~ Dec 2004 ~
The Conference this year was lead by Jim Pym, a Quaker and Buddhist, who has studied the subject from scientific and esoteric points of view, and has a wide knowledge of world religions. He believes that the human brain cannot cope with infinity or eternity and we therefore cannot say that there is an answer to the question of reincarnation, but that there are answers. First he posed some questions and gave an example. What is it that might re-incarnate? Is it similar to a seed? A system of memory? Is it semi-physical? What might go into a new body? What is the bridge or link between the incarnations? Is reincarnation only concerned with being reborn in a human body in this world? Imagine an orange held above a table. Put segments of the orange down on the table and then take them away again. Has the whole orange been on the table or just one segment? We found ourselves in the area of “both are true, neither is true”. Group souls? Twin souls? Separate beings or part of an orange? Reincarnation may not be linear. Incarnations may be happening at the same time. The more practical souls amongst us felt that it was all beyond our comprehension and not really that important in the here and now, others enjoyed the philosophical arguments. It was inevitably that sort of weekend. Re-incarnation is a widely held belief with variations existing
in the different faiths and ethnic groupings. Orthodox Judaism
accepts it and it is mentioned in the Torah. The Jains believe
that the spirit enters the foetus at a certain time in the pregnancy.
The Druse in Lebanon believe that reincarnation is instantaneous.
Reincarnation was a belief held in the early Christian Church.
In about 350 CE there was an Ecumenical Council which declared
such a belief to be anathema. This had to do with the question
of the power of the Church over individuals. The Celtic Church
also accepted reincarnation, but this was overthrown at the Synod
of Whitby, where Britain accepted the Roman tradition rather than
the native Celtic one. Ngawang explained a little about the Tibetan Book of the Dead which was translated by Evans Wentz in 1935 following the translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead by Howard Carter. It dates back to the eighth century and is a set of instructions designed to help a person escape rebirth. Life is unsatisfactory and the book encourages abandonment of grasping and the all-desiring mind which chains us to physical existence. Great blessings can result from reading, hearing and even seeing the book. Although we are bound by our karma, the practices contained in the book can help us overcome it to some extent. The book is designed to be read to a dying person. Through hearing the descriptions of the dying and after-death states, they are able to understand the experiences to be undergone. These are similar in many ways to those described by people who have gone through near death experiences, though they are cloaked in Tibetan symbolism. They are told they will experience various lights, colours, etc, and see various beings both compassionate and wrathful. The book explains that these are only manifestations of the mind and the reality is the Great Compassion or Buddha Nature. The dying person is encouraged to have strong focus, clarity and concentration on the outcome. A calm state of mind will help someone who is dying. In looking at the question from a scientific point of view, one fertile area lies in the study of cases which are difficult to explain in any way except as reincarnational experiences. We heard particularly about the greatest researcher of this phenomenon, Ian Stevenson. Professor Stevenson has made the collecting, categorizing and disseminating of data his life’s work. His funds come from one source and his work, though meticulous, is ignored by many scientists in a most unscientific fashion. Stevenson particularly researches cases of young children, usually of Indian families, who remember powerfully and insistently another recent existence. They frequently take their parents to the location they remember and are able to describe it accurately though never having visited it in this life. It is admitted that these memories could be brought about by overshadowing by a discarnate being. However, when these children have birthmarks which correspond to wounds that the deceased person died from, made by bullet or knife, then it is more difficult to argue against reincarnation. Jim told of having seen films of children together with police records of their earlier lives, which he found to be the most persuasive argument in favour of reincarnation. More information is provided on the website www.childpastlives.org. Books on the table for browsing included During the weekend we watched two videos. One was about Near Death Experiences and was a compilation of the experiences of many people told in their own words. The cumulative effect of hearing similar stories repeated over and over again is very convincing and reassuring. The contributors seemed genuine and spoke movingly. All said that their fear of death has gone since their experience and that their appreciation and understanding of life is much deeper and richer. For each of them the NDE stood out as a watershed in their lives. The second video was about the search for the reincarnation of a Buddhist Rinpoche or Incarnate Lama. The little four year old boy born to Buddhist parents in Tibet was found and recognised as the reincarnation of the abbot of a Monastery in India, over which he had presided after the monks escaped from Tibet. Not everyone at the conference was happy at seeing the little boy removed from his parents, though differences in culture were accepted and it was stressed that had not border crossing restrictions imposed by the Chinese prevented it, his parents would have gone with him and lived nearby. He seemed to leave happily enough and was certainly a remarkably composed child who was reputed to love monks and praying. On the journey to