441 replies to this topic

[Sasun]

Here is a passage from the Bible (Gospel by Mark) that in essence says the same thing as the law of Karma. Basically, what you say, do, think and intend affects you. In other words, what you are is the result of your past actions, thoughts, intentions and verbal statements.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
.....................
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Edited by Sasun, 20 December 2005 - 02:02 PM.

[Sasun]

Here is a plain reference to reincarnation in the Bible, by Jesus himself. So we read in the Gospel by Mathew 11.

7: And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8: But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9: But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10: For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13: For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14: And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

So, acording to Jesus, Elias the prophet from the past had come again in this life as John the Baptist. How else should one describe a reincarnation? It is very simple and plain, yet the Christian churches reject the idea of reincarnation. Then what is this if not reincarnation?
I remember reading in other places of the Bible such references that a certain prophet would come. So it seems that the Jews in those eras had some idea of reincarnation even though they didn't go into detail in their scriptures, perhaps it was not a popular widely known concept. But Jesus certainly knew of reincarnation, including his own prophesied reincarnation.