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Scientific Evidence for Reincarnation, NDEs and Karma with Personal Stories.
Scientific Evidence for Reincarnation and Karma and Real-Life Personal Accounts of Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences.
A Publication of the Open Research Consortium.
First Edition 2024
Copyright © 2024 Open Research Consortium. All rights reserved.
For free distribution only. Not for sale.
You can download this book for free from the following websites:
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A Publication of the Open Research Consortium.
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DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS:
-This book may be freely distributed for personal use.
-This book may not be sold or offered for sale in any form.
-This book may not be used for any commercial purpose, except for training AI models.
-Any modification or alteration of the contents of this book is strictly prohibited.
-Large-scale distribution of this book is permitted, but only if done without charge and without any expectation of payment or compensation.
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Table of contents
Prologue: 13
Open Research Consortium Project Info: 19
Reincarnation cases collection: 27
Italy Alexandrina Samona reincarnation case: 28
Israel Golan Heights Axe Murder reincarnation case: 34
American James Leininger reincarnation case: 38
German Ruprecht Schulz reincarnation case: 46
Lebanese Wael Kiwan reincarnation case: 52
Finland Taru Jarvi reincarnation case: 58
Portugal Alfonso Lopes reincarnation case: 68
British Pollock Twins reincarnation cases: 73
French Nadege Jegou reincarnation case: 79
Scotland Cameron Macauley reincarnation case: 89
Russian Tatiana Snitko reincarnation case: 92
Ghana Kwamena Yeboah reincarnation case: 98
Sri Lanka Warnasiri Adikari reincarnation case: 100
Nigeria Jacinta Agbo reincarnation case: 114
Iceland Ditta Larusdottir reincarnation case: 118
Syria Samira reincarnation case: 122
Indian Veer Singh reincarnation case: 126
Chinese Mrs Li reincarnation case: 135
Netherlands Célina reincarnation case: 137
Belgium Blanche Courtain reincarnation case: 140
Cuba Eduardo Esplugus-Carbrera reincarnation case: 143
Austrian Helmut Krause reincarnation case: 147
Japanese Takeharu reincarnation case: 151
Thailand Ratana Wongsombat reincarnation case: 155
South Africa Vashnee Rattan reincarnation case: 162
Indian Sunita Singh reincarnation case: 164
Ghana Ama reincarnation case: 169
Vietnam Ca Hieu’s Daughter reincarnation case: 173
Turkish Kemal Atasoy reincarnation case: 176
Indian Ramoo and Rajoo Sharma reincarnation cases: 184
Lebanese Nazih Al-Danaf reincarnation case: 191
Sri Lanka Dilukshi Nissanka reincarnation case: 198
Brazil Simone reincarnation case: 207
Finland Marja-Liisa Kaartinen reincarnation case: 216
Australia 4-year-old boy reincarnation case: 223
Hungarian Gedeon Haich reincarnation case: 225
Myanmar Maung Mon reincarnation case: 231
Indian Uttara Huddar reincarnation case: 234
British Dorothy Eady reincarnation case: 245
Sri Lanka Duminda Ratnayake reincarnation case: 247
British Jenny Cockell reincarnation case: 252
Sri Lanka Purnima Ekanayake reincarnation case: 260
Indian Rakesh Gaur reincarnation case: 264
Sri Lanka Thusita Silva reincarnation case: 270
Indian Bishen Chand Kapoor reincarnation case: 273
Lebanese Imad Elawar reincarnation case: 281
Sri Lanka Wijeratne Hami reincarnation case: 288
Indian Sunita Chandak reincarnation case: 298
British Justine Shillito reincarnation case: 302
Netherlands Cerunne Bouts reincarnation case: 306
Sri Lanka Gnanatilleka Baddewithana reincarnation case: 312
Turkish Ismail and Cevriye 2 rebirth cases: 326
Indian Toran Titu Singh reincarnation case: 336
Sri Lanka Sujith Lakmal reincarnation case: 342
Lebanese Suleyman Andary reincarnation case: 350
Indian Sunil Dutt Saxena reincarnation case: 356
Myanmar Win Nyunt reincarnation case: 364
Indian Khandelwal reincarnation case: 368
Brazil Dulcina Karasek reincarnation case: 376
Lebanese Suzanne Ghanem reincarnation case: 378
Indian Swarnlata Mishra reincarnation case: 388
American Ryan Hammons reincarnation case: 397
British Diane Brownlea reincarnation case: 407
Indian Shanti Devi reincarnation case: 410
Denmark Luna Marconi reincarnation case: 422
Thailand Thiang San Kla reincarnation case: 424
Indian Sumitra Singh reincarnation case: 431
Finland Samuel Helander reincarnation case: 443
American Midwestern Grant reincarnation case: 450
Iceland Einar Jonsson reincarnation case: 453
Finland Teuvo Koivisto reincarnation case: 459
British Graham Le-Gros reincarnation case: 466
American Susan Eastland reincarnation case: 470
Finland Paavo Sorsa reincarnation case: 475
Sri Lanka Ruvan Tharanga reincarnation case: 483
American Michael Wright reincarnation case: 489
Indian Hanumant Saxena reincarnation case: 492
Turkish Semih Tutusmus reincarnation case: 495
Indian Munesh reincarnation case: 499
American Patrick Christenson reincarnation case: 502
Turkish Nasir Toksoz reincarnation case: 506
Indian Jasbir Lal Jat reincarnation case: 511
Turkish Faris Yuyucuer reincarnation case: 519
Indian Rajani Singh reincarnation case: 522
Myanmar Maung Win reincarnation case: 527
Turkish Necati Unlutaskiran reincarnation case: 530
Brazil Marta Lorenz reincarnation case: 532
Indian Bir Sahai reincarnation case: 537
Brazil Jacira Silva reincarnation case: 540
Indian Santosh Sukla reincarnation case: 547
Sri Lanka Subashini Gunasekera reincarnation case: 563
Japanese Ao reincarnation case: 569
American William McConnell reincarnation case: 571
Myanmar Myint reincarnation case: 575
Thailand Ariya reincarnation case: 577
American Sam Taylor reincarnation case: 580
Brazil Paulo Lorenz reincarnation case: 583
Myanmar San and Yin 2 reincarnation cases: 593
Brazil Celso reincarnation case: 598
Netherlands Christina reincarnation case: 637
Vietnam Bùi Lạc Bình reincarnation case: 642
Indian Manisha reincarnation case: 645
Netherlands Angela reincarnation case: 648
Thailand Chanai Choomalaiwong reincarnation case: 651
Russian Ivan reincarnation case: 653
American Luke Ruehlman reincarnation case: 655
Japanese Tomo reincarnation case: 657
Thailand Ampan Petcherat reincarnation case: 667
Myanmar Ma Tin Aung Myo reincarnation case: 679
Netherlands Carlijn reincarnation case: 686
Indian Kumkum Verma reincarnation case: 689
British Carl Edon reincarnation case: 695
Japanese Katsugoro reincarnation case: 703
Indian Ramdas reincarnation case: 711
French Laure Raynaud reincarnation case: 713
American Wayne Peterson reincarnation case: 717
British Ada Kay reincarnation case: 721
Indian Prabhu reincarnation case: 725
Turkish Cemil Fahrici reincarnation case: 726
American Erin Jackson reincarnation case: 730
Myanmar buffalo reincarnation case: 735
Syria Sleimann Bouhamzy reincarnation case: 737
Indian Bajrang Bahadur Saxena reincarnation case: 742
Thailand 3-Year-Old boy reincarnation case: 748
Sri Lanka Ruby Kusuma Silva reincarnation case: 752
Canada Katie reincarnation case: 759
Indian Dolon Champa Mitra reincarnation case: 764
Russian Nadya reincarnation case: 772
Indian Puti Patra reincarnation case: 773
Turkish Erkan Kilic reincarnation case: 775
Sri Lanka Amitha Herath reincarnation case: 780
Indian Nasruddin Shah reincarnation case: 782
American Christian Haupt reincarnation case: 787
Brazil 2nd Paulo reincarnation case: 792
American Peter reincarnation case: 810
Indian Krusha reincarnation case: 812
British Gladys Deacon reincarnation case: 815
Russian Olga reincarnation case: 818
Chinese Tang Jiangshan reincarnation case: 819
British Arthur Flowerdew reincarnation case: 823
Indian Aryan reincarnation case: 827
Sri Lanka Indika Guneratne reincarnation case: 830
American Rylann O’Bannion reincarnation case: 835
Sri Lanka Chatura Karunaratne reincarnation case: 842
Indian Kareemullah reincarnation case: 850
Sri Lanka Iranga Jayakody reincarnation case: 852
British Nicola Wheater reincarnation case: 858
Indian Jagdish Chandra reincarnation case: 862
Nigeria Ngozi Uduji reincarnation case: 868
Indian Ajendra Chauhan reincarnation case: 870
Sri Lanka Twin Girls 2 reincarnation cases: 875
German Carina reincarnation case: 881
Thailand Pratomwan Inthanu reincarnation case: 884
Myanmar Ma Than Than Aye reincarnation case: 887
American Ann reincarnation case: 890
German Kadjsha Schuster reincarnation case: 894
British Sharon Prescott reincarnation case: 897
American Will reincarnation case: 899
British Mandy Richards reincarnation case: 910
Myanmar Maung Yin Maung reincarnation case: 914
French Therese Gay reincarnation case: 917
Indian Pratima reincarnation case: 921
Myanmar Ma Par reincarnation case: 926
American Kendra Carter reincarnation case: 931
Other reincarnation cases: 935
Understanding Statements of Past Lives and Near Death Experiences: 950
Xenoglossy, the speaking of unlearned languages: 952
Karma Research: 954
The Discussion: 957
Karma Cases: 962
Cattle Killer Karma Case 1: 962
Cattle Killer Karma Case 5: 968
This Chicken Slaughterer Case 6: 969
Cattle Killer Karma Case 8: 971
Cattle Killer Karma Case 10: 974
Cattle Killer Karma Case 11: 976
The Butcher Karma Case 12: 977
The Government Farm Karma Case 13: 978
Cattle Killer Karma Case 14: 979
The Butcher Karma Case 15: 980
The Iguana Hunter Karma Case 16: 982
The Butcher Karma Case 17: 983
Cattle Killer Karma Case 18: 984
The Butcher Karma Case 19: 986
The Religious Place Karma Case 20: 988
The Butcher Karma Case 21: 989
The Butcher Karma Case 22: 990
Cattle Killer Karma Case 23: 992
The Butcher Karma Case 24: 993
The Butcher Karma Case 25: 994
The Butcher Karma Case 26: 995
The Butcher Karma Case 27: 996
The Butcher Karma Case 29: 998
The Butcher Karma Case 30: 999
The Butcher Karma Case 31: 1000
The Bad Man Karma Case 32: 1001
The Army Soldier Karma Case 33: 1003
The Army Officer Karma Case 34: 1004
The Police Officer Karma Case 35: 1006
Karma Research Data Analysis: 1007
NDEs collection: 1009
Iranian Muslim Near-Death Experiences: 1010
American Near-Death Experiences: 1013
Indian Near-Death Experiences: 1016
Netherlands Near-Death Experiences: 1017
Thailand Near-Death Experiences: 1018
Canada Near-Death Experiences: 1028
Various Other Near-Death Experiences: 1028
OBEs collection: 1029
Iranian Muslim Out-of-Body Experiences: 1030
After-Death Communications (ADCs) from Non-Human Animals: 1034
A Scientific Examination of the Non-Existence of an Almighty God: 1075
Abnormal cases: 1081
Karma as a Factor in Disease: 1083
The Kaliyug: 1088
Other various info: 1103
What did the Buddha Discover: 1111
What is Buddhism: 1114
None self doctrine in Buddhism: 1119
Buddha's mercy: 1120
Nirvana Mentioned In Buddhism. 1126
Yadanicca Sutra: 1148
Devaduta Sutra: 1150
Sattasūriya Sutra: 1161
Sūciloma Sutra: 1166
Patama Kanha Sappa Sutra: 1167
Hiriottappa Sutra: 1168
Mahānidāna Sutra: 1170
Kamboja Sutra: 1186
Janavasabha Sutra: 1187
Mahagovinda Sutra: 1201
Sakkapañha Sutra: 1225
Pāyāsi Sutra: 1247
Bālapaṇḍita Sutra: 1276
Kandaraka Sutra: 1298
Sekha Sutra: 1309
Potaliya Sutra: 1316
Jivaka Sutra: 1324
Sammādiṭṭhi Sutra: 1328
Ākaṅkheyya Sutra: 1338
Vattha Sutra: 1338
Mahādukkhakkhandha Sutra: 1348
Anumāna Sutra: 1356
Cetokhila Sutra: 1362
Madhupiṇḍika Sutra: 1366
Dvedhāvitakka Sutra: 1372
Sattavassānubandha Sutra: 1379
Siṅgāla Sutra: 1381
Saṅgīti Sutra: 1394
Māradhītu Sutra: 1449
Godhika Sutra: 1453
Lakkhana Sutra: 1456
Aggañña Sutra: 1486
Cakkavatti Sutra: 1500
Dhathu Sutra: 1518
Prologue:
We believe that scientific knowledge gathered through various experiments should be shared in all countries for the benefit of mankind and the development of human society. However, we also recognize that certain scientific data, particularly in fields like military science and weapons development, are unable to be shared between different countries.
Science is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.
Scientific research is the process of using systematic observation, inquiry, and experimentation to discover new knowledge and solve problems in various scientific fields.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, definition and meaning of the word Science is knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method and concerned with the physical world and its phenomena.
In general, the word “science” means materialist science that goes with earth element, liquid element, fire element and air element.
The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. It typically involves steps like observation, hypothesis formation, prediction, experimentation, and analysis.
Empirical research is a method of gathering and analyzing data through direct observation or experimentation to test hypotheses and draw conclusions. It relies on evidence and measurable outcomes to validate or refute theories.
Scientific evidence is information that has been systematically gathered through observation or experimentation using the scientific method, and is used to support or refute hypotheses and theories. It is typically empirical, measurable, and reproducible.
Science also means wisdom and truth. Therefore Science and spirituality has a connection. It is because spirituality seeks to go to the ultimate truth about the universe and life.
In Buddhism, consciousness is mentioned as one of the major elements. In Buddhism, consciousness is knowing and it is inside any creature’s body.
Except Buddhism, all other religions and philosophies teach the soul or self is eternal. But Buddhism teaches that there is no soul or self but a chain of changing natures. For a person who seek to find out truth about this by using meditation, it becomes visible that the Buddhist teachings are correct. So the idea that says “soul is permanent” is false.
Reincarnation or rebirth is consciousness travelling from one body to another body. Consciousness is also known as the mind. And when travelling it is not always the same consciousness and same body. Both consciousness and body become a subject for changes according to karmas. Karma is a energy that creates consciousnesses, perceptions, feelings and bodies. Karma also creates the environment and all other things. It is a powerful energy.
A near-death experience is when a person dies for a short time and then becoming a spontaneous invisible being for a short time and then dying from that life and re-entering the human body. Out-of-body experience means travelling out side the dead human body in a different spontaneous being life. And a meditative vision is a vision seeing using meditation powers while practising meditations.
Some children who speak about past life memories, and their families, are not comfortable sharing their names and private details. In such cases, where families are concerned about their privacy, we have to use pseudonyms, show only part of the names, or remove highly private details.
Please note that due to space limitations in this book, we are unable to include full research reports. Instead, we provide a summary of each research study. It is not possible to include all the details of the scientific research in a book of this size.
One person says there is no wind, there are no atoms, there are no ghosts, there is no reincarnation phenomenon because we cannot see them with our eyes. Another person says there is wind, there are atoms, there are ghosts, there is a reincarnation phenomenon even though we cannot see them with our eyes; there are things that our eyes cannot see. Between these two people, who is the foolish person and who is the intelligent person? It requires higher intelligence to understand invisible things, and most people lack that kind of higher intelligence. The problem is that a foolish person does not know what they do not know.
A person born blind is not aware of the existence of colors, much like how some people are unaware of the phenomenon of reincarnation. A person born blind might say, 'You know, from where I stand, I think you're very foolish for believing in colors, as they don't exist.' Similarly, those who deny the existence of reincarnation stand on the grounds of ignorance, akin to the person born blind. Despite scientific evidence supporting reincarnation, some people refuse to acknowledge it due to personal reasons. They often change the subject, say unrelated things and deny the existence of reincarnation, seeing an admission as a defeat to their ideology. Furthermore, they may attempt to cause mental anguish to those who believe in reincarnation by preventing them from finding satisfaction in proving its existence.
Skeptical people are not important people. Those who believe in reincarnation should respond to the skeptical people by saying, “Even though you do not acknowledge the existence of reincarnation, we already know that reincarnation and other invisible phenomena exist in the universe, just as we know and see that we are wearing clothes. Therefore, your arguments are not valid.” There is no use in thinking about the skeptical and ignorant words of stupid people.
Empirical studies of reincarnation cases have yielded compelling evidence that warrants serious scientific consideration.
The idea that consciousness survives death gains empirical support from these well-documented reincarnation cases.
Rebirth or reincarnation has a strong empirical basis, grounded in the testimonies and behaviors of thousands of children worldwide.
Reincarnation or rebirth is a natural phenomenon that occurs regardless of one's nationality, religious views, country, race, gender, culture, or beliefs.
A significant volume of scientific evidence, uncovered by reincarnation research in the last 50 years, supports the reincarnation hypothesis advanced by Scientist Ian Stevenson for spontaneous past-life experiences (PLEs).
