Category: Phobias from Past Lives

Child Reincarnation Story of Bootlegger Sammy Fernando | Sujith Jayaratne

Same appearance and behaviors across two lifetimes.

How Cases Derived: Past Life Memories in Childhood

Researcher: Ian Stevenson, MD

From: Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects, by Ian Stevenson, MD

Article by: Walter Semkiw, MD, from Born Again

The Early Life of Sammy Fernando

B. Selvin Fernando, who would be known by his nickname, Sammy, was born on January 3, 1919 in Gorankana, Sri Lanka. Gorankana is 10 miles or 17 kilometers south of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Gorankana Sammy was another name Selvin was known by.

Sammy’s father was B. Jamis Fernando, who had a defect of his right eye, in which the lens was opaque. His mother’s name was W. Lucia Silva. Sammy had a younger brother named Milton, who later in life had the misfortune of falling from a train. Milton incurred a serious injury to his back and had to be placed in a cast. After the cast was removed, Milton walked with limp and had to use a cane. The family lived in the Gorakawatte section of Gorakana. (1)

As a youngster, Sammy spent much time in a Buddhist temple that was called Kale Pansala, which means “Forest Temple.” It was only 100 meters or yards from his home. There were two monks at this temple, with whom Sammy became acquainted with. One of these monks was named Amitha. As a young adult, Sammy would contribute generously to this temple.

Later in life, Sammy embarked on a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak, a tall mountain in Sri Lanka. Folklore has it that the Buddha himself stayed on this peak.

Sammy attended an elementary school called Kabal Iskole, which means “dilapidated school” in English. (2)

Sammy Dances, Sings and Plays Instruments at the Family’s Dance Hall

Sammy possessed natural talents for singing, playing musical instruments and dancing. He learned to play the Japanese mandolin and when he grew older, he became proficient at playing a drum called the rabana, as well as a larger drum that was about a yard or meter long.

Jamis, Sammy’s father, had a special structure built on the family’s property designed for dancing and music, where Sammy would demonstrate his skills. The structure had a roof and an open frame, so festivities had the ambiance of the outdoors, but was protected from the rain. (3)

Sammy works for the Railroad and Falls in Love with Maggie Alwis

In adulthood, Sammy was first employed by a bus company and later by the government railways, where he worked in engines.

Sammy fell in love with an older, beautiful woman named Maggilin Alwis, though Sammy called her Maggie or Maggio. The couple eventually married and Sammy moved into the house owned by Maggie. The house was on the main highway between Colombo and another city called Galle. The road was a major thoroughfare and commercial trucks traversed it, often at high speed. The property owned by Maggie, and now Sammy, extended to a nearby river. The couple eventually had a daughter, who was named Nandanie.

During the early period of their relationship, Sammy’s desire to be with Maggie was so great that he often missed work to be with her. His absences became so frequent, that he was fired from his railway job when he was 25 years of age. (4)

Sammy becomes a Distiller and Bootlegger

After being terminated from the railway, Sammy had few options for employment. He solved this problem by becoming a self-employed distiller of arrack, an alcoholic drink consumed in Sri Lanka. Sammy became very good at his craft and his arrack was in high demand.

Unfortunately for Sammy, the production of arrack at the time was a government monopoly and it was illegal for others to distill it. As such, Sammy kept his still in the jungle behind his home. He distributed the liquor he produced by boat, traveling by the river that was adjacent to their property. Sammy built a dock for his boat on their land.

Sammy Spends Time in Prison, Carries a Dagger, Wears Brass Knuckles & Builds a Secret Path

Still, police periodically raided Sammy’s operation and would arrest him. The police would wait in the front of his house until Sammy came home, at which time he would be taken into custody. He was imprisoned at least 8 times. To evade authorities, Sammy cut a trail in the jungle so that he could access his house from the rear. This way he would not have to enter by the front door, which was adjacent to the road between Colombo and Galle.

Bootlegging, as it is called in the United States, is not for the faint hearted, and Sammy’s personality was right for the profession. He was known to be fearless, possessed a long dagger and brass knuckles, also known as knucklebusters, which is a metal weapon worn on the hand to make punches more lethal. (5)

Sammy’s Alcoholism

In addition to being a skilled producer of arrack, Sammy was a very avid consumer of the drink; so much so that Ian Stevenson assessed that Sammy’s consumption warranted the diagnosis of alcoholism. When Sammy went on his boat trips to sell arrack, he often took no food, finding that arrack satisfied his nutritional needs.

