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00:00Have you ever gazed up at the night sky, lost in the immensity of the cosmos, and wondered
00:06about your place in it all?
00:07Have you ever wondered where you were before you were born?
00:10The idea that our soul, our essence or our consciousness existed in some form before
00:16our physical birth, is called, pre-existence.
00:19It's a concept that stretches the boundaries of our understanding.
00:23It suggests our life on earth with all its joys and sorrows, is just one chapter, a single
00:29page, in a much longer, perhaps even infinite story.
00:33This concept has fascinated thinkers, mystics and cultures across the globe for thousands
00:37of years, sparking countless debates and inspiring profound works of art and philosophy.
00:43Some believe we existed as pure spirits, dwelling in a heavenly realm, a state of blissful existence
00:48before descending to earth.
00:50Others see a continuous chain of past lives, a cycle of reincarnation, with each life shaping
00:55who we are today, influencing our personalities, our relationships, and our destinies.
01:00For some, the soul is a unique and individual spark, divinely created at the moment of conception,
01:06a fresh start, with each new life.
01:09The doctrine of pre-existence in all its varied forms invites us to see our lives not as isolated
01:14incidents but, as part of a grand interconnected design.
01:17Not as random events but as purposeful steps on a longer, more meaningful journey.
01:23It can give deeper purpose and meaning to our struggles, our joys, our triumphs, and even
01:27our failures.
01:28Suggesting we have a rich and complex history stretching back far beyond our first breath.
01:33A history that continues to shape us in ways we may not even realize.
01:38As we embark on this exploration of pre-existence, it's important to remember that we won't find
01:42a single definitive answer.
01:44No one can definitively prove what, if anything, came before birth.
01:48Instead, we'll delve into the stories, the myths, and the beliefs that have shaped humanity's
01:53enduring search for meaning and purpose in the face of the great unknown.
01:57We'll visit ancient Greece, the birthplace of Western philosophy, the spiritual East,
02:02with its rich traditions of reincarnation and karma, and the hallowed halls of Western religion,
02:09exploring their perspectives on the soul's origin.
02:11Each tradition offers a unique and valuable window into our collective quest to understand
02:17where we truly come from, and what our ultimate destiny might be.
02:21So let's begin this fascinating journey into the world, or perhaps the worlds, that may
02:26have existed before we were born.
02:28What profound insights might we discover about ourselves, about our place in the universe,
02:33and about the very nature of existence along the way?
02:36Our journey into the concept of the soul begins in ancient Greece.
02:40A cradle of Western thought and philosophy.
02:44It was there, amidst the olive groves and sun-drenched temples, that intellectual giants like Plato and
02:50Socrates first began to ponder the soul's origins, its nature, and its ultimate destiny.
02:56Plato in his dialogues famously taught that our souls are not merely products of our earthly
03:01existence, but are in fact immortal entities, existing in a perfect realm of forms before our
03:06birth, a realm of pure knowledge and ideal concepts.
03:10Life on earth, he said, is but a shadow of that true reality.
03:14It's a process of struggling to remember what our souls once knew in that higher realm,
03:18an idea he termed an amnesis, or recollection.
03:22Our bodies, in this view, are merely temporary vessels, containers for the soul during its earthly
03:27sojourn.
03:28These physical forms with their senses and desires often end up clouding our memory and
03:33obscuring our vision of that higher reality.
03:36Therefore, the philosopher's goal, according to Plato, was to purify the soul through reason
03:40and virtue, diligently preparing it to eventually return to the eternal world of forms, its true
03:46home.
03:47Socrates, Plato's mentor, also firmly believed that the soul existed both before and after
03:52life, and he faced his own death calmly, viewing it not as an end, but as a return to a greater
03:58more fulfilling existence.
04:00For both of these thinkers, the soul's immortality was not just an abstract concept, but a principle
04:05that gave life profound meaning and ethical weight, suggesting that our actions in this
04:11life have consequences that echo far beyond the confines of this single lifetime.
04:16These revolutionary ideas, born in ancient Greece, profoundly shaped the course of western
04:21thought, deeply influencing Christian theologians, medieval mystics, and countless modern philosophers
04:27alike.
04:28The Greeks, in their wisdom, argued that our story as individuals, doesn't simply begin
04:33at birth, or abruptly end at death.
04:35They challenged us to look within ourselves, to search for those faint, lingering memories
04:40of a home, a reality, that we may have long forgotten.
04:44Their enduring legacy is the powerful and comforting belief that we are, at our core, something far more
04:50profound and enduring than just our physical selves.
04:53What if our deepest, most intuitive knowledge is not something we learn, but something we
04:57are simply remembering, a glimpse of who we once were, and who we are destined to be again.