Asian people generally have open minds toward the idea of reincarnation, while Western people tend to have more closed minds on the subject. When an Asian child talks about past life memories, their Asian parents listen carefully and do not punish the child for sharing these memories. Among Buddhist and Hindu communities, there is a greater openness to the idea of reincarnation, while others have more closed mindsets. In places where reincarnation is not accepted, parents tend to suppress children's expressions of past-life memories. Scientists have scientifically proven that reincarnation (rebirth) is a fact.
The exploration of reincarnation has intrigued many prominent thinkers throughout history, revealing a common belief among influential intellectuals and writers in the Western world. Notable figures such as inventor Thomas Edison and automobile pioneer Henry Ford both expressed their faith in reincarnation. Edison envisioned survival through cycles of existence, stating, “The only survival I can conceive is to start a new Earth cycle again.” Similarly, Ford described his understanding of reincarnation as a profound realization that transformed his view of life: “Work is futile if we cannot utilize the experience we collect in one life in the next.” His belief that reincarnation offers a universal plan and eases his anxieties about time demonstrates how these esteemed minds found purpose and comfort in the idea of life’s continuity and the soul’s growth across different lifetimes.
Birth is the beginning of life, while death marks its end. Life itself is ephemeral and constantly changing, impermanent in nature. This impermanence includes all aspects of life, such as material possessions, relationships, and even our own physical and mental states. In some cultures, such as Buddhism, the fact of reincarnation or rebirth is prevalent. Reincarnation refers to the cycle of death and rebirth, wherein the consciousness or mind is continually reborn into a new body in a never-ending cycle. Nirvana is the ultimate goal in Buddhism, representing the cessation of suffering and the end of the cycle of rebirth. It is achieved through the realization of the true nature of reality and the eradication of desire and ignorance. Nirvana is also known as liberation. According to the Buddha, the meaning of life is acquiring liberation from reincarnation.
This book is for free distribution only. Not for sale.
Open Research Consortium Project Info:
Project Name: Iskan 7
Subject: Life after death, Truth, Meaning of life.
Status: Ongoing.
Project Description:
The Iskan 7 project is an ongoing research initiative focused on exploring and understanding the phenomenon of life after death, truth, meaning of life. This multidisciplinary project aims to collect, analyze, and interpret data related to various aspects of post-mortem existence, including near-death experiences, after-death communications, reincarnation cases, and other related phenomena.
Objectives:
1. Data Collection: Gather and document cases and experiences related to life after death from various sources and cultures worldwide.
2. Case Analysis: Investigate and analyze collected cases to identify patterns, similarities, and unique features, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.
3. Verification: Whenever possible, verify the authenticity of the collected cases by cross-referencing sources, interviewing witnesses, and examining physical evidence.
4. Theoretical Development: Develop and refine theoretical frameworks to explain and interpret the collected data, drawing from various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and neuroscience.
5. Collaboration: Foster collaboration with other researchers, institutions, and organizations interested in life after death studies, encouraging data sharing and joint efforts.
6. Publication and Outreach: Publish findings and insights in academic journals, books, and other platforms to inform the scientific community and the general public about the project's progress and discoveries.
Scope:
-Near-death experiences (NDEs).
-Out-of-body experiences (OBEs).
-Karma energy.
-After-death communications (ADCs).
-Reincarnation cases, including those involving children's past life memories.
-Deathbed visions and apparitions.
-Mediumship and channeling.
-Cultural beliefs and practices related to life after death.
-Theoretical and philosophical aspects of post-mortem survival.
Methodology:
-Case studies and phenomenological analysis.
-Surveys and interviews with experiencers and witnesses.
-Cross-cultural and historical comparisons.
-Theoretical and philosophical inquiry.
-Interdisciplinary collaboration and data collecting.
By investigating the phenomenon of life after death through a rigorous, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach, the Iskan 7 project seeks to advance our understanding of the nature of consciousness, the self, and the potential for post-mortem survival.
Special thanks to the University of Virginia, United States of America; Kermanshah University, Iran; the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka; the International Spiritualist Federation, Switzerland; the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India; the Athanasia Foundation, Netherlands; and the International Centre for Reincarnation and Survival Researches.
[Special note: This book is for free distribution only. Not for sale.]
Data Contributors:
For Reincarnation (Rebirth) Researches:
The following scientists, universities, or organizations contributed scientific research data for this book regarding reincarnation (rebirth), NDE, and OBE researches. (Reincarnation, NDEs , and OBEs sections may contain data from multiple independent research studies.)
-Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
-Dr. Ohkado Masayuki, Professor and Parapsychologist, (Chubu University, Japan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America)
-Dr. Eli Lasch, Medical Doctor and Professor, (Israel and Germany)
-Dr. Jim B. Tucker, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
-Dr. Carmelo Samona, Professor and Physician, (Scholar of Esotericism and Paranormal Phenomena, Society of Metapsychics, Palermo, Italy and University of Palermo in Sicily, Italy)
-Researcher Alinaghi Ghasemiannejad Jahromi, PhD (Kermanshah University Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran)
-Researcher Jeffrey Long, MD (Near-Death Experience Research Foundation, Houma, Louisiana, United States of America)
-Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Iceland)
-Researcher Titus Rivas, Psychologist and Philosopher, (Athanasia Foundation, Netherlands and International Centre for Reincarnation and Survival Researches)
-Dr. Satwant Pasricha, Professor, (University of Virginia, United States of America and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India)
-Dr. Stuart J. Edelstein, Professor, (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
-Researcher Nicholas Ibekwe, (Independent researcher and scholar, Nigeria)
-Researcher P. Courtian, (Belgium)
-Researcher T. Suwannathat, (Independent researcher and scholar, Thailand)
-Researcher Todd Murphy, Neuro Scientist, (United States of America)
-Researcher Dr. Debhanom Muangman, (Director of the Rangsit-Harvard Medical International Program)
-Researcher Tricia Robertson, (Society for Psychical Research, United Kingdom)
-Researcher Ralph Shirley, (International Institute for Psychic Investigation, United Kingdom)
-Researcher Dr. Karl Eugen Muller, (President of the International Spiritualist Federation, Switzerland)
-Researcher Helga Ullrich, parapsychologist, (Austria and Germany)
-Researcher Wansa Nasrallah, (Independent researcher and scholar, Syria)
-Researcher Robert McLuhan, (Society for Psychical Research, United Kingdom)
-Researcher Irving Hallowell, anthropologist, (Canada)
-Researcher Francis Story, (Independent researcher and scholar, United Kingdom)
-Researcher L. Chau, (Independent researcher and scholar, Vietnam)
-Dr. Jürgen Keil, Parapsychologist and Psychologist, (Germany and Australia)
-Researcher Dr. James G. Matlock, PhD (Rhine Research Center, Durham, United States of America)
-Dr. Nicholas McClean-Rice, Psychiatrist, (United States of America)
-Researcher Hernani Andrade, (Brazilian Institute for Psychobiophysical Research, Brazil)
-Dr. V. V. Akolkar (Psychologist, Independent researcher and scholar, India)
-Researcher KM Wehrstein, (International Centre for Reincarnation Research - ICRR)
-Researcher Godwin Samararatne, (Independent researcher and scholar, Sri Lanka)
-Researcher Jenny Cockell, (Author, United Kingdom)
-Researcher V. F. Guneratne, (Independent researcher and scholar, Sri Lanka)
-Researcher E. C. Raddalgoda, (Independent researcher and scholar, Sri Lanka)
-Researcher David Read Barker, PhD (Anthropologist, United States of America)
-Researcher H. S. S. Nissanka, (Independent researcher and scholar, Sri Lanka)
-Researcher Padmakar Joshi, Journalist, (India)
-Researcher Tom Shroder, Journalist, (United States of America)
-Researcher Peter Harrison, (Independent researcher and scholar, United Kingdom)
-Researcher Resat Bayer, Professor, (Koc University, Turkey and Stanford University, United States of America)
For Karma Researches:
The following scientists, universities, or organizations contributed scientific research data for this book regarding karma researches.
-Professor and Scientist Nandasena Ratnapala, (University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka)
The following ancient Buddhist scriptures provided data for the creation of this book:
-Parajika Pali Vinaya Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Pachiththiya Pali Vinaya Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Maha Vagga Pali Vinaya Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Chulla Vagga Pali Vinaya Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Parivara Pali Vinaya Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Vinaya Attakatha Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Dhiga Nikaya Sutra Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Majjima Nikaya Sutra Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Sanyuktha Nikaya Sutra Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Anguththara Nikaya Sutra Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Khuddaka Nikaya Sutra Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Sutra Attakatha Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Dhammasanganippakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Vibhangappakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Dhathukathappakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Puggalapagngnaththippakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Kathavaththuppakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Yamakappakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Patthanappakaranan Abhidharma Pitaka Buddhist scriptures collection.
-Abhidharma Attakatha Buddhist scriptures collection.
The following book provided data for the creation of this book:
-Practical Meditation Guide By A Forest Monk written by the reverend Brahmadeva forest monk.
[Special note: This book is for free distribution only. Not for sale.]
Reincarnation cases collection:
Reincarnation (rebirth) has already been scientifically proven. Reincarnation cases have been found on all continents of Earth except Antarctica, making it a universal phenomenon. Asian parents tend to have an open mind toward reincarnation and the supernatural. Therefore, when an Asian child speaks about reincarnation or past life memories, it is easier to spot such cases. However, in the West, Western parents often have closed minds about the subject and may ridicule or rebuke a child who talks about reincarnation or past life memories. This is often because reincarnation does not align with their religious or philosophical views, or because they want to preserve their materialistic views. Consequently, a depressed Western child may stop talking about their past life memories, making it harder to spot reincarnation cases in Western culture. Western families often do not tell anyone when their children speak of past life memories. So such news does not reach the ears of researchers. Nevertheless, despite many Western parents trying to hide this information, there are still numerous Western reincarnation cases, indicating that the truth cannot be hidden.
Italy Alexandrina Samona reincarnation case:
Dr. Carmelo Samona, Professor and Physician, (Scholar of Esotericism and Paranormal Phenomena, Society of Metapsychics, Palermo, Italy and University of Palermo in Sicily, Italy)
A verified reincarnation case in Italy. [The girl who haunted her house in a past life as a non-human spirit being.]
Italy is a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline. The rebirth story of Alexandrina Samona took place in Palermo, Italy, in the early 20th century. Dr. Carmelo Samona, a respected physician and scholar of esotericism and paranormal phenomena, lived there with his wife, Adele Monroy di Pandolfina, a princess from a noble Sicilian family. Carmelo Samona and Adele Monroy di Pandolfina were married in 1897. Their marriage united two prominent families in Palermo; the Monroy family, known for their ancient nobility, and the Samonà family, also noble by lineage and recognized in cultural circles. They had several children, including a daughter named Alexandrina, born in 1905, who was the apple of their eye.
Timeline of Events:
-March 15, 1910: Alexandrina I dies of meningitis. (At the age 5)
-March 18, 1910: Adele has her first dream of Alexandrina.
-March 21, 1910: Adele has her second dream of Alexandrina.
-Late March 1910: The family hears unexplained knocks on their door and noises in the house.
-April 10, 1910: Carmelo and Adele attend the first séance, where Alexandrina communicates her intention to be reborn into the family.
-May 1910: Adele realizes she is pregnant.
-August 1910: An obstetrician confirms that Adele is pregnant with twins.
-November 22, 1910: Adele gives birth to twin girls, Alexandrina II and Maria.
Notable Statements of Alexandrina 2:
- "But, Mother, I know Monreale, I have seen it already." (When Alexandrina II was around eight or nine years old, her parents planned a vacation trip to Monreale.)
- "Oh, yes, I went there. Do you not recollect that there was a great church with a very large statue of a man with his arms held open, on the roof? And don't you remember that we went there with a lady who had horns and that we met some little red priests in the town?" (In response to Adele's denial that Alexandrina II had been to Monreale.)
- "Alessandrina is afraid." (When fearful, she refers to herself in the third person. Just like Alexandrina 1 also spoke in the third person when she was alive.)
Alexandrina I's Life and Death:
Little Alexandrina, (Alexandrina 1) affectionately called Alessandrina or Sandrina, was a lively and intelligent child. She had unique habits, such as speaking in the third person, writing left-handed, and playfully altering people's names. She loved playing with other children but disliked dolls and cheese. She also had distinctive physical features, including a slight facial asymmetry, with her left eye closer to the midline than her right, and a rash called seborrhea behind her right ear.
Tragically, Alexandrina contracted meningitis when she was about five years old. Despite the efforts of renowned doctors, her condition worsened rapidly. She passed away on March 15, 1910, leaving her family, especially her mother Adele, devastated.
Announcing Dreams:
Three days after Alexandrina's death, Adele had a vivid dream. In the dream, Alexandrina appeared and said, “Mother, do not cry. I have not left you; I have only withdrawn. Look! I am going to become small like this,” gesturing to indicate the size of a baby. A similar dream occurred three days later, on March 21, when Alexandrina appeared to her again. This time, the dream ended with a firm and reassuring statement: “I will return. I will return. I will return.”
Unexplained Knocks:
A few days after Adele's dreams, the family heard three loud knocks at their door. Both Carmelo and Adele heard the knocks, and their three sons also heard them. When the family opened the door, no one was there. In the days that followed, they experienced unexplained noises in the house, including the sound of someone walking around, knocking on the walls, and footsteps. This strange occurrence, along with Adele's dreams, prompted Carmelo and Adele to participate in séances to better understand what was happening.
Mediumistic Communications:
Mediums are people who can connect with spirits or ghosts. On April 10, 1910, less than a month after Alexandrina's death, Carmelo and Adele went to a séance. They wanted to contact the girl who had died, and she responded right away. During the séance, a professional medium shared messages from Alexandrina. She said she had been reborn as a non-human being. Alexandrina explained that she caused the three knocks on the door to get attention. She also mentioned that another spirit friend is with her. She took responsibility for the knocks and other noises and said she would be reborn before Christmas with a twin sister. She said the second spirit would be her twin. When they asked if she could always communicate this way, she said that, after three months of Adele's pregnancy, she might not be able to talk through the medium anymore because she would be connected or attached to the human plane. (In fact, once the consciousness comes to the embryo, communications like this become impossible because that person is then no longer a non-human spirit. Non-human spirit dies then.)
Also, on the evening of Wednesday, May 4, Alexandrina delivered a second message; “Mommy, I love you so much. However, I want you to know that there will be another one in you.”
Alexandrina's insistence on communicating her rebirth became almost annoying to Carmelo. However, the séances provided comfort to Adele, who found solace in the hope of her daughter's return.
Pregnancy and Birth:
Soon after the séances, Adele realized she was pregnant. This was surprising, as she had undergone an operation that was thought to have reduced or abolished her fertility. Carmelo and Adele were then cut off from communicating with Alexandrina. In August 1910, an obstetrician confirmed that Adele was indeed pregnant with twins.
On November 22, 1910, Adele gave birth to twin girls. One of them bore an uncanny resemblance to the deceased Alexandrina. The parents named her Alexandrina (Alexandrina II), while the other twin was named Maria.
Similarities Between Alexandrina I and II:
As Alexandrina II grew, her parents noticed striking similarities between her and the deceased Alexandrina (Alexandrina I). These similarities included:
Physical traits: Both had redness in the left eye, a rash behind the right ear, and slight facial asymmetry.
Personality traits: Both were quiet, preferred playing with other children over toys, disliked cheese, and enjoyed folding and smoothing clothing.
Habits: Both liked to put on adult shoes and walk around, spoke in the third person, and playfully altered people's names.
Phobias: Both had phobias of loud noises and barbers.
Left-handedness: Both were left-handed, unlike the rest of the family.
Past Life Memory:
When Alexandrina II was around eight or nine years old, her parents planned a vacation trip to the city of Monreale. Adele told the girls that they would see sights they had never seen before. To their surprise, Alexandrina II responded, "But, Mother, I know Monreale, I have seen it already."
Adele was taken aback and told her daughter that she had never been to Monreale. However, Alexandrina II insisted, "Oh, yes, I went there. Do you not recollect that there was a great church with a very large statue of a man with his arms held open, on the roof? And don't you remember that we went there with a lady who had horns and that we met some little red priests in the town?"
Adele was stunned by her daughter's response. She recalled that a few months before Alexandrina I's death, they had taken her to Monreale to see the church there. On that trip, they had taken a female friend who had a skin condition that involved prominent lesions on her forehead, which could be interpreted as "horns" by a child. As they were entering the church, they met Orthodox priests who were wearing blue robes decorated with red. Adele and Carmelo remembered that Alexandrina I had taken great notice of the woman with the skin condition and the priests they had met at the church.
Verifications and Witnesses:
Dr. Carmelo Samona documented the case extensively, publishing a report in 1911 and supplementing it with additional documentation in 1913. He included photographs comparing the physical resemblance between Alexandrina I and II. The case was supported by six letters from witnesses who claimed to have learned about Adele's dreams and the séances before knowing about her pregnancy. These witnesses included family members, relatives, an Evangelical pastor, and other prominent individuals.
Other Information:
Alexandrina II grew up to lead a normal life. She married a high-ranking officer and lived to an old age. She became a medium and was a scholar of spirit and mediumistic phenomena, writing two books on the subject.