A favorite drinking venue of his was a tavern at a place called Moratua. Sammy would take his brother-in-law, Martin Alwis, as well as another drinking buddy, Wimalasdasa de Alwis, to the Moratua tavern.

When he was at home, Sammy would drink in his favorite chair and assume a posture with his legs drawn up, similar to the lotus position used by those who meditate.

Sammy’s Taste for Cigarettes and Terrylene Shirts

Like many consumers of alcohol, Sammy was also a smoker and his favorite cigarette brands where Four Aces and Three Roses, which were more expensive than lesser quality cigarettes available in Sri Lanka. Sammy was also particular about his clothing and preferred to wear expensive shirts made of synthetic fiber called Terrylene.

With these shirts, he would don a sarong, a skirt-like piece of apparel that men in Sri Lanka wear. Sammy would tie the top ends of the sarong into a knot that would protrude up above the sarong, just below the navel or belly button. Sammy would keep money in this knot. (6)

Sammy’s Temper and Assaults on Maggie

As often occurs, Sammy’s tendency to be violent was enhanced when he drank arrack. As one of Sammy’s friends observed, “He had a bad temper when drunk and he was invariably drunk.” (7)

A frequent target for Sammy’s anger was Maggie. When he was in a drunken state, he would start an argument and curse vociferously, using a broad spectrum of swear words. Maggie adopted the strategy of leaving the house and walking away down the Colombo-Galle road.

To add to her woes, Sammy acquired a mistress, with whom he had an illegitimate son, who was named Sunil Fernando. Sammy did not show much affection to his daughter, Nandanie, nor did he give his daughter money.

Kusuma gives Sammy Refuge

In contrast, Sammy was very generous to his favorite niece, Kusuma Dabare, who was the daughter of Sammy’s younger sister. Kusuma lived with Sammy’s parents, Jamis and Lucia, at their home in the Gorakawatte section of Gorakana.

After an episode of drinking, Sammy would go to his parent’s house and ask Kusuma to cook for him and she obliged him by preparing hot meals for him. This pattern occurred 3 times a week. In gratitude, Sammy gave money to Kusuma liberally. Sammy also had the tendency to give money to children, the poor and as mentioned, the Kale Pansala temple. (8)

The Death of Gorakana Sammy

Sammy’s demise occurred on January 29, 1969. He was drunk and started an argument with Maggie. Her brother, Martin Alwis, was present. As usual, Maggie escaped from Sammy by leaving the house and walking away down the Colombo-Galle road. Sammy followed her, with Martin in tow. Sammy stopped in a shop with Martin to purchase cigarettes.

As Martin was making his purchase, in his drunken state, Sammy walked out of the shop and onto the road, where a truck struck him. Martin heard the sound of he vehicle crashing into Sammy, exited the shop and found him on the roadway sprawled on his back. Sammy died shortly thereafter at 50 years of age.

Despite his faults, the poor remembered Sammy’s generosity, so much so that they raised enough money to pay the complete cost of his funeral. In fact, Sammy gave away so much money that the only possessions he still had at the time of his death were a ring, a belt and his brass knuckles. (9)

Sammy is Reincarnated Six Months Later

Sujith Lakmal Jayaratne was born on August 8, 1969, a little over six months after Sammy died. His parents lived in Mount Lavinia, which is 3 miles or 5 kilometers south of Colombo. Gorankana, the village where Sammy lived, is another 7 miles or 12 kilometers further south from Mount Lavinia. (10)

Sujith’s Past Life Memories Include Working for the Railroad and Milton’s Fall

Before acquiring much of a vocabulary, Sujith tried to express memories of a prior incarnation. He would use gestures and sounds to try to communicate. When he was asked what he did in the prior lifetime, he made sounds that imitated a steam locomotive engine.

When his speech became more developed, he said that he had worked in the engines of trains and that he was fired from his railroad job. Ian Stevenson was impressed that Sujith recalled being terminated from the railroad, which occurred when Sammy was 25 years of age, which meant that almost 55 years had transpired when Sujith reported this event. (11)

Also, before he learned to talk, he tried to express that someone had fallen and became lame by imitating a person limping and using a cane. Later, when Sujith was able to converse, he told his mother that the person who fell and limped as a result was his brother in the prior lifetime, whose name was Milton, which was accurate regarding Milton Fernando. (12)

Sujith’s Past Life Memories of Being Gorakana Sammy

As a child, Sujith said that his name was Sammy and that he was from Gorakana. He said he was called “Gorakana Sammy.” Sujith frequently referred his father, who he said was named Jamis and who had a bad right eye. He had a tendency to speak in the present tense. For example, Sujith said, “Jamis is at Gorakana,” whereas in reality, Jamis had died in September 1970. He repeatedly asked to be taken to Gorakana. He made the statement, “This is not my home and I wish to be taken to Gorakana.” (13)

