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Reinkarnation und Karma
Auf eindrucksvolle Weise beschreibt der Autor in diesem Werk die weite Verbreitung der Reinkarnationstheorie unter den Menschen in den verschiedensten Zivilisationen, Kulturen und Religionen - sowohl der östlichen wie auch westlichen Welt. Er vergleicht die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede der einzelnen Auslegungen und legt dar, welche Vorstellungen jeweils über die Seele, ihr Leben nach dem Tode und den Sinn und Zweck von Reinkarnation und Karma vertreten wurden und auch noch heute vertreten werden. Außerdem stellt er typische Argumente für und gegen die Existenz von Reinkarnation und Karma gegenüber und schildert konkrete Fälle, in denen sich Menschen plötzlich an Ereignisse aus früheren Leben erinnerten. Überarbeitete Neuausgabe 2014.
144 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2014
29 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
William Walker Atkinson
2,610 books406 followersPseudonyms: Theron Q. Dumont, Yogi Ramacharaka, Swami Bhakta Vishita & Swami Panchadasi
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
William Walker Atkinson (December 5, 1862 – November 22, 1932) was an attorney, merchant, publisher, and author, as well as an occultist and an American pioneer of the New Thought movement. He is also known to have been the author of the pseudonymous works attributed to Theron Q. Dumont, Swami Panchadasi and Yogi Ramacharaka and others.
Due in part to Atkinson's intense personal secrecy and extensive use of pseudonyms, he is now largely forgotten, despite having obtained mention in past editions of Who's Who in America, Religious Leaders of America, and several similar publications—and having written more than 100 books in the last 30 years of his life. His works have remained in print more or less continuously since 1900.
William Walker Atkinson was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 5, 1862, to William and Emma Atkinson. He began his working life as a grocer at 15 years old, probably helping his father. He married Margret Foster Black of Beverly, New Jersey, in October 1889, and they had two children. The first probably died young. The second later married and had two daughters.
Atkinson pursued a business career from 1882 onwards and in 1894 he was admitted as an attorney to the Bar of Pennsylvania. While he gained much material success in his profession as a lawyer, the stress and over-strain eventually took its toll, and during this time he experienced a complete physical and mental breakdown, and financial disaster. He looked for healing and in the late 1880s he found it with New Thought, later attributing the restoration of his health, mental vigor and material prosperity to the application of the principles of New Thought.
Some time after his healing, Atkinson began to write articles on the truths he felt he had discovered, which were then known as Mental Science. In 1889, an article by him entitled "A Mental Science Catechism," appeared in Charles Fillmore's new periodical, Modern Thought.
By the early 1890s Chicago had become a major centre for New Thought, mainly through the work of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and Atkinson decided to move there. Once in the city, he became an active promoter of the movement as an editor and author. He was responsible for publishing the magazines Suggestion (1900–1901), New Thought (1901–1905) and Advanced Thought (1906–1916).
In 1900 Atkinson worked as an associate editor of Suggestion, a New Thought Journal, and wrote his probable first book, Thought-Force in Business and Everyday Life, being a series of lessons in personal magnetism, psychic influence, thought-force, concentration, will-power, and practical mental science.
He then met Sydney Flower, a well-known New Thought publisher and businessman, and teamed up with him. In December, 1901 he assumed editorship of Flower's popular New Thought magazine, a post which he held until 1905. During these years he built for himself an enduring place in the hearts of its readers. Article after article flowed from his pen. Meanwhile he also founded his own Psychic Club and the so-called "Atkinson School of Mental Science". Both were located in the same building as Flower's Psychic Research and New Thought Publishing Company.
Atkinson was a past president of the International New Thought Alliance.
Throughout his subsequent career, Atkinson wrote and published under his own name and many pseudonyms. It is not known whether he ever acknowledged authorship of these pseudonymous works, but all of the supposedly independent authors whose writings are now credited to Atkinson were linked to one another by virtue of the fact that their works were released by a series of publishing houses with shared addresses and they also wrote for a series of magazines with a shared roster of authors. Atkinson was the editor of a
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 1, 2025
Este livro explica-nos o funcionamento do karma, da morte e da reencarnação. Oferece-nos respostas fascinantes aos grandes mistérios da vida, mas, acima de tudo, ensina-nos a tirar o melhor da existência que nos foi dada.
