[moohassinny]

G'day all.
Some time ago I read a book by an American psychiatrist who claimed to have regressed hundreds of people by hypnosis to former lives in order to address current psychiatric problems. Not only this; he also claimed to progress individuals into future lives for a sneak preview. I must say I found this quite bizarre and ethically disturbing.
I would appreciate the views of others on this alleged phenomenon. Thank you.

[ZZipZZipe]

Ian Stephenson.


The scientific term for his brand of science is "quackery".

[Mediconlinee]

As a qualified hypnotherapist myself I can say that 'past life regression' is unreliable nonsense.

Interestingly, I once asked a Tibetan Buddhist teacher his opinion about it and he smiled and said "People can make things up ! "

[nAKMzyBN]

The denser the water, the more doodoo floats to the surface.

[JacksHH]

What can happen is that forgotten memories of past events and things read, seen and heard, (books magazines, movies , TV, games, comics, photos, conversations etc ) can re-surface. Sometimes also known as 'cryptomnesia'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomnesia

...and people with vivid imaginations can unintentionally make things up in this way.

Not only this; he also claimed to progress individuals into future lives for a sneak preview

Thats just too ridiculous for words !

[tsaaapla]

So are you all trying to say I wasn't really Napoleon?

[Riprincattiva]

So are you all trying to say I wasn't really Napoleon? Sorry hun....u were Srimat Tribhuwanaraja Mauli Warmadewa

[UltraSearchs]

Sorry hun....u were Srimat Tribhuwanaraja Mauli Warmadewa

True, although prior to that I was Samaratungga the founder of Borobudur - see my avatar!

Great days indeed!!!

[irresseni]

True, although prior to that I was Samaratungga the founder of Borobudur - see my avatar!

Great days indeed!!!

Check it out! Recently there are investigations going on in England and Germany about hypnotic and non-hypnotic (suggestive) regression therapy; about the fact that "quite a number of therapists are creating false memories".

It seems that some eager and self important therapists are able to tell young women who suffer from one or the other type of neurosis that they have been sexually abused by their own fathers. Vulnerable people even respond to this (after a few sessions ) by accusing their very often innocent parents in court. Very sad indeed.

[invasuant]

I've had what could be described as having past life experiences within healing sessions. Some of them were pretty gruesome and certainly not some rich and famous person of the past, ie Henry VIII or any of his wives, lol ;-) I've always taken an open view of whether or not these were real experiences of former past lifes. One thing that I think is important which I talked about with a friend of mine who is a hypnotherapist, is that in a way it's a story with a beginning, middle and end. Part of the therapy may be to work your way through that story, as the human mind likes a good yarn, and may have healing content. Also we discussed the value (or not) of regression. His attitude, which I personally agree with, is that progressive therapy is far more important. What we are now is the sum of the past (this life or the past, real or imagined) and the need to deal with this now. Must state this is a summary of the conversation and other aspects were discussed.

Being a complementary therapist myself I have noticed people who really get into this regression stuff and how therapists can make good money out of it. In some ways it's no different to seeing a psychic or a medium. Just emotional paraphernalia and titillation. And unfortunately in the wrong hands dangerous twisting of the mind.