Sujith later said that he lived in the Gorakawatte section of Gorakana, which is where Jamis and his family lived and where Sammy grew up. Ian Stevenson was especially impressed at Sujith’s knowledge of the term Gorakawatte, as it was an old term for the area that had not been used for several decades. In the years before Sujith’s birth, a new name, Ampityawatte, was used for the neighborhood. (14)

Past Life Memories: Sujith remembers the Dilapidated Schoolhouse and Forest Temple

Sujith said that he went to school at Kable Iskole, which means the “dilapidated school,” and that his teacher was named Francis. Sammy did indeed go to this run down elementary school and his teacher was indeed named Francis. (15)

Sujith said that he used to go Kale Pansala, translated as the “Forest Temple,” that two monks lived there and that he used to give money to this temple. He said one of the monks was named Amitha. Sammy did contribute to this temple, which was only 100 meters from his childhood home, and Sammy knew the monk Amitha.

Ian Stevenson was also impressed that Sujith knew the term Kale Pansala. When Sujith made these statements, the term Kale Pansala had not been used for several decades. Though Kale Pansala was present during Sammy’s early years, the temple was moved to a different location and was called by a completely different name, Dharmarakshitaramaya.

Again, Ian Stevenson was impressed how far back in Sammy’s lifetime Sujith could access memories. (16)

Sujith’s Past Life Phobia of Trucks

From an early age, Sujith had a marked fear or phobia of trucks. The family didn’t understand why he had this fear. Then one night, Sujith woke up from sleep and he ran around the house waking up everyone in his family. He then informed them:

“Do you know that I was run over by a lorry and that is how I died?”

Since the English colonized Sri Lanka, the British term for truck is used by Sri Lankans, which is “lorry.” After waking up everyone to announce the cause of his death in his prior incarnation, Sujith went back to sleep.

On another occasion, he woke the family up again and said he wanted to go to Gorakana, then went back to sleep. (17)

Past Life Behavior: In a Teetotaler Family, as a Child, Sujith asks for Arrack and Pretends he is Drunk

Since no one in his family drank alcohol, they were shocked when Sujith, as a child, asked for arrack.

Subsequently, Sujith asked for arrack frequently. When he realized that his family would not comply with his requests, he would go to his neighbors to ask for arrack. One of them finally complied, but stopped giving arrack to the child when Sujith’s grandmother objected and chastised the neighbor.

At times, when he was given a soda to drink, Sujith would pretend that the beverage would make him drunk. He would weave around as if he was intoxicated and fall on the floor and say “bila,” which means, “having drunk.”

He would also assume Sammy’s drinking posture, in that he would sit in a chair with his legs drawn up. After taking a sip of the soda, he would make a sound with his throat that arrack drinkers make. He would then wipe his mouth, as if he was removing traces of an irritating, strong alcoholic drink from his lips, again, a behavior typical of arrack drinkers.

At other times, Sujith would just fall to the ground and say, “I am drunk,” even without the soda. (18)

Sujith remembers being a Bootlegger in a Past Life

Sujith told his family that he also sold arrack. He said that once he filled a boat with arrack and that the boat sank. This incident occurred 8 years before Sammy’s death.

He also recalled that he could access his house via a jungle path. (19)

Past Life Behavior: Sujith asks for Four Aces and Bums a Cigarette

As no one in the family smoked, they were also surprised when Sujith, as a 4 year old, asked them to get Four Aces cigarettes for him, which was one of the brands that Sammy smoked. Again, they would not comply. Still, Sujith tried to smoke and he once bummed a cigarette from a visitor and then asked his mother for a light. (20)

Past Life Emotions: Sujith recalls his Fights with Maggie and Affection for Kusuma

Sujith told his family that he had a wife named Maggie that he fought with. When they asked why he fought with Maggie, Sujith replied it was because he was drunk. He said that he had a daughter named Nandanie and a niece named Kusuma, who was his younger sister’s daughter, who had very long and thick hair.