Recomendo a sua leitura para quem goste de aprofundar o tema.
Recomendo a sua leitura para quem goste de aprofundar o tema.
October 15, 2020
Volumetto agile in formato tascabile. 150 pagine in tutto, ma ricco di contenuti e spunti molto interessanti. Ottima e completa l'esposizione di W.W.Atkinson che si conquista la mia piena fiducia e che tornerò a leggere più che volentieri. Imponente infatti la sua produzione letteraria, e con queste premesse non posso che essere curioso di approfondirla al più presto.
Il tema della reincarnazione è affrontato sotto tutti gli aspetti, presentando non solo le correnti di pensiero favorevoli, ma anche quelle critiche con relativo dibattito. Ben fatto e molto accurato, ideale come approccio all'affascinante materia, ma anche ricco di spunti per approfondimenti più corposi.
Consigliato!
Il tema della reincarnazione è affrontato sotto tutti gli aspetti, presentando non solo le correnti di pensiero favorevoli, ma anche quelle critiche con relativo dibattito. Ben fatto e molto accurato, ideale come approccio all'affascinante materia, ma anche ricco di spunti per approfondimenti più corposi.
Consigliato!
December 29, 2012
William Walker Atkinson explains in easy to understand language the meaning of Reincarnation and the Law of Karma. He presents arguments both supporting and against the beliefs. He, also, discusses the various ways that religions/cultures (Eqyptian, Druids, Essene, Greek, Hindu, Roman, and Christianity in it's early and present forms)and great thinkers have incorporated or refuted the beliefs. Very well organized and written.
September 14, 2017
Interesting rundown on reincarnation and Karma from the Hindu perspective. It clarifies the belief very well. The author seems to infer however that all beliefs believe in a form of reincarnation and that all religion at one time or another believed in the same way that Hinduism does. If my take on it is true, I think is a bit ridiculous but maybe I'm reading between the lines too much.
In the book, he mentions the spirit and how most religions believe in it. While it's true that most religions at one time or another believed in the incorporeal spirit, many today do not. This would even include some sects of Hinduism, where they apply the same beliefs to a more naturalist perspective.
I also don't agree with his take on the Romans and early Christianity. He said that the Romans didn't believe in an afterlife nor a spirit. Actually, though their beliefs varied, they did believe in the soul and afterlife and there is plenty of evidence of this. Roman beliefs were influenced by Greek mythology and they believed in the indestructible soul. But they did not believe in resurrection or reincarnation. Their take on the afterlife in the underworld seemed rather bleak and dismal.
He also said that early Christians believed in reincarnation but I don't think this is entirely accurate. There are passages that could be interpreted as reincarnation, especially if your coming from a Hindu perspective but I think maybe he's confusing it with resurrection. These are not exactly the same thing. Then again, some scholars argue that some sects of early Christianity did believe in reincarnation but they didn't make it into the mainstream of the religious belief. Other scholars say that as Catholicism became the mainstream they reinterpreted to resurrection. As far as I've found, this is mostly based in speculation and others personal interpretations but not on any empirical evidence.
Though there were some breakoffs of Judaism that believed in reincarnation and there is mention of it in their mysticism, it is not widely accepted nor believed. Some wrongly equate Judaism with Christianity. I suppose that this may be where his confusion lies.
Despite my criticisms, this is an excellent read to understand Hinduism and their perspectives.
In the book, he mentions the spirit and how most religions believe in it. While it's true that most religions at one time or another believed in the incorporeal spirit, many today do not. This would even include some sects of Hinduism, where they apply the same beliefs to a more naturalist perspective.
I also don't agree with his take on the Romans and early Christianity. He said that the Romans didn't believe in an afterlife nor a spirit. Actually, though their beliefs varied, they did believe in the soul and afterlife and there is plenty of evidence of this. Roman beliefs were influenced by Greek mythology and they believed in the indestructible soul. But they did not believe in resurrection or reincarnation. Their take on the afterlife in the underworld seemed rather bleak and dismal.
He also said that early Christians believed in reincarnation but I don't think this is entirely accurate. There are passages that could be interpreted as reincarnation, especially if your coming from a Hindu perspective but I think maybe he's confusing it with resurrection. These are not exactly the same thing. Then again, some scholars argue that some sects of early Christianity did believe in reincarnation but they didn't make it into the mainstream of the religious belief. Other scholars say that as Catholicism became the mainstream they reinterpreted to resurrection. As far as I've found, this is mostly based in speculation and others personal interpretations but not on any empirical evidence.
