By "Reincarnation" we mean the repeated incarnation, or embodiment in flesh, of the soul or immaterial part of man's nature. The term "Metempsychosis" is frequently employed in the same sense, the definition of the latter term being: "The passage of the soul, as an immortal essence, at the death of the body, into another living body." The term "Transmigration of Souls" is sometimes employed, the term being used in the sense of "passing from one body into another." But the term "Transmigration" is often used in connection with the belief of certain undeveloped races who held that the soul of men sometimes passed into the bodies of the lower animals, as a punishment for their sins committed during the human life. But this belief is held in disrepute by the adherents of Reincarnation or Metempsychosis, and has no connection with their philosophy or beliefs, the ideas having sprung from an entirely different source, and having nothing in common. There are many forms of belief--many degrees of doctrine--regarding Reincarnation, as we shall see as we proceed, but there is a fundamental and basic principle underlying all of the various shades of opinion, and divisions of the schools. This fundamental belief may be expressed as the doctrine that there is in man an immaterial Something (called the soul, spirit, inner self, or many other names) which does not perish at the death or disintegration of the body, but which persists as an entity, and after a shorter or longer interval of rest reincarnates, or is re-born, into a new body--that of an unborn infant--from whence it proceeds to live a new life in the body, more or less unconscious of its past existences, but containing within itself the "essence" or results of its past lives, which experiences go to make up its new "character," or "personality." It is usually held that the rebirth is governed by the law of attraction, under one name or another, and which law operates in accordance with strict justice, in the direction of attracting the reincarnating soul to a body, and conditions, in accordance with the tendencies of the past life, the parents also attracting to them a soul bound to them by some ties in the past, the law being universal, uniform, and equitable to all concerned in the matter. This is a general statement of the doctrine as it is generally held by the most intelligent of its adherents.

"Reincarnation and the Law of Karma" by William Walker Atkinson. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

Karma, the law of cause and effect, of nature's retribution for lost harmony, and Rebirth, from which it is inseperable, have been described as the oldest doctrine in the world. In today's turmoil, an understanding of Karma is one of the foundations on which we can build a more reasonable world.

"Reincarnation and the Law of Karma" by William Walker Atkinson explores the profound doctrine of reincarnation, which posits that the soul undergoes multiple rebirths after death. Atkinson takes readers on a journey through the historical development of this belief, tracing its roots back to ancient civilizations like Egypt and Greece and its enduring presence in religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and New Age thought. Atkinson challenges the conventional Western perspective of life as a singular journey from birth to death. He presents reincarnation as a more comprehensive and satisfying explanation of the nature of reality, offering readers a broader perspective on the soul's eternal journey and purpose. Atkinson delves into the concept of karma, the idea that our actions in the present life have far-reaching consequences for our future lives. He emphasizes how this belief in cause and effect serves as a powerful motivator for ethical behavior, encouraging readers to consider the implications of their actions and choices. "Reincarnation and the Law of Karma" serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to explore and comprehend the profound implications of reincarnation and the moral framework provided by the law of karma.

