My brother the doctor
asked Swami Chinmayananda:
“Do you believe in reincarnation?”
And the orange-robed man replied:

“You're a student of medicine,
probe this question with your mind.
Your doubt will not be settled by
Swami's belief or disbelief.

Ask yourself why you were born
not in the ghettos or in a palace,
not as a Rockefeller or DuPont,
but in the family where you are?

Ask yourself why siblings
have different talents and
traits despite sharing similar
genes and environment?

Ask yourself why Mozart can
compose a symphony at six
years of age better than
older experienced musicians?

Ask yourself why you learn
certain subjects and tasks
more easily than others,
why you have likes & dislikes?

Don't rely on others for answers,
but keep seeking and you'll find
the truth within yourself
to your own satisfaction.”

Later my brother asked me,
“With the world's increasing
population, where are the
new souls coming from?”

Then he supplied his own
answer: “The buffalo!
Millions of them gone,
now reincarnated as us!”

— Peter Y. Chou
     Palo Alto, 8-20-1987

Reincarnation Reflections 2
Reincarnation Story