to accommodate the violence of this world is to believe that there is some greater narrative that mitigates the suffering. Is it a fairy tale? Should I only eat rice? Do plants suffer? I NEED to know! Anyway, I’m upgrading to Paid not because I came out of this discussion believing in reincarnation, but because you’ve helped me accept that I can’t know, and that my approach to life is, in my own little way, based on karma (or my shallow understanding of it).
Interestingly, I was watching Celebrity Jeopardy last night after reading your yesterday’s post. One of the clues used the Ned Ryerson image you posted, for the question “What is Groundhog Day?” Cue the Twilight Zone theme!
What is convincing evidence to one person may be inadequate to another. I certainly don't expect anyone to believe in reincarnation because I do. And I do appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to read and reread my rationale.
So here's an interesting question for you: what would you need to see to convince you that it was real?
If I were to guess, nothing short of having your own experience in a lifetime where you had vivid memories of a previous life that could be confirmed by others would ever suffice. That's a very reasonable answer. The problem is that it is not possible in this lifetime, so there would be little need to keep searching for adequate evidence.
The reality is, we have the next best thing: children who are and have been having this experience. There is no reason why anyone should accept their testimonials as irrefutable proof. But it would beg the question, why dismiss them as inadequate from the jump unless you had a reason not to believe them?
In my opinion, you personally, would have something to gain in believing them as it would help to resolve your meat eating conundrum to some extent.
I also think that we could come together with a deeper understanding of who we are which may, over time, diffuse the antimony on the planet. So, it makes little sense to me to reject what evidence, flimsy and unreproducible as it is, from the start.
Of course, I have a relatively unique perspective on this, which was the them of the "coming to" piece. Consiciousness, which would be the fundamental aspect of a reincarnating soul, cannot be extinguished by anesthetic gases or clinical death. Perhaps this is why my belief in reincarnation is more resolute than for others.
To be convinced that reincarnation is real would require proof that I am real, that the terrycloth towel I dry my hands on is real… (I think about this every time I dry my hands for some reason.) I doubt my existence in the material world more and more! So I agree that proof will not be forthcoming. Regarding NDEs and past life recollections, the stumbling block for me is Joseph Campbell’s concept of the metamyth. We all have innate, atavistic , similar notions of what death is like, so the similarities of these experiences are not surprising.
Your anesthesia revelations are the best proof. That our corporeal bodies are vessels for our consciousness, and not the other way round, is a fascinating observation. I need to think on this. In the meantime I will act as though my actions have consequences, just to be safe. Like people who believe in God just in case he really exists.
Madhava, Excellent article. I place Groundhog Day as #1 in my pantheon of movies. It has more nuance and is more instructive than almost anyone realizes. Your summary is excellent (a few more viewings would be helpful for you...lol) and your conclusions also germane.
In the area of video games, you miss the granddaddy of all MMORPGs - Everquest. This was a PVE game where the only way to succeed was to band together to beat the game. People played for hours (sometimes 24 in a row) to rescue a fellow traveler who had been beaten at some remote location (Plane of Fear, anyone?) by monsters too horrible to mention. If not rescued by this group of strangers, all of the work in the toon would be lost. And people inevitably rose to the occasion. Those corpse recoveries were some of the most emotion-provoking experiences not only in video gaming but in life...hard to explain if you were not there, but true. Lots of great friendships/marriages/etc. came from those early games, before they all got too easy so people could make more money, etc.
But the interesting angle was the amount of investment in helping strangers (especially those in your group, but often just random ones) was far more than in any of today's games trying to kill each other. There is a lesson there somewhere.
I saw it in the movie theater when it came out. And I stayed to watch it again as a matter of fact!
Never heard of Everquest! Very nice.
There has been a very clear shift in terms of the violence in these things, especially for people who gamed 45 years ago. Weapons were fired upon rocks or alien ships which were more like symbols. Now kids are shooting images that look like people, gratuitously it seems. I don't think I would have found something like that fun when I was ten. We are being slowly programmed to deaden ourselves to violence and the taking of human life.