He said that Kusuma was in Gorakana and that he gave money to her. Sujith said that Kusuma made a hot meal for him called “string hoppers,” which is a type of noodle dish. All these statements were accurate regarding Sammy’s wife and niece. (21)

Later, Sujith said, “When I start earning I will give… to Kusuma,” showing his intent to replicate their relationship. (22)

Sujith Remembers Details of his Past Life Death

Sujith said that after he had an argument with Maggie, he went to a shop to get cigarettes, then stepped out on the road and was killed when a truck struck him. Sujith would even imitate the posture that he was in on the road after being struck. He would lay on the ground, on his back, with one arm stuck out. This was the posture that Sammy was in after being hit by the truck, as observed by his brother in law, Martin. (23)

Wattarappola, a Buddhist Monk, Investigates Sujith’s Past life Memories

The family came to believe that Sujith had a past incarnation in Gorakana, but they didn’t know anyone in that village to approach. The family had a relative, Wattarappola Nadaratana, who was a monk. When he heard about Sujith’s remarks alluding to a past lifetime, he documented these statements and decided to investigate.

Wattarappola went to Gorakana to make inquiries. There he met Kusuma Dabare, Sammy’s favorite niece, on March 13, 1972, and he told her about Sujith’s statements. At first, she did not know what to make of the situation, but she went home and consulted with her family about Sujith’s past life memories. (24)

Kusama and other Relatives Visit Sujith

Kusuma traveled to Mt. Lavinia two days later, on March 15, 1972, and sought out Wattarappola, who said it was premature to meet Sujith. Instead, he said he would return to Gorakana and meet with Sammy’s family. He did so and confirmed that Sujith’s statements were accurate regarding the lifetime of Sammy Fernando.

News spread through the Fernando family and Kusuma and 10 others from Gorakana arrived at Sujith’s home on March 30, 1972. The sight of such a large party frightened Sujith. He held onto his mother and said nothing.

She returned the next day with only 4 others. Sujith recognized her and called Kusuma by name. Sujith also recognized one of the other visitors, Sammy’s nephew, and called him by his name, Kithsiri. (25)

On another occasion, a distant relative of Sammy Fernando named Princie came to Sujith’s home and stood in front of the house. Though a large crowd was present along with her, Sujith recognized her and said, “Come in. Come in.” He correctly said, “You are Princie.” (26)

Maggie Visits Sujith, her Past Life Husband

Maggie, Sammy’s widow, came to visit Sujith in Mount Lavinia. Wattarappola, who was convinced that Sujith’s family did not know who she was at the time of their first meeting, documented the scene. His narrative of events follows:

“On April 3, 1972, Maggilin Alwis called on the child’s house accompanied by a couple of other ladies of the same age group. For about 20 minutes, the child did not speak. Thereafter he suddenly called out ‘Maggie’ to one lady and said: ‘Maggie is going down the road.’

We enquired from the lady whether she was named correctly. She said her late husband always called her Maggie, and that when he came home drunk and picked a quarrel with her, she always walked down the road.

After this the child ran inside the house. During his absence I got all the visitors into a room unseen by the child and I myself remained on the veranda. The child came out after a few minutes and very excitedly started calling out:

‘Where is Maggilin? Where is Maggilin? Went to Gorakana. Went to Gorakana.’

He started running about in the house and dashed into the room where the ladies were.

‘I love you Maggie, I love you Maggie,’ he said to Maggilin.

The lady started crying and embraced the child lovingly. The child said:

‘Look what you did to me. Look what you did to me.’

We inquired of her what this meant. She explained that on the day Sammy Fernando met his death, he came home roaring drunk and started to quarrel with her. She fled down the road and he started chasing her and was knocked down by a lorry.

Later when the party, along with Maggalin, were leaving [to return] Gorakana, the child became restive and wanted to go along with them.” (27)

Sujith Recognizes his Past Life Drinking Buddies

Other of Sammy’s friends and family came to visit Sujith at Mount Lavinia. Sujith seemed to remember which of these individuals used to drink arrack with Sammy and which did not. He only invited Sammy’s drinking cohorts to have arrack.

When Martin, Sammy’s brother-in- law, came to Mount Lavinia, Sujith suggested that they go to the tavern at Moratuwa , where Martin and Sammy used to go. When another of Sammy’s drinking companions, Wimalasdasa de Alwis, came to visit him, little Sujith addressed the middle-aged man like a familiar old friend, and asked him for arrack. (28)

Sujith is taken to his Past Life Home

On April 29, 1973, Wattarappola took Sujith to Gorakana. When taken to the Jamis’s house, where Sammy grew up, Sujith went all over the house looking for Jamis. When Sujith couldn’t find him, he made the statement, “My father Jamis is not here.” It was at this time that Sujith first learned that Jamis had died. (29)

Sujith also recognized the open-air structure on the property and correctly stated that it was used for dancing. At the property, Sujith asked for Sammy’s drum. When it was brought out, since it was too large for Sujith to hold (it was a meter long), he sat on it and banged on one end. (30)

