International Centre for Reincarnation Research

Reincarnation Video of the Week: In 70% of investigated child cases, the previous incarnation is identified

Can children actually remember past lives? In a fascinating presentation on *"The Importance of Health Professionals Understanding and Supporting Exceptional Events, such as Near Death Experiences and Children’s Memories of Past Lives,"* Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova, Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, explores this exact phenomenon.

Through UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies, researchers have cataloged thousands of cases where toddlers vividly recount a previous life. Astonishingly, in roughly 70% of deeply investigated cases, researchers successfully identified the real deceased individual the child described. While many children recall ordinary lives, those recalling violent deaths often experience related phobias or nightmares. Unlike near-death experiences, which leave lifelong impacts, these childhood memories typically fade around age seven.

Dr. Pehlivanova stresses a vital mission: the medical community must learn to listen. By supporting—rather than dismissing—families navigating these exceptional events, health professionals can offer crucial validation and comfort during these profound human experiences.

Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vixi44fpe3M

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/.../the-published.../

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

The Rector's Forum: Lets Talk About Exceptional Life Experiences November 24, 2024; "The Importance of Health Professionals Understa...

Psi Encyclopedia Article of the Week: The girl who preferred her previous home

This article by the late reincarnation researcher and parapsychologist Erlendur Haraldsson concerns a Sri Lankan girl, Dilukshi Nissanka, who began before the age of two to describe a past life in a village about eighty miles from her home, saying she had drowned in a stream. She refused to call her current parents “mother” and “father,” and insisted on returning to her previous mother. Her family documented 22 specific statements about this past life, including details about her residence near Dambulla and family members. Journalist HW Abeypala published her story, allowing a Sri Lankan man, Dharmadasa Ranatunga, to recognize the details as matching those of his deceased daughter, Shiromi Inoka, who had drowned shortly before Dilukshi’s birth. Upon visiting the Ranatunga home, Dilukshi accurately identified people and locations, convincing the family she ws Shiromi returned. The case was investigated by Erlendur Haraldsson and featured in the documentary “Past Lives: Stories of Reincarnation.”

Read about it here: https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/dilukshi-nissanka-reincarnation-case

Next week: The reincarnation cases of Brazil

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ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website at https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

KMW

International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research (ICRR) was founded in 2021 and incorporated in 2022 to provide increased funding for reincarnation research and unite researchers to create a co-ordinated program of systematic study. Our f...

Reincarnation Paper of the Week: The reincarnation customs of North American indigenous people

For decades, anthropologists have documented widespread beliefs in reincarnation among Indigenous peoples of North America and the Arctic. In this remarkable reference work, James G. Matlock and Antonia Mills systematically review ethnographic evidence from Inuit, First Nations, Native American, and Aleut societies, creating a comparative index of reincarnation-related traditions.

The authors catalogue reports of rebirth, past-life memories, recognition tests, birthmarks, naming customs, kinship practices, and beliefs about how souls return. They identify recurring patterns across many cultures: children recognized as deceased relatives, planned rebirths into specific families, memories of previous lives, and social customs built around these beliefs. The study also records variations such as multiple souls, divided reincarnation, cross-sex rebirth, and shamanic involvement in identifying returning individuals.

Rather than arguing for or against reincarnation, Matlock and Mills provide a comprehensive anthropological map of beliefs and reported cases, revealing that concepts of rebirth were far more widespread and culturally significant in North America than is often assumed.

Read the full article 'A trait index to North American Indian and Inuit reincarnation beliefs' now available online in PDF:
https://www.academia.edu/4310264/A_trait_index_to_North_American_Indian_and_Inuit_reincarnation_beliefs

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/news/the-published-reincarnation-case-database-is-on/

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

A trait index to North American Indian and Inuit reincarnation beliefs A trait index to North American Indian and Inuit reincarnation beliefs

Reincarnation Video of the Week: How a violent past life can haunt this life

Have you ever wondered why certain memories—or even places you've never been—haunt your dreams? In this captivating episode, author Benjamin Carraud delves into the psychological mysteries behind his intense childhood night terrors and sleepwalking.

Carraud’s story takes a striking turn during his adulthood in Shanghai, where he began experiencing hyper-realistic, waking flashbacks of commanding WWII soldiers under artillery fire. Fearing for his sanity, he sought psychiatric evaluation. When doctors definitively ruled out schizophrenia, Carraud embarked on an extraordinary investigative journey. Inspired by documented cases of children recalling historical battles, he connected with researcher Jim Matlock to explore the controversial science of reincarnation phenomena.

