Past Lives

What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson

Old Souls
Tom Shroder

Soul Survivor:
The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot
Bruce and Andrea Leininger

While my choice in literature may not always resonate with my audience, I won’t steer you wrong.  You’ll always come away with at least one Ah-ha moment in every book I discuss.

All three of these books have a subject that I’m a firm believer in.  The first book on the list:
What Dreams May Come while not entirely about past lives certainly has that as a theme.  That book is one of the most important books I’ve read as it is one of the few books that I can honestly say brought about a life change.  It altered my worldview on death and dying.  It created a whole new worldview for me.  It changed my entire perspective on life as well.

I thoroughly and whole heartedly say to everyone:
Read this book!

If it doesn’t at least create some questions about the meaning of life and death and the possibility of reincarnation then come back to me and tell me so.  Even if it does cause you to question some of your long held beliefs, I’d still like to hear from you

While the movie was visually stunning and well done and was excellent on its own, the book offers so much more.  You MUST read this book.  If it left such a huge impression on myself and caused me to reconsider everything I knew about death and dying upto the point before I read What Dreams May Come, I’m convinced that at least some of you will walk away from the book with similar feelings.

Old Souls
Tom Shroder, the author of this book accompanied researcher and scientist, Dr Ian Stevenson across the globe to investigate young children’s claims of recalling past lives.  The evidence put forth in the book is compelling enough to have the author, Mr Shroder go from skeptic to believer after returning from the scientific journey.  Quite an amazing book.  I hesitate to give any of the stories away only to say that the bulk of the book takes place in India.  There are cases upon cases in this book where children who are of such a young age three to six, years old who have recalled earlier lives with other families.  Dr Stevenson, accompanied at all times by the author have tracked down the child’s previous family when the child claims to have lived another life.  Countless times the children are able to recognize family without any aid or assistance from any of the previous family.

Soul Survivor
Plane on fire! Little man can’t get out! These are the words of James Leininger who a bit after his second birthday started having nightmares and not just just bad dreams but night terrors where, the young boy would waken night after night screaming that phrase and others.  This went one for months with no resolution.  When little James provides details to aircraft that he should have absolutely no knowledge of, his parents become first concerned then that concern leads to curiosity.

Until next time…
…Turn the page.
—
Chris

Spiritual Quest

Breaking my three book rule today.
After All aren’t rules made to be broken?
You’ll understand why after seeing the books I recommend today.

The Alchemist
Paulo Coelo
Was at the Madison Coffee Shop in Madison, Connecticut last Tuesday and someone I know was reading The Alchemist.  Whenever I overhear someone mention a book that I’ve read my ears pop up.  Funny thing with this book as I said to the person who read the book is that The Alchemist came into my view several times over the past fifteen years.
Had I read the book when it first came across my purview I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of the book.  The protagonist is a young boy who sets out on a journey to find his place in the world.  Along the way he discovers enlightenment and treasure beyond his imagining.

Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse
Though written years apart, Siddhartha, first these two books tell parallel stories.
–Both tell of a quest to become men from boys.
–Both require journeying far from home.
–Both protagonists have fathers who are apprehensive about their sons leaving.

They diverge in surprising ways however and Siddhartha diverges in a human way from The Alchemist’s mostly spiritual quest.  Both books are well written and I thoroughly recommend reading them in conjunction with each other.  My belief is that you should begin with The Alchemist then move onto Siddartha.

Until next time…
…Turn the Page
—
Chris