Sujith also recognized Sammy’s ring, belt and brass knuckles. Sujith wanted to keep these articles and bring them back to Mount Lavinia, and was annoyed when he was not allowed to do so. (31)

Past Life Behavior: Similarities in Sammy’s and Sujith’s Preferences in Regards to Food and Clothing

There were similarities in tastes between Sammy and Sujith. In terms of food, both liked spicy dishes, such as hot curries. Another distinctive shared trait shared involves Sujith’s request for expensive Terrylene shirts. Ian Stevenson even saw Sujith wearing such a shirt. (32)

Most men who wear sarongs in Sri Lanka tie the top of the sarong above the navel. In contrast, both Sammy and Sujith positioned the top of a sarong below the belly button and they both formed a large knot with the sarong material on the top of the garment. When Sujith was asked why he made such a knot, he explained that the knot is where he would keep money, a habit that Sammy also had. (33)

Sujith’s Phobias from a Past Lifetime

Sujith had fears related to his past lifetime as Sammy. When he was only 8 months of age, his mother realized that Sujith had a fearful response to just the word “lorry.” She exploited this fear by saying “lorry” if Sujith wouldn’t drink his milk. “Lorry” would intimidate him into submission. (34)

As mentioned, Sujith often wanted to be taken to Gorakana. If asked if he would go there by truck, he refused, When offered to be taken to Gorakana by car, he would accept. Wattarappola noted that Sujith was “mortally afraid of lorries.” (35)

Sujith was also afraid of policemen. His aunt noticed that if he saw policemen, he would go inside the house. He later would ask his aunt if the police had passed by, which would mean that he was safe. (36)

Past Life Behavior: Sujith has Sammy’s Tendency to be Violent

Sammy was perceived as fearless and Sujith demonstrated a total lack of inhibition. Both had a tendency towards being violent.

Ian Stevenson witnessed Sujith kick one of the neighbors with “great zeal and persistence,” and he also saw Sujith hit another individual, who was minding his own business, with a fist. Stevenson also saw Sujith spit on his grandmother.

Wattarappola said he had seen Sujith push his mother into a corner and then pummel her, saying this is how the police assault. Sujith’s aunt said that when scolded, Sujith would sometimes threaten to stab the offender with a knife.

Despite these aggressive traits, Sujith also demonstrated generosity, much like Sammy. (37)

Sujith has Sexual Feelings for Maggie, his Past Life Wife, then Wounds Her, Like Sammy

Another parallel occurred in relation to Maggie. In July 1973, when Sujith was almost 4 years old, he announced that he was going to go to Maggie’s house and not return. He said he would sleep at Maggie’s house, and the family got the impression that his intention was not just to sleep.

After Maggie met Sujith, she became fond of him and visited Sujith in Mount Lavinia quite often. After a period of time, she discontinued her visits, explaining that Sujith had become rude.

In contrast, when Kusuma Dabare was to be married, she invited Sujith and his family to her wedding. Recall that when Sammy got drunk, fought with Maggie and left their house, he would seek refuge at his parent’s home, where Kusume would cook hot meals for him. (38)

Xenoglossy: Expletives from a Past Lifetime

Sujith’s family was very proper. As such, they were very surprised to find that Sujith had an extensive vocabulary of obscene words. Sammy had a habit of swearing and shouting obscenities when drunk.

Ian Stevenson went so far as positing that this could be equated to xenoglossy, in which an individual knows a foreign language that was not learned in the contemporary lifetime. Stevenson reasoned that Sujith’s extensive vocabulary of expletives could not have been learned at home, given the respectable character of his mother and grandmother. Sujith’s father had left the family soon after Sujith was born, so there were no others who could have taught the toddler these expletives. (39)

Reincarnation & Similar Appearance Across Lifetimes

A similarity in physical appearance was noted between Sammy and Sujith. Even the way they walked, their gait, was the same. (40)

A Christian Relative believes Sujith is the Reincarnation of Sammy and Sujith gives Sammy’s Son Goosebumps

IISISReincarnation CaseschristianityreincarnationpastlivescrossThough both Sammy’s and Sujith’s families were Buddhists, Sammy’s son in law, Sri Nimal Rodrigo, was Christian. He stated:

“I am a Roman Catholic and do not believe in rebirth, but from what I saw of Sujith and his recognitions I am convinced that he is Sammy reborn.” (41)

Another episode that demonstrates the power of Sujith’s recognitions involves Sunil Fernando, Sammy’s illegitimate son. Sunil came to meet Sujith at Mount Lavinia. Sunil was a complete stranger to Sujith’s family and he did not introduce himself to anyone. Sujith recognized him and said, “Come here, Sunil.”

