While many scientists believe that the concept of reincarnation is merely a myth, some credible experts affirm that it is a real phenomenon.
Reincarnation, rebirth, or transmigration of the soul is a belief found in major religious philosophies of India, including Yoga, Buddhism, Jainism, and several other religions.
In the concept of reincarnation, a new personality develops in each new life in the human world, based on accumulated experiences from previous lives and new experiences gained in the current life, while the individual’s personality remains unchanged throughout successive lives. It is believed that there is an interaction between predetermined arrangements of certain life experiences, or lessons intended to occur in that life, and the self-chosen actions of the individual while they are living that life.
The belief in reincarnation is an ancient phenomenon; in various forms, dating back to ancient Egypt or perhaps even earlier, humans have believed in an afterlife following death. Ancient tombs containing both people and possessions may serve as evidence of the belief that the deceased might still need those possessions despite having physically died.
According to the British newspaper Express, reincarnation is generally a religious concept implying that after death, a person’s soul, mind, or consciousness is transferred to a newly born child. It may sound like fantasy, but some scientists believe it is a real concept.
Dr. Ian Stevenson, a former professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia and former chair of the state’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, dedicated much of his career to finding evidence for the phenomenon of reincarnation until his passing in 2007. Dr. Stevenson claimed to have discovered over 3,000 cases of reincarnation during his time, which he shared with the scientific community.
In a study titled “Birthmarks and Congenital Defects Corresponding to Wounds from Deceased Individuals”, Dr. Stevenson employed facial recognition to analyze the similarities between study participants and the individuals believed to be their past life incarnations while also studying birthmarks.
Approximately 35% of children who claim to remember past lives have birthmarks and/or congenital defects.
He wrote in his study: “Approximately 35% of children who claim to remember past lives have birthmarks and/or congenital defects. These are believed to be related to wounds that the child remembers. A total of 210 such cases have been studied.”
“The birthmarks are often located on areas of skin that are less hairy or wrinkled; some appear in hypopigmented areas, while others are found in hyperpigmented regions.
“Congenital defects are extremely rare. In cases where the deceased’s life is recounted accurately by the children, there is almost always a correspondence between the birthmarks and/or defects on the child and the wounds on the deceased.”
43 out of 49 cases documented from medical records (often autopsy reports) confirmed the correspondence between wounds and birthmarks (or congenital defects).
In another independent study, Dr. Stevenson interviewed three children who claimed to remember various aspects of their past lives.
Each child provided 30-40 accounts based on memories they had never experienced, and through verification, Dr. Stevenson found that up to 92% of these accounts were accurate.
In articles published in the scientific journal “Scientific Exploration”, Dr. Stevenson noted: “It is entirely possible to find a family that has lost a member whose life parallels the accounts of the research subjects. Reports about subjects are grouped specifically to ensure they have no connection to the life of anyone else. We believe we have ruled out the dissemination of accurate information about the deceased to the subjects. This indicates that they obtained information about the deceased they referenced in a mysterious manner.”
