Exploring Reincarnation

by Hans Ten Dam

Book Overview

An historical, cultural and psychological examination of all aspects of reincarnation. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140192042
• ISBN13: 9780140192049
• Release Date: August 1990
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

An Indispensable Reference Work

Although there are already several praising reviews of this work, I thought I might add my own praise. This work has been on the market for over a decade and has had time to establish itself as a classic in its field. It is, basically, without parallel. There is nothing else that I know of which casts its net so wide. If you have become interested in past life regression studies, and are wondering how they stack up against the traditional belief systems on reincarnation, as exemplified by Buddhism, Hinduism, all the lesser known rest, and the more modern systems of Theosophy and Anthroposophy, this is not only the book for you, this is the only book for you. While Rabbi Gershom's critique here is, without doubt, rightly deserved, it should not deter you from purchasing this fine study By Hans Ten Dam. If you are beyond your introductory new age book on past lives, whatever it is, then you are ready to graduate to this. It could be bettered, but that task has not yet be attempted. gordon phinn (wordofgord)

The most thorough overview and literature study currently available!

I stumbled into this book in the public library a few weeks ago and I'm certainly going to buy it for further reference in the future. It's an eye opener of the best kind! A reviewer, according to whom it was the most detailed overview of the subject, was not exaggerating when saying so. I'm glad that this book is available in English too, so that it will reach more people. First, Hans ten Dam describes reincarnation beliefs in several spiritual and religious settings incl. the three monotheistic religions, hinduism, buddhism, nature religions and recently developed beliefs like theosophy and anthroposophy. In the new (fully reviewed) Dutch version it is obvious that Ten Dam has taken the criticism by Rabbi Yonassan Gershom seriously. He included more information on Jewish reincarnation beliefs; incl. quotes from Gershom's books. I don't know when this version will be available in English. The next part of the book contains experiences with reincarnation from different points of view (children's memories, spontaneous and induced regressions, paranormal activities (e.g. through mediums) etc.) Hans ten Dam discusses many questions that may arise, like: the probability of other explanations for the past life experiences, whether we can reincarnate in animal bodies, the way karma works, how experiences and different beliefs correspond etc. The author read a vast number of books on the subject and rates most of them in the text and in the literature list in the back of the book. This is very useful for further reading, because many books that contain sheer nonsense can be omitted immediately. Although Ten Dam, a regression therapist himself, is a firm 'believer', he looks at other possibilities to explain memories of past lifes (false memories, fraud, déjà vu etc.) in a very serious way. Also he dares to criticize religious beliefs and work of other authors in the field (often accompanied by a dry sense of humor that made me role on the floor laughing ;-) Especially the chapter on new age beliefs is great in that regard). If you're interested in reincarnation - either from a professional or from a layman's point of view (and obviously you are, because otherwise you wouldn't be reading this) - I would certainly recommend this book to you. Although the first chapters may seem a bit 'dry', you most probably won't be disappointed :-)

The most thorough overview and literature study currently available!

I stumbled into this book in the public library a few weeks ago and I'm certainly going to buy it for further reference in the future. It's an eye opener of the best kind! I fully agree with Marc Borisovsky - this is the most complete overview that you can get. I'm glad that this book is available in English too, so that it will reach more people. First, Hans ten Dam describes reincarnation beliefs in several spiritual and religious settings incl. the three monotheistic religions, hinduism, buddhism, nature religions and recently developed beliefs like theosophy and anthroposophy. The next part of the book contains experiences with reincarnation from different points of view (children's memories, spontaneous and induced regressions, paranormal activities (e.g. through mediums) etc.) Hans ten Dam discusses many questions that may arise, like: the probability of other explanations for the past life experiences, whether we can reincarnate in animal bodies, the way karma works, how experiences and different beliefs correspond etc. The author read a vast number of books on the subject and rates most of them in the text and in the literature list in the back of the book. This is very useful for further reading, because many books that contain sheer nonsense can be omitted immediately. Although Ten Dam, a regression therapist himself, is a firm 'believer', he looks at other possibilities to explain memories of past lifes (false memories, fraud, déjà vu etc.) in a very serious way. Also he dares to criticize religious beliefs and work of other authors in the field (often accompanied by a dry sense of humor that made me role on the floor laughing ;-) Especially the chapter on new age beliefs is great in that regard). If you're interested in reincarnation - either from a professional or from a layman's point of view (and obviously you are, because otherwise you wouldn't be reading this) - I would certainly recommend this book to you. Although the first chapters may seem a bit 'dry', you most probably won't be disappointed :-)

The best and most complete book about reincarnation

The best and most complete book about reincarnation on the book market nowadays. This is the encyclopedia of knowledge on this subject.This book does not only provide a good academic introduction to the topic of reincarnation from a historical, scientific, religious and philosophical point of view, but also give the analysis and statistic of validity of these point of view using experiential approach. developed in last century.The last chapter gives the introduction to reincarnation therapy.Another great TenDam's book Deep Healing gives non- hypnotic regression and therapeutic techniques used by author for many years.

Good -- but lacking in Jewish reincarnation material

First, the good news: This book, which was translated from the Dutch in 1990, provides a good academic introduction to the topic of reincarnation from a historical, scientific, and philosophical point of view. The author, Hans TenDam, draws rather heavily on the teachings of Anthroposophy (the Rudolf Steiner people, i.e., Waldorf school philospophy, etc.), which is not surprising, since he himself is an Anthroposophist. However, he does cover other approaches, both ancient and modern.Now for the bad news: TenDam fails miserably is in his treatment of the reincarnation teachings in Judaism. He pretty much limits himself to the Biblical texts, and does not seem to be familiar with the plethora of Jewish reincarnation teachings found in rabbinical and Hasidic sources. On page 43 he states: "Judaism has few and weak indications for a belief in reincarnation but, for example, in the Old Testament, many and strong indications for a belief in the pre-existence of the soul." He briefly dismisses the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, them moves on to Philo, Jesus, and Simon Magnus (was he even Jewish?) So, in one short paragraph, we leap from the "Old Testament" to the "New," as if the Jews are merely a less-developed prefix to Christianity. (NOT!) There is virtually nothing about Jewish reincarnation teachings after Jesus, although TenDam does acknowledge that "Since the 8th century the Karaite Jews have believed in reincarnation." (p.44) He briefly mentions a Samaritan belief that Adam reincarnated as Seth, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, but dismisses that with "But doctrines that great leaders and teachers return do not imply that common people normally reincarnate." (p. 44 again) Thus ends the less-than-half-a-page on Judaism in a 400+ page book. Not one word about Hasidic Jews (ALL of whom still believe in reincarnation today and yes, the "common people" do come back, too.) Not one mention of Kabbalah or Rabbi Isaac Luria, the great 16th-century Jewish mystic whose teachings are filled with clear references to reincarnation. Later in the book, TenDam does make brief mention of Jews reincarnating, but not in the context of THEIR OWN teachings. Rather, they are simply cases of people who happen to be Jewish who showed up among a therapist's clientele. (see pp. 61, 255, 304.) In conclusion, I would say that this book is a good college-level reference for reincarnation teachings and theory, but, if you want the authentic Jewish perspective, you will have to look elsewhere. And for that, I'm docking it a star.