the monastery, he quickly formed (or re-formed) a deep attachment to the monk who had been his close companion in the previous life. The fate of the Buddhists under Chinese domination formed a poignant background to the story. Jim wisely said that perhaps the purpose of the conference (and indeed life!) is to ask questions. If we found all the answers our search would stop and with it our development. The questions are the positive element and the answer lies in growth and continued exploration. So we left for home with much to reflect on. As always at QFAS conferences it is the spaces between the events on the programme which give us important opportunities to deepen our contacts with each other. QFAS has been in existence for only four years but already those fortunate enough to be able to travel to meet one another are forming a community and recognising each other as “old faces”. Here are some of the reactions of those present: First, from two newcomers – “The course was well organised and controlled without being
restrictive. Good balanced presentation by Jim Pym who has a vast
overall knowledge of the subject matter. And - “I have really enjoyed this weekend and am really glad that I decided to come. Being able to meet all the other participants was a privilege. It was very well organised. These events are always a starting point, and I am sure that I shall benefit in the future from all that I am taking away with me from this weekend. Having the space to focus on the subject is very welcome. This was my first visit to Claridge House and I now agree with everyone who told me what a lovely place it is.” Other comments – “A very good weekend. Jim Pym was excellent – I really valued his knowledge and wisdom and his way of communicating his ideas.” “ A good balance of input and opportunity to share. A difficult subject – I feel we explored together in safety. A good travelling.” (Most of the comments were of this nature.) But – “I found the course useful and informative, although Reincarnation is a prospect that seems to me bleak and nothing that was said caused me modify this view…….” And – “…..perhaps lacked input from group members who were clearly knowledgeable and articulate. Personal experience seemed to be overlooked and could have proved highly fruitful in practical terms rather than academic.” Our thanks to Jim and Ngawang. I must say that I strenuously avoided “reincarnation” as a conference theme in the early months and years of the existence of QFAS but I am glad that we have faced it. I know it worries a lot of people, myself included. It is just too big! However, I found that the gentle questioning way in which Jim approached it was helpful. Our thanks also to David Britton who had made all the arrangements for the conference and was looking forward to facilitating it. Unfortunately, the stresses of moving house (please note David’s new address) have caused him to become unwell, and we were very sad he was not with us. All present signed a good wishes card for him, and David asks me say how much he appreciates this. (AH) ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** “Light in Death” by Valerie Cherry We are delighted to announce the publication of Valerie’s new booklet. Many of you will have read her account of the death of her nineteen year old son, Tony, in a car accident in 1976, and the effect that this tragedy had on herself and her family. This was published by Friends’ Fellowship of Healing in 1993 under the title “Grief Experienced”, and reprinted in 2003. Over 1,000 copies have been sold. Beryl Spence writes: “ ‘Light in Death’ is Valerie Cherry’s
account of the loss of close family members and friends and the
subsequent experiences which convinced her of their continuing
existence and love. The booklet can be ordered from Valerie. Please see the order form and enclosed letter.
In the autumn of last year I had intended sending a mailing
to PM Clerks, so giving information about QFAS to a wider number
of Friends. Personal circumstances prevented this but I hope to
go ahead with it in the Spring of 2005. As the Spring conference
may be the first QFAS event attended by new members or contacts
resulting from this publicity, it seemed right to make it an introductory
day. I do hope that old and new members will come along to carry
forward the work of the Fellowship. Subscriptions To date we are managing to keep the subscription to QFAS very low so that no-one need feel excluded. If you are able to add a donation, that will be much appreciated. Subs are due on Jan 1st (unless you joined after June of the previous year). Please send the combined new membership/sub renewal form to the Treasurer, David Britton, with your subscription. You should find the form enclosed with this newsletter. Autumn Conference 2005, Claridge House, 4-6 November, 2005 Once again Claridge House is booked for the autumn weekend conference. The theme is yet to be decided. Perhaps you have some ideas? ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
David wrote on 13th September “I am about to send out my 200th copy of the book which is – I suppose – not bad going for seven months of availability. But that still leaves me with 300 copies to distribute! The best returns, as I would have expected have come from my own efforts among Friends. Probably the best response of all has come from Jim Shield’s review in The Friend followed by your publicity in the QFAS Newsletter……Material in Towards Wholeness has also been fairly productive. Strangely enough, there seems to have been little or no response from the publicity I have sent out to spiritualists, and thus our main market so far has been among Friends.” Please remember to recommend this unique book of David’s as widely as possible. It is the only comprehensive survey of the material on survival and is invaluable both for serious research and for dipping into to find new books and areas of interest.
Linda Davis. 16.4.04
The Newsletter is signed “yours in friendship, Angela Howard” |