Blending personal narrative with psychological and cultural insights, this video examines how deeply environments and traumas can shape human consciousness. It invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries of memory, the universal nature of fear, and the deeply complex ways our minds process the past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuV--n8ySHM

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/.../the-published.../

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

Transcending Time: Benjamin Carraud's Encounter with Reincarnation In this podcast episode, author Benjamin Carraud discusses his book, “Goodbye Fields of Prokhorovka,” his childhood in northern France, and intense early nig...

Psi Encyclopedia Article of the Week: More cases with memories in writing

This article by reincarnation researcher James G Matlock discusses 33 cases in which individuals' past-life memory claims were documented prior to any verification attempts. This methodology strengthens the credibility of such cases by minimizing potential biases or information contamination. More often, in reincarnation research, verifications occur before investigators arrive, raising concerns about the accuracy of the reported memories. By accessing records of claims beforehand – or creating their own records -- researchers can more objectively assess their validity. Notable examples include the cases of Bishen Chand Kapoor (again) and Dilukshi Nissanka. This approach addresses criticisms of the authenticity of past-life memories and emphasizes the importance of thorough documentation in reincarnation studies.
Read about it here: https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/reincarnation-cases-records-made-verifications

Next week: Dilukshi Nissanka: the whole story

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ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website at https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

KMW

International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research (ICRR) was founded in 2021 and incorporated in 2022 to provide increased funding for reincarnation research and unite researchers to create a co-ordinated program of systematic study. Our f...

Reincarnation Paper of the Week: No, the kids are not crazy

Abstract — It has been proposed that some normal-psychological factors may explain why some children speak of having had a previous life. Some of these and other psychological factors, which may further our understanding of children claiming previous-life memories, were the subject of this study. Psychological tests were administered to 30 children in Sri Lanka, aged 7 to 13, who at an earlier age had claimed to remember a previous life, and a control group of equal size. Children claiming previous-life memories show a higher level of cognitive functioning; perform much better in school, have a larger vocabulary, obtain higher scores on the Raven Progressive Matrices (brief test of intelligence), have better memory, and are not more suggestible than their peers. As a group they are gifted children. Parents found them to argue a lot, prefer being alone, be more nervous and stubborn than their peers, more perfectionistic, and more concerned about cleanliness. Teachers found them excellent to be pupils. As research continues the alleged memories of these children are found to be only one part of a pattern of characteristics that so far seem to defy a normal explanation.

Read the full article A Psychological Comparison Between Ordinary Children and Those Who Claim Previous-Life Memories written by Erlendur Haraldsson of Faculty of Social Science, University of Iceland, now available online in PDF:

https://scispace.com/pdf/a-psychological-comparison-between-ordinary-children-and-3ew5c63qra.pdf

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/news/the-published-reincarnation-case-database-is-on/

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research (ICRR) was founded in 2021 and incorporated in 2022 to provide increased funding for reincarnation research and unite researchers to create a co-ordinated program of systematic study. Our f...

Reincarnation Video of the Week: DOPS Drs. Marieta and Philip on reincarnation cases and other evidence of life after death

Dive into the mysteries of human consciousness with Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova and Dr. Philip Cozzolino from the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS). Founded in 1967, DOPS challenges the mainstream scientific view that the mind is simply a byproduct of brain activity. Instead, these researchers rigorously evaluate empirical evidence suggesting that consciousness survives physical death.

In this fascinating discussion, the scientists explore DOPS’s groundbreaking research on near-death experiences and children reporting past-life memories. They highlight the astonishing case of James Leininger, a young boy whose vivid nightmares and incredibly specific knowledge about a WWII fighter pilot shot down near Iwo Jima baffled his skeptical parents. James accurately named his aircraft carrier, the *Natoma Bay*, and a fellow pilot, Jack Larsen—details that were later historically verified. With a database of over 2,500 meticulously investigated cases, DOPS is pushing the boundaries of modern science to unravel the true nature of the human mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqnF1wz3nBo

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/.../the-published.../

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

Lifting the Veil on Life’s Greatest Mystery with Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, and Philip Cozzolino, PhD Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies, ...

