Objectively, Steve, I think that the subject of the past lives of a Master (or whomsoever other people) is too uncertain and open to personal, unproven reasoning and even feelings.
My final consideration is that only the really credible sources, the spiritual giants, can be a suitable reference. For example, Bro. Bakhtananda was indisputably a spiritual giant.
I respectfully differ with you on this issue. Since you mention - “whomever other people” - since I do not consider myself a Master yet have had quite convincing past life experience in many ways to verify such instances. What we find here is that we have to go into the laboratory of our own meditation to procure such information and experience. The research cannot be duplicated by those who have no true faith or belief in such matters. It does not mean it isn’t true but rather it shows that those who are constantly skeptical will remain that way due to their own lack of faith and mindset’s. I do not claim to know the past lives of others; only my own and I consider that quite limited since the Masters have told us we have lived countless lifetimes.
Any past life of others, I attempt to give the source of the information given. It is up to you or anyone else to check out that source. If I have failed to give the source, I apologize for that over site. If you or anyone else do not accept me as a source for my own past lives, I am ok with that. I do not expect anyone to believe any of my spiritual experiences, although I have had many to relate to you and others. I totally understand that we have different levels of trust in the experiences of for instance a Paramahansa Yogananda or Sri Yukteswar then for instance in you or I. Yet should that disqualify me or for instance Eric or you from relating our personal experiences? To what degree is anyone objective? In fact can we really even rely on the objectivity of others? What is objective to one may be their own personal perception of what they claim to be objective about. Science is quite limited in its studies since it requires consistent verification by many or more likely most of those who refuse to go into the laboratory of their own meditation for verification of experience by others. A great portion of scientific study is based on physical evidence which in itself is suspect due to the dream nature of physical reality and our own abilities to influence it. In this sense it is also;
“too uncertain and open to personal, unproven reasoning and even feelings.”
And yes, I have turned the critical nature of scientific research and evidence back on itself because of a lack of sufficient faith and spiritual experience to be ‘ objective ‘ about such matters… Which presents a paradox in thinking and understanding and attitude. In fact I have found that you can present so called ‘objective’ evidence of the physical nature of events to many if not most scientists and they will not accept the evidence given because of their various paradigmatic beliefs in regards to the nature of the evidence shown. As an example; I can show evidence that astrological evidence is a proven fact because of overwhelming statistical preponderance, yet I have found that evidence is not acceptable to many scientists I’ve met based on the fact that it accepts supernatural or superstitious claims. Such is the prejudicial nature of most scientists mental health and attitudes. No doubt you and others may smile at what I have just presented here. If you do it only proves my point. If you are not smiling you have successfully navigated my path of communication on such matters.