The case of Alexandrina Samona gained much notoriety in Europe among those interested in esoteric phenomena. It is mentioned in various literature on reincarnation, including works by renowned researchers such as Ian Stevenson. The case is considered exceptional due to the paranormal announcements of Alexandrina's rebirth and the extensive documentation provided by her father. The case of Alexandrina Samona is a fascinating and well-documented story that offers intriguing evidence for reincarnation.
Israel Golan Heights Axe Murder reincarnation case:
Dr. Eli Lasch, Medical Doctor and Professor, (Israel and Germany)
A verified reincarnation case in Israel. [The boy who found his own skeleton and the axe that killed him in a past life.]
This rebirth case is important because the individual could remember 2 different past lives.
This case involves a murder. Dr. Eli Lasch, a renowned Israeli medical doctor and professor, shared an extraordinary reincarnation case from the Golan Heights region in Israel. This case involved a three-year-old Druse boy who claimed to remember his past life and the circumstances of his murder. The Druse are a unique ethnic and religious group primarily found in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel, particularly on the Golan Heights. Their belief system includes a strong conviction in reincarnation, which plays a central role in their culture. They are neither Muslims nor Christians.
The Boy's Birthmark and Early Claims:
This rebirth story begins with a young boy who was born with a distinctive birthmark on his head. Specifically, it was described as a long red birthmark stretching from the upper forehead to the center of his head. The Druse community also believes that birthmarks are often indicators of past life injuries. When the boy was old enough to speak, he began to share details about his past life, claiming that he had been murdered with an axe. However, he could not initially remember his own past life name or the name of his murderer.
Statements Made by the Boy:
(Initial Claim of Past Life Murder)
- "I was killed in my past life by being hit on the head with an axe."
(Recognizing the Past Life Village)
- "This is not my past life village." (upon visiting the first two villages)
- "This is where I lived." (upon arriving at the third village)
(Remembering Names)
- "My name was (First Name) (Last Name)."
- "The man who killed me was (Murderer's First Name) (Murderer's Last Name)."
(Identifying the Past Life Home)
- "This is my house." (pointing out his past life home in the village)
(Confronting the Murderer)
- "Aren’t you (Murderer's Name)?"
- "I used to be your neighbor. We had a fight and you killed me with an axe."
(Locating the Burial Site and Murder Weapon)
- "I even know where he buried my dead body."
- "He buried my body under these stones, and the axe is over there."
The Investigation Begins:
The boy said that he had been murdered with an axe, and the birthmark on his head was said to correspond to the injury he received in that past life. This claim was taken seriously by his family and the community, leading to the formation of a group to investigate his past life memories. When the boy turned three, a group of 15 men, including his father, relatives, village elders, and representatives from neighboring villages, decided to investigate his claims. Dr. Eli Lasch, known for his interest in reincarnation, was invited to join the group. They set out to visit neighboring villages to see if the boy could recognize his past life home.
Visiting the Villages:
The group first visited a nearby village, but the boy did not recognize it as his past life village. They moved on to a second village with the same result. Finally, they reached a third village, where the boy declared that this was the village where he had lived in his past life. This recognition triggered more memories, and he was able to remember his own name and the name of his murderer.
Identifying the Past Life Home and Murderer:
Inside the third village, the group met an elderly resident who confirmed that the man the boy named had disappeared four years earlier and was presumed to have come to harm in the war-torn area. The group then walked further into the village, and the boy pointed out his past life home. As they continued, the boy suddenly approached a man and called him by name. The man acknowledged the name, and the boy said, “I used to be your neighbor. We had a fight, and you killed me with an axe.” The man's face turned white as a sheet.
Finding the Body and the Axe:
The boy then led the group to a nearby field and stopped in front of a pile of stones. He stated, “He buried my body under these stones, and the axe is over there.” The group removed the stones and discovered the skeleton of a grown man wearing farmer's clothes. The boy checked his past life skeleton. The group also checked it. The skull had a clear split in the front, consistent with an axe wound, which matched the location of the boy's birthmark. This correlation between the birthmark and the past life injury provided compelling evidence for the boy's claims of a past life. The murderer had first buried the dead body and then hid the axe. The boy then directed them to the location where the axe was buried, and they quickly found it.
The Murderer's Confession:
With the evidence before them, the group stared at the accused murderer, who finally admitted to the crime in front of everyone. Dr. Lasch was present through this whole process. Dr. Lasch asked what would become of the murderer, and the Druse elders replied that they would decide on an appropriate punishment themselves rather than handing him over to the police.
Other Information:
After his death, the boy, now in a new form, witnessed what the murderer did to his lifeless body and saw where he hid the axe. The birthmark on the Druse boy's head served as a critical piece of evidence in the reincarnation case, providing a physical link to his past life claims. The discovery of the skeleton with a matching injury further strengthened the case, making it a compelling example of reincarnation and past life memories.
This reincarnation story is included in Trutz Hardo's book, 'Children Who Have Lived Before,' published in 2005. For the Druse, reincarnation is a fundamental belief that requires no proof. However, cases like this one continue to captivate them. One of the most remarkable cases documented by Dr. Eli Lasch is this three-year-old Druse boy from the Golan Heights region in Israel, often cited as an example of reincarnation and past life memories. This scientific evidence suggests that consciousness can survive death and be reborn, as taught by the Buddha.
Dr. Eli Lasch was a prominent Israeli and German medical doctor and professor who made significant contributions to both conventional medicine and the exploration of spiritual and metaphysical phenomena, including reincarnation. In the 1990s, Dr. Lasch gained significant public recognition in Germany and other countries through his television appearances and successful distant healings. His book, 'From Doctor to Spiritual Healer,' published in 1998, detailed his journey from conventional medicine to spiritual healing and included numerous accounts of reincarnation cases. Dr. Lasch, who documented this verified reincarnation case, passed away in 2009.
Dr. Lasch's work in the field of reincarnation and spiritual healing has had a lasting impact on both the medical and spiritual communities. His ability to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and metaphysical phenomena has inspired many to explore the potential of past life regression and spiritual healing.
American James Leininger reincarnation case:
Dr. Jim B. Tucker, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
A verified reincarnation case in United States of America. [The boy whose Christian father rebuked him for speaking about his past life.]
This is a rebirth case in which written records were made before verification of the previous personality, and also, documentation of the previous person's life was found to confirm things with further accuracy.
In this reincarnation case, the subject made specific statements about a past life, which were recorded before any investigation. Upon verification by researchers, a deceased (dead) individual was identified whose life and death confirmed the subject's memories. Written records of the previous person's life or related incidents provided additional scientific evidence, strongly supporting the case.
This rebirth case is important because the individual could remember 2 different past lives.
The case of James Leininger is a prominent example of reincarnation or rebirth, widely known in the U.S. From an early age, James experienced recurring nightmares about being trapped in a burning plane and crashing. When James was around two years old, he began revealing more about these memories. He claimed to have been a World War II pilot named James Huston, who had flown a Corsair. He frequently described being trapped in the cockpit of his plane, feeling the impact of the crash, and experiencing the fire and chaos as the plane went down. He made specific statements about his past life, including being shot down near Iwo Jima, being based on a ship named 'Natoma,' and having a friend named 'Jack Larsen.' These details closely matched the life of James Huston Jr., an American pilot killed in action in March 1945.
Born on April 10, 1998, in San Francisco to Bruce and Andrea Leininger, James and his family later moved to Dallas, Texas, and then to Lafayette, Louisiana. James's past-life memories became prominent between the ages of two and five, following the family's move to Lafayette. The extensive verification of his memories through detailed research by his parents, who later published a book about the case, contributed to widespread media attention and made this case one of the most notable in the Western world.
James Leininger's past-life memories and behaviors exhibited remarkable details and consistency. At just 22 months old, James showed a keen interest in World War II planes during a visit to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, where he was so captivated that he had to be coaxed to leave.
When he was nearly two, James’s mother noticed his specific knowledge about aircraft parts. Upon seeing a toy plane, he correctly identified a 'drop tank,' a term for an extra fuel tank on aircraft, despite this being an advanced concept for his age.
When James Leininger was around two years old, he began experiencing frequent nightmares about plane crashes, often screaming about 'airplane crash' and 'plane on fire.' He would scream and kick, seemingly reliving an airplane crash. He would cry out, 'Airplane crash! Plane on fire! Little man can’t get out!' He began sharing memories of being a pilot named James Huston, flying a Corsair from a ship named 'Natoma,' and being shot down near Iwo Jima. He even mentioned a fellow pilot friend named Jack Larsen.
James’s play and artwork reflected his memories. He frequently crashed toy planes into furniture and drew detailed WWII aerial battles featuring accurate aircraft types, such as Wildcats and Corsairs for the Americans, and 'Zekes' and 'Bettys' for the Japanese planes. His drawings depicted scenes of burning and crashing planes, consistent with WWII imagery, and he signed some as 'James 3,' indicating he saw himself as a reincarnation of a previous James.
Additionally, James mimicked the actions of a pilot while buckling into his car seat and correctly used pilot headgear during a local airshow, further showcasing his detailed and consistent past-life memories.
Bruce Leininger, James's father and a devout Christian, initially resisted the idea of reincarnation and sought to disprove his son's statements. He strongly opposed the concept of reincarnation because it was not mentioned in his Christian religion. However, his later research uncovered that the USS Natoma Bay was a WWII aircraft carrier involved in the Iwo Jima operation, and a pilot named ‘Jack Larsen’ had served on it. Although Jack Larsen was not killed in action, leading Bruce to investigate further.
Bruce then focused on James McReady Huston Jr., a pilot killed near Iwo Jima. Although Huston was initially thought to have flown an FM2 Wildcat, not a Corsair, a photograph of Huston in front of a Corsair and testimonies from veterans confirmed that he had indeed flown that aircraft. Eyewitness accounts of Huston's plane being hit and exploding matched James’s nightmares. The burning plane, the Corsair, the ship—everything matched.
At a Natoma Bay pilots' reunion, James recognized a pilot by his voice. Anne Barron, Huston's sister, verified additional details from James's statements, including personal information about Huston's family, further supporting the reincarnation hypothesis.
James also shared memories of choosing the Leiningers as his parents and described a hotel stay in Hawaii, which was later confirmed to be accurate. When James was 4 years old, he told his parents how he had chosen them. One day, when his father kissed him, James said to Bruce, "That is why I picked you. I knew you would be a good daddy." Bruce was taken aback and asked, "What did you say?" James replied, "When I found you and Mommy, I knew you would be good to me."
Bruce asked for more details, "Where did you find us?" James responded, "Hawaii." Bruce inquired further, and James explained that he had been watching them and added, "I found you in the big pink hotel. I found you on the beach. You were eating dinner at night."
What James said was indeed true. In 1997, Bruce and Andrea had gone to Hawaii to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. They had stayed at the Royal Hawaiian, the landmark pink hotel on Waikiki Beach. On their final night, they had a moonlight dinner on the beach. It was just five weeks before Andrea became pregnant with James. Remarkably, James had described it perfectly. Thus, James had spoken the truth.
Additionally, James named his GI Joe dolls after three squadron-mates of Huston who had died before him, adding another layer of confirmation to his past-life claims.
When James Leininger was three, his mother, Andrea, sought help from Carol Bowman, a regression therapist and author of ‘Children’s Past Lives: How Past Life Memory Affects Your Child’. Bowman provided techniques to alleviate James's recurring nightmares, including reassuring him that the past was over and he was safe in his current life. This approach significantly reduced the nightmares. Bowman maintained correspondence with the Leiningers for eight years and facilitated the publication of their story in the book ‘Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot’ in 2009, which briefly appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.
In the lead-up to James’s fourth birthday, Bowman introduced the Leiningers to ABC, which was preparing a TV show on children’s past-life memories. Although some footage was recorded, the show was never aired due to perceived weaknesses in the case. Jim Tucker, a psychiatrist specializing in past-life memories, noted that the show was considered weak overall, not specifically due to James's case.
Two years later, ABC approached the Leiningers again for a segment on ‘ABC Primetime’ with Chris Cuomo. By this time, additional evidence had strengthened the case, leading to a broadcast on April 15, 2004. The segment drew significant media attention, including international newspaper articles and TV reports.
Tucker later recontacted the Leiningers, but they initially declined further interviews due to the overwhelming media attention and their focus on publishing James’s story. Tucker was only able to interview the family in 2010.
Jim Tucker scientifically investigated the James Leininger case and discussed it in his 2013 book, ‘Return to Life: Extraordinary Cases of Children Who Remember Past Lives’, and in a formal case report published in 2016. He examined the authenticity of James’s statements about his past life and found evidence supporting their validity.
Tucker noted that although the Leiningers’ original records were lost, several pieces of evidence confirmed that James made his statements before the identification of James Huston Jr. These included video footage from ABC and dated Internet print-outs showing Bruce Leininger’s search for information about the Natoma Bay in 2000.
Details about the death:
James Huston Jr. underwent rigorous training to become a skilled pilot and was eventually deployed to the Pacific Theater during World War II. He had enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a fighter pilot with the VC-81 squadron, which was based on the escort carrier USS Natoma Bay.
In March 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, Huston flew numerous missions to support various military operations. On March 3, 1945, he took off in his F4U Corsair fighter plane for a mission to provide air support for the ongoing battle. During this mission, Huston's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire from Japanese forces, severely damaging the aircraft. The plane crashed into the ocean, and Huston did not survive the crash. His body was never recovered, and he was officially declared killed in action. Huston's death was a significant loss for his squadron and his family. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service and bravery. The details provided by James Leininger about Huston's life and death matched the historical records.
James’s verified statements included details such as:
-His plane was shot in the engine and crashed in water.
-He died during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
-The plane was on fire and sank, preventing his escape.
-He flew a Corsair.
-His plane was based on a ship (the Natoma Bay).
-His plane was shot down by the Japanese.
-Corsairs often had flat tires upon landing.
Tucker argued against the possibility of fraud, suggesting that if the Leiningers were fabricating the story, they would have presented a stronger case to ABC in 2002, before knowing they would have another media opportunity in 2004. He also ruled out fantasy, pointing to the detailed nature of James’s nightmares, behaviors, and drawings as indicative of genuine past-life memories rather than mere imagination.
The chance of James’s detailed statements coincidentally matching a real person’s life was considered highly improbable by Tucker. He concluded that all documented statements leading to Huston’s identification were made by James himself, who could not have had prior knowledge of Huston or the Natoma Bay through any external sources.
Following the publication of ‘Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot’ in 2009, media segments featured interviews with Natoma Bay veterans and Huston’s sister, highlighting James’s recognition of veterans and private family details. A Japanese TV station funded a trip to Chichi-Jima, where James participated in a memorial service. This visit reportedly led to a reduction in the destructiveness of his drawings and a sense of spiritual release, with James expressing hope that his story would help people understand reincarnation. James has recently joined the navy to do the things he loves, again, which he did in his past life. That is clear evidence that shows living beings do the same thing again and again.
[Special note: This book is for free distribution only. Not for sale.]
German Ruprecht Schulz reincarnation case:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
Researcher Dr. Karl Eugen Muller, (President of the International Spiritualist Federation, Switzerland)
Researcher Hans Bender, Psychologist and Parapsychologist, (Germany)
A verified reincarnation case in Germany. [The businessman who lost his fortune twice, in two different lifetimes.]
This is a rebirth case in which written records were made before verification of the previous personality, and also, documentation of the previous person's life was found to confirm things with further accuracy.
Ruprecht Schulz was born on October 19, 1887, in Berlin, Germany, to Christian parents. As a child, he exhibited unusual behaviors and interests that would later be linked to a past life. Whenever Ruprecht became depressed, he would shape his hand into a gun, with the index finger representing the barrel, put it to his temple, and say, "I shoot myself." His mother became concerned about this behavior and ordered him to stop.
Ruprecht also had a keen interest in ships and shipping, which was unusual for a boy living in land-locked Berlin. He built a collection of model ships and pictures of ships. Additionally, he was fascinated with revolvers, which would later connect to his past life memory of committing suicide with a revolver.
As Ruprecht grew up, he demonstrated a natural talent for business. He left school at the age of 18 to start a laundry business with a delivery service, which became very popular with young mothers. By the age of 20, he had more than twenty employees, and his company grew to employ 200 people. Ruprecht became rich and enjoyed participating in community affairs, becoming a member of his local Chamber of Commerce and a representative in the Berlin municipal council.
Despite his success, Ruprecht was risk-averse and known among his friends to be "security conscious." This attitude was later attributed to the losses incurred in his past life as Helmut Kohler.
World War II and Past Life Memories:
World War II significantly affected Ruprecht's life and financial holdings. During Allied bombings of Berlin, past life memories began to surface. Ruprecht was assigned duty watch by city authorities to observe for fires that could arise from the bombings. He took a regular shift from Saturday evening to Monday morning, during which he would stay at his business office to get work done during quiet hours. His office was in an old building designated as a historical landmark, with a safe located in a dimly lit hallway.
Whenever Ruprecht went to the safe to get the account books, he had the repetitive thought: "You were in this situation once before." As he reviewed his account books and while fully awake, he would remember himself in a past lifetime. In a tape-recorded statement, Ruprecht explained:
"I could see how I looked then. I was wearing a high collar and formal clothing. I had come from a ceremony on a special day. My business was finished. An employee had run off with the money—embezzled it and absconded. So I sat down with the account books and could see that there was no future. It was all over. Then I was in a room by myself and put a bullet into my head at the right temple. You would call these images clairvoyance, but for me, they are memories."
In another statement, Ruprecht noted how similar the settings were in the past lifetime and his current incarnation during World War II:
"The setting of the previous time was similar to the one I was in then. The safe was in a similar location and the account books were also similar."
