Help from the Past

We all carry with us both good and bad, sometimes we use the bad, but hopefully we mostly use the good. As we travel our many days, weeks, months and years on this planet we’re like magnets attracting various behaviors along the way. We have several family members, make many friends and we travel to many places leaving our various marks along the way. Some of these marks are remembered for G dly deeds we’ve performed along the way, others may not be so G dly and they may even leave an ugly trail behind our names. But there comes a special day in all of our lives when we realize it’s time to move on and to take that giant leap into another time, another place and another life. We’re no more the same person we once were, hopefully through G d’s will it might be a better life for some of us, however, we never lose all the goodness we poured into our spirits, that goes with us. And fortunately all the bad we’ve collected over the years stays behind and becomes dust in the wind. Reply

As near as I can tell, the following sentence in this DD was missed:

Know yourself only as you are here in this life, and the challenges of our times are beyond perseverance.

All I have is this life, its current mission and the lessons I need to learn - some of those lessons have been hard. Somewhere in there, Hashem's Chesed has seen me through challenges, be it His Chesed or an innate, unknown that gave me the strength I needed B"H.

I honestly don't care and would be terrified to delve into past lives - If Hashem wanted me to know, I would; the fact I don't tells me it is none of my business, Reply

Help from the past "Tap into the reservoir of your soul from the past, and find there the unimaginable powers of millennia."
" There is no need to delve into your past lives. If you needed to know, it would be known to you. It is forgotten and for good reason. Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, one of the greatest of the Kabbalists, wrote that if people would remember their past lives, quarrels would carry on for generations."
However, I (and many others) yearn to know more (and I have met people who do know more). Yes, this may lead to quarrels but what about that inner yearning to know more? Must one just "live with it?" - or do we owe it to ourselves to try and find out more? Reply

Soul in the past Is this true even for a nonJew? Reply

past lives However I do feel that if done in a kosher way ( not sure what that would entail) it can be usually beneficial. Just thinking out loud here. Personally I feel it may help me figure out my unique tikkun. My jewish soul is back here for a reason and I would like to know what that specific and unique reason is. From what I can gather Jewish meditation is the way to "travel' back in time (or forward). Reply

HI Gayle I must agree with you in your reference to becoming self involved. Lots of so called spirituality is all about healing the self, discovering the self, finding out all kinds of cool things about the self etc. but its not the real self often its just ego stuff and its all bells and whistles. Most definitely it can all just be a huge distraction and waste of time. maybe that is why so many of these things are forbidden in the Torah. Personally I feel a lot of these so called spirituality disciplines are shallow and the big question is are you a better person for it afterwards or just more self absorbed. The other thing I dislike from what I have read about these things is that there is often drugs of some sort involved. I think if you have to take a drug and basically lose control over yourself in some capacity then hello that's very risky. Torah is often not as exciting as all these other things sound but Torah has substance, depth, real learning. Reply

Reincarnation My own feeling on the desire to investigate past incarnations is this: it is a sideshow that keeps us involved in our ego (albeit an entirely different aspect of it, for sure ;)

One of the reasons, I believe, we are here is to learn to break the bonds of ego. Staying fascinated with our persona, whether present or past, ensures that we remain in bondage. Reply

Delving into past lives I have to agree with the comments expressing surprise at your response. It does seem in conflict with your article. Please explain what point you wanted to make in your article without encouraging people to delve into their past lives. Reply

Help From The Past I am not interested in delving into the past for the fear of the L-rd. If He, blessed be He, in His grace, has kept our relatives past sins/righteounes secret and given this new generation a chance to do better according to His infinite mercies, then, may His will be done. When I asked you where in the Old Book you can find such information is because I have never seen it or interpreted the Word of G-d referring to reincarnation in any form. I like to go by the Word of G-d. Torah is my guidance, and my trust is in the Most High G-d. Again, may His will be done in my life.
And I do not want to appear as if I am holier than anybody else, but feel that I need to trust in our Creator and obey him. Reply

Dear Rabbi Tzvi If you know yourself only as you are here in this life, the challenges of our times are formidable. Reach deeper, tap into the reservoir of your soul from the past, and find there rich powers of millennium.

Your update seems to negate these words of yours, can you clarify please. Reaching deeper how do we do that? Reply

Help From the Past I am disappointed in your general response that you don't need to delve into your past; it is the opposite of your whole enticing quote. It is very attractive, enticing and nebulous. Push comes to shove, your response is not in line with the original sentiment. Again, I am disappointed and feel somewhat cheated (sorry for the strong language, but that is how I feel). Reply

Reincarnation Is this a comment that there really is reincarnation? Reply

Help from the Past What a beautiful thing to say about souls from the past whether good or bad-I believe you are saying - reaching out to one almost like our ancestorship reaches out to us-sometimes we can hear the rules that our ancestors say - Even picking up a rock and holding it can bring this situation to mind. I was thinking if I have a chance to stand in a Sukkot and see and hold The Four Kinds: The Etrog, The Lulav,Hadaz and Aravah...I would feel many spirits and feelings of my family. Thank you for writing this Reply

Help From The Past Article Rabbi Freman,
As per your first paragraph in this article it seems to me that you refer to reincarnation. I never believe in reincarnation. Is there anywhere in Torah, Prophets, Psalms or any other part in the Old Book that I can find about reincarnation?
Please inform so that I can take a look at it? Thank you so much.

Yours sincerely,

Ignorant Margaret Reply

Help From the Past I would love to delve into my past (lives), but how can one do so? Please guide us... Reply

How How do you do that? Reply

the reservoir of your soul from the past How do you tap into the reservoir of your soul from the past? Reply

An Encouraging Dose! This is an encouraging dose in terms of taking help from the past. Beautiful!

Regards. Reply