Reincarnation: The Scientific Evidence

Transmigration ofTransmigration of
SoulsSouls
Research Methods, Findings,Research Methods, Findings,
MetaphysicsMetaphysics
Kindly silence all cell phones and alarmKindly silence all cell phones and alarm
devicesdevices

 Course GuideCourse Guide
 Reincarnation: A Survey ofReincarnation: A Survey of
Scientific EvidenceScientific Evidence
 Spring, 2010Spring, 2010

 Instructor: Allen Ernst, MSInstructor: Allen Ernst, MS
 Section: PSYC 104 E01Section: PSYC 104 E01
Office Room: WCCU 1860Office Room: WCCU 1860
 Days: W 5:30 pm-7:00 pm; no class onDays: W 5:30 pm-7:00 pm; no class on
3/243/24 Phone: 303-325-6895Phone: 303-325-6895
 Classroom: SJC Room 1908Classroom: SJC Room 1908

 E-mail:E-mail: ernsta@sanjuancollege.eduernsta@sanjuancollege.edu
 SUGGESTED TEXT: LIFE BEFORESUGGESTED TEXT: LIFE BEFORE
LIFE: CHILDREN'S MEMORIES OFLIFE: CHILDREN'S MEMORIES OF
PREVIOUS LIVES, JIM B. TUCKER,PREVIOUS LIVES, JIM B. TUCKER,
ISBN-10: 031237674X OR ISBN-13: 978-ISBN-10: 031237674X OR ISBN-13: 978-
0312376741; AVAILABLE ONLINE.0312376741; AVAILABLE ONLINE.
 Description: We explore theDescription: We explore the
research and experimental designsresearch and experimental designs
over the last century, review caseover the last century, review case
studies for validity, consider rebirthstudies for validity, consider rebirth
ideas around the world, andideas around the world, and
experience an appropriateexperience an appropriate
consensual group exercise.consensual group exercise.

 ADA ACCOMMODATIONS:ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: StudentsStudents
who believe they may need academicwho believe they may need academic
accommodations due to physical,accommodations due to physical,
psychiatric or learning disabilities arepsychiatric or learning disabilities are
encouraged to inform their appropriateencouraged to inform their appropriate
faculty as soon as possible. If you havefaculty as soon as possible. If you have
special needs for campus emergencyspecial needs for campus emergency
situations, please inform us immediately. Ifsituations, please inform us immediately. If
you have not already done so, we suggestyou have not already done so, we suggest
you contact Jackie McFarland in theyou contact Jackie McFarland in the
Advising/Counseling Center at (505)566-Advising/Counseling Center at (505)566-
3271 or at3271 or at
mcfarlandj@sanjuancollege.edumcfarlandj@sanjuancollege.edu

SCHEDULE MATRIX
WEEK LECTURE CONTENT READING TESTING
1 FEB. 17 COURSE OVERVIEW; REINCARNATION DEFINED; WORLD PREVALENCE; DEJA-VU
VALIDITY AND DEJA-VU VIDEO
CHAPTER 1
2 FEB. 24 HYPNOTIC REGRESSION: DISASTERS AND BREAKTHROUGHS SNOW HANDOUT
3 MAR. 03 CHILDREN AND SPONTANEOUS RECALL CHAPTERS 2,5
4 MAR. 10 ODD BEHAVIORS, RECOGNITION, CHAPTERS 6,7
5 MAR. 17 BIRTH MARK & DEFECT EVIDENCE CHAPTER 4,9 QUIZ I
SPRING HOLIDAY AND SPRING BREAK
6 MAR. 31 THE PAST LIFE EXPERIMENT AND XENOGLOSSY HANDOUT, CH. 10
7 APR. 07 INTERREGNUM: BETWEEN LIVES CHAPTER 8
8 APR. 14 THEODICY: REINCARNATION & THE PROBLEM OF EVIL HERMAN HANDOUT
9 APR. 21 GROUP EXERCISE—TO BE ANNOUNCED
10 APR. 28 EXERCISE: PLAN OUR NEXT LIFE KIT & WRAP-UP NEXT LIFE KIT QUIZ II