Psi Encyclopedia Article of the Week: A case with memories in writing

The case of Bishen Chand Kapoor is a notable instance of early 20th-century Indian reincarnation research. Born on February 7, 1921 in Bareilly, northern India, Bishen began saying “Pilibhit” at ten months old and later identified himself as one Laxmi Narain from that town. When Bishen was five and a half, lawyer K.K.N. Sahay documented his claims prior to the boy’s first visit to Pilibhit. Once arrived, Bishen recognized familiar locations, identified Laxmi Narain's father in a photograph, and demonstrated drumming skills on tablas, an instrument he hadn't previously encountered.

Laxmi Narain, the only son of a wealthy landowner, had led a lavish lifestyle, including an affair that led to his shooting dead a love-rival and escaping justice through bribes. He ultimately died of illness. Decades later, researcher Ian Stevenson re-examined the case, confirming that Bishen’s family had no known connections to Pilibhit or the Narain family, strengthening the case’s authenticity. Stevenson highlighted this case for its thorough documentation and the socioeconomic contrast between Bishen's modest upbringing and Laxmi Narain’s affluent past.

Read about him here: https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/bishen-chand-kapoor-reincarnation-case

Next week: More cases with records of memories before verifiication

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ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website at https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

KMW

International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research The International Centre for Reincarnation Research (ICRR) was founded in 2021 and incorporated in 2022 to provide increased funding for reincarnation research and unite researchers to create a co-ordinated program of systematic study. Our f...

Reincarnation Paper of the Week: Stevenson's early insights on children's cases

Psychiatrist Ian Stevenson explored one of the strangest questions in psychology: why do some young children claim to remember previous lives? In this article, Stevenson does not argue that reincarnation is proven. Instead, he examines recurring patterns in hundreds of investigated cases from different cultures.

He notes that such reports appear far more often in societies where reincarnation is already accepted, especially in Asia. However, Stevenson argues this may partly reflect social pressure: in Western countries, children and parents may suppress unusual memories out of fear of ridicule. He also suggests that cultural beliefs shape how people interpret strange experiences. A child in a reincarnation-based culture may recognize such memories, while a Western child may dismiss them entirely.

The article approaches reincarnation not as religion, but as a psychological and anthropological mystery requiring careful investigation rather than blind belief or automatic rejection.

Read the full article Some questions related to cases of the reincarnation type originally published in Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research and now available online in PDF:
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/360/2016/12/STE2.pdf

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/news/the-published-reincarnation-case-database-is-on/

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

med.virginia.edu

Reincarnation Video of the Week: When your child says you're not their real parent

For more than 60 years, researchers at the University of Virginia have investigated “cases of the reincarnation type” — reports of young children who describe detailed memories of an alleged previous life. In some cases, children were also born with unusual birthmarks or defects said to correspond to fatal injuries sustained by a deceased individual.

Most scientific work in this field has focused on verifying the children’s statements and ruling out normal explanations such as coincidence, suggestion, fraud, or information leakage. Yet a different and largely unexplored question has recently begun to attract attention: how do parents psychologically respond when their child persistently claims memories of another life?

A recent study by Philip Cozzolino, Marieta Pehlivanova, and Jim Tucker examines the family dynamics surrounding such cases. Drawing on historical records from the University of Virginia database, the researchers analyzed how parents reacted to their children’s reports — whether they accepted, encouraged, ignored, or suppressed them.

Led by Cozzolino, whose work explores the psychology of death awareness, the study opens a new perspective on the emotional and psychological challenges faced by families raising children who claim to remember dying and living before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQxZRpJt_4

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Major ICRR news: we have been awarded a grant of €50,000 to build the ICRR Published Reincarnation Case Database (PRCDb) by the BIAL Foundation, so we will be doing so and launching it in November of next year. This project will take reincarnation research to a new level and a brighter future. Find out who is on the eight-person team, what cutting-edge technology we’re using and more here: https://www.reincarnationcentre.org/.../the-published.../

ICRR was founded to provide increased funding for reincarnation research, co-ordinate this research, share science-based information about reincarnation with the world, and provide resources to people impacted by reincarnation. Get involved with this dynamic, innovative and dedicated organization... we have just been joined by two excellent communications and outreach people but can always use more helping hands! Help us help bring reincarnation research and education to the next level: visit our website https://www.reincarnationcentre.org to learn more and apply to volunteer. Thank you for your interest!

Philip J. Cozzolino | Parental Encouragement and Suppression of a Child's Past-Life Memories Philip J. Cozzolino, Marieta Pehlivanova, & Jim B. TuckerDivision...