Thank you Madhava. I always enjoy your methodical discussions that offer with much clarity solutions or a point of view from your life experience, and how your thought process brought forth this solution of “peaceful non-compliance”. I’m a thankful fan and feel blessed that our paths crossed through the grace of conscious discourse. I discovered you in 2020, by reading your book “Woke”……when the world around me was not making sense.
Wow - loved this entire writing! I felt like you grew up down the street from me w/the references to Friendly’s (my brother worked there), to Aladdin’s castle & asteroids (my other brother could’ve been your friend!), to Groundhog Day (my husbands favorite movie that I’ve seen so many times I feel it’s groundhog day!) I really enjoy your writings because I feel like I’ve been going through the same awakenings about this world as you have been and once you have the realization that everything we knew is in reality a matrix & manipulated by a cabal of evil doers you get a sense of helplessness. However this realization has only made my faith as a Christian even stronger as you realize that this world IS under the power of satan and our decisions & actions should be made not on success-happiness achieved in this world but on our life w/God in heaven. I take great comfort in knowing that Jesus has already overcome satan for our salvation - we’ve already won. We are given this opportunity to imitate Christ & love & treat our brothers as we would ourselves. Now is this limited to Christians (who actually may live quite selfish & sinful lives)? I don’t believe so. In Matthew 15:11 Jesus says “it is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one”. Therefore good/bad people can be found everywhere. But only God knows everything about an individual & what is in their heart & therefore he is the one & only final judge. Check out Matthew 14:24-30 The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat…let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “first collect the weeds & tie them in bundles for burning; but gather wheat into my barn.” As for living a sinful life & at the very end proclaiming your belief in Jesus Christ & asking forgiveness of your sins - I too struggled with the “unfairness” of feeling you get to have your cake & eat it too. This is demonstrated in the story of the prodigal son or story of the wealthy man that paid the same wage to the workers that started at 9am & the workers that started at 5pm. It’s all so unfair…but taking the high road you believe the point is to not be jealous of one’s good fortune - especially if there was no harm to you. I now understand that the true meaning is that there really is no happiness/fulfillment in the trappings of this world - wealth, power, beauty etc are nothing compared to the freedom from these trappings once you’ve experienced the love of God when you allow him to work through you in your life. As the father says to the complaining son who stayed behind & did not squander his inheritance on prostitutes, gambling, etc like his brother did “Son, you were always with me”. That my friend cannot compete with anything this world has to offer.
I don’t think we all have to agree on religion; what we have to do is learn to respect the differences between us not become a homogeneous whole for the sake of peace. That sounds like hell.
I certainly am not advocating for homogeneity. There is so much beauty in our different cultures and traditions which all contribute to the tapestry of humanity.
I do think that certain axioms held in certain religions drive wedges between us. For example the idea that we are, at our essence, sinners who require absolution. Or the idea of a chosen people in the eyes of a creator.
I think a chosen people is obviously BS as it’s pretty clear if God made all men equal he’s not going to elevate a certain group of man above the rest. That’s for sure , and only a demonic religious group would come to that conclusion upon connecting with God. Personally I think organised religion is too close to corruption as any group of humans organising others get too much power and they become corrupted hence I think people should feel free to interpret God and spirituality as they feel fit. Progression of humanity into a higher consciousness will not happen if we need to tell people what is and what isn’t; so I don’t think it’s at all advisable for us to come to a compromise or agreement on religious truths. If we can’t stop fighting about who’s right we don’t deserve to leave kindergarten. I personally am not religious because I don’t need a man to tell me how to worship or approach God.
In the old days, I was a liberal Democrat, and my comrades believed in social welfare and promoted a strong central government that could take care of us all. Part of that ethos was living in service to others as a good in itself.
Then the Liberal Establishment became co-opted, wandered off into a world of worshiping The Science (TM) and burying CO2 and shunning people who are guilty of microaggressions.
Now I am a pen-wielding warrior for freedom and my comrades are libertarian capitalists who see individual competition as the highest guide to life.
I'm grateful for friends like Madhava who retain the spirit of service, compassion, and cooperation, even as we take a stand against the mad megalomaniacs who are using medical deception in their bid to take over the world.
It's great to be on your team of pen-wielding warriors too. My fear is that we bring too much animosity into our hearts as we combat the psychopaths and the ignorant.