Reincarnation- World PrevalenceReincarnation- World Prevalence
23%
26% 29%
12%
78%

Review of Types of EvidenceReview of Types of Evidence
 DDééjjà Vuà Vu
 Hypnotic RegressionHypnotic Regression
 Xenoglossy (tongues)Xenoglossy (tongues)
 Spontaneous RecallSpontaneous Recall
 Birthmark CorrelatesBirthmark Correlates
 Past Life ExperimentPast Life Experiment

Déjà Vu: Who Were You?Déjà Vu: Who Were You?
 ““A sense of preexistence”-William JamesA sense of preexistence”-William James
 Sense of “emotional weirdness”Sense of “emotional weirdness”
 Evoked by stimuli--situationalEvoked by stimuli--situational
 SpontaneousSpontaneous
 Sensory information processed at differentSensory information processed at different
timestimes
 ButBut--no veridical evidence--no veridical evidence

déjà vu—Jeffrey Keenedéjà vu—Jeffrey Keene
 Jeffrey Keene; Firefighter for 35 YearsJeffrey Keene; Firefighter for 35 Years
 Drawn to nearby battlefield at AntietamDrawn to nearby battlefield at Antietam
 Stimulus: Arrived at “sunken road”Stimulus: Arrived at “sunken road”
 Had a strong, undefined reactionHad a strong, undefined reaction
 Found past-life personalityFound past-life personality
 Possible evidential materialPossible evidential material
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQHp9bGVDB8&feature=related

Call for Socratic Debate
Déjà Vu

Past Life RegressionPast Life Regression
 Hypnosis to age regression and beyondHypnosis to age regression and beyond
 Within lifetime age regression and lawWithin lifetime age regression and law
enforcement and jurisprudenceenforcement and jurisprudence
 Subject wants to please experimenterSubject wants to please experimenter
 Leading questions and innuendoesLeading questions and innuendoes
 Reports of sexual abuses from “therapy”Reports of sexual abuses from “therapy”
 WebsiteWebsite

Past Life Regression: The case ofPast Life Regression: The case of
Bridey MurphyBridey Murphy
 Morey Bernstein and Virginia TigheMorey Bernstein and Virginia Tighe
Searching for Bridey Murphy,Searching for Bridey Murphy,
 ““Bridey” emerged from regression, gaveBridey” emerged from regression, gave
biographical data in 1952biographical data in 1952
 ““Data” matched neighbor Bridie MurphyData” matched neighbor Bridie Murphy
CorkellCorkell
 ““Data” possibly gleaned from two half-IrishData” possibly gleaned from two half-Irish
parentsparents
 Few veridical matches from IrelandFew veridical matches from Ireland

Morris Netherton, PhD.Morris Netherton, PhD.
 Past Lives Therapy,Past Lives Therapy, 19781978
 Director, Crisis InterventionDirector, Crisis Intervention
ProgramProgram
 Seminar and motivationalSeminar and motivational
speaker, regressionspeaker, regression
therapisttherapist
 Public demonstration, ValPublic demonstration, Val
Morin, Quebec, 1988Morin, Quebec, 1988
 Historical anachronismsHistorical anachronisms
 Efficacy of TherapyEfficacy of Therapy

Looking for Carroll BeckwithLooking for Carroll Beckwith
 Robert L. Snow, Capt. IndianapolisRobert L. Snow, Capt. Indianapolis
Homicide DivisionHomicide Division
 One regression sessionOne regression session
 Three experiential personas foundThree experiential personas found
 One traceable to veridical evidenceOne traceable to veridical evidence
 Appeared to be artist in 1800’sAppeared to be artist in 1800’s
 Enumerated 28 observationsEnumerated 28 observations
 Located a painting, ID’d artistLocated a painting, ID’d artist
 Matched observations to archivedMatched observations to archived
news clippings and diariesnews clippings and diaries