Past Life Memories and Validation:
Ruprecht's memories became clearer and clearer over time. He recalled that in this past lifetime, he was involved in a business dealing with wood and was somehow connected with shipbuilding or shipping. He felt that the past life took place in an old small or middle-sized seaport, which seemed to be Wilhelmshaven. Ruprecht also recalled that the man he was wore dark clothes of the style of that period and had come from some important session or unusually important event.
Ruprecht wrote to municipal authorities of Wilhelmshaven and nine other seaside towns, inquiring whether they knew of a businessman who was involved with shipping of timber, the lumber business, and who had shot himself and died in the 1880s. Of the ten cities he wrote to, all responded indicating that they knew of no such man, except for Wilhelmshaven.
An official from Wilhelmshaven wrote to Ruprecht and stated that a man from that town did fit the description. The man was a ship broker and timber merchant who had committed suicide. In the first letter from Wilhelmshaven, the official wrote that the family name of the timber merchant was "Kohl." Ruprecht knew that this name was slightly off. In a second letter from the official, the family name was corrected to "Kohler," and Ruprecht was provided with the address of the man's surviving son, Ludwig Kohler.
Relationships Renewed through Reincarnation:
On September 17, 1952, Ruprecht wrote to Ludwig Kohler, who responded and confirmed that Ruprecht's past life memories corresponded closely to the life of his father, Helmut Kohler. Ludwig, in a letter to Ruprecht, gave the following testimony:
"My father, Helmut Kohler, had a substantial business in Wilhelmshaven that included trading in timber and also a sawmill. Our residence was in 25 Friedrichstrasse, and right next to it was a one-story building that was used for the offices. This building faced north, and it had only small windows, so that it was always dark in there. In a corner of one of the rooms, there was a somewhat antiquated safe, which you have mentioned. In it money, account books, and also a cash box and important papers were kept. My father ordinarily wore dark clothing, and whenever he went out he wore a top hat on his head.
He imported wood by ship from Danzig, Königsberg, and Memel, but particularly from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and America. In 1888, he mistakenly believed that a customs duty would increase, and he purchased from abroad an unusually large amount of timber. Unfortunately, this was a faulty speculation, because the price of timber fell and much more than the customs duty rose. He then had difficulty in paying the invoices.
In order to get through the crisis, he had arranged for his accountant, who had been his 'right hand' and enjoyed his complete trust, to falsify the records of their foreign exchange transactions. The two of them thought that they would extricate themselves when the exchange rate fell. This did not happen. The accountant became afraid that he would be arrested, and he fled to America taking with him a substantial amount of the company's available funds.
My father now got into a complete panic and shot himself on the Day of Prayer and Repentance. The company had to declare bankruptcy, although this was in fact unnecessary. Even though the buildings, the sawmill, and the lumber on hand were all sold in a forced auction, all the creditors were paid off."
Meeting Ludwig and Recognizing Past Life Sons:
In October 1956, Ruprecht traveled to Wilhelmshaven for the first time, where he met Ludwig Kohler. Wilhelmshaven is 370 kilometers or 230 miles from Berlin. Ruprecht had never been to Wilhelmshaven before. Ludwig was 12 years old when his father, Helmut, committed suicide. Now, as an adult, Ludwig would meet the proposed reincarnation of his father.
Ruprecht said that he recognized certain buildings, such as the Town Hall, in Wilhelmshaven. He stated that when Ludwig showed him photos of the Kohler children, who were pictured among a large group of schoolchildren, he was able to recognize Helmut's other sons from the crowd, though he was not able to recognize his past life daughters.
Other Information:
Ian Stevenson considered the case of Helmut Kohler | Ruprecht Schultz as one of the strongest reincarnation cases he had studied. Stevenson was particularly impressed with Ruprecht's validated memories involving a past life in the remote town of Wilhelmshaven, which included a shipping and timber business that ended in suicide. Stevenson felt this combination of memories was far too unusual to occur by chance or coincidence.
Ruprecht Schulz, reflecting on his past life memories and their impact on his current life, stated: "I have always been a conservative investor, avoiding risk, which I attribute to the losses incurred in my lifetime as Helmut Kohler. Despite my success in business, I have always been conscious of the possibility of losing everything, as I did in my past life."
Ludwig Kohler, reflecting on his meeting with Ruprecht Schulz and the validation of Ruprecht's past life memories, stated: "Meeting Ruprecht was a profound experience for me. It was as if I was meeting my father again, but in a different body. The memories that Ruprecht shared with me were incredibly accurate and detailed, leaving no doubt in my mind that he was indeed the rebirth of my father, Helmut Kohler."
Helmut Kohler was skilled in business, a trait that carried over into his life as Ruprecht Schulz. Like Helmut, Ruprecht became very wealthy. Helmut's wealth came from dealing with timber imports and processing lumber. However, when his financial situation declined and he faced bankruptcy, he committed suicide to escape the consequences of his lost fortune.
Similarly, like Helmut Kohler, Ruprecht Schulz also lost all his wealth. The primary cause for this was the devastating effects of World War II on Berlin and the subsequent division of the city into East and West sectors. The war resulted in substantial damage to Ruprecht's business and properties. Additionally, the political and economic instability following the war further contributed to his financial losses.
This repeated pattern of gaining and losing wealth in both lives suggests a kind of karmic cycle or lesson that Ruprecht has been unable to avoid thus far.
Ruprecht retired from business when he was 68 years old and moved with his wife from Berlin to Frankfurt, where he died at the age of 80 in 1967.
Helmut Kohler died on November 23, 1887. According to records, Ruprecht Schulz was born to Christian parents in Berlin, Germany, on October 19, 1887—five weeks before Helmut Kohler's death. This rebirth case belongs to the possession-type reincarnation cases, which means a mind enters an already formed body after the original mind of that creature has left upon death. This rebirth case is similar to the Indian Sumitra Singh reincarnation case.
Lebanese Wael Kiwan reincarnation case:
Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Iceland)
A verified international reincarnation case in Lebanon. [The man who died in the United States of America and became a man in Lebanon after his death.]
In this documented past-life memory case in Lebanon, Wael Kiwan remembered details about a previous life in Beirut, which is 70 kilometers from his village. A deceased individual whose details matched Wael's memories was identified, but notably, this person had died by suicide in the USA, not Lebanon. This makes the case very special as it involves an international global connection.
Erlendur Haraldsson investigated 32 Druze cases in Lebanon between 1998 and 2001, publishing reports on four of them, including the Wael Kiwan case. In 84% of these cases, children reported dying by violence. Ian Stevenson had investigated 77 Druze cases by the time he published Volume III of his series, providing detailed accounts of six. In about two-thirds of Stevenson's Lebanese cases, there were memories of violent deaths.
Wael Kiwan case:
Wael Kiwan, born in 1988, grew up in the village of Batir, 70 kilometers east of Beirut. When he was four years old, he began saying, "My name is Rabih; I was big, not small like I am now." He insisted that he had different parents in Beirut and expressed a desire to know where they were. He also made specific statements, such as, "I had two homes, one to which I had to go by aeroplane."
Wael's father frequently traveled to Beirut for business, and each time he returned, Wael would ask if he had found his previous home. Wael became upset when his father reported no success. He also cautioned his father, saying, "If you find it, don't tell them that Rabih has died, because they will cry."
Wael mentioned that in his previous home, they had a balcony from which he used to jump down to the street. He also told his mother, as many children in similar cases do, "My [previous] mother is prettier than you."
Wael gave conflicting accounts of how he had died. He stated that "they" shot him in the head, but also mentioned that a group of people kicked and beat him until he no longer felt anything, leading his parents to infer that he had been killed.
Wael made sixteen statements about his past life, of which eleven were verified as matching the previous personality. One statement that did not match (cause of death) is marked with an asterisk (*), and the remaining four statements, marked with a question mark (?), could not be verified and may or may not be true. Here are some of his statements:
-My name was Rabih. I was big (not small).
-I have parents. They are not here; they are in Beirut.
-My house is in Beirut near the sea.
-My house is near the house of Allah Wa Akbar (mosque).
-There is a house with a red brick roof.
-It was sunset and I saw people coming and they shot me. (*)
-A group of people hit me and kicked me until I did not feel anything. (?)
-I was often on a boat out at sea.
-I used to stand and steer the boat with a wheel. (?)
-I would walk from my house to the sea.
-My house is in Jal al Bahr.
-I had two homes: one in Beirut and one to which I went in an airplane.
-We had a balcony.
-I used to jump from the balcony to the street.
-I used to throw an ‘iron’ to stop the boat. (Only reported by his aunt.) (?)
-My [previous] mother is prettier than you. (?)
Investigation and Verification:
Wael’s parents and aunt reported that he made all these statements before they began searching for a deceased person who matched them. Before investigating in Beirut, they and his siblings tried to elicit a recognition by going through various family names. Wael rejected all of them until they mentioned the name Assaf, which he identified as his previous family name. Note that Assaf is a common name in Lebanon, used by Druze, Christians, and Muslims alike.
Wael’s father shared what Wael was saying about his previous life with a Druze friend in Beirut, Sami Zhairi. Sami agreed to inquire further and eventually identified a deceased boy named Rabih Assaf whose life appeared to match Wael’s statements.
About a year after Wael made his initial statements, his father took him to Beirut. Accompanied by Sami Zhairi, they visited a house in the Jal al Bahr district, which borders the sea, where Rabih Assaf had lived. Upon arriving, Wael ran ahead into the house and straight to the ground floor apartment. He saw a picture on the wall and said, "This is my picture." The picture was of Rabih Assaf.
Rabih's mother, Munira, was not at home when they visited. However, they met Raja Assaf, Rabih’s brother, who showed Wael a photo album. Wael's father reported that Wael successfully identified Rabih’s father, sister, and a paternal aunt from the pictures.
Wael’s mother also recognized the photo of Rabih as someone she had dreamed about a week before giving birth to Wael. In her dream, the youth had a mustache, black hair, and was wearing an open shirt. He appeared to be sweating and breathing with difficulty, similar to the photo of Rabih.
On the return journey, Wael told his father that he felt relieved to have found his previous home. After this, he spoke little about his past life and no longer discusses it spontaneously. There were additional visits between the families, and when Haraldsson met Wael, who was eleven at the time, he still occasionally communicated with the previous family over the telephone.
Haraldsson and his assistant Majd Abu-Izzedin first met Wael at his home. Wael returned from school while they were interviewing his parents and, by that time, had started forgetting his memories and could no longer describe them. By age eleven, memories of a previous life often fade, though some details may persist. At a second meeting in January 2001, Wael told Haraldsson that he still remembered how he was shot. It is common for memories of the death scene to last longer, but in this case, it appears not to match the facts. Sami Zhairi, who had identified the deceased Rabih Assaf, had died three years before Haraldsson's investigation, so he could not be interviewed.
Haraldsson and Abu-Izzedin visited Rabih's mother, Munira, at her home in Jal al Bahr, a ground-floor apartment in a four-story building near the sea. Munira explained that Rabih died in South Pasadena, California, in January 1988. Rabih had moved to America at the age of 21 and studied electrical engineering for two years. During his third year, he wished to return to Beirut but could not due to the ongoing civil war. He was thinking about how to go to Lebanon. His mind was on Lebanon. Lacking sufficient funds to either stay in California or return to Lebanon, he fell into a state of depression and attempted suicide by swallowing pills. However, he was taken to the hospital and survived.
Munira did not learn about Rabih's first suicide attempt until after he died from a second, successful attempt on January 9, 1988, by hanging himself in the garage. Abboud Assaf, the relative with whom Rabih was staying, had kept the news of the first attempt from her and had tried unsuccessfully to prevent Rabih from making a second attempt. This information was validated through a telephone interview Haraldsson conducted with Abboud Assaf.
Wael never mentioned that he had killed himself. Instead, he said that "they" had shot him or that a group of people kicked and hit him until he no longer felt anything. Neither Munira nor Abboud Assaf in California were aware of any such incident.
When Wael first visited Munira’s home, he inquired about a house with a red roof. A house with a red roof had indeed stood behind their building, but it had been torn down by the time of Wael’s visit. Rabih had grown up seeing this house from their apartment, and this detail, more than anything else, convinced Munira that Wael was Rabih reborn.
Munira’s apartment is on the ground floor and has a balcony from which it is easy to jump to the street. Rabih had frequently done this, according to his mother. Wael had mentioned jumping from a balcony to the street before meeting the Assaf family or seeing their house.
Wael frequently mentioned a boat. Some relatives and neighbors kept boats in a small harbor at the end of the street, mostly rowing boats. It is possible that Rabih might have occasionally used a boat with a steering wheel and possibly cast an anchor, although these details could not be confirmed.
Wael mentioned that he lived near a mosque. There is an old mosque located approximately 100 meters from Rabih’s house on the same street as the harbor. It is the only mosque in the Jal al Bahr area. Wael's statement about having "two homes," one of which required traveling by airplane, aligns with the fact that Rabih had also lived in America. Rabih died in the USA and was reborn in Lebanon. Wael's case is one of only fourteen verified international reincarnation cases. Verifying international reincarnation cases is often difficult due to distances, required effort, and other factors. This reincarnation case provides evidence that reincarnation phenomena are universal.
Finland Taru Jarvi reincarnation case:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
A verified reincarnation case in Finland. [The little girl, who was a big married man in her past life. From Germany to Finland, and then back to Finland again.]
The subject of this rebirth case remembered the life of her mother’s second husband. The case therefore has the feature of a difference in sex between the subject and the previous personality.
Case and Its Investigation:
Helsinki is the capital and most populous city of Finland. It is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and serves as the seat of the Uusimaa region in southern Finland.
Taru Järvi was born in Helsinki, Finland, on May 27, 1976. Her parents were Heikki Järvi and his wife, Iris. She was their only child. They were members of the Lutheran Church. Taru Järvi was not quite 5 years old when Ian Stevenson, a professor and scientist, met her in March 1981.
Taru began to speak when she was about 1 year old, and when she was about 1½ she began rejecting her given name and saying that she should be called Jaska. This was the nickname of Iris Järvi’s second husband, Jaakko Vuorenlehto, who had been accidentally run over by a bus in 1973. Thereafter, Taru made several statements about the life and death of Jaakko and also showed in various ways that she considered herself a boy. She showed a marked antagonism toward her father, and her attitude toward him generated some alienation between her parents.
Rita Castrén notified Dr. Ian Stevenson about this case in a letter dated August 28, 1979. Stevenson went to Finland in March 1981 and had a long interview with Iris Järvi on March 8. He also talked a little with Taru, who was then just under 5 years old. Rita Castrén was his interpreter. Because she had known Iris Järvi for 12 years, she was also an informant for some of Taru’s statements about the previous life. Stevenson interviewed one other informant for Taru’s statements and behavior. She was Vappu Haanpaa, a friend and fellow-employee of Iris Järvi.
Later in 1981, Rita Castrén translated for Stevenson the report by the Helsinki Police Department of the inquest into the death of Jaakko Vuorenlehto.
In correspondence during 1997, Rita Castrén sent Stevenson some information about Taru’s later development. In September 1999, Stevenson was again in Helsinki and had another long interview with Iris Järvi. Unfortunately, he could not meet Taru again, because she was then living away from Helsinki, in Espoo. He was equally disappointed not to be able to meet Taru’s father, Heikki Järvi. He had not met him in the 1980s and hoped to learn his views on the early behavior and development of Taru. Unfortunately, in the intervening years, Heikki had developed Parkinsonism and had become frail. Iris said it would be inappropriate to try to interview him as he then was.
Some statements made by Taru Järvi, as documented in the case study by Dr. Ian Stevenson:
1. Regarding her name and identity:
"I am not Taru; my name is Jaska." (Jaska was Jaakko Vuorenlehto's nickname.)
"You are not my mother. I was left under a car and died. Don’t you know?"
"Of course a boy, a big boy." (when asked if she was a girl or a boy when she died)
"Why should I have to choose you as my mother?"
"I was a big man."
"Why am I so small? I would like to be bigger."
"I was a big man. I have never been a small man."
2. Regarding the manner of Jaakko's death:
"I was run over by a bus."
"First died the stomach, then the head."
"I was taken to the hospital, but I was already dead by that time."
3. Regarding death and reincarnation:
"You do not have to be afraid of dying because I have died many times."
"I had another mother called Senya in Germany."
4. Regarding her relationship with her parents:
"He can go away and we can live together without him." (referring to her father, Heikki)
"We do not need you. You should go away." (to Heikki, father and 3rd husband)
"You are only a visitor here." (to Heikki)
"Heikki, are you coming to us today?" (to Heikki)
5. Regarding Jaakko's possessions:
"This is mine. I have played with it." (referring to a large toy car that belonged to Jaakko)
These statements were made by Taru between the ages of 1 and 5.
The Life and Death of Jaakko Vuorenlehto:
Jaakko Vuorenlehto was born in Helsinki on November 15, 1929. Little is known about his early life. His childhood was spent close to that of the girl, Iris Sundström, who would later become his wife. Iris was born on September 18, 1935, and was thus 6 years younger than Jaakko. Iris later told Stevenson that when she was 12 years old and Jaakko 18, Jaakko said of Iris: “One day I will marry that girl.” (Iris learned of this statement later.) She also remembered that at about the same time she herself had said, referring to the house where Jaakko lived: “One day I will live in that house.” Although they would then see each other at a distance, Jaakko and Iris did not meet until later.
