Past-life regression and karma are terms connected with each other, their meaning rooted in spiritual and philosophical traditions worldwide. Though differently explained, they connect on a basic level through the cause-and-effect elements across lifetimes. How these two concepts relate to each other and their implications for personal growth and understanding is discussed below.
Understanding Past Life Regression
Past life regression is a therapeutic technique that aims to access memories and experiences carried over from previous lifetimes. This practice is based on the belief that our souls carry lessons, traumas, and unresolved issues from our past lives into our current existence. The practice usually consists of inducing a state of deep relaxation for the individual through hypnosis or other deep relaxation techniques that may allow access to these memories.
According to practitioners of past life regression, going back into those times provides the insight needed for present-day challenges, relationships, and behaviours. It helps to understand the root of a particular pattern or emotion to heal the past wound for deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth.
The Concept of Karma
Karma can be described as a concept originally derived from Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh traditions but now is widely recognised along a variety of spiritual paths as the law of cause and effect. A simple explanation of karma is that good and bad things we have done, are doing, and will do bring repercussions onto our present and future, not only within this life but also throughout many lifetimes in continuous cycles of rebirth.
Karma believes that each action, desire, and thought adds to one’s karmic “account” and thus predetermines those very circumstances in which a person finds him or herself in further incarnations. Usually, people believe that good deeds produce good karma, and with it come good fortunes; while bad actions produce bad karma that leads to challenges or suffering. However, this is not the case one cannot solely determine what is good and/or bad, our actions send ripples across universal consciousness which influences the effect(s).
The Interplay Between Past Life Regression and Karma
The relationship between past life regression and karma becomes apparent when considering the following points:
Resolving Karmic Patterns: Past life regression is supposed to find out and resolve some unfinished issues or unresolved patterns of karma carried over from previous lives. There may be some realization upon reviewing past life memories regarding repeating themes or patterns in one’s life or relationships that have been continued for more than one lifetime. Hence, this state of awareness would have its focus on a healing process which, in turn, could assist in resolving karmic patterns.
Gaining insight from life’s lessons: Through past life regression, an individual comes to understand what the soul is supposed to learn during this lifetime. They usually pertain to some karmic debt or karmic responsibility for actions performed in the earlier existence. Once these lessons are understood, individuals can make conscious choices that align with spiritual growth and fulfilment.
The main healing and transformation: Past life regression is considered a method for healing deep-seated emotional and/ or psychic injuries that might have their origins in past life experiences. Resolution of karmic patterns transforms into positive growth by the release of traumas, thus helping not only the individual but also contributing to the collective evolution of consciousness.
Personal responsibility is a strong feature in both past life regression and karma since both indicate that a person’s actions and their outcomes in life are their personal responsibility. Both help individuals recognise the interlinkages of all actions taken in the past and automatically connect with present situations to motivate individuals toward taking responsibility for their lives and to work incessantly towards change and spiritual growth and fulfilment.
Spiritual Growth: Spiritual growth and emancipation from the circle of life and death – or samsara – is the ultimate intention of both concepts. A person progresses toward higher states of consciousness through self-knowledge, and healing, where enlightenment or liberation, moksha, is attainable.
Controversies and Skepticism
Past-life regression and karma are, accordingly, polemic and controversial issues in scientific and skeptical circles. Many critics maintain that the memories which have come up through past life regression are the result of fantasy, indoctrination, or suggestion rather than the actual recollections of previous lives. In fact, the modus operandi of karmas are not empirically verifiable but, in fact, dependent upon faith and subjective interpretation.
However, the proponents argue that these supposedly transformative effects of past life regression and the ethical framework provided by karma are valuable in their insight into human behaviour, relationships and personal growth, whether or not they are scientifically verifiable.
The concepts mentioned above about past life regression and karma are linked in a conceptual framework that helps understand the complexity of human existence throughout lifetimes. The nature and modality of these may continue to be debatable, but many find usefulness in exploring them as tools of healing, self-realization, and spiritual growth. Whether from a spiritual or psychological perspective, the invitation herein to consider one’s actions, foster compassion, and work toward the betterment of self and others – is one toward the exploration of past life and karmic experience. The relationship finally unfolding provides an insight into the very important journey of the soul through time, in eternal quest and search for enlightenment and wisdom.
Disclaimer: The information and views expressed in the above blog article are individual and inspired from the writer’s experience and study in Mental Health & Hypnotherapy.
