Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>POST</strong> asks four notable Rochesterians to discuss a single topic:<br />
Reincarnation<br />
who accept<br />
reincarnation<br />
“Those<br />
believe that a<br />
person’s soul after death is<br />
reborn into another body.<br />
According to the catechism of<br />
the Catholic Church, ‘when the<br />
single course of our earthly life<br />
is completed, we shall not return<br />
to our earthly lives ...There is no<br />
reincarnation after death.’ We<br />
have only one life in our journey<br />
on earth but our merciful God<br />
of love gives us every chance to<br />
return to Him while we are alive.<br />
We deeply believe that death<br />
is not the end. Death is not a<br />
defeat. Rather death is a birth<br />
into the fullness of God’s eternal<br />
life.”<br />
Father James Schwartz,<br />
pastor, St. Joseph’s Church<br />
is generally<br />
thought of as<br />
“Rebirth<br />
something that<br />
occurs after the death of the<br />
physical body. But in Buddhism<br />
we also refer to “continuous”<br />
rebirth—the dying and<br />
rebirthing, moment by moment,<br />
of this body-mind complex we<br />
call “I” that is ever in flux. Thus,<br />
all life may be considered “life<br />
after death.” As Voltaire said, ‘It<br />
is no more surprising to be born<br />
twice than to be born once.’”<br />
Bodhin Kjolhede,<br />
abbot and director,<br />
Rochester Zen Center<br />
“We chose to<br />
reincarnate<br />
into this life—<br />
to become earthly again for a<br />
purpose. Soul memory from all<br />
our lifetimes subconsciously<br />
populates us, creating fears<br />
or limiting beliefs in this life.<br />
Soul memory can also excel<br />
our natural talents or interests<br />
brought from other lifetimes.<br />
We have incarnated as male and<br />
female, many times reincarnating<br />
with loved ones or friends in<br />
various roles. We also repeat<br />
patterns across lifetimes. The<br />
soul is our friend. We can learn<br />
from our past lives.”<br />
Cyndy Paxton,<br />
clinical and regression hypnotist;<br />
intuitive and awareness coach<br />
world.<br />
Another life.<br />
“Another<br />
Humanity longs<br />
for it. The longing itself is<br />
meaningful, but what does it<br />
mean? The Buddha knew what<br />
it meant—that life is suffering.<br />
So did Karl Marx: ‘Religion<br />
is the sigh of the oppressed<br />
creature, the heart of a heartless<br />
world, and the soul of soulless<br />
conditions.’ What is to be done?<br />
Long for a better world? No.<br />
Change this one.”<br />
Dr. Gordon Barnes,<br />
associate professor,<br />
director of the Center for<br />
Philosophic Exchange,<br />
the College at Brockport<br />
Joseph Mayernik
Change language