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Cassie and Norah were en route to the University of America in New York. Norah’s excitement did not alter Cassie’s equivocal mood regarding the purpose of their visit. The university had a unique research center that supported experts in the scientific study of reincarnation. Surprised that a legitimate educational institution embraced this kind of inquiry, they sought out more information.
Cassie was riddled with misgivings, second-guessing herself about why she was doing this. She wanted to support Norah, but she found it difficult to justify researching a life post death. Some part of her wanted to search for some answers, but this was not science.
“We’ll meet the experts face to face. And look for solid scientific facts,” said Norah in a firm and decisive tone of voice.
Cassie nodded her head. “I’m doing this for you and to clear up any doubts. I have no time to waste on nonsense.”
Norah felt her thoughts bouncing around in her skull. Back again were the repetitive concerns about where humans go when life is over. Cassie’s ambivalence and high control quotient made her crazy. She knew Cassie wondered, too, but she stubbornly refused to admit it and discuss it out loud. Concerned with her own mortality, Norah found it difficult to pinpoint her feelings. She felt sad, happy, peaceful, fearful, relieved, and even hopeful all at once. How could she be headed to seventy? Where did the time go? Life seemed like it was on fast forward. She realized that every moment was precious, but still she found herself wasting time. Loose ends were everywhere. Sometimes she just didn’t care what she did or didn’t do. Her life was approaching the final chapters, and she wasn’t sure if she was happy with the early chapters. The death of her husband left her with a world filled with unanswered questions. Did any of Larry’s consciousness remain? Sometimes she felt his presence. Was that real or merely a figment of her imagination? He could be in another dimension, she supposed. She decided to try to confide in Cassie. What are friends for? She began with some humor.
“I mentioned that I wanted to discuss some questions about death and dying when we met in your office. So, here goes. On the great conveyor belt of life, where do you see yourself?”
Cassie was stunned by the question and asked, “Are you serious?”
“I’m completely serious,” said Norah. “Let’s face it. Both of us are headed to retirement. We have more behind us than in front of us. Do you ever think about this?”
Cassie decided to offer Norah as much support as she could. She paused and then said, “Difficult to discuss, isn’t it? To imagine that we won’t be. To think we can be transformed into something that is ‘not me’? I don’t know what to think, but it’s scary—and it could even be exciting. But I don’t spend much time thinking about it.”
“Agreed,” Norah stated, a puzzled look in her eyes. “Since I believe every moment is precious, it’s perplexing that we seldom discuss these vital issues.”
Cassie felt irritated and replied, “It’s not a shock to me. It’s depressing. But since you are on the topic of the value of time, do you really want to spend your precious moments pursuing this line of research? It could be our ruination.”
Just as Cassie posed her question, they arrived at the university. They followed a sign—Division of Studies of Perception and Psychic Phenomena—and made their way to the office of Dr. David Parkford, a cardiologist. His work on myocardial infarctions was highly esteemed by his colleagues, at least until he had immersed himself in the study of reincarnation. He escaped censure because his work was funded by an anonymous donor who left a huge endowment to the medical school that included funds to create a center for the study of psychic phenomena, with the caveat that Dr. Parkford and his intellectual descendants be supported. The donor had pretty much sealed the deal with money. His substantial endowment neutralized the misgivings and outcries from Dr. Parkford’s medical colleagues, allowing Parkford to continue researching reincarnation within this revered academic setting. Norah told Cassie their situation was parallel as they approached Dr. Parkford’s office.
Dr. Parkford was a tall, slender, grey-haired man with sparkling blue eyes and a soothing, confident voice that captured the attention of the listener and added to his charm. He extended his hand and said with a welcoming smile, “Dr. Norah and Dr. Cassie, I presume.”
“Yes. Thanks for seeing us,” Norah replied. “We’ve heard you’re selective about whom you allow to interview you.”