I am reminded of a story of a Samurai who was tasked with killing a blood thirsty warlord at the behest of his commander. He slipped into his heavily guarded compound under darkness and crept into the man's inner chambers to find him alone and unarmed.
He faced his quarry and drew his sword when the man spit in his face and insulted him. The Samurai sheathed his sword and turned away and crept into the darkness leaving the warlord unharmed. He returned the next night to finish the task.
The Samurai operated with the wisdom that taking the life of another with anger in your heart leads to dark places.
Hi Madhava! Lovely article, and very interesting to read the bit about Groundhog Day. I never saw that movie.
I second the belief that acting “as if” reincarnation and karma as real can change one’s perspective dramatically on the world. Everyone we meet becomes someone whom we have met before- which creates a curiosity that heightens the interaction. Every meeting becomes also a reminder that we have karma with that person.
One of the ways I’ve come around to acting “as if” something is real is what I call the “carpenter entering a new house” analogy:
For the average person who doesn’t know how buildings are built: when they enter a new house, they notice the things for which they have pre-existing concepts: the colors, familiar smells, the types of furniture.
But when the carpenter or builder enters a new house, they notice specifics: how it was built (timber frame? ICF? Steel load bearing beams? ) They can picture in their mind the steps necessary to build the structure - because they have the concepts already in mind.
The same analogy can be made for any type of speciality: clothing construction. Silicon chip design. Identifying physical maladies.
Back to reincarnation and karma: if one takes the time to work with the ideas of reincarnation and karma, thinking them through in a organized fashion, then when an opportunity arises, such as meeting a new person, the concepts are available. (“Oh! This is someone whom I have met before. We have pre-existing karma. I wonder what it is? What am I going to do to make this meeting as beneficial as possible for both of us?”)
One of the ideas described by Steiner about why reincarnation was removed from Christian theology (Council of Nicaea 325 AD) is that there was a certain wisdom to causing people to believe they had to work really hard in one life…personally, I think this was greatly distorted by the subsequent ideas of confession/absolution as removing sin.
The standard Gospels reference the reincarnation of Elijah as John the Baptist in a couple of places. I’m not sure how that is interpreted within Christian churches now.
Great to read your piece, as always.
Wonderful insights, Apophenia ;-). I agree that reincarnation is difficult to swallow for the reasons you offered. I believe that is why it was also deemphasized in the philosophy of non-dual Tantra.
This maybe why Christianity was so easy to accept. It's almost too easy. Repent on your death bed and all misdeeds are forgiven? It begs the question, how would we regard a mass murderer as they entered the pearly gates to join the rest of us? Why would we accept this as the way it works?
I love what you have explained earlier about the three basic concepts which can liberate: reincarnation, karma and a world with no blame.
And I should add - I really don't know how the different streams of exoteric Christianity view the 'repent on deathbed' concept. I'm not even sure how contemporary Catholics view it.
But: if one works themselves around to the no-blame concept - suddenly the mass-murderer is linked, through society and karma, to all of us. The simplistic explanations don't work for people like me (and probably you) but when explored through deep reflection, the simple words begin to represent whole other concept realms.
easier conversation to have in person!
Brilliant
It seems that some of the comments left by readers are not appearing here, perhaps because of the mixup in the settings when I published this piece. This was a powerful comment left by a reader "Lo de Bo":
"Thank you so much Madhava for your written work shedding light on real health and existential questions like this one about what of life after death, what can we do here and now to contribute to make our and other's life better... You bring up here a much needed reflexion about religion and belief and what happens during and after our present incarnation. This is essential, though totally dismissed by the current materialistic cartesian pseudoscientific dogma.
I am French and was raised in a traditionnal catholic family. Early on I fell in love with Christ and his universal mystic of fraternity. At age 7, I was determined to become a nun, a spouse of Jesus. But at the same time, deep theological questions hit me. Christ said clearly that all humans are children of God, then catholic church tells that only the believers of its faith will have access to God's kingdom.
This doesn't sound coherent at all with the crystal clear message of the son of God. If I had been born into a hindu, muslim or animist family and culture, then I would have no access to god or heaven ? This didn't make sense - much too unfair and cruel to be the plan of the God of Love.
