ghengis

For a long time the concept of reincarnation has been a mystical or religious one.

The question many people ask is "If I had a previous life, why can I not remember it?". The answer is that some people can. There are numerous modern books written on the subject. Of particular interest are a couple of recent books concerning peoples memories of the state between death and re-birth :

• Dolores Cannon - Conversations with a Spirit
  
• Michael Newton - Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives
  

Both these books are based on information gathered during Hypnosis Regression on many people. Some interesting concepts are suggested by these books which may answer some of the questions of the original post:

• We are our own “Judge” - our Higher Self decides when we come back
  
• The reason we come back is the ability to progress spiritually
  
• An 'easy life' where you learn nothing is less useful than a 'difficult life' where you make a lot of spiritual progress
  
• We have known many of the 'significant people in our lives' in previous lives (soul group)
  
• The way karma is worked off is different than many people think - If you do something bad to someone, in a future life you may end up having to take care of that person in some way (rather than they do something bad back to you)
  

Of the concept of heaven and he1l. One interesting question for people to think about - If enlightenment is a state of pure bliss, then anything less is infinitely worse. Being in a state of ignorance (un-enlightened) is therefore 'a kind of he1l'. What makes you think that you are not already in he1l?

The UK government is trying to prevent people marrying on Visitor Visas, like this couple in the story below. Those that do are having a hard time.

Reprieve for expelled Thai wife

LOVELORN Ralph Oakes-Garnett was celebrating today after being told that his Thai wife will be allowed to return to Britain.

Ex-nurse Ralph, 52, advanced his marriage to Salisa Yucharoen when they discovered she was having a baby last year.

But he and their now seven-month-old son, Varich, were left in Britain when Salisa was told to return to Bangkok while officials decided whether to grant her a settlement visa.

Now Thai authorities have said she will be allowed back to live with Ralph at Diggle, Saddleworth, Oldham, for at least two years. Ralph hopes she will then be allowed to stay permanently.

He told the M.E.N: "She can come home straight away. I'm so glad it's all been sorted out. We went through h ell."

Ralph, who used to manage an intensive-care unit, was introduced to hairdresser Salisa, 36, by a friend while visiting Thailand in 2001.

They travelled around the country together and she kept in touch after he returned to Britain some months later.

Romance blossomed when he revisited Thailand and Salisa realised she was having a baby when she came to Britain on a short-term visa last year. She had signed an official undertaking not to marry after leaving her home city of Trat.

But the couple decided to advance their marriage, and wed in Oldham last March after a three-year courtship.

Now Ralph is waiting to see if Salisa's two other children, Ice and Meow, will be allowede to join them in Diggle.

A Home Office spokesman said people were given clear advice about which visa to seek before entering Britain.

Dean Kirby

From the Manchester News - 4 Jun 2004

Nirvana

Speaking as someone who has meditated every day for the last 33 years, I would say that the concept of Nirvana is something you cannot understand without some deep inner spiritual experience.

It relates to the 'small self' and the 'cosmic Self' (also known as Sat Chit Ananda or eternal bliss consciousness). The cosmic self can be experienced through meditation. However, the experience is transient. If and when the experience becomes permanent this is known as 'enlightenment' and the state of Nirvana is reached.

At this point the circle of reincarnation is broken.