Iris did not marry Jaakko as her first husband. With that husband, she had three daughters. In the meantime, Jaakko grew up. He finished junior high school, but had no further formal education. After a period in the armed services, he became employed in a service station. Later, he became the manager of a hardware store. He and Iris became acquainted, and their friendship developed into love, so that in 1970, when Iris was 35 and Jaakko 41, Iris divorced her first husband and married Jaakko.
Their life together was a happy one. Jaakko had become an alcoholic before their marriage, and Iris helped him to drink less alcohol. Jaakko wished for children, but they had none before his untimely death. On the evening of September 13, 1973, Jaakko was riding a municipal bus in Helsinki, and when it came to his stop he got off the bus. The bus driver, on a signal from the conductor, began driving the bus toward its next stop. Almost immediately, he sensed that the bus had run over something, and he stopped the bus. Jaakko’s inert body was found lying under the rear of the bus behind one of the rear wheels. The bus had run over him. His trunk and legs were still under the rear part of the bus, and his head and shoulders were exterior to the bus’s frame. The police report stated that: “On leaving the bus at the bus stop Mr. Vuorenlehto apparently stumbled and got under the right back wheel of the bus so that the wheel ran over his chest as well as his throat and the left side of his head.”
A physician who came to the scene of the accident declared Jaakko dead, and his body was taken to the Institute of Medical Jurisprudence where a postmortem examination was made. According to the police report, this showed “that death was caused by a fracture of the bottom of the cranium and inner contusions.”
The accident occurred shortly after 8:00 p.m. It was then dark in Helsinki, but the street was well illuminated and dry. Jaakko’s blood alcohol was not measured, so there was no way of knowing whether alcohol contributed to his death. How and why he stumbled so as to fall under the wheel of the bus remains a mystery. He was 44 years old when he died.
Jaakko was a tall man. Iris Järvi said that he was 1.88 meters in height and weighed 86 kilograms. He was therefore both tall and slim. His movements were slow and clumsy.
Jaakko owned dogs when he was young. He liked nature and flowers, hunting and fishing. He was fond of horses, although he did not own any. He enjoyed driving cars and he played ice hockey. He occupied some of his leisure time with handicrafts. Some of his other activities were ones generally associated with women. For example, he liked to play with dolls, sewed tablecloths, and crocheted. He liked women’s clothes and sometimes bought clothes for Iris. She thought that the way he moved was somewhat feminine. Jaakko, however, had never expressed a wish to change sex. He believed in reincarnation.
Events Between Jaakko’s Death and Taru’s Birth:
A little more than a year after Jaakko’s death, Iris married her third husband, Heikki Järvi. A year later, in September 1975, Iris visited Jaakko’s grave and, while there, heard something like his voice saying that he would be reborn as her child on May 27 and that this time he would be a girl. Iris was not pregnant then, and she did not expect to be, because she was 40 years old. Nevertheless, in October, she did become pregnant and gave birth to Taru on May 27, 1976.
Although Iris did not believe that she would become pregnant again, she was somewhat receptive to the idea of reincarnation. She had been brought up in the Lutheran Church, but broke away from it when she was about 25 years old. She began believing in rebirth which is mentioned in
Buddhism and Hinduism soon after her separation from the church.
Taru’s Statements and a Recognition:
Taru made few statements that directly expressed memories of Jaakko’s life and death. All of her statements of which Stevenson learned occurred between the age of 1½ and 5. (As mentioned, she was not quite 5 years old when Stevenson met her in March 1981.)
Her first statement probably occurred soon after she began to speak when she was about 1 year old. She said that she had been run over by a bus. When she was about 1½ years old, she rejected the name Taru and said: “I am not Taru; my name is Jaska.” (“Jaska” was Jaakko’s nickname.)
When she was about 3½, she said to Iris: “You are not my mother. I was left under a car and died. Don’t you know?” A few days later Rita Castrén asked Taru: “Were you a girl or a boy when you died?” Taru replied: “Of course a boy, a big boy.” Rita Castrén then asked her: “Was the car big or small?” Taru replied: “It was big. First died the stomach, then the head.” On another occasion, Taru said: “I was taken to the hospital, but I was already dead by that time.”
Once Taru said: “You do not have to be afraid of dying because I have died many times.” (In support of this last statement Taru once said that she had another mother called Senya in Germany.)
On several occasions Taru said: “I was a big man.” Once she said: “Why am I so small? I would like to be bigger.” Another time she said: “I was a big man. I have never been a small man.”
At times Taru seemed puzzled by the situation in which she found herself. Once she looked at Iris strangely and said: “Why should I have to choose you as my mother?”
Taru’s only recognition of an object that belonged to Jaakko occurred when she said that a large toy car (that had been Jaakko’s) was hers. She added: “I have played with it.”
She did not say that a photograph of Jaakko was of her; but she did want to keep the photograph by her bed.
Taru’s Behavior Related to the Previous Life:
Circumstances and Manner of Taru’s Speaking About the Previous Life: When Stevenson asked Iris whether Taru showed any unusual emotion when she spoke about the previous life, she replied: “She seems to be abstracted, like another person. It is as if she is away.”
Taru’s Phobia of Large Vehicles: When Taru was just about a year old, she showed a marked fear of buses, large automobiles, and tractors. At the age of (nearly) 5, when Stevenson met her, this phobia was persisting. If she was walking with Iris and a bus approached, she would ask Iris to pick her up. She did not react in this way when she saw small vehicles.
Taru’s Play: Taru played with dolls, but she also played at games typically preferred by boys. For example, she liked to play with toy soldiers, sometimes wearing a helmet and carrying a gun. She played at pretending to drive a car. She asked to be given a gun and a hockey stick.
In playing with other children Taru would never accept a girl’s role, saying insistingly: “I am a boy.”
Taru’s Preference for Clothes: Taru had a strong preference for boys’ clothes. In this respect she differed markedly from her three older stepsisters, who had always preferred girls’ clothes.
Taru’s Preferences for Food: Stevenson learned of no unusual preferences for foods that Taru and Jaakko shared, with one possible exception. Jaakko had eaten fish, such as Baltic herring. Up to the age of 3 Taru ate Baltic herring, but then developed an aversion to fish.
Taru’s Attitudes Toward Her Parents: Taru sometimes called Iris by her name, that is Iris, and sometimes called her “Mama.” She was particularly attached to Iris.
In contrast, Taru had an aversion to her father, Heikki. She never called him “Papa,” but only Heikki. Once, referring to Heikki, she told Iris: “He can go away and we can live together without him.” Once she said to Heikki: “We do not need you. You should go away.” Another time she said to him: “You are only a visitor here.” Aware of his coming and going in the house, she still did not understand, even when Stevenson met her, that Heikki was a permanent member of the family. She would sometimes say to him: “Heikki, are you coming to us today?”
Physical Resemblances Between Jaakko and Taru:
Iris believed that there were close resemblances in the faces and pigmentation of Jaakko and Taru. Jaakko’s mother and also Rita Castrén (who had known Jaakko) concurred in this opinion.
According to Iris, Taru was slow and clumsy in her movements as Jaakko had been.
Taru was relatively tall for a woman; she was taller than her father. As mentioned, Jaakko had been a tall man.
Other information:
Taru’s aversion to Heikki was a significant factor in a partial separation between Iris and Heikki. Her attitude to Heikki had wounded him; she was his only child. He and Iris never formally separated, but found that life was more harmonious if they lived in separate houses during the cold seasons. In the summer, they lived together in a country cottage that they owned.
Taru had little interest in schooling and left school at the age of 15. She never trained for a skilled job. She did, however, train to be a taxi driver, and in 1999 she was working as one. Like Jaakko she was fond of horses, and she owned and managed a stable for boarding horses.
In 1999 Taru was 23 years old. Her mother said that she was “still masculine.” As evidence of this Iris mentioned that Taru never wore any makeup and invariably dressed in pants. She had only one skirt. Nevertheless, in 1998 she married and wore a skirt for her wedding. Her husband was a carpenter and interior decorator.
Taru’s phobia of vehicles continued until she was about 19 years old, and she then lost it. Iris said that Taru had a superstitious anxiety about the 13th day of the month, which was the day on which Jaakko had been run over and died.
As she grew up, Taru had become reconciled to her father. In fact, her relationship with him was much better than mere harmony; as he became older and frailer, she helped to take care of him as a devoted daughter should.
This is a rebirth case that Stevenson had investigated, in which a child claimed to be the deceased spouse of one of its parents. There are other similar reincarnation cases, including those of Ma Tin Tin Myint and Asha Rani. In each such case, the child has shown a strong attachment to the parent who was the spouse and less attachment, indifference, or even antagonism to the other parent.
Like all same-family cases, this one has the weakness that the subject and previous personality were members of the same family. We must also note the further defect of the expectation by the subject’s mother that her deceased husband would be reborn as her child. Against this we can balance thoughts about how unusual it would be for a mother to damage her marriage by imposing the personality of a previous husband on the child of that marriage.
Stevenson greatly valued the opportunities he had to learn about the later course in life of some subjects he had known as young children. He found Taru’s case particularly instructive. In her fondness for horses and her distaste for schooling, she resembled Jaakko. In young adulthood, she accepted her anatomical sex and married; and yet she retained residues of masculinity. She overcame an early antagonism to her father and became affectionate toward him. She emerged from a phobia related to Jaakko’s accidental death, but retained some anxiety.
Portugal Alfonso Lopes reincarnation case:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
A verified reincarnation case in Portugal. [The boy who had a phobia of cars and a longing for a river he had never seen.]
Fernando and Irma Lopes, a businessman and his wife, lived in Lisbon, Portugal, with their three daughters: Marta, Angelina, and Augusta. The family was Roman Catholic, and the children attended local schools. On July 9, 1960, a car accident resulted in the tragic death of their middle daughter, Angelina, who was nearly seven years old at the time. Angelina was known for her affectionate nature and would often address her mother as "Dear Mother." Her untimely death profoundly affected the family, particularly Irma, who struggled with her faith and sought answers.
Meeting Francisco Marques Rodrigues:
About six months after Angelina's death, a friend introduced Irma to Francisco Marques Rodrigues, a Rosicrucian wise man known for his wisdom and paranormal and spiritual insights. He advised Irma that Angelina would return to the family in another form, possibly of a different sex, in about two years. Initially skeptical about reincarnation, Irma became confused but continued to visit Rodrigues for his guidance.
Pregnancy and Alfonso's Birth:
Toward the end of 1961, Irma became pregnant. Rodrigues, upon hearing the news, smiled and said, "I was expecting you. I was expecting the good news." Irma gave birth to a boy on August 23, 1962, and named him Alfonso. During her seventh month of pregnancy, Irma dreamed of Angelina, who communicated that the baby would be a boy.
Alfonso's Early Life and Statements:
Alfonso began speaking clearly around the age of 1. What follows are detailed accounts of statements and behaviors that seemed connected to Angelina's life, as documented by Dr. Ian Stevenson, who investigated the case in 1997.
-Television Incident (Age 1½): While watching TV, Alfonso saw a truck and a boy running across the street. He closed his eyes, shouted "No. No. No," and seemed distressed. Irma believed this was linked to Angelina's accident.
-"Dear Mama" (Age 2): Alfonso hugged Irma tightly and said, "Dear Mama, you cried so much, you cried so much." This phrase was significant because only Angelina had addressed Irma as "Dear Mother."
-Sewing Machine Incident (Age 2½): Irma heard the sewing machine running and found Alfonso near it. When she rushed to him, he said, "No, Mother, I won't [prick myself]. I took the needle out." Irma discovered that Alfonso had indeed removed both the needle and the screw that held it, which she believed was connected to Angelina's experiences with the machine.
-Street-Crossing Incident (Age 3): Alfonso dashed across the street to his sister after hearing a car horn. Irma, frightened, closed her eyes. Alfonso then said, "Don't cry, Mama. It was the car again, you know." Later, he repeated, "It was the car, dear Mama, you cried so much and you would cry a lot again."
-Wooden Horse Incident (Age 4): A family friend's son, Hernani, visited with his parents. Alfonso asked Hernani, "Have you kept the wooden horse?" Hernani's mother confirmed that they used to have such a toy, which Angelina and Hernani played with together. Alfonso also mentioned Aninhas, a servant both families knew, and her little son.
-Red-Checked Napkin (Age not quite 6): Alfonso noticed a red-checked napkin on the table and said, "Look, Mama, the napkin I used to take to school with my snack. I will take it again when I go back to school, won't I?" Irma had indeed used this napkin to wrap Angelina's school snacks.
-Feminine Word Forms (Age 6-7): Alfonso's teacher reported that he used feminine word forms when referring to himself, claiming to be a girl. Irma consulted Rodrigues, who advised her that Alfonso would grow out of this habit, which he did around the age of 7.
-Stocking Incident (Age 7): Alfonso put a glass inside a stocking, took a needle, and acted as if he were mending a run. He said, "Oh, I have not done this for such a long time." This mimicked Angelina's actions when she was with her aunt, who worked in a seamstress's shop.
-Gypsies' River (Age 7): Alfonso repeatedly asked to visit the "gypsies' river." When they visited Loures, where the family used to live, Alfonso crossed the street and said he wanted to see the bridge. He later told Irma, "Yes, I went to see the bridge; but it is quite changed, and there are no gypsies there." He remembered details about the river, bridge, and gypsies that were true to a location the family used to visit.
-Memory of a Dog (Age 33): In 1995, Alfonso recalled the death of a family dog that occurred about two months before Angelina's death. He correctly described the dog as being small, white with black spots, but couldn't remember its name.
Alfonso's Phobia and Aversion:
Although Alfonso did not initially show a fear of vehicles, he developed a phobia around the age of 16, which gradually diminished. He also showed an aversion to places connected to Angelina. When Irma took him to the beach where the accident occurred and the cemetery where Angelina was buried, Alfonso became very unhappy and wanted to leave, even crying at the beach.
Alfonso's Statement About Rebirth:
When Alfonso was 3½ years old, he had a conversation with his mother about life and death:
- Alfonso: "Mama, why do we live on earth?"
- Irma: "On earth, on this place?"
- Alfonso: "No, Mama, why are we born on earth?"
- Irma (mumbling): "Well, son, we…"
- Alfonso: "Don't you know, Mama? I do."
- Irma: "All right. Then say why."
- Alfonso: "It is one time here and another time there."
This exchange startled Irma, but she did not pursue the topic further at that time.
Other information:
Alfonso Lopes was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 23, 1962. His parents were Fernando Lopes and his wife Irma. When Alfonso was 17 years old, Irma Lopes wrote an account of the principal events of the case. In the early 1990s Irma Lopes wrote another account of the case, and Francisco Coelho sent Dr. Ian Stevenson a copy of this in 1997. In 1997, Dr. Ian Stevenson interviewed Irma and Alfonso Lopes. Alfonso, then 34, still had some memories of the previous life, including the wooden horse, the dog, and a scene by a river where women were washing clothes. He had even consulted Francisco Marques Rodrigues himself to understand these memories better.
This case shares similarities with other reincarnation cases, involving the family's loss of a young child and the mother's longing for the child's return. It is also notable for the change in sex between the previous personality and the subject. Irma Lopes, initially skeptical about reincarnation, gradually accepted the possibility after witnessing Alfonso's statements and behaviors. This case was investigated by Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist at the University of Virginia, United States of America. The information provided is based on his research, interviews with the Lopes family, and written accounts by Irma Lopes. The book 'European Cases of the Reincarnation Type' by Ian Stevenson contains full scientific research information about this case of reincarnation.
British Pollock Twins reincarnation cases:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
2 verified reincarnation cases in United Kingdom. [The girls who were friends in their past life and became twins in this life.]
This is a British reincarnation case where two young sisters who died in a road accident seemingly were reborn as twins to the same parents.
John Pollock, born in Bristol in 1920, was raised in the Church of England but later converted to Catholicism. His wife, Florence Pollock, grew up in the Salvation Army and also became Catholic upon marrying John. Despite his Christian upbringing, John believed in reincarnation, a concept he encountered in a novel at age nine. He prayed for evidence of reincarnation, seeking to prove his belief correct. The Pollocks eventually left the Church in the 1960s. At the time of their twins' birth, John was a firm believer in reincarnation, while Florence was not.
Joanna Pollock, born in 1946, was the third child and first daughter of John and Florence Pollock. In 1951, after the family relocated to Hexham in Northumberland, their second daughter, Jacqueline, was born. With their parents busy running a grocery and milk delivery business, Joanna and Jacqueline were primarily raised by their maternal grandmother.
Joanna and Jacqueline Pollock were inseparable, with Joanna often “mothering” her younger sister, a role Jacqueline readily accepted. Joanna enjoyed wearing costumes and creating her own plays, and she was known for her generosity, often sharing with other children. Both girls loved combing people's hair, particularly their father's. Joanna had a premonition that she would never grow up, frequently saying, "I will never be a lady."
At the age of three, Jacqueline Pollock had an accident where she fell into a bucket, resulting in a small gash on her forehead near the root of her nose, above her right eye. This injury left a permanent scar that was slightly depressed and became more noticeable in cold weather. Additionally, Jacqueline had a roundish dark birthmark on the left side of her waist.
On May 7, 1957, Joanna Pollock, aged eleven, and her six-year-old sister Jacqueline were tragically killed while walking to church with a friend. The driver, a local woman attempting suicide by driving after ingesting large amounts of aspirin and phenobarbitone, struck the girls. Witnesses reported seeing her driving erratically, and the children, trapped by a wall beside the sidewalk, were unable to escape. The impact was so severe that it threw the girls into the air "like cricket balls," killing them instantly. The incident made headlines across Britain.