05:03In India, a land of vibrant spirituality and ancient wisdom, Hinduism and Buddhism, two of
05:09the world's oldest religions, offer a profoundly different vision of our origins, and the very nature
05:14of existence, they delve into questions about life, death, and what lies beyond, providing unique
05:20perspectives on our place in the cosmos. Hinduism teaches that the Atman, or soul, is eternal and
05:26unchanging, a spark of the divine within each of us. This soul is on a continuous journey, journeying
05:32through countless cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, a concept known as samsara. It's a cosmic dance of
05:39creation and dissolution, a perpetual turning of the wheel. Our actions, both good and bad or karma,
05:45shape each new life, influencing our experiences and circumstances in the next, and so the ultimate
05:50goal is moksha liberation from this seemingly endless cycle of rebirth and the illusion of
05:56separateness, leading to a blissful reunion with the divine source. Buddhism, while sharing the idea of
06:02rebirth and the cyclical nature of existence, introduces the concept of anatta, or no permanent soul,
06:08challenging the notion of a fixed, unchanging self. Instead, what continues through lifetimes is a
06:14stream of consciousness and karmic energy, a constantly evolving flow of experience, like one
06:19candle lighting another passing on the flame without transferring a substance. The cycle of samsara,
06:24in Buddhism, is driven by desire, attachment, and ignorance, which are the root causes of suffering.
06:30Therefore, the ultimate goal is nirvana, ending craving, aversion, and delusion, thereby escaping the cycle
06:37of suffering entirely, and attaining a state of profound peace. In both traditions, the idea of
06:42pre-existence suggests a long and intricate history of lives and choices, a tapestry woven across time,
06:49ultimately leading to this very moment, the present. Enlightenment, in this context, comes from deeply
06:55understanding the nature of reality, and breaking free from these cycles of conditioned existence.
07:00Our present life, with all its joys and sorrows, is profoundly shaped by countless past actions and
07:06intentions. The journey, therefore, is not merely about remembering past lives, but about profound
07:11transformation and spiritual growth. What if our current struggles, our deepest fears, and our greatest
07:17strengths are echoes of lives we've lived before, resonating through time? And ultimately, what does it
07:23truly mean to finally break free from these patterns, and attain lasting peace, and liberation?
07:29Now we turn to the Baha'i faith and Chinese mythology, two traditions with unique takes on the soul's
07:35beginning. In the Baha'i faith, the soul is created at conception, not before, but is eternal after that
07:41moment. Earthly life is a womb, preparing the soul for a spiritual journey beyond death. Virtues developed
07:48here are the tools for the next world. Death is a birth into a higher realm, not an end. In Chinese
07:54mythology, beliefs are more varied. The Hun, or spiritual soul, is said to exist before birth, awaiting its turn
08:01in a celestial bureaucracy. Before entering the mortal world, the soul drinks a tea of forgetfulness,
08:07erasing memories of its past. Life is a temporary assignment, with actions recorded by heavenly
08:12officials. After death the soul faces judgment and its next incarnation is determined. Both traditions see
08:19earthly life as a stage in a much larger journey. Our origins, whether at conception or before, shape how we see
08:26our purpose now. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches a detailed doctrine of
08:31pre-existence. Before birth, we lived as spirit children of God in a heavenly realm, with our own
08:37personalities and agency. God presented a plan, come to earth, gain a body, and be tested, all to progress
08:44and become more like him. This life is a proving ground, chosen by us before birth. A pivotal event was the
08:51war in heaven, where some spirits chose God's plan and others led by Lucifer rebelled. Those who chose
08:57God's plan came to earth, those who didn't, did not. This belief gives Latter-day Saints a sense of
09:02identity and purpose. We are God's children, on a journey home. Life's challenges are part of a plan
09:08we accepted. Every person is a spiritual sibling, united by a shared pre-mortal past. Our time on earth
09:15is the middle act in a three-part story, pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal life. We are here by choice,
09:21with a divine purpose. Mainstream Christianity and Islam teach that the soul is a unique creation by God,
09:28coming into existence at conception. There is no pre-mortal life. Each soul's journey begins with
09:34its earthly body. In Christianity this life is the one chance to form a relationship with God and accept
09:39salvation. After death the soul faces judgment and an eternal destiny in heaven or hell.
09:45Islam teaches that Allah creates each soul, breathing his spirit into the body. Life is a test of faith
09:52with eternal consequences after resurrection and judgment. Both faiths focus on the significance of
09:57this single life. Our choices here determine our eternal future. The soul's story starts on earth, with a
10:03direct connection to its creator. As our journey ends, we see humanity's answers to where did we come from
10:10are as diverse as our cultures. Hinduism and Buddhism teach of endless cycles and karma,
10:15with liberation as the goal. Christianity and Islam see the soul as a unique creation,
10:21with this life as the only test. The Baha'i faith blends these with the soul created at conception but
10:26eternal after. Latter-day Saints believe in a pre-mortal existence as God's spirit children.
10:31Plato imagined souls in a perfect realm while Chinese mythology sees souls awaiting their turn
10:37on earth. These stories shape how billions find meaning, face suffering, and understand mortality.
10:43Whether we are ancient souls, divine children, or unique creations, each belief offers a way to see
10:49our purpose. The mystery of our origin endures, but in seeking answers, we reveal our deepest hopes.
10:56Perhaps the journey to understand where we came from is as important as the answer itself.
11:01ESA.
11:06MICHAEL
11:11NARGES
11:17BRITICAL
11:21NARGES
11:24A
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