Past Life Regression TherapyPast Life Regression Therapy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCT1c9Wkswohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCT1c9Wkswo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhI4TPB-
uUY&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhI4TPB-
uUY&feature=related

Hypnotic Regression

• Definition: The speaking of languages unknown
to the subject in their normal state.
• Recitive xenoglossy: Simple recitation of words
or word strings
• Responsive xenoglossy: Subject is able to
respond to questions or converse with the
researcher
• Modes: Q’s in native tongue, responses in
unknown tongue
Xenoglossy (Tongues)

Xenoglossy: TypesXenoglossy: Types
 Modes, cont’d: Q’s posed in unknownModes, cont’d: Q’s posed in unknown
tongue(s), responses in unknown tonguestongue(s), responses in unknown tongues
 Q’s posed in unknown tongues, subject’sQ’s posed in unknown tongues, subject’s
responses in native tongueresponses in native tongue
EvidenceEvidence
 Earwitness accountsEarwitness accounts
 RecordingsRecordings
Linguistic AnalysisLinguistic Analysis
 What language?What language?
 Is speech appropriate to historical period?Is speech appropriate to historical period?

Xenoglossy: TypesXenoglossy: Types
 Linguistic analysis cont’dLinguistic analysis cont’d
 Is speech appropriate to social class?Is speech appropriate to social class?
Rival TheoriesRival Theories
 Learned from environmentLearned from environment
 PossessionPossession
 Extra Sensory PerceptionExtra Sensory Perception
 Wants to please the experimenter in hypn.Wants to please the experimenter in hypn.
 Racial memoryRacial memory
 Discarnate entityDiscarnate entity

Xenoglossy: The case ofXenoglossy: The case of
“Rosemary”“Rosemary”
 Frederick H. Wood and “Rosemary” inFrederick H. Wood and “Rosemary” in TheThe
Egyptian MiracleEgyptian Miracle in 1939in 1939
 Wood was researcher for The Society forWood was researcher for The Society for
Psychic ResearchPsychic Research
 ““Rosemary was an anonymous woman inRosemary was an anonymous woman in
England, was subject in hypnoticEngland, was subject in hypnotic
regressionregression
 1,000 language tests by Mr. Hulme1,000 language tests by Mr. Hulme
 Recitative xenoglossy at firstRecitative xenoglossy at first
 Responsive xenoglossy, all modesResponsive xenoglossy, all modes

Xenoglossy: The case ofXenoglossy: The case of
“Rosemary”“Rosemary”
 Language: Ancient EgyptianLanguage: Ancient Egyptian
 Speech appropriate to XXVIII DynastySpeech appropriate to XXVIII Dynasty
 Vocab. Appropriate for social classVocab. Appropriate for social class
 However, scholars have no record ofHowever, scholars have no record of
spoken Ancient Egyptianspoken Ancient Egyptian
 Subject had no Egyptian backgroundSubject had no Egyptian background
Rival TheoriesRival Theories
Possession? ESP? Discarnate entity?Possession? ESP? Discarnate entity?

Hypnotic Regression: DisastersHypnotic Regression: Disasters
Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuse
Hypnotically implanted memoriesHypnotically implanted memories
Clever HansClever Hans

 Clever HansClever Hans was a horse that waswas a horse that was
claimed to have been able to performclaimed to have been able to perform
arithmetic and other intellectual tasks.arithmetic and other intellectual tasks.
After formal
investigation in 1907,
psychologist Oskar
Pfungst
demonstrated that
the horse was not
actually performing
these mental tasks,
but was watching the
reaction of his human
observers.