Though there were some breakoffs of Judaism that believed in reincarnation and there is mention of it in their mysticism, it is not widely accepted nor believed. Some wrongly equate Judaism with Christianity. I suppose that this may be where his confusion lies.
Despite my criticisms, this is an excellent read to understand Hinduism and their perspectives.
October 6, 2011
I sincerely enjoyed this book. It certainly broadened my horizons and actually cleared up many questions I've always had about reincarnation.
It is written with the attempt to be unbiased and show both sides of the reincarnation debate and I think it did a relatively good job of that.
Simply, this was an interesting and thought provoking read, to say the least. I was a little saddened that it had to come to an end.
It is written with the attempt to be unbiased and show both sides of the reincarnation debate and I think it did a relatively good job of that.
Simply, this was an interesting and thought provoking read, to say the least. I was a little saddened that it had to come to an end.
August 13, 2013
One of the best books on the subject of reincarnation I have ever read. I would have finished this book a long time ago had I realized it ended at 93%. Although there is a great deal to learn from this book, it can be summed up in the last couple of pages. Wonderful read and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in what is referred to in this book (because of the time period it is written in) as occult principles of reincarnation.
April 10, 2025
A really interesting book on reincarnation as viewed from a New Thought and spirituality perspective and in early religious teachings. This is my thing, so it's always good to read about reincarnation.
August 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this book for the well generalized overview of major religious and theosophical views on reincarnation and karma. It is full of interesting quotes and tidbits regarding the interpretation of the substance of life itself. For instance:
" "A perfected man must have experienced every type of earthy realtion and duty, every phase of desire, affection and passion, every form of temptation and every variety of conflict. No one life can possibly furnish the material for more than a minute section of such experience." (- William Q Judge) Along this same line it is urged that the soul's development must come largely from contact and relationship with other souls, in a variety of phases and forms. It must experience pain and happiness, love, pity, failure, success - it must know the discipline of sympathy, toleration, patience, energy, fortitude, foresight, gratitude, pity, benevolence, and love in all of its phases. This, it is urged, is possible only through repeated incarnations, as the span of one life is too small and its limit too narrow to embrace but a small fraction of the necessary experiences of the soul on its journey toward development and attainment. One must feel the sorrows and joys of all forms of life before "understanding" may come. Narrowness, lack of tolerance, prejudice, and similar forms of undeveloped consciousness must be wiped out by the broad understanding and sympathy that come only from experience." " (- William W Atkinson)
" "A perfected man must have experienced every type of earthy realtion and duty, every phase of desire, affection and passion, every form of temptation and every variety of conflict. No one life can possibly furnish the material for more than a minute section of such experience." (- William Q Judge) Along this same line it is urged that the soul's development must come largely from contact and relationship with other souls, in a variety of phases and forms. It must experience pain and happiness, love, pity, failure, success - it must know the discipline of sympathy, toleration, patience, energy, fortitude, foresight, gratitude, pity, benevolence, and love in all of its phases. This, it is urged, is possible only through repeated incarnations, as the span of one life is too small and its limit too narrow to embrace but a small fraction of the necessary experiences of the soul on its journey toward development and attainment. One must feel the sorrows and joys of all forms of life before "understanding" may come. Narrowness, lack of tolerance, prejudice, and similar forms of undeveloped consciousness must be wiped out by the broad understanding and sympathy that come only from experience." " (- William W Atkinson)
September 27, 2022
Mi sono avvicinata a questo tema per curiosità, ma una volta visto il libro ho pensato che probabilmente non sarei riuscita a finirlo, invece sono rimasta piacevolmente sorpresa dalla scrittura di Atkinson, molto chiara e incalzante.
L'autore è stato in grado di introdurre l'argomento in modo davvero efficace e interessante
L'autore è stato in grado di introdurre l'argomento in modo davvero efficace e interessante
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June 4, 2014No comments yet, will write one when I'm done with the book, so far it has been a great and enjoyable read.
February 4, 2013
Interesting to read the thoughts from different cultures. Still so much to understand about this subject.
January 6, 2015
unbiased and informative and it ends with feel goods
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October 29, 2024No comments yet, will write one when I'm done with the book, so far it has been a great and enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews