Re: [Buddha-l] Reïncarnation is a memoryproblem

[Sherab Lodro]

> It seems to me that there are two reasonable questions that can be asked:
> (1) Why is there a widespread belief in rebirth/reincarnation?
> (2) Why do some people claim to have detailed knowledge of "past-lives"?
> - Curt

Hello All,

    Speaking to the "widespread belief in rebirth/reincarnation" point, and 
adding what may be a piece of interesting information.

    While working in a Hamlet in the Canadian Arctic called Igloolik. A town 
that had not, on principle, allowed Television to be introduced and that was 
pretty much divided (perhaps 800 people in total in the early eighties) 
between being Catholics and Anglicans.  In which *everyone* went to church, 
many of them wearing vestry gowns, many of them going to Church seven times 
on a Sunday (Matins through Vespers etc.), there existed a belief in 
reincarnation.  This was told to me by an lay Catholic missionary women 
named Georgette.  "They" she said, "have camp leaders."  When a child is 
born after a camp leader passed upon observation by the elders of the 
community they may say something like " Oh that boy is Willi Tapetai"  Now 
there are no bricks and mortar to be reclaimed by the young Willi no thrones 
to sit on or brocades to wear but this extremely harsh environment requires 
special survival skills and apparently by about the age of eight or nine if 
young Willi proves to be living up to expectations that is shown through the 
display various knowledges (he may also receive special tutoring, not sure 
about that) he becomes a camp leader as he was apparently before and is 
charged with the responsibility for choosing the campsites and general 
leadership chores and the older folks abide by his choices. Now this is 
serious business it may even mean life and death.  All that devout 
Christianity had not removed that from the minds of the people, which was at 
least somewhat to Georgette's chagrin.

Sherab