Hypnotically implanted memories E. LoftusHypnotically implanted memories E. Loftus

Three Levels of IntermissionsThree Levels of Intermissions
Population I: General evolution; noPopulation I: General evolution; no
individual life plan; undirected and shortindividual life plan; undirected and short
intermission; a new life close to the old inintermission; a new life close to the old in
time and distancetime and distance
Population II: Personal development; aPopulation II: Personal development; a
personal life plan with mainly personalpersonal life plan with mainly personal
development goals and personaldevelopment goals and personal
settlement of karmic relations; somesettlement of karmic relations; some
retrospect; some consultation and someretrospect; some consultation and some
foresight in the intermission; awareness offoresight in the intermission; awareness of

Three Levels of IntermissionsThree Levels of Intermissions
Population II: the intermission; personal tiesPopulation II: the intermission; personal ties
with other peoplewith other people
Population III: Personal contribution toPopulation III: Personal contribution to
greater developments; personal learninggreater developments; personal learning
and working objectives; consciousand working objectives; conscious
deliberation in the intermission; at times adeliberation in the intermission; at times a
guide for incarnates; a new life linked toguide for incarnates; a new life linked to
friends and associates; rein. As a freefriends and associates; rein. As a free
choicechoice

Ian Stevenson, M.D.Ian Stevenson, M.D.
 U. Virginia PsychiatryU. Virginia Psychiatry
 Compiled 2500 casesCompiled 2500 cases
 Spontaneous recallSpontaneous recall
 Birthmark correlatesBirthmark correlates
 290 Publications290 Publications
 Collected cases inCollected cases in
India, Thailand,India, Thailand,
Lebanon, USA, SriLebanon, USA, Sri
Lanka, BurmaLanka, Burma

Spontaneous Recall-MethodologySpontaneous Recall-Methodology
 Qualify a prospective caseQualify a prospective case
 Standardized interview for subjectStandardized interview for subject
 Interview family of present personalityInterview family of present personality
 Interview family of past personalityInterview family of past personality
 Other firsthand witnessesOther firsthand witnesses
 Ferret out prior knowledgeFerret out prior knowledge
 Observations of unusual behavior by Sub.Observations of unusual behavior by Sub.
 Correlate Sub’s reports with known factsCorrelate Sub’s reports with known facts

Case Study: Hanan MansourCase Study: Hanan Mansour
 Farouk & Hanan Mansour lived inFarouk & Hanan Mansour lived in
LebanonLebanon
 Hanan dies in USA—Tries to contact LeilaHanan dies in USA—Tries to contact Leila
 Farouk remarries to GalarehFarouk remarries to Galareh
 Suzanne Ghanem—recollection in infancySuzanne Ghanem—recollection in infancy
 Meets Farouk, family, utterances correlateMeets Farouk, family, utterances correlate
 Suzanne Ghanem & Farouk—close tiesSuzanne Ghanem & Farouk—close ties
 Family discord with GalarehFamily discord with Galareh
 General family discordGeneral family discord
 Suzanne Ghanem never marriesSuzanne Ghanem never marries

Suzanne Ghanem age 1 & 7Suzanne Ghanem age 1 & 7

Hanan Mansour & Suzanne GhanemHanan Mansour & Suzanne Ghanem

Is this Attention-Seeking?Is this Attention-Seeking?
 10 Days between death and birth10 Days between death and birth
 Anxious intrusions in infancyAnxious intrusions in infancy
 Sadness in childhoodSadness in childhood
 Friction in “second” birth familyFriction in “second” birth family
 Violated social norms in “first” familyViolated social norms in “first” family
 Upset Mr. Mansour’s second wifeUpset Mr. Mansour’s second wife
 Subject “jilted” by second wifeSubject “jilted” by second wife
 Subject never married in this lifeSubject never married in this life

