Reincarnation refers to the soul or consciousness of a person which survives the bodily death and is reborn into new existence. Different religious traditions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Druze, have belief systems about reincarnation. According to the Pew Research Center (2018), 33 percent of all US adults believe in reincarnation. Growing up in India for the first 15 years of my life, I was exposed to the belief in reincarnation. I became more interested in this reincarnation research after reading Amitav Ghosh’s Ghost Eye, a fictional account of reincarnation. Thus, I was very excited to read Tom Shroder’s (1999) book, Old Souls: Scientific Evidence for Reincarnation from Children Who Recall Past Lives.
The book is gripping with compelling evidence for reincarnation. I finished the book within a few days because it is absolutely riveting. Shroder writes about his travels and collaboration with Dr. Ian Stevenson, psychiatrist and professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine for 50 years. Dr. Stevenson was also the founder and director of the University of Virginia, Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS). He devoted his life to the pioneering scientific research of past‑life memories and reincarnation.
I am very excited to present my interview with Tom Shroder. Tom talks about his travels with Dr. Stevenson to Lebanon, India and parts in the US. I found the interview very thought provoking, especially, as children’s stories of the past personality were corroborated through independent evidence such as newspaper clippings and other records. For example, children’s report of the previous personality’s death was corroborated through newspaper records. The deep connection and bond between the pervious personality’s family and the reincarnated child’s family is very moving.
Tom brings his journalist’s sharp acumen in writing the book. He conducts a very disciplined and scrupulous study of this research. Tom also talks about Dr. Stevenson, especially his bravery in conducting this reincarnation research where mainstream science does not embrace his ideas. I am very grateful to Tom for taking the time to share his knowledge and experiences. I agree that there are many unknown factors about reincarnation (e.g. what is the mechanism such that a part of a personality gets transferred through rebirth, why do some kids remember their past personalities and others do not etc.). Despite all the questions, a part of me believes in reincarnation as I was exposed to this belief growing up in India. The idea of reincarnation is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric (music, art, literature, sacred texts) of India.
Research regarding near death experiences, indicates, perhaps that human consciousness continues after the demise of the body. Perhaps some forms of this disembodied consciousness choose to become re-embodied through reincarnation. The poet in me views our lives and loves as so incredibly precious that the idea that everything disappears at the human body’s demise is very anti-climactic. Anyway, enough of my thoughts. This interview is truly fascinating. A Big Thank you to Tom. Hope readers enjoy the interview. Please see the link below for the interview.
INTERVIEW WITH TOM SHRODER: OLD SOULS
References
Gecewicz, C. (October 1, 2018). ‘New Age’ beliefs common among both religious and nonreligious Americans. Pew Center Research. ‘New Age’ beliefs common among religious, nonreligious Americans | Pew Research Center
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