Following the tragic deaths of Joanna and Jacqueline, their parents, John and Florence Pollock, were deeply affected. Florence tried to avoid thinking about their loss, while John became obsessed with the idea of reincarnation. On the day of the accident, John had a vision of the girls in heaven and felt their spirits present in a top room of their house, where he spent time to feel close to them. He believed their deaths were a divine punishment for his prayer for proof of reincarnation and hoped that their rebirth into his family would confirm his beliefs. Florence was opposed to this idea, leading to marital tension.
Despite Florence's objections and the doctor's predictions of a single birth, she became pregnant again. On October 4, 1958, Florence gave birth to twins, Gillian and Jennifer. Notably, Jennifer had a birthmark that resembled Jacqueline’s scar and another in the same location as Jacqueline’s original birthmark.
Ian Stevenson, a pioneering researcher in reincarnation, began scientifically investigating the Pollock case after reading about it in the newspaper in 1963. That year, he visited the family at their home, conducted extensive interviews with the parents, and examined the twins for birthmarks. He returned to meet the family again in 1967 and continued to correspond with them until his next visit in 1978, when the twins were twenty years old. During this visit, Stevenson arranged blood tests to determine their zygosity, which confirmed that they were monozygotic (identical).
Florence Pollock passed away in 1979. In 1982, Ian Stevenson visited John Pollock, his new wife, and Gillian. He continued to correspond with John until John's death in 1985. Stevenson documented the case in detail in the second volume of his work, ‘Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects’, and provided summaries in two other publications.
Between the ages of three and seven, Gillian and Jennifer made several statements and recognitions related to Joanna and Jacqueline. When the twins were about three, their parents brought out toys that had belonged to the deceased sisters, which had been stored in the attic. Gillian identified the doll that had belonged to Joanna, and Jennifer recognized the one that had belonged to Jacqueline. Both girls referred to the dolls as gifts from Santa Claus, just as they had been for Joanna and Jacqueline. When Gillian saw a toy clothes wringer that had also been a Santa Claus gift to Joanna, she remarked, “There is my toy wringer,” and mentioned that Santa had brought it. The twins did not argue over the toys.
Florence Pollock occasionally overheard Gillian and Jennifer discussing details of the accident. On one occasion, she found Gillian cradling Jennifer’s head and saying, “The blood’s coming out of your eyes. That’s where the car hit you.” John Pollock remembered that Jacqueline's head had been bandaged above the eyes when he identified the bodies. Additionally, Gillian once pointed to Jennifer’s forehead birthmark and remarked, “That is the mark Jennifer got when she fell on a bucket.”
After Florence Pollock stopped helping John with the milk delivery business, she put away the smock she had worn for that work. When the twins were about four and a half years old, John wore the smock while painting. Jennifer asked him, "Why are you wearing mummy’s coat?" She became irritated with Gillian for not recognizing it, as Gillian had been at school and had not seen their mother wearing the smock. When John asked Jennifer how she knew the smock belonged to Florence, she replied that her mother had worn it while delivering milk.
When Gillian and Jennifer were about four years old, the Pollocks visited Hexham for the first time since moving away when the twins were about nine months old. As they walked toward a park without yet being in sight of it, Gillian and Jennifer expressed a desire to cross the road to go to the park and the swings, and they clearly indicated that they knew the way.
When Gillian and Jennifer complained about the lunch at home, their mother suggested they could have lunch at school instead. The twins responded, "We’ve done that before," which was not true for them but had been true for Joanna and Jacqueline. John Pollock recounts these recognitions in a video detailing their experiences in Hexham.
John Pollock noted that when the twins discussed the accident, they often spoke in the present tense, as if reliving the event. The twins exhibited behaviors reminiscent of their deceased sisters. Like Joanna and Jacqueline, Gillian and Jennifer were very close, with Gillian often taking on a "mothering" role towards Jennifer, who accepted it. They looked to their maternal grandmother, who had raised Joanna and Jacqueline, for guidance and affection, despite Florence's availability. Similar to their elder sisters, the twins enjoyed combing people’s hair, especially their father's. Gillian was notably more sociable and generous with other children, displaying an early interest in costumes and acting, traits also seen in Joanna. Despite being the same age, Gillian appeared more mature compared to Jennifer.
The twins displayed phobias related to cars. Their mother observed that they were very cautious when crossing streets, holding her hands. On one occasion, when a car engine started near them in an enclosed alleyway, John Pollock saw the girls cringe in terror, cling to each other, and cry out, "The car! The car! It’s coming for us!" This reaction might have reminded them of the wall that had blocked their escape in their previous lives.
At the time of her death, Jacqueline Pollock had still been learning to write and was holding the pencil upright in her fist. Her teacher had suggested correcting this habit by slapping her hand. When Gillian and Jennifer started learning to write at age four, Gillian immediately used the proper pencil grip, while Jennifer initially held the pencil in a fist. Jennifer only started using the correct grip at age seven and occasionally reverted to the fist grip even as a young adult.
Joanna Pollock was somewhat slender, a trait that Gillian also shared, while Jennifer's build was more stocky, resembling Jacqueline’s. Additionally, Joanna had a more splay-footed gait compared to Jacqueline, and this difference was similarly observed in Gillian and Jennifer.
At birth, Jennifer Pollock had a dark brown, roundish birthmark on the left side of her waist, matching a similar mark that Jacqueline had. Florence Pollock noted that Jennifer's mark was slightly depressed and became more visible in cold weather, just like Jacqueline’s scar. No other family members had similar birthmarks.
Ian Stevenson noted that because the twins were monozygotic and thus genetically identical, genetics cannot account for Jennifer's birthmarks. He also considered maternal impression (the idea that a mother's beliefs or experiences could influence her unborn child) unlikely, as Florence did not believe in reincarnation. Stevenson speculated about paternal impression as a possible explanation but found it implausible. In a later work, Stevenson argued that it is inconceivable that John and Florence Pollock could have influenced their twin daughters' behaviors to so precisely match those of their deceased daughters.
French Nadege Jegou reincarnation case:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
A verified reincarnation case in France. [The girl who was a man in her past life.]
Subject: Nadege Jegou, born on December 30, 1974, in Neuilly-sur-Marne, France.
Parents: Patrick Jegou and Viviane Jegou (née Ennuyer).
Remembered Previous Life: Lionel Ennuyer, born on August 22, 1953, in Chelles, France.
Died on December 23, 1973, in a motorcycle accident.
Lionel was Viviane's younger brother.
Rebirth Case and Its Investigation:
The story of Nadege Jegou begins with the tragic death of her maternal uncle, Lionel Ennuyer. Lionel's accidental death left his mother, Yvonne Ennuyer, in a state of inconsolable grief.
Nadege Jegou was born on December 30, 1974, to Patrick Jegou and Viviane Jegou. Viviane had been married for five years without having children, but after Lionel's death, she wished more earnestly to have a baby. Her obstetrician attributed Nadege's birth to Viviane's strong determination to have a child. Later, Viviane gave birth to a boy, Joris, in 1979. Patrick Jegou was an Algerian and was not a significant informant for the case. He and Viviane divorced in 1989.
The Life and Death of Lionel Ennuyer:
Lionel Ennuyer was born in Chelles, France, on August 22, 1953. He had two older sisters, Viviane and Lydia. Lionel was known for his abundant vitality, which bordered on restlessness. His adventurousness and love of risk-taking led his parents to send him to a boarding school for discipline. After two years, they missed him so much that they brought him home to attend school as a day student.
Lionel did not pass the baccalauréat examination required for higher education in France. Instead, he began training to become an electrician. At the age of 20, he was called up for his year of obligatory military service and chose to serve among the Chasseurs alpins to spend time in the mountains.
Lionel had many friends and often preferred their company to that of his family. He enjoyed various sports, including skating, skiing, tennis, swimming, shooting, and cycling. He was also known for his generosity, often lending or giving away his possessions, including money, to his companions.
In December 1973, Lionel returned home from his military station for the Christmas holidays. One evening at about 9:00 p.m., he went for a ride on his motorcycle with a companion on the pillion. Friends followed them in an automobile. Lionel crashed, struck his head on a roadside bench, and died almost instantly. The companion on the pillion escaped with a broken arm. The witnesses to the accident gave varying accounts, but Yvonne Ennuyer believed that the youth driving the automobile playfully crowded Lionel on the motorcycle, causing him to lose control and crash.
Statements Made by Nadege and Their Circumstances:
Nadege began to speak clearly when she was about 2 years old. Soon afterward, she started making a series of statements showing knowledge of the life of her maternal uncle, Lionel Ennuyer. Yvonne Ennuyer, Nadege's grandmother, noticed and remembered these references to events in Lionel's life. In October 1978, Yvonne wrote to a French friend of Dr. Stevenson, Isola Pisani, describing what she had observed up to that time that made her believe Nadege was the reincarnation of Lionel. Isola Pisani sent the letter to Dr. Stevenson, who met Yvonne Ennuyer in Paris on November 22, 1979.
Over the years, Dr. Stevenson continued to correspond with the Ennuyers and met them several times. The following are the statements made by Nadege and the circumstances surrounding them:
1. Lionel's Accident: Nadege spoke spontaneously about Lionel's accident as if it had happened to her. She said that her friend had pushed her and the motorcycle had fallen onto a bench. She did not specify where she (Lionel) had been wounded. Nadege recurred to the topic from time to time and always seemed then to be reliving the event.
2. Photograph Recognition: Yvonne Ennuyer showed Nadege a photograph of Lionel, saying it was of Yoyo (a nickname for Lionel). Nadege replied, "No. It is of Nana." (Nana was Nadege's own pet name at this time.) Nadege was about 3½ when she made this statement. She repeated this statement on another occasion when shown a photograph of Lionel.
3. Passage Jouffroy Recognition: Nadege was watching a television program with her grandmother one day. A particular street of Paris, Passage Jouffroy, appeared on the screen. Nadege said, "That is near where Mama [meaning Viviane] works." Yvonne Ennuyer discussed this statement later with her daughter and said that Viviane must have told Nadege where she worked; but Viviane said she had not done so. She then reminded her mother that she and Lionel had often met at the Passage Jouffroy, which he enjoyed and which was also near the bank where Viviane worked. Nadege was about 4 years old when she made this statement.
4. Folding Bed Recognition: Lionel had a kind of bed that could be folded into a cupboard. After his death, it was never opened again until one day Yvonne Ennuyer thought it should be aired out and she opened it up. Nadege was standing by and said, "I slept there when I was small." Yvonne Ennuyer told her that she had never slept in that bed. To this, Nadege replied, "Before I became small." Nadege was 4 years old when she made this remark.
5. Carembars Statement: Nadege remarked to her grandmother, "When I was Lionel I used to buy carembars." Then, surprised to hear herself use the word "carembars," she asked her grandmother, "What are carembars?" They are a candy consisting of sticks of caramel. Lionel had been very fond of them. Yvonne Ennuyer had never bought any for Nadege. Nadege was about 4½ years old when she made this statement.
6. Liquorice Statement: After the last remark, Nadege went on to say, "I also used to buy some black things with a white candy inside for my mama." Yvonne Ennuyer was extremely fond of liquorice, and Lionel had often bought for her liquorice rolls—which would have been black—that had a white candy in their middle. Nadege herself did not care for liquorice.
7. Toy Monkeys Recognition: Nadege was playing at her grandmother's house with her two young cousins. One of these, a 6-year-old boy, happened to open a cupboard where he discovered toy monkeys made of plush. They had been Lionel's. The boy asked Yvonne Ennuyer where the toy monkeys came from and when her mother said they were Lionel's, he asked how Lionel had obtained them. Viviane explained that he had won them in a shooting contest at a fair. Nadege overheard this and said, somewhat angrily, "No. It was I who won them at the fair." Yvonne Ennuyer, who was present at this exchange, was confident that Nadege had never seen the toy monkeys before. Nadege was about 4½ when she made this statement.
8. Before Birth Statement: Once Nadege said to her mother, "Before I was in your heart, I had died." She was just under 5 years old when she made this statement. Yvonne Ennuyer was a secondhand informant for it.
9. Infant Photograph Recognition: Nadege happened to see a black and white photograph of Lionel that was taken when he was an infant. Looking at the photograph, Nadege said to her grandmother, "You know, when I was Yoyo I wore this white blouse with blue embroidery." The blouse had long since disappeared, and Yvonne Ennuyer was sure it had never been mentioned in front of Nadege. She was 5 years old when she made this statement.
10. Restaurant Recognition: On the occasion of one of Dr. Stevenson's meetings in Paris (in 1981) with Nadege and her grandmother, he was staying at the Hotel de Seine in the 6th arrondissement. Yvonne Ennuyer told Dr. Stevenson later that Nadege had afterward said that she knew a restaurant in this quarter. Nadege had never been to this quarter of Paris before, but Lionel had been to a Chinese restaurant there and had come away with a plate that was then in the possession of his sister Viviane. Nadege was then 5½ years old.
11. Footbridge Recognition: On an occasion when Francis Ennuyer was showing slides of travel scenes to members of the family, he showed one of a footbridge in a grotto near Annecy (in Savoy). Nadege cried out, "I have been there. I remember it very well." In fact, Nadege had never been to this grotto, but Francis had taken his children there. Lionel was 6 years old at the time. Nadege was not quite 9 years old when she made this statement.
12. Summer Camp Recognition: When Nadege was about 9½ years old, she went for a summer vacation to a camp in Savoy where Lionel had also gone, but where she had never been before. When she came back, she mentioned to her grandmother that at the camp there was a little path that she had gone along before.
Nadege's Attitude Toward Life After Death:
1. Beach Statement: Nadege once said to her father, Patrick Jegou, when they were together on a beach during a vacation, "You know, Daddy, it is warm here in the sand; but when we were both dead it was very cold in the earth."
2. Ambulance Statement: In 1981, when she was about 7 years old, Nadege and her grandmother were watching a television program that depicted a wounded person being rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. Listening to the sound of the ambulance, Nadege commented, "This is not the music you hear when you have died."
3. Skepticism Statement: When Nadege was about 5½ years old, she spent a vacation with her paternal grandparents, and Yvonne Ennuyer later reported to Dr. Stevenson that Nadege returned "quite changed." She assertively told Yvonne Ennuyer, "When one dies, one does not return." Yvonne Ennuyer believed that Nadege had made some statements referring to the life of Lionel in front of her other grandparents, who had then laughed at her.
If Nadege had a period of skepticism in childhood, she certainly had no objection to Dr. Stevenson studying her experiences. She has several times written letters or postcards to him and readily gave her permission for the use of her real name in this report.
Nadege's Behavior Related to the Previous Life:
Of the 12 statements that Dr. Stevenson listed, 8 occurred when Nadege saw some object, such as a photograph or place, familiar to Lionel, that stimulated her apparent memories and led to a sudden expression of them. She rarely made any statement about the previous life without an external stimulus. In this feature, the case resembles others, such as those of Mallika Aroumougam and Wolfgang Neurath.
Mannerisms and Other Behavior Shared by Lionel and Nadege:
1. Facial Grimace: Lionel enjoyed making a facial grimace in which his lower lip would be put forward. He called it making a "tortoise face." Yvonne Ennuyer showed and gave Dr. Stevenson a photograph of Lionel grimacing in this way. When Nadege was about 2 years old, she spontaneously made this grimace, exactly as Lionel had done. Her mother also remembered seeing Nadege make the grimace of the "tortoise face" that Lionel had made. Yvonne Ennuyer was sure that Nadege had never seen the photograph of Lionel grimacing in this way.
2. Pipe Signature: Lionel had the habit of adding a tobacco pipe with a curl of smoke coming from the bowl at the end of his personal letters; the pipe was effectively a part of his signature to the letter or postcard. Yvonne Ennuyer showed and gave Dr. Stevenson two samples of this "pipe signature." Nadege had seen these letters thus signed, but no one suggested that she should imitate them. Nevertheless, she began to end her letters with a "pipe signature." Yvonne Ennuyer sent Dr. Stevenson an example of this.
3. Envelope Addressing: Lionel was so annoyed when his older sister Viviane married that he refused to recognize her as "Mrs." Instead, when he wrote to her and her husband, he addressed the envelope to "Mr. and Miss Jegou," instead of to "Mr. and Mrs. Jegou." When Nadege was away from home and wrote to her parents, she also addressed the envelope to Mr. and Miss Jegou." Yvonne Ennuyer gave Dr. Stevenson copies of two envelopes addressed by Lionel and Nadege in this way. She (Yvonne Ennuyer) obviously regarded Nadege's fashion of addressing envelopes as spontaneous; but because she had kept at least one envelope addressed by Lionel, Dr. Stevenson could not affirm that Nadege never saw it or another like it.
4. Spelling Mistakes: Yvonne Ennuyer told Dr. Stevenson that Lionel and Nadege were both poor at spelling. They made, she had observed, the same mistakes in spelling. She did not give Dr. Stevenson actual examples of their errors.
5. Enthusiasm for Sports: In his family, Lionel stood out for two characteristics from other members of the family. First, he was intensely interested in all sports. Earlier in this report, Dr. Stevenson mentioned the variety of sporting activities that he enjoyed. Nadege was also enthusiastic about sports, especially swimming, diving, and skating. At the age of 2½, she began diving into water and at 3½ dived from a height of 3 meters.
6. Generosity: Lionel was known for his generosity toward other persons, an unselfishness that sometimes left him without funds for himself. Nadege was equally generous toward other persons.