Stevenson’s sample featuresStevenson’s sample features
 29-78% subjects—Previous Pers. Violent death; this vs.29-78% subjects—Previous Pers. Violent death; this vs.
5-6% of normal population5-6% of normal population
 51% solved, 49% unsolved51% solved, 49% unsolved
 Most common mode: homicideMost common mode: homicide
 Previous & Present Personalities lived 45 km apartPrevious & Present Personalities lived 45 km apart
 Previous Personality more frequently higher castePrevious Personality more frequently higher caste
 Interviewed subject 18 mos. after the previous P. andInterviewed subject 18 mos. after the previous P. and
Present P.’s families metPresent P.’s families met
 Families met: 77% statement accuracyFamilies met: 77% statement accuracy
 Did not meet 78% statements correctDid not meet 78% statements correct
 Recall statements: average range 3-8 years oldRecall statements: average range 3-8 years old
 Phobias: 50% from violent death sample of 252 casesPhobias: 50% from violent death sample of 252 cases
 27% of subject’s mothers and 23% fathers suppressed27% of subject’s mothers and 23% fathers suppressed
 Of 616 cases, rebirth interval is 15 monthsOf 616 cases, rebirth interval is 15 months

Spontaneous Recall
RivalTheories?

Birthmarks and DeformitiesBirthmarks and Deformities
 Experimental Birthmarks:Experimental Birthmarks:
 Family marks dying or dead,Family marks dying or dead,
often with soot or pasteoften with soot or paste
 Marker often says a prayerMarker often says a prayer
while marking, asking thewhile marking, asking the
mark be taken to a new bodymark be taken to a new body
 A child is later born in theA child is later born in the
community with a matchingcommunity with a matching
mark in the same locationmark in the same location
 15/18 cases same family15/18 cases same family
 Practiced in Burma, ThailandPracticed in Burma, Thailand

Jim B. Tucker, M.D.Jim B. Tucker, M.D.
 Child Psychiatrist, U. ofChild Psychiatrist, U. of
VirginiaVirginia
 Meta-analysis of StevensonMeta-analysis of Stevenson
datadata
 Causal effects of birthmarkCausal effects of birthmark
datadata
 Collected data from USACollected data from USA

Case Study: Purnima EkanayakeCase Study: Purnima Ekanayake
 Birthmarks; carryover from past traumaBirthmarks; carryover from past trauma
 Female, born in Sri LankaFemale, born in Sri Lanka
 Recognized Kelaniya temple on TVRecognized Kelaniya temple on TV
 Temple site evoked Past Personality dataTemple site evoked Past Personality data
 Lived on other side of river from templeLived on other side of river from temple
 Made Ambiga and Geta Pichcha incenseMade Ambiga and Geta Pichcha incense
 Sold incense sticks on a bicycleSold incense sticks on a bicycle
 Killed in an accident with a big vehicleKilled in an accident with a big vehicle
 20 statements: 14 correct, 3 misses20 statements: 14 correct, 3 misses

Purnima Ekanayake cont’d.Purnima Ekanayake cont’d.
 Past Personality (Jinadasa) autopsyPast Personality (Jinadasa) autopsy
report:report:
 Fractured ribs L, ruptured spleen,Fractured ribs L, ruptured spleen,
abrasions running diagonally R shoulderabrasions running diagonally R shoulder
to L abdomento L abdomen
 Corresponded to birthmarks over chestCorresponded to birthmarks over chest
and ribs in Present Personality (Purnima)and ribs in Present Personality (Purnima)
 35% of Subjects show phobia related to a35% of Subjects show phobia related to a
previous life.previous life.
 According to the NIMH, between 8.7% andAccording to the NIMH, between 8.7% and

Figure 8. Severely malformed ear
(microtia) in a Turkish boy
who said that he remembered the life of a
man who was
fatally wounded on the right side of the
head by a gun
discharged at close range.

Figure 3. Large verrucous epidermal
nevus on head of a
Thai man who as a child said he
remembered the life of his
paternal uncle, who was killed with a blow
on the head from
a heavy knife.

Figure 9. Almost absent fingers
(brachydactyly) on one
hand in a boy of India who said he
remembered the life of a
boy of another village who had put his
hand into the blades
of a fodder-chopping machine and had its
fingers amputated

Birthmark Correlates
RivalTheories?