Also I had a great tenderness for my elder sister, my "little mother". She was going out with boys, thus comitting mortal sins according to the catholic preach. So I decided to work on comitting mortal sin too to go to Hell with her rather to go to Heaven without her. Age 13, I lost my catholic faith during a mass, the veil was torn, this ritual was a hoax. Shortly after, I entered the rebel adventure of sex and drugs and rock n'roll. But I always kept my love and belief in the message and energy of Christ as he stood and stands for all that I feel true in my heart. In my early twenties I decided to abandon the synthetic drugs and went on a quest for true love and understanding the world. After many heartbreaks and depression, 30 years later, I chose to embrace the path of consciousness, diving into meditation practice, looking for understanding myself and looking for inner peace ti contribute to planetary peace, learning from different spiritual traditions, transforming destructive patterns into positive ones (changing the "I want to die" mechanical.mantra for the chosen "I am happy to be alive").
I just entered my 60's and now offer my devotions to Christ, holy spirit, sacred heart as well as Shiva Shakti (consciousness energy) and the divine mother in all her forms - Holy Mary, Durga, Tara, Guan Yin, Gaïa... I believe all (or most) religions adress the same essential divine essence in each of us under different cultural and historical shapes but perverted the universal sacredness of Life and Love with political power games and abusive dogmas.
I believe humanity is a fraternity and that our mission in incarnation is to discover and fullfill our soul's force and desires. And I believe in the holyness of Beauty in all forms of life, mineral, vegeyal and animal and of their interdependancy... Mitakuye oyasin. In lakesh Thank you for reading my spiritual testimony."
If I may answer to Lo de Bo:
Thank you for your comment, which speaks to me a lot as I had similar experiences
I love these types of articles, how they weave relatable, everyday biographical anecdotes with Big Thoughts and toss in a review of a classic movie to illustrate the points.
Now, as to your questions, back when I was in my early 20s in the 1990s, I had a lot of trouble finding my place in a world that just felt off in a very deep way and I found temporary solace in drugs, eventually leading to an addiction that almost killed me.
Fortunately, by the grace of God who appeared in a powerful acid trip and showed me that not only was this a beautiful world but I, and everyone around me, had that same beauty within, I gained the courage to tell my loving parents what I’d become and they helped me escape that life.
In the aftermath, still seeking answers, I found the burgeoning field of Near Death Experience (NDE) reports (including, a few years later, Ian Stevensen!). From the wide variety of reports by people all over the world with various worldviews, I took away the powerful message that what we do to others is ultimately the most important “judgment” of our lives, because when we have our Life Review in the Afterlife, not only do we re-experience our experiences and emotions, we experience the emotions of those we touch.
One aspect of this that always stood out is that doing the little things—a kind smile to a fellow patient in a waiting room, stopping to help pick up some groceries that an elderly person dropped—without expectation of reward is one of the best uses of our time, because those things show a generous heart and really mean the world to others.
Anyway, I’ve done my best to live my life this way, and have long felt if more people took to heart this concept from the NDE experience, it really could change our world (because it’s changed mine).
Last, I don’t think we necessarily need to have the same fundamental beliefs, besides the basics like loving each other as one loves oneself and a commitment to not use violence to achieve an ends. Those alone are challenging for humans in our current level of consciousness, of course! But I also believe that, as individual expressions of God, we came into this world to have a diversity of experiences, so I’m wary of going too far with “rules” we all must follow.
Anyway, thanks for a great read!
Yes, the accounts of those who have had an NDE are very powerful, not just their experience while "nearly dead" but in how they have reframed the rest of their life. Fascinatingly even though they now regard this lifetime as only part of a story that is unfolding over much longer periods, they instead consider it to be even more precious while at the same time allowing it to unfold naturally with fewer demands placed upon it.
Your mention of NDEs reminds me of Stuart Hameroff:
https://hameroff.arizona.edu/
who has reported OOBEs in anaesthesia patients.
His work with Roger Penrose on the quantum foundations consciousness is fascinating.
