| Past life regression therapy or PLR is based on the | | | | Past life regression therapy or PLR is based on the |
| principle of re-incarnation. It means that all of us have | | | | principle of re-incarnation. It means that all of us have |
| had many past lives and that life and death are a part | | | | had many past lives and that life and death are a part |
| of a constant cycle. According to the believers of past | | | | of a constant cycle. According to the believers of past |
| life regression therapy a lot of our present problems | | | | life regression therapy a lot of our present problems |
| may result from the cellular memories of our past lives. | | | | may result from the cellular memories of our past lives. |
| For instance a phobia of water could be the result of | | | | For instance a phobia of water could be the result of |
| death by drowning in a past life. PLR therapists claim | | | | death by drowning in a past life. PLR therapists claim |
| that unexplained pains and aches in the body, a variety | | | | that unexplained pains and aches in the body, a variety |
| of psychological problems, negative relationships and | | | | of psychological problems, negative relationships and |
| sometimes even some diseases could be the result of | | | | sometimes even some diseases could be the result of |
| painful or troubled past life memories. | | | | painful or troubled past life memories. |
| How does PLR therapy work? | | | | How does PLR therapy work? |
| Past life regression therapists use clinical hypnosis to | | | | Past life regression therapists use clinical hypnosis to |
| delve into their client’s subconscious. According to | | | | delve into their client’s subconscious. According to |
| believers of PLR, the memories of all our past lives are | | | | believers of PLR, the memories of all our past lives are |
| buried somewhere in our subconscious, we may | | | | buried somewhere in our subconscious, we may |
| believe that some of our actions and thoughts are our | | | | believe that some of our actions and thoughts are our |
| natural instincts but they are actually directed by our | | | | natural instincts but they are actually directed by our |
| subconscious. For instance an instinctive dislike | | | | subconscious. For instance an instinctive dislike |
| towards someone could be the result of a negative | | | | towards someone could be the result of a negative |
| relationship shared with them in a past life. | | | | relationship shared with them in a past life. |
| The therapist starts a PLR session by inducing a | | | | The therapist starts a PLR session by inducing a |
| trance like state in the client, then with the help of visual | | | | trance like state in the client, then with the help of visual |
| imagery one is supposedly transported to a past life. | | | | imagery one is supposedly transported to a past life. |
| The client sees images and scenes of a past life | | | | The client sees images and scenes of a past life |
| (which may be affecting his/her present life) replayed | | | | (which may be affecting his/her present life) replayed |
| in front of his/her eyes like a movie, some may see it | | | | in front of his/her eyes like a movie, some may see it |
| as flashes and to others the images appear as they | | | | as flashes and to others the images appear as they |
| do in the mind’s eye. The therapist takes the client | | | | do in the mind’s eye. The therapist takes the client |
| through the important years of the life they are seeing | | | | through the important years of the life they are seeing |
| and finally moves towards the time of the client’s | | | | and finally moves towards the time of the client’s |
| death in the previous life. The client sees himself | | | | death in the previous life. The client sees himself |
| herself dying, feels like he/she is floating towards the | | | | herself dying, feels like he/she is floating towards the |
| sky, with the help of suggestions from the therapist the | | | | sky, with the help of suggestions from the therapist the |
| client is able to see his/her angels. Most people report | | | | client is able to see his/her angels. Most people report |
| receiving messages at this stage about the purpose of | | | | receiving messages at this stage about the purpose of |
| their previous life and sometimes even about the | | | | their previous life and sometimes even about the |
| purpose and problems in their present life; with this the | | | | purpose and problems in their present life; with this the |
| session is concluded and the therapist brings the client | | | | session is concluded and the therapist brings the client |
| out of their trance (hypnosis). People who have | | | | out of their trance (hypnosis). People who have |
| undergone this therapy claim that seeing a past life is | | | | undergone this therapy claim that seeing a past life is |
| like standing at a distance and watching yourself, you | | | | like standing at a distance and watching yourself, you |
| feel real emotions, yet you know you are only a silent | | | | feel real emotions, yet you know you are only a silent |
| by-stander watching images of a life you have already | | | | by-stander watching images of a life you have already |
| lived. | | | | lived. |
| It is believed that once you realize that your present | | | | It is believed that once you realize that your present |
| problems are the result of painful memories from your | | | | problems are the result of painful memories from your |
| past life, you will able to overcome them. | | | | past life, you will able to overcome them. |
| Does it have scientific validity? | | | | Does it have scientific validity? |
| The scientific and the medical world do not endorse | | | | The scientific and the medical world do not endorse |
| and strongly disagree with claims of past life | | | | and strongly disagree with claims of past life |
| regression therapists. They attribute any positive | | | | regression therapists. They attribute any positive |
| effects of past life therapy to the placebo effect, | | | | effects of past life therapy to the placebo effect, |
| which means that people believe they are getting | | | | which means that people believe they are getting |
| better because, they are told that the therapy would | | | | better because, they are told that the therapy would |
| help them. Moreover, non-believers also suggest that | | | | help them. Moreover, non-believers also suggest that |
| what people call an “image/scene of a past life” | | | | what people call an “image/scene of a past life” |
| is actually just their imagination and the suggestions | | | | is actually just their imagination and the suggestions |
| from therapists make them feel that their imagination is | | | | from therapists make them feel that their imagination is |
| real. According to psychiatrists sometimes we confuse | | | | real. According to psychiatrists sometimes we confuse |
| a lucid dream or vividly imagined experience with an | | | | a lucid dream or vividly imagined experience with an |
| actual memory(these are called false memories). We | | | | actual memory(these are called false memories). We |
| recall the imagined or dreamt experience as real, even | | | | recall the imagined or dreamt experience as real, even |
| though the event or incident never happened in real life. | | | | though the event or incident never happened in real life. |
| Past life memories according to many psychiatrists | | | | Past life memories according to many psychiatrists |
| and doctors is exactly that, our imagination which | | | | and doctors is exactly that, our imagination which |
| seems real. | | | | seems real. |
| So should one believe in it? | | | | So should one believe in it? |
| Though there is no proven research which suggests | | | | Though there is no proven research which suggests |
| that we actually have multiple lives or that our past | | | | that we actually have multiple lives or that our past |
| lives have any affect on our present lives, a lot of | | | | lives have any affect on our present lives, a lot of |
| people not only believe in this therapy but claim that | | | | people not only believe in this therapy but claim that |
| they have benefitted from it. In fact a famous | | | | they have benefited from it. In fact a famous |
| psychiatrist Dr. Brian Weiss is one of the most talked | | | | psychiatrist Dr. Brian Weiss is one of the most talked |
| about and prominent advocates of this therapy. Yet, if | | | | about and prominent advocates of this therapy. Yet, if |
| one listens to the voice of so called “rationality” | | | | one listens to the voice of so called “rationality” |
| doubts are bound to arise. Moreover all religions do not | | | | doubts are bound to arise. Moreover all religions do not |
| agree with the concept of re-incarnation either, | | | | agree with the concept of re-incarnation either, |
| therefore to believe or not to believe becomes a | | | | therefore to believe or not to believe becomes a |
| matter of faith and choice. | | | | matter of faith and choice. |