Other Relevant Behavior of Nadege:
Nadege showed no inclination to wear male clothes or to prefer boys' play and other activities over those of girls. She once expressed a preference for being a boy instead of a girl, but that is not an uncommon wish of girls and women, even in the West.
Nadege had no phobias.
The Attitude of Nadege's Family Toward Her Statements:
As Dr. Stevenson mentioned earlier, the principal informant for the case was Nadege's maternal grandmother, Yvonne Ennuyer. Nadege's mother, whom Dr. Stevenson interviewed in 1981, seemed somewhat shy and inhibited with him, and he could not satisfactorily gauge her attitude toward Nadege's statements and mannerisms suggestive of Lionel. She was not negative toward them, but Dr. Stevenson could not record her as being strongly positive. She acknowledged that several of Nadege's statements had made an impression on her.
Yvonne Ennuyer, in contrast to her daughter, was far from detached regarding Nadege's statements and mannerisms. She recounted them to Dr. Stevenson in person or in letters with obvious enthusiasm. When an occasion presented itself, she intervened in radio programs to defend the concept of reincarnation and to present the merits of Nadege's case. She undoubtedly obtained solace for the loss of Lionel by believing that he had been reborn as Nadege. She liked to hear Nadege make statements about the previous life and even at times asked her to repeat what she had said before, for example, about Lionel's fatal accident. Once, when Nadege was about 5½ years old, Yvonne Ennuyer, almost reproachfully said to Nadege, "You don’t any longer speak to me about Lionel." Nadege replied, "I have told you everything."
In April 1979, Yvonne Ennuyer wrote to Dr. Stevenson that she had asked Nadege, "What did you do when you were Yoyo?" Nadege had replied, "I was Lionel and I did foolish things."
In April 1980, Yvonne Ennuyer wrote to Dr. Stevenson that she was asking Nadege to speak about Lionel. Although she insisted that what Nadege said when she was less than 5½ years old had been completely spontaneous, by that time Yvonne Ennuyer had already been prompting her to speak for at least a year.
There were times when Yvonne Ennuyer's enthusiasm for Nadege's case led her to see similarities between her and Lionel that others would ignore or dismiss. For example, she thought it significant that both Lionel and Nadege had hemangiomas, although they were not in the same location. She believed that Nadege's eyes were also asymmetrical. Yvonne Ennuyer said that Lionel's eyes were asymmetrical. Dr. Stevenson agreed that in one photograph of Lionel his left palpebral fissure was distinctly narrower than the right one, but he had not observed such asymmetry in Nadege, either in photographs or when he had met her. She also thought that severe headaches from which Nadege suffered in childhood and a cyst of her neck derived somehow from the fatal head injury of Lionel.
Nadege's Later Development and other information:
Nadege suffered greatly from headaches as a young child. In 1981, she was admitted to a pediatric neurology ward where numerous tests, including an electroencephalogram, showed no important abnormality. When she was 15, her parents divorced and this event perturbed her, but Dr. Stevenson thought no more than is usual with other children undergoing a similar misfortune. When she was 18, she had a cyst on or near her thyroid gland removed surgically. Her scholastic career developed normally. She passed the "bac" in the summer of 1993 when she was 18½ years old. She then went to a university, where she studied English. Ian Stevenson's book ‘European Cases of the Reincarnation Type’ provides a detailed full scientific account of this reincarnation case.
[Special note: This book is for free distribution only. Not for sale.]
Scotland Cameron Macauley reincarnation case:
Dr. Jim B. Tucker, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
Researcher Tricia Robertson, (Society for Psychical Research, United Kingdom)
A nearly verified reincarnation case in Scotland. [The toddler who described the unique beach airport from his past life.]
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. In the early 2000s, a case of reincarnation emerged from Scotland, involving a young boy named Cameron Macauley. The case was investigated by Dr. Jim B. Tucker, a professor and scientist at the University of Virginia, and later by Tricia Robertson, a survival researcher and writer with the Society for Psychical Research.
Cameron Macauley was born near Glasgow on 23 August 2000. Around the age of two, he began making statements that seemed to relate to a past life on Barra, a remote Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides. His mother, Norma, was puzzled, as neither she nor anyone in their family had been to Barra or had any known connections to it.
By the age of three, Cameron Macauley's memories of a past life on the Scottish island of Barra became more frequent and detailed. He said his previous house was a large white house with multiple toilets and large stacks of boxes placed outside. Cameron exhibited a strong emotional attachment to his past-life family, often crying and asking for his "Barra mother" instead of Norma, his current mother. Cameron would repeatedly say, "I have to go to Barra, I have to go to Barra, my family are missing me."
As Cameron grew older, his memories became more vivid. He talked about Barra daily, insisting, "I want to go to Barra to my other family." He shared specific details about his past life, including:
-His father's name was Shane Robertson, who had died after being hit by a car. Cameron described the car as either green and silver or greenish silver, but later changed this detail to blue and green.
-His mother had long brown hair, which she later cut short.
-He had three brothers and three sisters, one of whom was named Lindsay. They would play tag together.
-The family lived in a large white house with multiple toilets and large stacks of boxes placed outside. Cameron later specified that the boxes contained water and fish.
-They had a black dog with white hair on its chest and an orange cat.
-Cameron remembered swimming in rock pools, playing with friends on the beach, and watching planes land on the beach.
-He once mentioned using a black dial phone.
-He described picking apples, playing in the front garden, and avoiding crabs on the beach.
Cameron never mentioned dying but said he "fell through" a hole connected with the white house and came into Norma's "tummy." He stated, "I was in Barra and now I'm here."
In 2005/6, a TV production company planning a reincarnation documentary contacted the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia. Dr. Jim B. Tucker agreed to participate and traveled to Glasgow to meet Cameron and his family. Together, they journeyed to Barra to investigate Cameron's claims.
Upon landing on Barra's unique beach airport, Cameron triumphantly declared, "I told you it was true!" A local historian, Calum MacNeil, later found that a Robertson family from the mainland had vacationed on Barra in the 1960s and 1970s. Their house matched Cameron's description and offered a view of planes landing on the beach. Cameron recognized the house and its layout, easily finding all three bathrooms.
Cameron exhibited behavioral signs typical of children with strong past-life memories. He often insisted on being taken to Barra. Visiting the house where he had apparently lived before proved therapeutic, and Cameron became calmer about his memories afterward.
Dr. Tucker maintains that the case is genuine, noting that Cameron's memories deeply affected him emotionally. He hypothesized that the name Robertson might have been an error, or that Cameron could have mixed memories from two past lives. Tricia Robertson believed the name Robertson and the house were correct, suggesting that Cameron might have been considered or treated as part of the family rather than being an actual member. Tricia Robertson is neither a relative nor a known person of the individual.
Russian Tatiana Snitko reincarnation case:
Dr. Ohkado Masayuki, Professor and Parapsychologist, (Chubu University, Japan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America)
A verified international reincarnation case in Russia. [The girl who dreamt of Japanese dolls in a Soviet Union childhood.]
Russia is the world's largest country by area, spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, and is the 9th most populous country globally. It shares borders with 14 countries and has 16 major cities with over a million inhabitants. The capital and largest city is Moscow, while Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city and cultural capital.
Tatiana Snitko was born in 1955 in Krasnodar, Soviet Union (now Russia). She grew up in a family with no apparent connections to Japan. Her father was a botanist, and her mother was a pianist who taught music at a university. She had one younger brother, born in 1956. Despite her typical Russian upbringing, Tatiana felt different from her surroundings. As a child, she often wondered, "How did I end up here?"
Various Statements of Tatiana:
Statements about feeling disconnected from her environment:
- "How did I end up here?" (as a small child, questioning her existence and surroundings)
- "I wanted a Japanese hina doll, not the Western dolls other girls desired." (she made this statement as an adult about her childhood)
- "I often felt like I didn't belong here."
- "I had a map of Japan on my bedroom wall instead of one showing my own country."
- "I chose to attend a school in Sakhalin based on the beautiful-sounding name of the town 'Tomari'."
Statements about learning Japanese and early experiences:
- "I wanted to study Japanese at the National University of Asia and Africa in Moscow but lacked the necessary party recommendations."
- "I began learning Japanese on my own while listening to enka music."
- "My language skills improved significantly after meeting a Japanese engineer living in Rostov through my father."
Early Affinity for Japanese Culture:
From a young age, Tatiana showed an unusual attraction to Japanese culture. When other girls desired Western dolls, Tatiana dreamed of owning a Japanese hina doll. She had a map of Japan on her bedroom wall instead of one showing her own country. She even chose to attend a school in Sakhalin based on the beautiful-sounding name of the town "Tomari," which retained its Japanese name from the time when the southern part of the island was under Japanese control.
Learning Japanese and Early Experiences:
Tatiana's fascination with Japan continued into her university years. She wanted to study Japanese at the National University of Asia and Africa in Moscow but lacked the necessary party recommendations. Instead, she attended Rostov State University, where she studied Germanic languages. Around this time, she received a Japanese language learning text from a deceased relative and a cassette tape of Japanese enka music from an unknown source. She began learning Japanese on her own while listening to enka music.
Her language skills improved significantly after meeting a Japanese engineer living in Rostov through her father. She acquired more learning materials and even had a relationship with a man from the Circassian region, partly due to his ‘Japanese-like appearance.’
Career and Further Education:
After graduating in 1977, Tatiana taught English at Rostov State University. She continued her Japanese studies through a technical translation course from 1980 to 1984. In 1987, she earned her doctorate in linguistics and began teaching at Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University. By 1994, she was teaching Japanese at a middle and high school in Pyatigorsk, where two of her students achieved remarkable success in national Japanese speech contests.
In 1996, Tatiana visited Japan for the first time as a Japanese teacher. She took classes at the Japan Foundation's International Center in Kitasuna, formally learning Japanese during a two-month stay. In 1999, she enrolled at the National University of Asia and Africa in Moscow, graduating the following year with a doctorate in linguistic philosophy, comparative linguistics, and comparative cultural studies. She taught at Rostov State Economic University and served as a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo for two years on a Japan Foundation research fellowship.
Past-Life Memories:
Tatiana believes in reincarnation and feels a connection with ‘gods or invisible living beings.’ She has received information about her past lives on three occasions:
1. Ono no Komachi: In her twenties, a fortune teller in Russia told her that she was Ono no Komachi, a famous Japanese poet from the Heian period (9th century). At the time, Tatiana could only think of "Yoko Ono" and did not take it seriously.
2. Ono no Komachi (again): Around 2007 or 2008, a Japanese spiritual medium told her the same thing after she began studying calligraphy in Tokyo. Her teacher was astonished by her skills and suggested she visit a medium who could see past lives.
3. Multiple Past Lives: In 2009, a fortune teller named Rana-on-sa told her that she had lived multiple past lives as Japanese individuals. The most connected past life to her current life was that of Ono no Komachi. The most recent past life was that of a five- or six-year-old girl who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The Girl from Hiroshima:
Tatiana did not initially feel certain about being Ono no Komachi but sensed that she did not feel like a foreigner in Japan. The idea of reincarnating so quickly within ten years as the girl from Hiroshima seemed unusual to her. However, strange experiences during her visits to Hiroshima in 1996 and 2000 started to make sense.
In 1996, Tatiana was moved to tears upon seeing photos of the children who perished in the atomic bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. She almost fainted and had to leave the exhibition. In 2000, she could not enter the museum at all and had to wait outside until her group finished their visit.
Years later, while riding a train in Tokyo, she suddenly remembered the name of that girl. When a group of boys entered her train car wearing shirts with names on the back, one name caught her attention: "Miyamoto." She was not thinking about her past life at that moment, but she was certain that "My name was 'Miyamoto!'"
In 2018, Tatiana visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum again with a friend. She inquired if they could search for a "girl named Miyamoto who died at the blast site at around five years old." They found a photo of a girl named Katsumi Miyamoto, who was five at the time of the bombing and noted to have died instantly due to being close to the epicenter. Tatiana was surprised by the match but did not feel a strong emotional response other than a fleeting thought that "maybe those were my eyes." When she tried to recall the circumstances of death, she remembered looking up at the sky and then finding herself in a different place (the afterlife).
Japanese Cultural Affinity and Skills:
Throughout her life, Tatiana has shown a strong affinity for Japanese culture and has learned many traditional Japanese arts at a high level:
1. Japanese Literature: She has read classic works such as ‘The Tale of the Heike,’ ‘The Tale of Genji,’ and ‘The Pillow Book’ in Russian translations. ‘The Pillow Book’ is her favorite, and she has even memorized parts of it.
2. Buddhist Meditations: Tatiana began practicing Buddhism and Buddhist meditations around 1985 while still in Russia. She has participated in several Buddhist retreats at Eiheiji and Hase-dera and has been engaging in Koan practices at Tosho-ji, a Soto Zen temple, since 2011.
3. Calligraphy: Tatiana started learning calligraphy in 2007 during a visit to a friend in Kyushu. She earned a third-degree certification, and her works have been displayed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Koki Yamamoto, the innovator of a special calligraphy technique, has praised her insights into the mechanisms of the technique.
4. Waka Poetry: In 2017, Tatiana began studying Waka poetry at the request of an acquaintance. She has composed numerous poems since then.
5. Noh and Aikido: Tatiana is also skilled in Noh and Aikido, although details of her training and experiences are not provided.
Investigations and Verifications:
The investigation into Tatiana's case began with an email she sent in September 2022, containing detailed accounts of her experiences. Attached were materials showcasing her calligraphy and Japanese poems. After reviewing these materials, an interview was conducted via Skype on September 30. Additional references included Tatiana's published works and web pages, as well as books discussing her life. Points not covered in the September interview were clarified via email. A second interview was conducted via Skype on February 17, 2023, along with a phone interview with Mr. H on the same day.
Throughout the investigations, several aspects of Tatiana's case were verified:
1. Existence of Katsumi Miyamoto: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's database confirmed the existence of a girl named Katsumi Miyamoto who died in the atomic bombing.
2. Skills and Proficiency in Japanese Arts and Language: Tatiana's skills were verified through her published works and compositions, certifications and awards earned, the display of her calligraphy works at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and her success in teaching Japanese.
Other Information:
Tatiana Snitko's case is a fascinating example of an individual with memories of past lives in a foreign country. Her experiences and skills align with the characteristics observed in other cases of the reincarnation type, particularly those involving international past-life memories. Her story offers valuable insights into the potential influence of past lives on present-life interests and abilities. Cases like Tatiana's contribute to the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the existence of past-life memories, rebirth and their impact on individuals' present lives. This case has been documented as a verified international reincarnation.
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Ghana Kwamena Yeboah reincarnation case:
Independent researchers and English language media.
A verified reincarnation case in Ghana. [The boy who remembered a life as a scarred man in a different village.]
Ghana is a West African country bordering the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, with a diverse geography and a population of nearly 35 million. The capital is Accra, and it's the second-most populous country in West Africa.
In the early 2000s, an extraordinary case of reincarnation emerged from a small village in Ghana involving a three-year-old boy named Kwamena Yeboah. Kwamena began recalling a past life as a man named Kofi, detailing Kofi's life, family, home, and a distinctive scar Kofi bore—evidence of a specific injury. Notably, Kwamena and Kofi had lived in different villages within Ghana.
Unusual behaviors for a child his age accompanied Kwamena's recollections. He frequently referred to himself as Kofi, speaking with surprising depth about Kofi's family, home, and village. His maturity and wisdom at such a young age were striking, as he often exhibited traits atypical for his peers.
As Kwamena's claims gained traction, independent researchers and psychologists decided to investigate the case further. They employed various methods to validate his statements, which included:
-Conducting interviews with Kwamena and his family.
-Visiting the village Kwamena described and speaking with Kofi's family and friends.
-Verifying specific details Kwamena provided, such as the layout of Kofi's house and the nature of the scar.
During the investigation, Kwamena accurately recognized Kofi's family members, including his parents, spouse, and children, and was able to pinpoint the village where Kofi lived. He provided intricate descriptions of Kofi's house, including the arrangement of rooms and the locations of various items. Researchers confirmed many of Kwamena's assertions, including the names of Kofi's family members, the details of his home, and the scar's backstory.
The behaviors exhibited by Kwamena supported his claims of being Kofi reincarnated. His knowledge and memories seemed to transcend what a child of his age should possess, lending further credibility to his narrative.
The story of Kwamena Yeboah is a remarkable exploration of reincarnation—a compelling account of a young boy who remembered a life he had once lived. His case offers scientific evidence for the phenomenon of reincarnation.
Sri Lanka Warnasiri Adikari reincarnation case:
Dr. Ian Stevenson, Professor and Scientist, (University of Virginia, United States of America)
Researcher Francis Story, (Independent researcher and scholar, United Kingdom)
Researcher Godwin Samararatne, (Independent researcher and scholar, Sri Lanka)
A verified reincarnation case in Sri Lanka. [The boy who was a rabbit in his past life.]
Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia. This rebirth case is important because the individual could remember 4 different past lives.
Warnasiri Adikari was born on November 9, 1957, in Kirikita, a small village near Weliweriya, which is located approximately 32 kilometers northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. His parents were Julis Adikari, a farmer, and B. A. Roslin Nona. Warnasiri was the first child of the family, and his younger brother, Upavansa, was born in early 1960. By 1970, Warnasiri had five younger brothers.