Does the soul survive death? Are we reborn again and again, and can we access the knowledge and the memories acquired in earlier lives? Followers of New Thought, the early-20th-century "New Age" philosophy, believed so, and here, in Reincarnation and the Law of Karma, William Walker Atkinson, one of the most influential New Thought voices, explores the concept of reincarnation throughout history, from the Egyptian idea of the soul through Plato's teachings on the subject and on to modern spiritual outlooks on eternal life. Originally published in 1908 , it remains a fascinating and insightful document on the theory of rebirth and the principles of spiritual cause and effect. With arguments and proofs supporting the idea that the soul is a "traveler on a long journey," Atkinson covers ancient races, Egyptians, Jews, Romans, Hindus, the modern West, justification for reincarnation, proofs of reincarnation, arguments against reincarnation, and karma. This is a fascinating and immensely readable look at a question that has haunted humanity since antiquity.What is Reincarnation?--Transmigration of Souls--The Something That Persists After Death--The Soul Not a Fresh Creation, but a Traveler on a Long Journey.THE EGYPTIANS, DRUIDS, ETC.The Egyptian Idea of the Soul--Forty Centuries of Occult History--The Ancient Chinese Teachings and Doctrine--The Druids and Their Teachings.The Reasons of Rome's Backwardness in Spiritual Knowledge--Why the Greeks were Advanced--Pythagoras; Orpheus; Plato.THE JEWS, ESSENES, AND EARLY CHRISTIANS The Jewish Rabbins and Their Secret Doctrines--The Kaballah, the Zahar, Nichema; Ronach; and NepheshThe Christian Inner Doctrine-- Mysteries of Jesus.THE HINDUS India the Mother of Reincarnation, Past and Present--The Aryan Teachings.Reincarnation in the Modern Western World--The Revival of Interest and Its Cause--Theosophical Society--Madame Blavatsky--The Teachings of the "Elect Few" in Their Secret Societies--Is Earth a Hell?--Christian Reincarnationists. How Long Between Incarnations?--The Advanced Teachings--Earth-bound Souls--Advanced Souls and Their Rest Period--Where Does the Soul Dwell Between Incarnations?--What Happens at Death--The Great Astral World and Its Planes and Sub-planes--Where the Soul Goes After Death and What It Does There--Rebirth and Its Laws--What is the Final State of the Soul?--The Message of the Illumined.THE JUSTICE OF REINCARNATION The Contrasting Theories of the Soul and Its Future Life--Doctrine of Reincarnation the Only Philosophical Theory that Reconciles Facts with Theory--The Law of Karma Automatic and Enforces Itself--Every One Their Own Judge and the Executor of Their Own Destiny--The Opinions of the World's Great Thinkers.THE ARGUMENT FOR REINCARNATION Natural Laws Universal--If the Soul is Immortal, it Must Have Always Been So--A Mortal Thing Cannot be Made Immortal Any More Than Nothing Can be Made Something--Future Life Implies Past Life--Varient Experiences Necessary for the Soul's Education--Advancement Necessary to Enjoyment of the Soul's Higher States of Being--The True Teaching.THE PROOFS OF REINCARNATION Actual Proofs of Personal Conscious Experience Demanded by Science--Such Proofs Possible and Have Occurred to Many of the Race--The Remembrance of the Details of Past Existence Common to the Race--Interesting Cases Given on Good Authority--Messages from the Past.ARGUMENTS AGAINST REINCARNATION Why Reincarnation is Opposed by Some--The Answers to the Objections--The Proof of the Existence of the Soul--Is Reincarnation Un-Christian and Derived from Pagan and Heathen Sources?THE LAW OF KARMA What Karma Means--Does Karma Punish or is it but the Workings of a Natural Law?--The Various Kinds of Karma--The Advanced Mystical Doctrine--The End is Absolute Good--There is No Devil but Fear and Unfaith.

THIS BOOK IS A STUDY OF THE WORLD DOCTRINE OF RE-BIRTH, WITH SPIRITUAL CAUSE AND EFFECT.

Does the soul survive death? Are we reborn again and again, and can we access the knowledge and the memories acquired in earlier lives? Followers of New Thought, the early-20th-century “New Age” philosophy, believed so, and here, in Reincarnation and the Law of Karma, William Walker Atkinson, one of the most influential New Thought voices, explores the concept of reincarnation throughout history, from the Egyptian idea of the soul through Plato's teachings on the subject and on to modern spiritual outlooks on eternal life. Originally published in 1908 , it remains a fascinating and insightful document on the theory of rebirth and the principles of spiritual cause and effect. With arguments and proofs supporting the idea that the soul is a “traveler on a long journey,” Atkinson covers ancient races, Egyptians, Jews, Romans, Hindus, the modern West, justification for reincarnation, proofs of reincarnation, arguments against reincarnation, and karma. This is a fascinating and immensely readable look at a question that has haunted humanity since antiquity.Cover photography by Paul Spremulli.