Review: Many Lives, Many Masters By Brian Weiss
November 13, 2008 by Akemi
Through a few synchronicities, I found myself picking up a copy of Dr. Brian Weiss’ classic Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives. In fact, mine is a Japanese translation – it is worldwide famous classic.
Scientist meets reincarnation
Dr. Brian Weiss was the head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach when, in 1980, he met a patient who would change his life. He is also the graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School. Because of his background, Brian Weiss was only interested in things that can be proven scientifically. Not the type who would subscribe to New Age stuffs, you know.
Brian Weiss used conventional psychiatric therapy on this patient for 18 months and saw no real progress. Then he tried hypnotherapy.
What happened was something he found hard to accept as a doctor and scientist: His patient started recalling her past lives during the hypnotherapy. She also pointed out critical facts about his personal life that she had no way to know. Further, she channeled messages from the “masters” that she could connect in the time between physical incarnations.
I am emphasizing his educational and professional background because I know so many people are skeptical about New Age stuff like reincarnation, thinking it is not scientific. While it is not scientifically proven yet, it has been observed by many sane and well-educated scientists like Dr. Brian Weiss.
Why the New Age is not a New Age at all
Brian Weiss also addresses the issues many people with Christian or Jewish faith have about reincarnation. He explains the historical manipulation to the Bible by Roman Emperor Constantine. According to him, there were descriptions in the Bible until then that support the idea of reincarnation.
I’m glad I read this part because I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who told me that, as a Catholic, she was taught not to believe in reincarnation. Just like churches use to teach not to believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution. (What, they still do?) Until then, I thought many people are skeptical about reincarnation because it is not proven in modern science – I didn’t know there was religious restrictions.
The so-called New Age is not new at all. It is millennium old. It just has been covered up by certain authorities for a long time. We are now rediscovering what our wise ancestors knew both in the eastern and western worlds. (Reincarnation is a basic idea in Buddhism.)
Masters, angels, spirit guides
This book is not only great introduction to past life regression therapy and the idea of reincarnation, but also contains fascinating messages from the “Masters”. Some people may call them angels or spirit guides. These are truly wise messengers for life.
Guided by these Masters, Brian Weiss comes to the realization that each soul chooses the birth setting (time, place, the parents) and the life lessons for the upcoming lifetime. When it completes the lessons, it can leave. Souls need to incarnate as physical beings because there are certain lessons that can only be learned as physical beings.
The meaning of life from the soul’s perspective
This is deep. We usually think of life from the live already-born person’s perspective. Few of us stop and think why we came to be born. We are born already, and before we notice, we are caught up with what’s called life. Most of the time, we are buried in the superficial aspects of life – what to wear to work today, what’s for dinner, what to do this weekend, whether we have enough money, etc. etc.
Even when we have enough resources to realize the importance of setting goals and improving our life and ourselves, we think from the same current perspective – for example, I want to grow my business to certain level so that I can enjoy some material wealth, I want to travel more to see the world firsthand, I want to enrich my social life more, I want to eat healthy and stay fit, etc. etc.
But have you thought about the deeper meaning of life from the soul’s perspective? Why did your soul choose to incarnate this time? What lessons did your soul want to learn in this lifetime? Why did you choose your specific birth setting? How did your birth setting help you learn the lessons you intended to learn? How are you progressing in your lessons? What lessons are left to be learned in this lifetime?
The issue of life and death
Brian Weiss says the biggest fear of humans is the fear of death, and this understanding – that souls incarnate many times – can alleviate this fear. Maybe. To me, however, I’m more afraid of failing to learn the lessons I have placed on myself before birth. Does that mean I have to live on and on or come back to go through the lessons again in my next lifetime? Like a failed student? (No way!)
I’m seriously reviewing my life progress from the soul’s perspective. This book was like a wakeup call for me. It’s not like I’ve been living lazily without goals – I consider myself to be conscious and awake. But still I feel the need to review the goals themselves from the soul’s perspective.
What do you think about reincarnation and past lives?
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Hi Akemi. This is a fascinating subject. I’m familiar with Brian Weiss after having read his book “Only Love Is Real” about soulmates. I’m glad you pointed out that New Age is not new. I had no idea that this was mentioned in the Bible. It’s interesting how a lot of people have come to close their minds to the idea of reincarnation, but follow religion. This apparently was a good cover up job.
Akemi, I really like that you place emphasis in your review on the possibility and desirablity of taking a deeper, more soulful perspective of what our lives are really all about. From one point of view – a broader, richer, deeper point of view – Many Lives, Many Masters is elementary and exploratory in its scope, but for the beginning student of soul development, the book offers a sound introduction to issues that concern the soul. Dr. Weiss’ book, Same Soul, Many Bodies, which I read with great interest, goes beyond Many Lives, Many Masters to examine and explore the healilng power of future lives through progression therapy. I would also recommend the books Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton, as well as the recently released book Courageous Souls (which I haven’t yet read, but am very much looking forward to reading as it takes on the question of why souls choose to suffer tremendous adversity and hardship).
Christopher
Davina,
The Bible has been edited and manipulated by many people. I think that is a shame — the original teaching of Jesus is beautiful, and there are other gems in the Bible, too, but there are also lots of manipulations that make it difficult to appreciate the good parts. Recently the study of the original form of the Bible and various other writings (that are not in the cannon) are getting more attention — I think that is a good thing.
Christopher,
Wow, I just got my copy of Courageous Souls from Amazon! It looks truly interesting. I’ve got to read other books by Dr Weiss and Michael Newton — they (indirectly) send me clients to my Akashic Record Reading. Maybe I should write a thank you note to them . . .
I recently had the good fortune to study under Dr. Weiss. I have been providing clients Past Life Regression for quite some time. It is amazing how rapidly Past Life Regression can heal the block that hold us back from reaching our true potential. While deep blocks can take several sessions to fully heal, some fears and phobias can be removed in one session. I love this work! Helping others realize the power to heal fully resides within them is a blessing.
Marcella,
Past life regression is so interesting! I’m glad to get to know you.
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It’s really interesting to read such articles. It’s new for me but i can understand very well. I would like to read ‘love is real’ and ‘Many lives Many masters’. Would you please suggest me the link from where i can download and read.
Thanks.
Dear Akemi,
But then we in India always maintained that there were many lives. The philosophy of reincarnation for us us liberation of the soul. The soul keeps taking rebirths in this world till it frees itself of all wants/ longings/ sins etc.
Recently I visited a Nadi Astrology Center. One takes an appointment through a pseudo name. Visits the center… give a thumb imprint… and then the readers are able to pull out things written about you on palm leaves. They will tell you your accurate Date of Birth, Name, Parents Name, Siblings and the conditions prevailing in your life on the day you visit this center.
On further investifgation they can also reveal your past life.
All this was documented by Indian Seers about 5000 years back.
Amazing But True.
http://www.divinescripts.com would provide you the details.
Anil Aurora
Anil,
I’ve heard of Nadi. One of my Akashic Record Reading clients was visiting India and went there. She was delighted to hear the same story I had to tell you, like the number of incarnation she has had. She also warned me, however, that there are fake Nadi tellers out there. And I’m not sure if this is about astrology, it sounds more like prophecy to me.
Hinduism speaks about Reincarnation for ages, but people did not believe in them. Its good that nowadays people from the west are taking interest in this area.
The process of reincarnation repeats till the soul attains ‘Moksha’ when one is freed from the sins and no longer needed in this material world. Even the great Bhagvad Gita talks about this. I would suggest everyone read the Gita so that the actual purpose of life can be ascertained.