reincarnationcafe

I'd like your thoughts on the possibility of parallel lives. I'll share mine first.

My thoughts are basic. First, the same reasonable methods of verifying a past life should be taken in verifying a parallel life.

Second, it might be better if an already existing orthodox religious doctrine can be cited to verify a commonly held belief, even if from another culture. It is my personal opinion that it is safer to base a claim that is already within the boundaries of an orthodox belief system. It is far more likely that someone, somewhere has reasonably experienced the same thing. That's why I suggest orthodoxy. Less chance of a woo-woo fringe.

Third, it's best to have a reasonable hypothesis at the ready. Taking it to the next level of evident theory may never happen. At least a reasonable explanation is enough to keep the possibility open.

Fourth, the mere possibility isn't proof nor truth. We're already facing this conundrum with past lives, in general. Bringing in the possibilities of parallel lives, walk-ins, split entities, soul groups, twin flames, incarnated deities, indigo/crystal/rainbow children, children of the corn, higher selves, avatars, whatever those are, ascended masters, archtypes, counterparts, auto parts, a shout-out to our resident CSI enthusiast, inter-specieal incarnation, extra-special incarnations, etc. can be a bit hard to believe in without a reason to believe in it. Personally, I continue to believe in reincarnation for one reason. I find it is momentarily the best way to explain certain anamalous memories that I otherwise have had little success in placing.

I think the adopted code of William of Occam says it best. To paraphrase, if in its simplest form a notion appears evident, it probably is.

To give my personal opinion for the best evidence, if it can be proven that a human being can exist in two places at the same time, relatively, then the possibility of the existence of parallel lifetimes would have a platform.

I've never really believed in it.

One soul split into multiple parts while incarnate is referred to, last I checked, as "multiple personality disorder." It is an extreme coping strategy caused by extreme trauma or abuse.

One soul occupying more than one body to me raises the question of: do you have to operate two pairs of hands, feet, legs, arms, and all the other parts of the anatomy, simultaneously? Receive two separate streams of information from two different sets of senses, simultaneously? How does one manage that? (I've never heard or read an account.)

Or is it a matter of timesharing? If so, while the soul is running one body, what happens to the other? Seems to me, without consciousness, it would have to be unconscious.

Just a few thoughts.

And a question for anyone who knows... where did the idea of parallel lives originate?

Warmly,
Karen

Personally, ive never really believed in it either, although I'm not going to dis anyone who does.

However, I have never, personally found any conclusive evidence that I myself, or anyone else that I know has lived a parallel life.

Also, I have noticed on other forums, oftemtimes parallel lives are used as a crutch for when someone has memories from two lifetimes that conclusively had to take place at the same time, or there is some sort of overlap (i.e. in order for everything to chk out you would have had to be born 5 years before you died or something like that).

Now instead of looking at that situation and trying to work things out and figure out why there is an overlap (oftentimes it is simply a fascination or obsession with something as a child- i.e. when I was growing up in the 1950's I was really, really into the AVG and the Flying Tigers because my Father had been a part of that unit (although as ground crew) during the war. That made things kinda fun this time around because I was remembering that fascination when I knew that I had been somewhere else during that time. It was really rather confusing until I actually sat down and looked at things).

In any situation like that, where you have a difinitive overlap, IMHO, it is a lot easier to take the first door and say that because you have these memories it must be a parallel life that to wade into things and figure out why they are there.

Just IMHO. Like I said, personally, I havent seen anything to convince me, but then again, I also know that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in my philosophy (Gee, do I owe Sandra 50 cents now? ) So it could be, but as of right now, I remain doubtful as to their validity.

Wilhelm

I am new to this forum but I felt I had to sign up just to reply to this. I don't have the luxury of writing off this idea, and I hope maybe I can shed some light on the subject.

Karen said: "One soul split into multiple parts while incarnate is referred to, last I checked, as "multiple personality disorder." It is an extreme coping strategy caused by extreme trauma or abuse."

I totally agree with you on this. There are lots of beliefs out there that make plain ol' reincarnation look downright dull. It's frustrating that mental illness can be interpreted as anything metaphysical. That's what kept progress in that area from being made for so long - they weren't seen as ill, but as possessed, or some such nonsense.

"One soul occupying more than one body to me raises the question of: do you have to operate two pairs of hands, feet, legs, arms, and all the other parts of the anatomy, simultaneously? Receive two separate streams of information from two different sets of senses, simultaneously? How does one manage that? (I've never heard or read an account.)"

This part made me laugh, no offense. I understand that all time is supposed to be simultaneous, but that is from the grand view. we all have our own little linear timeline of experience, do we not? that is how it works. I was born here when the other me was a little over 40. I lived through the 90s twice! But to me there was time in between, where I grew old and died, then went backwards.... Lord, how I wish I could explain that one! All I do is go back to that all-time-is-one thing. Just, not to the individual point of view. The nature of consciousness dictates that we must experience one event at a time. I like to think of it as a well-cut gemstone - it has many different facets, but we are limited in our viewpoint and can only see a few at a time at best. we can sense that the others are there, but we can't experience every side of things all at once.

"Or is it a matter of timesharing? If so, while the soul is running one body, what happens to the other? Seems to me, without consciousness, it would have to be unconscious."

Like I said, from my perspective, it is possible to be in two places at once. If we were to run into each other, I would know him but he wouldn't know me; for him I haven't happened yet. Maybe there would be some form of recognition, I don't know. I've never had the opportunity to find out. We were within 500 feet of each other once. that was a very surreal experience. He didn't see me and for him it was just another day, so I don't have recollections of it from that end.

Just a little add-on - I have successfully predicted the last 3 US presidential election outcomes (before that I wasn't thinking about it) weeks in advance. Why not further? you may ask. Well, imagine watching a film that you know you saw before, but don't remember all of it terribly well. It's like that. I wasn't close enough to where I am now before to do anything less high-profile.

"Just a few thoughts."

and very interesting ones, too.

"And a question for anyone who knows... where did the idea of parallel lives originate?"

I can only speak for myself - it originated for me out of necessity. I have strong, clear, spontaneous recollections (some of them ridiculously specific) of someone who is still alive, all from 1st-person. I feel very strongly that that was me. There have been details and personality traits that made me doubt myself, only to find out later that they were spot on. What other explanation is there?

I had thought that the present incarnation of my past life husband Nino may have been a parallel of self, because he was too close to call. I kept thinking he was Shakespeare as well, and couldn't stop that feeling; but new information came this week, in a dream, which made sense - he was Shakespeare - just that he was Ned, the younger brother, not Will! I can never rush these things, the memories come when they will.

I still believe it is possible we divide our soulstuff over time. This is what a spirit guide showed me - that the universal consciousness divides into branches that creates new ways of experiencing all things, but that we all stay tied to one another. But I am finding that I have yet to find any solid verification that supports that feeling, and may not be able to sort out that weird relationship we all have, of being separate yet coming from the same source...