Sunil said that Sujith’s recognition of him gave him “a terrible shock,” as well as gooseflesh. (42)

Sujith’s Later Development and Past Life Drinking Behavior

As Sujith surpassed 6 years of age, he no longer talked about his previous life as Sammy, he no longer used obscenities and he became less violent. Still, when he saw people drinking arrack, he would propose that he should have some himself. (43)

Understanding Past Lives & Principles of Reincarnation

Physical Resemblance from one lifetime to another: It was noted that there exists a similarity in physical appearance between Sammy and Sujith, as well as in their gaits.

Relationships Renewed through Reincarnation: Sammy was reborn as Sujith in Mount Lavinia, which is 5 miles or 7 kilometers from Gorankana, the town where Sammy had lived. After Sujith shared his past life memories, his family was able to find Sujith’s past life family and he was reunited with Sammy’s family, his past life wife and past life drinking companions.

Phobia from a Past Lifetime: Sujith had a severe phobia of trucks and even as an 8 month old infant demonstrated a marked fear of the word “lorry,” which is explained by the fact that Sammy was killed by a truck. Sujith also had an aversion to policemen due to his being incarcerated, as Sammy, multiple times.

Xenoglossy: Ian Stevenson felt that Sujith’s extensive vocabulary of expletives or cuss words qualified for xenoglossy, as there was not way that Sujith learned this language from the two very proper women who raised him.

Footnotes

1. Stevenson, Ian: Cases of the Reincarnation Type, Volume II, Sri Lanka, University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1977, p. 242-243
2. Ibid., p. 248-249
3. Ibid., p. 245
4. Ibid., p. 243
5. Ibid., p. 243
6. Ibid., p. 244
7. Ibid., p. 244
8. Ibid., p. 244
9. Ibid., p. 244
10. Ibid., p. 279
11. Ibid., p. 252, 263
12. Ibid., p. 268
13. Ibid., p. 248, 267-269
14. Ibid., p. 248
15. Ibid., p. 248
16. Ibid., p. 251
17. Ibid., p. 267
18. Ibid., p. 271-272
19. Ibid., p. 267
20. Ibid., p. 271-272
21. Ibid., p. 250-251
22. Ibid., p. 269
23. Ibid., p. 252, 256
24. Ibid., p. 250-251
25. Ibid., p. 237
26. Ibid., p. 264
27. Ibid., p. 270-271
28. Ibid., p. 272
29. Ibid., p. 269
30. Ibid., p. 260
31. Ibid., p. 269
32. Ibid., p. 273
33. Ibid., p. 273
34. Ibid., p. 235
35. Ibid., p. 273
36. Ibid., p. 273
37. Ibid., p. 274
38. Ibid., p. 274, 278
39. Ibid., p. 235, 274
40. Ibid., p. 276
41. Ibid., p. 277
42. Ibid., p. 265
43. Ibid., p. 278

Child Reincarnation Story of Alessandrina Samona 1 and 2

A child Alessandrina died of meningitis at a very young age of 5, who later reincarnated as her younger sister. A reincarnation research case showing proof of reincarnation within the same family by Dr. Ian Stevenson, MD.

How Derived: Past Life Memories in Childhood, Spirit Being Guidance, Similarities in Appearance and Behavior

Researcher: Carmelo Samona, MD

From: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, by Ian Stevenson, MD

Article by Walter Semkiw, MD from Born Again: Reincarnation Cases Involving Evidence of Past Lives with Xenoglossy Cases Researched by Ian Stevenson

Alessandrina Dies of Meningitis

ReincarnationEviidenceBabyCamelo Samona was a medical physician in Palermo, Italy, who in 1911 published a report regarding a reincarnation case involving his daughter, Alessandrina. Carmelo’s wife’s name was Adele and in addition to their daughter, they had three sons.

Alessandrina contracted meningitis at the age of about 5 and she died on March 15, 1910.

From the Spirit Realm, Alessandrina Communicates through a Dream

Three days after Alessandrina’s death, her mother, Adele, had a dream of her dead daughter who said.

“Mother, do not cry, I have not left you, only withdrawn. Look! I am going to become small like this.” In the dream, Alessandria then made a gesture to indicate the size of a baby. She then said, “You will have to suffer again for me.” (1)

As a Spirit, Alessandrina Knocks on the Door

IISISReincarnationKnockDoor

Three days later, Adele had the same dream. A few days after these dreams, Camelo and Adele both heard three loud knocks at their door. Their three sons also heard the knocks. The family opened the door, but no one was there.