Thank you Dr. Setty, for this insightful, entertaining and rejuvenating essay. I also have a very warm nostalgia for arcades and old school video games: star castle, missile command, galaga, etc. Many quarters, many hours. I still use the moniker, "challenging phase" when life gets interesting or unpredictable.
Also, "Groundhog Day" is a transcendent movie that has certainly achieved "Great" status. A highly recommended experience for anyone who has not seen it.. I also enjoy movies of this vintage where the cast and all the supporting actors and extras are depicted living perfectly normal, happy, fulfilling lives without a device in their hands.
I once had a physics professor who posed the concept of reincarnation with a logical twist. "If we are living in a finite universe, meaning the number of atoms, elements, molecules, albeit expanding, is static and the concept of time is infinite, there is a 100% mathematical probability that the combination of elements that make up your being will re-occur, an infinite number of times". He was a fantastic instructor who had a knack for metaphorically explaining concepts like the fourth dimension so that young minds could expand into the unknown. A talent you seem to share, not that my mind is young anymore, haha.
"Acceptance without understanding" is another concept that I try to hold closely. The mystery of not knowing is half the fun. if there are 8+ billion people in the world then there are 8+ billion completely valid belief structures. It is up to you. There will be Good and Evil, for such is the duality of life that surrounds us: Light and Darkness, Asleep and Awake, Breathe in-Breathe out.. I drift toward the concept that we are all part of one living essence and I will patiently wait for the collective consciousness to understand that non-violence and symbiotic living is the path to peace on Earth. As Carl Sagan once stated, " an organism at war with itself is doomed to die".
Thanks again for being a bright light for all your readers.
Thank you for the comment. "Challenging Phase"? From Galaga, right?
I wholeheartedly agree that the mystery of not knowing is half the fun. It's also essential, if you subscribe to karma. In my opinion it's one thing to do the "right" thing because you are sure that you will be rewarded. It's quite a different thing to be selfless not knowing or caring if there will be a payback in the end.
Galaga. Exactly right.
The journey is the destination, The question is the explanation. The mystery is the revelation.
Ian Stevenson was a very interesting man. His work, fascinating. I recommend the books '20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation' and 'Old Souls' There is also the interesting documentary 'The Boy Who Lived Before' about a Scottish boy who tells details of a previous life in which Stevenson's successor plays a role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhGX1YCsvAM&t=284s
The idea that an evil cabal is using reincarnation for world domination would make an interesting premise for a sci-fi series, or maybe the Marvel cinematic universe. I wonder how they would have figured out how to hack the system to make sure they come back as a Rothschild rather than a weasel. I seem to live my life as if reincarnation happens. A psychic reading from long ago told me that "I" had been developing "my" mind for many lifetimes. It's nice to think that all the time I spend reading rather than accomplishing stuff in the world might be paying off. Something an old hippie told me has stayed with me all these years and might be relevant here--"we're all equal, but not at the same time."
Well, we sometimes contemplate about the "secret" knowledge held by "secret" societies and the "secret" rituals that are reportedly performing. If there were such societies and knowledge I would suggest that being able to engineer the circumstances of one's rebirth would be part of it. I have also heard that some yogis notify others how and where to find them in their next incarnation. Who knows?
Just wondering, is there a Hindu version of the Christian idea of making a deal with the devil?
"It's nice to think that all the time I spend reading rather than accomplishing stuff in the world might be paying off."
I love this! This is me today and most days, much to the chagrin of my husband who in this life is focused on his physical well being. For whatever reason (probably because in general I have had great health without trying too hard, though that is changing), I can't seem to be bothered!
You have placed your finger on the pulse of humanity in a brilliant way. Thank you. There are others including myself, and likely more than I could enumerate, who also sense and articulate the emergence of a transcendent ontology. It is thought that we ride the crest of a wave, unseeing and unable to sense where it goes and how it falls, but we recognise we're in the throes of a Divine event. I believe that a time will come when too many will simply walk away, having withdrawn their social license and submission to be governed, knowing that to continue to do so constitutes a spiritual and corporeal death sentence, the death knell of humanity. Instead, to move forward independently, co-operatively, supportively, responsibly, lovingly and in a manner that nurtures our divine spark, well, wouldn't that be a heaven on Earth?