Dr. Parkford seemed very comfortable in replying. “Thank you for your directness and honesty. And, regrettably, what you say is true. Not because I don’t welcome all but because in the past I have freely given interviews and found that reporters have twisted and distorted my words. Some seem bent on harming my reputation, as well as the university’s. It’s been unfortunate for the research into reincarnation. It can hinder our pursuit of truth. My job is to gather empirical evidence about an area that has been sorely neglected and is in need of honest exploration and scientific credibility. After all, I often think of great inventors like Marconi who were considered peculiar until their inventions became a reality. Where would we be without the radio?”
Both Cassie and Norah signaled to each other. How odd that he brought up Marconi, the man they had recently discussed.
“Well, thanks for seeing us,” said Cassie.
Dr. Parkford grinned at his two visitors. “I will be direct. I checked your academic credentials and backgrounds and found both of you to be reputable scholars. So, if I can show you that reincarnation is worthy of academic and scientific consideration, it will help spread an understanding of this phenomena. I work with people who want to find the answers to life’s important questions. My team of researchers explores why we are here, who we are, and where we are headed and the possibility of being born more than once.”
“That’s us,” said Norah. “But reincarnation comes with baggage and a lack of respect in scientific circles. It seems squishy. And if it were true wouldn’t many more cases be reported?”
Dr. Parkford was unfazed by the question. He had addressed these issues repeatedly. “Reincarnation may be vastly underreported. A minority of reported cases are from Europe and North America, but couldn’t that be because Westerners do not think about the unfamiliar concept of rebirth? When faced with this unfamiliar idea, they rebuff it for a variety of reasons. Religious zealots see it as bad, negative, pagan, and even blasphemous. Scientists see it as half-baked, implausible, irrational and foolhardy. However, Eastern thought and religions like Buddhism or Hinduism embrace it with concepts of karma or consequences of actions over eons of time. Also, some of the religious people who believe in reincarnation can be very dogmatic. They set strict rules and define the specific ways in which karma works. This rigidity often can turn people off.”[1]
Norah was persuaded. “This makes sense. I am all for studying this unexplored area. But Cassie and I are concerned about discrediting ourselves as serious scholars. We want to maintain our scientific dignity.”
“Good point. Yup, it is risky to study this topic. Let’s think about this. I look for cases from people who are willing to bring them up, discuss them, and search for the truth. I have reviewed your report. I see you have encountered Antonio, whose current life suggests he may have had a previous life. The details are consistent with that idea, and I think you may be on to something. There is enough to indicate this case is worth pursuing in more depth.” With a twinkle in his eye, Dr. Parkford said, “You might gain a new reputation. You could become the first academic psychic detective team.”
Norah smiled. “That’s true. But both Cassie and I are skeptical. Cassie is more of a doubting Thomas than I am. Antonio’s case seems strange but worth pursuing. I’ve heard about cases that initially seemed promising, but when researchers tried to verify the stories, they didn’t pan out. I recall the big craze for The Search for Bridey Murphy.[2] Remember? It was a book about a woman from Colorado named Virginia Tighe. A friend of hers who did parlor hypnosis put her in a trance, and Virginia appeared to be transformed into an Irish woman named Bridey Murphy, who explained in an Irish accent that she was born in Cork in 1798, married a lawyer in Belfast, and died in 1864. People loved the book, and it became a best seller. Reporters in search of the truth could not confirm many of the details, including any birth and death records. When they examined Tighe’s past, they found her neighbor was an Irish woman named Bridey Murphy Corkell. Some believed it was a hoax; others thought that her memory was confabulated. Whatever the case, I don’t want to taint my reputation by being associated with fraud.”
“Just because some cases are found to be a ruse does not mean we can rule out the existence of reincarnation, does it?” asked Dr. Parkford.
“That’s true. But I want evidence,” said Cassie. “Most reported cases are in countries with billions of Easterners, especially Hindus and Buddhists, whose religious beliefs include reincarnation. So, of course, there is a bias.”