On April 10, 1910, less than a month after Alessandrina had died, Adele realized she was pregnant. Due to the dreams and the knocks on the door, Camelo and Adele decided to participate in séances, hoping to better understand what was going on.

Alessandrina Communicates from the Spirit World

On May 4, 1910, Camelo and Adele participated in a mediumistic seance. In these sessions, a medium would pass on information from deceased individuals, souls in the spirit world, to the human beings who participated in the séance. Often times, deceased relatives of participants would communicate through the medium.

In a seance, Alessandrina came through and said that she had caused the there knocks on the door to draw attention to herself. She told her parents that she was coming back and that she would be born before Christmas. She said she would be very similar to before. She repeatedly said that she wanted all her family and friends to know that she was returning. Alessandrina said this so many times that Carmelo found it annoying.

ReincarnationEviidenceTwinsIn the seances, Adele and Camelo were also told that a second soul was around them and that this soul would be born with Alessandrina. In other words, Adele would have twins.

Through the medium, Alessandrina also told Adele and Camelo that after the third month of pregnancy, Alessandrina would not be able to communicate through the séances as she would be more attached to matter and as a result, would be sleeping.

Prophecies Come True & Reincarnation with Physical Resemblance

In August 1910, an obstetrician determined that Adele was indeed pregnant with twins. On November 22, 1910, twin girls were born. Adele and Camelo immediately realized that one of the girls bore an uncanny resemblance to Alessandrina. Due to the physical resemblance, they also called this girl Alessandrina, who we will refer to as Alessandrina 2. They named the other fraternal twin girl Maria. We will refer to the deceased daughter as Alessandrina 1.

ReincarnationEvidenceBarber

Adele and Camelo noted marked similarities in appearance and behavior between Alessandrina 1 and 2, which contrasted with the appearance and behavior of Maria. When the girls where two and a half years old, Camelo published a report outlining these similarities and differences. They include the following.

Alessandrina 1 & 2 Have the Same Personality Traits & Reincarnation Phobias of Loud Noises & Barbers

At birth, Alessandrina 1 and 2 both had redness in the left eye, a rash called seborrhea behind the right ear and slight facial asymmetry. Maria did not have these features.

As toddlers, Alessandrina 1 and 2 were both quiet and liked to sit quietly in their mother’s lap. They didn’t like to play with toys, but they did like to play with other children. Maria, in contrast, was restless and liked to be on her own, playing with toys.

Alessandrina 1 and 2 had phobias of loud noises and of barbers, and they both disliked any cheese. They liked to fold and smooth clothing and cloth, such as sheets and towels. They both liked to play with shoes and put adult shoes on. Maria didn’t have phobias of noise or barbers and she liked cheese. She didn’t like to fold cloth or play with shoes.

Alessandrina 1 and 2 tended to speak in the third person. When fearful, they would say, “Alessandrina is afraid. (2) They also like to create pet names. For example, Aunt Cateria became Caterana. (3). They were both left handed, became interested in spiritual matters, but avoided housework.

Maria, in contrast, did not speak in the third person, didn’t modify names, was right-handed (like all the other family members) and wasn’t interested in spiritual affairs, but she did like housekeeping.

Photographs Confirm Alessandrina 1 & 2 Reincarnation Resemblance

5iisisalessandrinasamonareincarnationIn his report, Camelo published photos comparing Alessandrina 1 when she was almost 4 years old to Alessandrina 2 and Maria when the twins were 2 years old. The images showed that indeed, Alessandrina 1 and 2 both had the same facial asymmetry, in that the left eye was significantly closer to the midline than the right. The folds of the eyelids were similarly asymmetric. Adele thought that in physical appearance, Alessandrina 2 matched Alessandrina 1 “perfectly,” except that 1 was darker in complexion. (4)

Alessandrina 2 Remembers the Past Life Visit of Alessandrina 1 to the Church in Monreale & the Priests Who Wore Red

Camelo also reported a past life memory that Alessandrina 2 had when she was 8 or 9 years old. Camelo and Adele proposed to their children that they take a vacation trip to the city of Monreale, where they would tour the great Norman church in that city. Adele said to their girls:

“When you go to Monreale, you will see some sights you have never seen before.”

Alessandrina 2 then responded:

“But Mama, I know Monreale. I have already seen it.” (5)

Adele then told her daughter that she had never been to Monreale. Alessandriana 2 then protested:

IISISReincarnationEviidenceMonreale“Yes I have. I have been there. Don’t you remember that there is a great church there with a huge man on the roof with his arms spread out? And do you not remember how we went there with a lady who had horns, and we met some small priests who wore red?” (6)

Adele and Camelo were stunned by their daughter’s response. They did not recall ever speaking to her about Monreale and they were puzzled by her reference to a woman who had horns.