Yes exactly. Well said
(I left a comment, but it disappeared when I clicked to see more replies. Will try again.)
I do not know what Reality is--that's with a capitol "R." I have heard the testimonies of many near-death experiencers (NDErs), and spoken with a few. (This was life changing for me, BTW.) Nearly all who return to life from visiting at least the threshold of the spirit world say that they saw past and sometimes future lives, and sometimes they say all these lives exist in the now, as there is no time there. Nearly all report there is no ongoing Hell, though some speak of dark experiences at the beginning. Nearly universally they return to life a changed person, becoming more kind to all. No one talks about karma and some say this is not a part of our human reality. Nearly universally these NDErs report experiencing in the spirit world an unconditional love to which any love on Earth pales. For this last reason, once they experience this overwhelming love in the spirit world, I find it doubtful that those who wield too much power and manipulate with this power in this lifetime would choose to reincarnate with the same powers to control others in the next lifetime.
With appreciation to Madhava for starting such conversations!
And much appreciation to you, Frances for all the work you have done in the 9/11 Truth movement. The cognitive dissonance will be the biggest barrier to clarity, and you have done so much to help us with this.
With regard to karma, I believe it is more subtle and profound than some sort of punishment for doing "wrong". It could be a rebirth into a life where one becomes the persecuted, or having a chronic malady. But the point would not be to punish but to teach, so that the individual is offered an opportunity to examine every aspect of their essence, their broodishness, their vulnerability. It may take intense experiences for certain people to learn that we have all tendencies within us. And that we have agency to choose what we bring forth.
I also think that not every soul rejoices in love and light. Some are drawn to the mystery of the dark and the macabre. There is a reason why some enjoy the gruesome and horror in their entertainment. That doesn't mean that they are evil. It simply means that something within them finds that intriguing. Perhaps so much that they wish to spend a lifetime or two exploring those possibilities.
Thank you, Madhava. It is heartening to have a conversation in which worldviews are simply shared and explored, rather than stimulating argumentative reactions.
Loved this Madhava.. and to listen to it being read with your voice. In our inextricably interwoven microcosm macrocosm lives, partly I grooved into this because of a very personal story, of one sister in loops and loops of psychotic breaks in her 20s, due to being awash in a sea of primary adult grief/trauma as a two year old. The breakthrough and the end of the trauma reactivated refrain was marked by her watching Groundhog Day movie and having the properly mind-blowing epiphany that THAT is what she had been doing all along.
She was living in Paris at the time. We were in California. She called me excited to tell me "It's over.. It will not repeat, ever again." It never did.. AND, the magic of the day I got that call was that we two, here in California were snuggled up in bed watching a movie of our own that very day: Groundhog Day!
And yes yes yes to where you wove this Tale for our Times.
Thank you for sharing that hopeful story!
PS the way you wove all this together reverberated through me as I rode my bike around town this afternoon.., found myself singing Bob Dylan
"You masters of war
You who build to destroy
You play with our world
like it's your little toy....."
I searched it up when I got home and found this:
"In the liner notes to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Dylan says of "Masters Of War": "I've never really written anything like that before. I don't sing songs which hope people will die, but I couldn't help it with this one. The song is a sort of striking out, a reaction to the last straw, a feeling of what can you do?"
Dylan would be labelled a conspiracy theorist if he released this song today. In it, he bitterly points the finger at hidden "masters" who manufacture wars for profit and gain."
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/bob-dylan/masters-of-war
wow! what a story! little winks from the universe. it's so delightful to hear them shared. thank you.
Yes. Especially in light of what the crazy spirit woman assured me: that prey animals CHOOSE to be eaten. I often joke with my friends that if I could choose my death it would be to be eaten by sharks. It would finally answer the question, “What would it be like to be eaten by a shark?” Maybe there’s some deep karmic wisdom to be derived from the experience? Also it addresses the issue of free will in non-human entities.
I went to read “Coming To” and realized I’d read it before. Still, I reread it and might do so once more. It failed to convince me that reincarnation is real, but through these two articles and our dialogue I realize that NEEDING to believe is an invitation to suffering (2nd Noble Truth). I do act as though my actions have consequences; whether those consequences manifest tomorrow or a thousand years from now is not really that important. I don’t spend my money on hookers and blow, not because I worry about my next life, but because I worry about the repercussions in this life. Where I end up in my next life doesn’t drive my behavior as much as where I’ll end up, mentally, tomorrow, next week, at the end of This Life.