“Your point is well taken. But look at yourself. You have a bias against reincarnation. You yourselves are concerned that you will be ostracized by the scientific community.” Dr. Parkford again smiled as Cassie nodded her head. “There is very meticulous research about reincarnation if you look for it.[3] Feel free to peruse our library. But may I offer alternative explanations for why Westerners tend to ignore the subject? For people to talk about ideas openly, a culture must be welcoming and accepting. If a society rebuffs an idea, if people are shunned for their belief, they are less likely to discuss it. Opponents of reincarnation for various reasons may ostracize others who believe. Some dismiss it as fiction and researchers who study it as fiction writers. Those with strongly Christian religious beliefs reject it. Science scoffs at it. When you do discuss reincarnation as a serious object of scientific inquiry, you are pooh-poohed by others.”
Continued Dr. Parkford, “Believe it or not, a Pew Research Center survey in 2009 showed that a quarter of Americans actually do believe in reincarnation. But many others think the concept of reincarnation is ludicrous. Children may begin to talk about prior life memories at about age three. American parents tend to be confused. They usually don’t explore or try to verify the child’s report. When their child claims, ‘You are not my mommy and daddy,’ they feel rejected and may be alarmed that their child is disturbed. They are likely to order the child to stop talking about it, or they may convince the child that the memories are a dream or their imagination. If the child feels ashamed or afraid or embarrassed, he or she may stay silent for fear of meeting with further parental disapproval or anger.[4] So, overall, people will be reluctant to discuss it openly. They don’t want to feel judged and criticized.”[5]
Cassie asked, “So when they grow up, they might want to pursue what their parents did not allow! Rebellious young people.”
Dr. Parkford nodded. “Yes, but when an adult reveals the experience, it is often too late to confirm scientifically. It is best to investigate these memories as soon as a young child talks about them. Adults usually don’t remember as much as they did as a child. Sometimes hypnosis is used to dig deep into the memories, but hypnosis is not a well-established, empirically based, and scientifically valid way of eliciting memories of prior lives. That was one of the issues with the Bridey Murphy case.”[6]
Norah thought that Dr. Parkford’s explanation fit perfectly with Antonio’s description of his mother’s doggedness that he not talk about his memories. Cassie could not ignore Dr. Parkford’s cool logic. He was describing a situation as Antonio had depicted his. If people said that more cases of reincarnation could be reported in a culture that was friendly and supportive of the concept, then the opposite could be true: Fewer cases of reincarnation could be reported in a culture that was unfriendly and unsupportive of the concept.[7]
“If you have any concerns that pursuing the study of reincarnation is illegitimate, my dear researchers, consider how the narrow-mindedness and rigidity of many scientists has slowed progress,” Dr. Parkford said. “Look at the history of scientific discovery. Gosh, it clearly shows how members of the academy have resisted a look at the truth in many instances. For example, even though my research teams have time after time freely and deliberately offered other scientists the opportunity to examine these cases, they close their eyes to possibilities. Even worse, they denounce others for looking. Reminds me of the dangerous attacks on Galileo. They called him a heretic for proposing that the sun, not the Earth, is the center of the universe. Earth moves and the sun stands still. They even tried him at the Inquisition, ruled to silence him, and banned his books. What if Galileo had succumbed to the pressure? Where would we be?”
Parkford ended the visit with a well-known quote and a logical question: “Why is it any more unusual that you were born twice rather than just once?”
Norah hoped Dr. Parkford had allayed Cassie’s fears since she seemed more convinced. Norah certainly was. The path seemed clear to delve into the project. As they walked out, Norah remarked, “It’s such a coincidence that he brought up the topics we were concerned about, don’t you think? Maybe he’s been spying on us.” Cassie laughed.
But was it a coincidence? thought Norah, as she and Cassie talked about the meaning of coincidence on the drive back home from New York. They anticipated what story Antonio might tell them about his past life.