At the age of four, Warnasiri began speaking about memories from what he claimed was a previous life. These memories were detailed accounts that included specific locations, people, and events. He spoke of a life as a potter's son in Kelaniya, a life as a man named Ananda, a life as a rabbit that was shot and killed, and a life as a baby in Dompe. However, his parents were initially skeptical.
The first occasion when Warnasiri spoke about his past life occurred while he was playing with a car tire. He said, “Now you must take me to Kimbulgoda and stop near the culvert.” A little later, Warnasiri said to his father while playing, “Father, Kimbulgoda is my village.” His father had an open mind and was open to the idea of reincarnation because he was a Buddhist. His father asked Warnasiri, “If Kimbulgoda was your village, where was your house?” Warnasiri described Kimbulgoda as his previous village and mentioned that his house was close to the school, beside the main road, and painted blue. He also stated that this blue house was better than their current one.
As Warnasiri Adikari grew older, his recollections of past lives became more frequent and detailed. His parents, Julis Adikari and B. A. Roslin Nona, were initially somewhat puzzled by their son's claims but soon realized that these memories are not fantasies. Warnasiri's statements about his past lives were consistent and included verifiable details that his parents found intriguing and sometimes unsettling, such as living the life of an animal.
Memories of Ananda V. Mahipala:
Warnasiri's most detailed memories were of a life he claimed to have lived in the village of Kimbulgoda, about 8 kilometers from his current home in Kirikita. He described one of his previous lives as that of a young man named Ananda V Mahipala. Ananda was born on October 26, 1926, and died suddenly on October 26, 1956, at the age of 30.
Warnasiri provided specific details about Ananda's life, including these:
Memories of Other Past Lives:
In addition to his memories of Ananda's life, Warnasiri also claimed to remember three other past lives.
Warnasiri's memories of past lives had a profound impact on his family. His parents, initially skeptical, became more open to the possibility that their son's claims might be genuine. Julis Adikari decided to take Warnasiri to Kimbulgoda to verify his statements and meet the people he claimed to have known in his past life.
These early memories set the stage for a thorough investigation by researchers interested in reincarnation. The detailed and verifiable nature of Warnasiri's claims made his case particularly compelling and attracted the attention of renowned figures in the field, including Dr. Ian Stevenson and Godwin Samararatne. Their subsequent investigations would shed light on the authenticity of Warnasiri's memories and contribute to the broader understanding of reincarnation.
Recognition and Verification:
Warnasiri's father, Julis Adikari, was intrigued by his son's detailed descriptions of a previous life in Kimbulgoda. Despite not knowing anyone from that village, Julis decided to investigate further. Word of Warnasiri's statements spread to Kimbulgoda, where a resident named Emma Nona heard about them from her relatives in Weliweriya. Emma Nona mentioned these statements to her sister, T. Ranaweera, who recognized similarities between Warnasiri's claims and the life of her deceased son, Ananda V. Mahipala.
T. Ranaweera, Ananda's mother, visited Weliweriya in the spring of 1962 to meet Julis Adikari. Although she did not meet Warnasiri on this occasion, her conversation with Julis increased her desire to meet the young boy. T. Ranaweera invited Warnasiri and his father to visit Kimbulgoda, setting the stage for recognition and verification.
The Visit to Kimbulgoda in 1962:
About two weeks after T. Ranaweera's visit, Warnasiri and his father traveled to Kimbulgoda, a village about 10 kilometers away from where they lived. Warnasiri had previously said the general location of his past life home as Ananda. Upon arriving in Kimbulgoda, Warnasiri led the way to the site of the Ananda’s house, but it had been torn down. They then went to a neighbor's house, where a group of women had gathered.
Among the crowd, Warnasiri immediately recognized T. Ranaweera as his mother from his past life, despite other women trying to draw his attention. He asked her, "Where are your teeth, mother?" referring to the fact that she had them extracted after Ananda's death. Warnasiri also correctly identified several of her deceased son's possessions and made accurate statements about the family, the house, and the circumstances of Ananda's death. This recognition was a pivotal moment, as it provided strong evidence that Warnasiri's past life memories were not fantasies.
Shortly after this first meeting, an account of the case appeared in the ‘Ceylon Daily News’ on June 28, 1962. This media attention brought the case to the notice of Francis Story, a researcher who played a crucial role in investigating Warnasiri's claims.
Francis Story visited the two villages, Kirikita and Kimbulgoda, in July and August 1962 to investigate the case firsthand. He witnessed a test of Warnasiri's ability to recognize other members of Ananda's family, especially his sisters. In this test, Warnasiri was presented with a group of young girls and successfully recognized his two sisters, Iranganie and Vinitha. This recognition was witnessed by Francis Story and provided further evidence supporting Warnasiri's claims.
In 1965, Francis Story returned to the area to recheck the testimony and record developments in the case since his earlier visit. He learned that Warnasiri had made a few additional statements about the life of Ananda Mahipala. These statements were documented and added to the growing body of evidence supporting Warnasiri's claims.
In July 1966, when Dr. Ian Stevenson was in Sri Lanka, Francis Story and Stevenson worked together on the case. They visited both the family of Warnasiri Adikari and that of Ananda Mahipala. This collaboration allowed for a more thorough investigation, with additional details and corrections made to the testimony.
Some verified details were:
These verifications provided strong evidence that Warnasiri's memories were genuine. The recognition and verification phase of Warnasiri's story laid the groundwork for further investigation and analysis by researchers interested in the phenomenon of reincarnation.
Warnasiri's Notable Verified Statements and Recognitions:
-His mother lived in Kimbulgoda, but his father had died. (Indeed, Ananda’s father, D.M.N. Mahipala, had died in 1953, three years before Ananda died.)
-His mother in Kimbulgoda was fairer and fatter than his present mother. (Verified by observations and comparisons of the two women.)
-His mother in Kimbulgoda had more money than his present parents. (In fact, Ananda Mahipala’s family was more prosperous than Warnasiri’s. Ananda himself had a car. Warnasiri had asked his parents why they did not have a car and suggested they buy one.)
-In his previous life, he had stored some money in a drawer at home.
-The house of his former life was beside the main road near the school.
-The house was blue in color and had a tile roof.
-The house was a better one than the current house of his present parents.
-A guava tree grew in front of his house.
-The house was near a culvert.
-In Kimbulgoda, there was a person who sold gotukola and was known as “Uncle Gotukola.” (Gotukola is a local vegetable. A gotukola seller in Kimbulgoda was called “Uncle Gotukola.”)
In the previous life, he had died after eating some “beautiful fruits.” (He had eaten them in the morning, but his death was due to heart failure.)
-After eating the fruits, he had gone home, eaten breakfast, and died suddenly. (Indeed, Ananda became ill after eating some food and died within a very short time. He ate the meal in question around 10:00 AM. It was, in fact, an early lunch rather than breakfast.)
-After his death, he was reborn as a son of his present mother. (His body was placed in a cardboard box at the hospital but died soon after birth. Ananda died on October 26, 1956. In the same month, B.A. Roslin Nona gave birth to a baby boy who died an hour after birth at the government hospital in Dompe. The infant was born in the seventh month of the pregnancy. Warnasiri was born a little more than a year later, on November 9, 1957.)
-Recognition of his school in Kimbulgoda.
-Recognition of the site of Ananda’s house. (Passing the school, Warnasiri led his father on the way to the house another half a kilometer. When they reached the site of the house, he said, “The house is not here.” This house had been pulled down after the death of Ananda, and T. Ranaweera had moved to another one.)
-Recognition of T. Ranaweera, Ananda’s mother. (This recognition occurred at a house in Kimbulgoda where the group had stopped as they were trying to find the house. They were invited to have tea at this house. While they were there, word spread in Kimbulgoda that Warnasiri had come, and many persons, including T. Ranaweera, came to see him. Warnasiri was then asked whether his previous mother was in the group, and he readily picked T. Ranaweera out of the crowd of women who had assembled. The only other comments or suggestions made consisted of efforts by other women present to draw him to them, saying, “Come here, I am your mother.” All these he ignored, going straight to T. Ranaweera. She then took Warnasiri on her lap and afterward carried him to her house. There he said, “You are my mother, but this is not the house.” T. Ranaweera had moved to another house after the death of her son Ananda.)
-His previous mother had had teeth. (Warnasiri said to T. Ranaweera at their first meeting, “Where are your teeth, mother? You used to have teeth.” T. Ranaweera had had her teeth extracted after the death of Ananda.)
-Recognized two sisters of Ananda, Iranganie and Vinitha. (Warnasiri was presented with a lot of girls to recognize Ananda’s sisters. Also a considerable crowd had gathered. He correctly recognized Iranganie and Vinitha, who were sisters of Ananda. Warnasiri went to Iranganie and Vinitha and took them by the hand. Then Iranganie asked Warnasiri a question, “Am I your sister?” and Warnasiri said, “Yes.”)
-He had a bicycle. (Warnasiri asked for the bicycle during his first visit to Kimbulgoda. Ananda had had a bicycle, and his mother had sold it after his death.)
-He had an almirah (closet). (Warnasiri also asked about his almirah during his first visit to Kimbulgoda.)
-He had a toy drummer. (Warnasiri asked T. Ranaweera, “Where is my drummer?” T. Ranaweera at first did not know what Warnasiri meant when he asked for the drummer, but on searching through some old things, she found two clay toys that had belonged to Ananda, and one of these was the figure of a Kandyan drummer.)
-He drove a Morris Minor car. (Ananda had owned a car. It was an Austin 40 model. His father had owned a Morris Minor car, and Ananda had driven this car.)
-He had been called “Sudu Mahattaya.” (Ananda had been sometimes called by the nickname “Sudu Mahattaya,” which means roughly “fair-skinned master.”)
-He had also been known as “Ukkung Mahatta.”
-He had sisters at home. (Ananda had five sisters.)
-He had no brothers.
-His mother was a school teacher.
-His father’s name was Mahipala.
-Recognition of a photograph of Ananda. (A photograph of Ananda as a young man was shown to Warnasiri, and he was asked, “Who is that?” Warnasiri at once said, “That is myself.”)
-Recognition of another photograph where Ananda’s sister Padma was as a child. (On being shown a photograph of Padma as a child, Warnasiri said, “That is she,” and Warnasiri pointed toward Padma who was present. Padma had grown up, and her features had changed considerably since this photograph had been taken. He would not himself have been able to identify Padma from this photograph since she had changed a lot.)
The Life and Death of Ananda Mahipala:
Ananda Vijayamudali Mahipala was born on October 26, 1926, as the eldest child in a family with five younger sisters and no brothers. His father, D. M. N. Mahipala, was a school headmaster, while his mother, T. Ranaweera, also worked as a teacher. The family belonged to the middle class.
After completing his education, Ananda struggled to find stable employment and was largely supported by his parents. He earned some income by driving and renting out his car and selling pineapples that he carried around in it.
Ananda’s father passed away in 1953, leaving his mother to continue working as a teacher. Ananda was deeply attached to his mother and sisters. While it was difficult to gather a clear picture of his personality, it was known that he had a calm disposition but could have outbursts of temper when provoked. He was also known for his sense of humor, giving people nicknames, and had two nicknames himself. His love for his car was evident, as he was both a skilled mechanic and emotionally attached to it.
Some villagers, like D. J. Dehiwatte, viewed Ananda as something of a "village playboy," primarily engaging in entertainment and personal pleasures. Despite this, he was popular and had many friends. He participated in helpful neighborhood activities and charity work, which his mother referred to as "social work." Additionally, Ananda owned a gun and was known to hunt crows and rabbits from time to time.
On October 26, 1956, at the age of 30, Ananda died suddenly. After returning home and having an early lunch of rice and curry, he became ill almost immediately. He quickly lost consciousness and could not be revived. His mother, who was at work, was called, and Ananda was rushed to the hospital, but he passed away in the early afternoon. His mother stated that the cause of death was "thrombosis," likely referring to a coronary artery thrombosis, which can lead to a sudden and rapid death. This diagnosis was supported by Ananda’s brother-in-law, H. Albert Pieris, who recalled that Ananda had complained of chest pain before he died.
T Ranaweera, Ananda's mother, said that Ananda did not remember any previous lives. (Before he became Ananda, he had another past life in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.)
Other information:
In addition to his detailed memories of his life as Ananda Mahipala, Warnasiri claimed to recall three other past lives.
The first of these past lives occurred before his life as Ananda. Warnasiri said he had been the son of a low-caste potter in Kelaniya, a town just north of Colombo. He did not want to follow in his father's footsteps as a potter and instead took a job as a dental mechanic in a Chinese-owned shop. He recalled injuring his finger on a wheel used for grinding teeth. In 1962, Warnasiri’s father reported that Warnasiri had said he owned a boutique near the temple in Kelaniya and that he visited a Chinese shop. By 1965, Warnasiri clarified that he had actually worked as a dental mechanic in that shop. He also mentioned that he used to go boating on the Kelani Ganga (Kelani River) and once drowned when the boat overturned.
Research inquiries in Kelaniya area uncovered a few memories from local residents that may be relevant. One informant recalled the existence of a Chinese shop in Kelaniya during the 1920s. Additionally, two elderly locals in the Kelani area remembered a boating accident that occurred around the same time, in which someone had drowned.
According to Warnasiri's timeline, after his life in Kelaniya, he was reborn as Ananda Mahipala in Kimbulgoda. Ananda's mother, T. Ranaweera, mentioned that Ananda had not remembered any past lives during his lifetime. Only Warnasiri, later in life, claimed to remember his Kelaniya life.
Warnasiri also said that after the death of Ananda Mahipala on October 26, 1956, he was reborn as the son of Julis Adikari and B. A. Roslin Nona, but died shortly after birth. Warnasiri described being placed in a cardboard box at the hospital. According to Julis Adikari, this aligns with the family's recollections. B. A. Roslin Nona did give birth to a baby boy in October 1956, who died about an hour after birth at the Government Hospital in Dompe. That baby was born prematurely, after seven months of pregnancy.
Warnasiri further said that he had a past life as a rabbit that was shot and killed near the Adikari house in Kirikita. He explained that this life was a result of Ananda's actions, saying that although Ananda had done good deeds, such as helping people, social work, and charity, he also had a firearm and shot rabbits and crows. Warnasiri described his life as a rabbit, saying that he ate grass and leaves. This claim was verified by a 1973 conversation between Godwin Samararatne and Ananda's younger sister, Iranganie, in which she confirmed that Ananda had indeed shot rabbits.
Warnasiri's Behavior Related to His Previous Life:
Warnasiri displayed a strong connection to his past life as Ananda Mahipala. He frequently asked to be taken to Kimbulgoda and insisted that his previous mother loved him more than his current one. After meeting Ananda’s mother, Warnasiri requested to see her again and even refused to eat until his father agreed to take him. He became very upset when another boy said he would attack his “good mother” (T. Ranaweera) and physically attacked him. Additionally, T. Ranaweera said that Warnasiri would sometimes set aside a portion of his food to give to her, a detail mentioned by Julis Adikari. Warnasiri expressed that he loved his previous mother more than his current one and continued making comparisons between her and his own mother. Up until around 1968, he continued to ask to visit his past life’s mother and referred to her as “issera amma” (the previous mother), “honda amma” (good mother), or “Kimbulgoda amma” (Kimbulgoda mother).
Warnasiri also exhibited an unusual interest in automobiles, which was surprising given his family's lack of a car. He frequently asked his father why they didn’t have one, a request more typical of city children than village ones. This interest might indicate an expectation of greater affluence or an innate knowledge of cars, as he seemed to understand driving techniques unusually well for an eight-year-old. Ananda had been skilled with cars and was also a skilled mechanic, which could explain this interest. (Warnasiri was 8 years old in 1965.)
Regarding hunting, Ananda had a gun and used to shoot crows and larger game like rabbits. Warnasiri said his rebirth as a rabbit was a consequence of his past actions as Ananda. Consequently, in this present life, Warnasiri refused to harm any living creature, including insects, and discouraged his younger brothers (of whom he had five by 1970) from doing so as well.
Ananda was known to eat meat, including fish, chicken, mutton, and beef. In contrast, Warnasiri adopted a mostly vegetarian diet, occasionally eating fish reluctantly. His dietary habits differed from those of his parents, who frequently ate fish and, on rare occasions, other meats.
Warnasiri expressed disgust with his repeated rebirths and wished to become a monk to end the rebirth cycle. He had a habit of throwing rubbish into a well at home, claiming he wanted to fill it up, build a house for his parents on the site, and then leave to become a Buddhist monk. His father struggled to curb this behavior and even sent Warnasiri to stay with relatives in hopes of breaking the habit. Ultimately, Warnasiri’s desire to become a Buddhist monk persisted, and he was eventually ordained.
From a very young age, Warnasiri expressed his wish to become a monk to his parents. He spoke about his past lives and the lessons he had learned from them, emphasizing his desire to break free from the cycle of rebirth.
Warnasiri's decision to become a monk was directly influenced by his past life experiences and memories. He became a Buddhist monk on August 29, 1973. In March 1976, Dr. Ian Stevenson and Godwin Samararatne visited him at his temple and observed his serenity and contentment. Warnasiri’s choice to enter the monastic life was deeply rooted in his understanding of the cycle of rebirth and his past life memories. He explained that his experiences in previous lives had revealed the suffering inherent in the cycle of reincarnation, which resonated with the Buddha’s teachings on escaping rebirth through meditation and enlightenment. His memories served as both a reminder of past suffering and a motivation to seek spiritual liberation. He said he knew the truth of the Buddha's words from his own experiences. Warnasiri's case is one of the verified reincarnation cases where the person had an intermediate life as an animal.