So back to meat-eating… This is the only reason I NEED to believe in reincarnation, and that the animals I eat have chosen to be eaten. The only way to accommodate the violence of this world is to believe that there is some greater narrative that mitigates the suffering. Is it a fairy tale? Should I only eat rice? Do plants suffer? I NEED to know! Anyway, I’m upgrading to Paid not because I came out of this discussion believing in reincarnation, but because you’ve helped me accept that I can’t know, and that my approach to life is, in my own little way, based on karma (or my shallow understanding of it).
Interestingly, I was watching Celebrity Jeopardy last night after reading your yesterday’s post. One of the clues used the Ned Ryerson image you posted, for the question “What is Groundhog Day?” Cue the Twilight Zone theme!
What is convincing evidence to one person may be inadequate to another. I certainly don't expect anyone to believe in reincarnation because I do. And I do appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to read and reread my rationale.
So here's an interesting question for you: what would you need to see to convince you that it was real?
If I were to guess, nothing short of having your own experience in a lifetime where you had vivid memories of a previous life that could be confirmed by others would ever suffice. That's a very reasonable answer. The problem is that it is not possible in this lifetime, so there would be little need to keep searching for adequate evidence.
The reality is, we have the next best thing: children who are and have been having this experience. There is no reason why anyone should accept their testimonials as irrefutable proof. But it would beg the question, why dismiss them as inadequate from the jump unless you had a reason not to believe them?
In my opinion, you personally, would have something to gain in believing them as it would help to resolve your meat eating conundrum to some extent.
I also think that we could come together with a deeper understanding of who we are which may, over time, diffuse the antimony on the planet. So, it makes little sense to me to reject what evidence, flimsy and unreproducible as it is, from the start.
Of course, I have a relatively unique perspective on this, which was the them of the "coming to" piece. Consiciousness, which would be the fundamental aspect of a reincarnating soul, cannot be extinguished by anesthetic gases or clinical death. Perhaps this is why my belief in reincarnation is more resolute than for others.
To be convinced that reincarnation is real would require proof that I am real, that the terrycloth towel I dry my hands on is real… (I think about this every time I dry my hands for some reason.) I doubt my existence in the material world more and more! So I agree that proof will not be forthcoming. Regarding NDEs and past life recollections, the stumbling block for me is Joseph Campbell’s concept of the metamyth. We all have innate, atavistic , similar notions of what death is like, so the similarities of these experiences are not surprising.
Your anesthesia revelations are the best proof. That our corporeal bodies are vessels for our consciousness, and not the other way round, is a fascinating observation. I need to think on this. In the meantime I will act as though my actions have consequences, just to be safe. Like people who believe in God just in case he really exists.
Madhava, Excellent article. I place Groundhog Day as #1 in my pantheon of movies. It has more nuance and is more instructive than almost anyone realizes. Your summary is excellent (a few more viewings would be helpful for you...lol) and your conclusions also germane.
In the area of video games, you miss the granddaddy of all MMORPGs - Everquest. This was a PVE game where the only way to succeed was to band together to beat the game. People played for hours (sometimes 24 in a row) to rescue a fellow traveler who had been beaten at some remote location (Plane of Fear, anyone?) by monsters too horrible to mention. If not rescued by this group of strangers, all of the work in the toon would be lost. And people inevitably rose to the occasion. Those corpse recoveries were some of the most emotion-provoking experiences not only in video gaming but in life...hard to explain if you were not there, but true. Lots of great friendships/marriages/etc. came from those early games, before they all got too easy so people could make more money, etc.
But the interesting angle was the amount of investment in helping strangers (especially those in your group, but often just random ones) was far more than in any of today's games trying to kill each other. There is a lesson there somewhere.
I saw it in the movie theater when it came out. And I stayed to watch it again as a matter of fact!
Never heard of Everquest! Very nice.