The Past LifeThe Past Life
ExperimentExperiment
•Recap:
•Carry over conscious
memories
•Carry over birthmarks
and deformities
•Carry over emotions
and phobias
•BUT What is the
vehicle?

The Past LifeThe Past Life
Experiment:Experiment:
ExperimentalExperimental
DesignDesign
•Subject in Blue Light
•Shroud covers torso
•Musical selection
plays
•Observers call out
visual impressions

MyMy
ObservationsObservations
• Did not call out my
observations
• Looked away once
• Rested eyes
• Image duration:
Approx. 2 minutes

Observations ofObservations of
anotheranother
observerobserver
• He called out only
after I saw the image
• Two other observer
clusters, but each
with entirely different
observations

Energy Envelope ExperimentEnergy Envelope Experiment
 Hands unfolded in lapHands unfolded in lap
 Feet flat on the floor, 6 inches apartFeet flat on the floor, 6 inches apart

Past Life Experiment
RivalTheories?

St and and Del i ver :St and and Del i ver :
Have we a Unified Theory??Have we a Unified Theory??
Ticklers:Ticklers:
 Is the processIs the process
predestined or willful?predestined or willful?
 Announcing dreamsAnnouncing dreams
 BirthmarksBirthmarks
 Stated purpose forStated purpose for
choosing a familychoosing a family
 What happened toWhat happened to
Karma?Karma?

Your Next Life:Your Next Life:
Planning Your FuturePlanning Your Future

Three Reincarnation PatternsThree Reincarnation Patterns
 Population I:Population I:
 General evolutionGeneral evolution
 NO individual L.P.NO individual L.P.
 Undirected andUndirected and
short interregnumshort interregnum
 A new life close toA new life close to
old in time andold in time and
distancedistance
 Population II:Population II:
 Personal develop.Personal develop.
 Personal L.P.Personal L.P.
 Personal devPersonal dev
GoalsGoals
 Settlement ofSettlement of
Karmic relationsKarmic relations
 SomeSome
retrospectionretrospection
 Some consultationSome consultation

Population III: WherePopulation III: Where YouYou Want toWant to
Be!Be!
 Personal contribution to greater developmentPersonal contribution to greater development
 Personal learning and working objectivesPersonal learning and working objectives
 Conscious deliberation in the InterregnumConscious deliberation in the Interregnum
 At times a guide for incarnatesAt times a guide for incarnates
 A new life linked to those of friends andA new life linked to those of friends and
associatesassociates
 Reincarnation as a free choiceReincarnation as a free choice

Your Balance SheetYour Balance Sheet
 AssetsAssets
 Devel. intelligenceDevel. intelligence
 Moral sense andMoral sense and
competencecompetence
 Relations ofRelations of
respect,respect,
acceptance, trustacceptance, trust
 Meritorious actsMeritorious acts
 LiabilitesLiabilites
 Karmic relationsKarmic relations
 TraumasTraumas
 PsychologicalPsychological
reactionsreactions
 Abuse of powerAbuse of power
 RemedialRemedial
interventionsinterventions
 Complicated relat.Complicated relat.

Intervals between RebirthsIntervals between Rebirths
The EndThe End
Thank You All for Coming!Thank You All for Coming!

Some of Robert Snow’s ItemsSome of Robert Snow’s Items
 1. Did he paint the portrait of the1. Did he paint the portrait of the
woman with the hunchback?woman with the hunchback?
 2. Did he die in 1917?2. Did he die in 1917?
 3. Did he die in the fall of the year?3. Did he die in the fall of the year?
 4. Did he die in a large city?4. Did he die in a large city?
 5. Did he live during the 195. Did he live during the 19thth
Century?Century?
 6. Did he and his wife spend some6. Did he and his wife spend some
time in France?time in France?
 8. Did he paint portraits but hate8. Did he paint portraits but hate
doing it?doing it?

Reincarnation: The Scientific Evidence

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