There has been a very clear shift in terms of the violence in these things, especially for people who gamed 45 years ago. Weapons were fired upon rocks or alien ships which were more like symbols. Now kids are shooting images that look like people, gratuitously it seems. I don't think I would have found something like that fun when I was ten. We are being slowly programmed to deaden ourselves to violence and the taking of human life.
Thank you Madhava. I always enjoy your methodical discussions that offer with much clarity solutions or a point of view from your life experience, and how your thought process brought forth this solution of “peaceful non-compliance”. I’m a thankful fan and feel blessed that our paths crossed through the grace of conscious discourse. I discovered you in 2020, by reading your book “Woke”……when the world around me was not making sense.
Wow! 2020? You must have bought one of the three copies I sold that year ;-)!
Thank you for your interest in this newsletter, Krystal.
Wow - loved this entire writing! I felt like you grew up down the street from me w/the references to Friendly’s (my brother worked there), to Aladdin’s castle & asteroids (my other brother could’ve been your friend!), to Groundhog Day (my husbands favorite movie that I’ve seen so many times I feel it’s groundhog day!) I really enjoy your writings because I feel like I’ve been going through the same awakenings about this world as you have been and once you have the realization that everything we knew is in reality a matrix & manipulated by a cabal of evil doers you get a sense of helplessness. However this realization has only made my faith as a Christian even stronger as you realize that this world IS under the power of satan and our decisions & actions should be made not on success-happiness achieved in this world but on our life w/God in heaven. I take great comfort in knowing that Jesus has already overcome satan for our salvation - we’ve already won. We are given this opportunity to imitate Christ & love & treat our brothers as we would ourselves. Now is this limited to Christians (who actually may live quite selfish & sinful lives)? I don’t believe so. In Matthew 15:11 Jesus says “it is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one”. Therefore good/bad people can be found everywhere. But only God knows everything about an individual & what is in their heart & therefore he is the one & only final judge. Check out Matthew 14:24-30 The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat…let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “first collect the weeds & tie them in bundles for burning; but gather wheat into my barn.” As for living a sinful life & at the very end proclaiming your belief in Jesus Christ & asking forgiveness of your sins - I too struggled with the “unfairness” of feeling you get to have your cake & eat it too. This is demonstrated in the story of the prodigal son or story of the wealthy man that paid the same wage to the workers that started at 9am & the workers that started at 5pm. It’s all so unfair…but taking the high road you believe the point is to not be jealous of one’s good fortune - especially if there was no harm to you. I now understand that the true meaning is that there really is no happiness/fulfillment in the trappings of this world - wealth, power, beauty etc are nothing compared to the freedom from these trappings once you’ve experienced the love of God when you allow him to work through you in your life. As the father says to the complaining son who stayed behind & did not squander his inheritance on prostitutes, gambling, etc like his brother did “Son, you were always with me”. That my friend cannot compete with anything this world has to offer.
That last sentence didn’t sound right. This world cannot compete w/living a life in God’s love!
I don’t think we all have to agree on religion; what we have to do is learn to respect the differences between us not become a homogeneous whole for the sake of peace. That sounds like hell.
I certainly am not advocating for homogeneity. There is so much beauty in our different cultures and traditions which all contribute to the tapestry of humanity.
I do think that certain axioms held in certain religions drive wedges between us. For example the idea that we are, at our essence, sinners who require absolution. Or the idea of a chosen people in the eyes of a creator.
I think a chosen people is obviously BS as it’s pretty clear if God made all men equal he’s not going to elevate a certain group of man above the rest. That’s for sure , and only a demonic religious group would come to that conclusion upon connecting with God. Personally I think organised religion is too close to corruption as any group of humans organising others get too much power and they become corrupted hence I think people should feel free to interpret God and spirituality as they feel fit. Progression of humanity into a higher consciousness will not happen if we need to tell people what is and what isn’t; so I don’t think it’s at all advisable for us to come to a compromise or agreement on religious truths. If we can’t stop fighting about who’s right we don’t deserve to leave kindergarten. I personally am not religious because I don’t need a man to tell me how to worship or approach God.
100%
On one end you get holy wars, on the other end, cults.
Love what you said. "It was a risk either way." Security is an illusion.