Adele then remembered that a few months before Alessandriana 1’s death, they had taken to her to Monreale to see the church there. On this trip, they had taken a female friend who had a skin condition that involved prominent, protruding lesions or bumps on the forehead, which could be interpreted by a child as horns.

Adele also recalled that just as they were entering the church, they met Orthodox priests who were wearing blue robes decorated with red. Adele and Camelo also remembered that Alessandrina 1 took great notice of the woman with the skin condition on her forehead and by the priests they had met at the church.

Is This a Reincarnation Case?

IISISReincarnationEviidenceMonrealeChurchThe similarities in physical appearance and behavior between Alessandrina 1 and 2 could be explained by genetics, as they were born from the same parents.

A factor that supports that the similarities are related to the reincarnation includes observations of spirit being guidance. Adele had dreams in which Alessandrina 1 said she would be reborn to Adele. In addition, Adele participated in seances in which Alessandrina 1 said that she would be reborn with a twin, which came true.

The shared phobias of barbers and of loud noises support Alessandrina 2 being the reincarnation of Alessandrina 1.

Most importantly, Alessandrina 2 had memories of the visit to the church in Monreale, of the woman with horns on her forehead and the monks in robes with red, which all correspond to events that occurred in the life of Alessandrina 1.

Understanding Past Lives & Principles of Reincarnation

Physical appearance remains the same from one incarnation to another.

Personality traits remain consistent. As toddlers, Alessandrina 1 and 2 were both quiet and liked to sit quietly in their mother’s lap. They didn’t like to play with toys, but they did like to play with other children. They both disliked any cheese, liked to fold and smooth clothing and cloth, such as sheets and towels, and they liked to play with shoes and put adult shoes on. Alessandrina 1 and 2 tended to speak in the third person. They also like to create pet names. Maria, the sister of Alessandrina 2, did not share these traits.

Phobia from a Past Lifetime: This case demonstrates that phobias can persist from one incarnation to another, as Alessandrina 1 and 2 both had phobias of loud noises and of barbers.

Relationships Renewed through Reincarnation: This case shows that souls can reincarnate in the same family.

Spirit Being Involvement: Alessandrina 1 was able to predict from the spirit world, through a medium, of her coming birth with a twin sister before Christmas, which did occur.

According to Alessandrina 1, after three months of pregnancy the soul becomes more closely attached to the physical plane, to the extent that communication between the soul and humans, through mediums, becomes more difficult. In short, the soul becomes more attached to the fetus at three months of pregnancy.

Split Incarnation: If it is assumed that the soul is involved with the fetus from the time of conception, this represents a case of split incarnation, as Alessandrina 2 was born only 8 months after the death of Alessandrina 1. In other words, the soul of the Alessandrinas was already involved with the fetus of Alessandrina 2, while Alessandrina 1 was still alive.

This type of split incarnation case, in which a soul is involved with a pregnancy while it animates a living person at the same time, was also observed in the Hanan Monsour | Suzanne Ghanem reincarnation case, which was also researched by Ian Stevenson, MD.

Footnotes

1. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 24
2. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 24
3. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 25
4. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 25
5. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 26
6. Stevenson, Ian: European Cases of the Reincarnation Type, McFarland & Co, 2002, page 26

Childhood Past Life Memory Reincarnation Story of Rashid Khaddege | Daniel Jurdi

Ian Stevenson, MD studied Daniel Jurdi, who had validated spontaneous past life memories of being Rashid Khaddage, as a child in the 1970’s. Dr. Stevenson revisited Daniel in 1998. He found that Daniel, now a full grown adult, has the same facial features as his past life persona, Rashid Khaddege.

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Daniel Jurdi holds his Past Life Photo

How Derived: Past Life Memories in Childhood

Researcher: Ian Stevenson, MD

From: Old Souls by Tom Shroder

Article by: Walter Semkiw, MD from Born Again and Return of the Revolutionaries

Rashid Dies After Ibrahim Crashes a Car

Rashid Khaddege was an auto mechanic who lived in a town named Kfarmatta (pronounced fur-mat-ta), in Lebanon. Rashid was born in 1943. When he was 25, in 1968, a friend named Ibrahim picked him up to go on a car ride. Ibrahim sped towards the Mediterranean Sea and at a place called Military Beach, Ibrahim lost control of the car. Rashid was thrown from the vehicle, incurred head trauma, and was instantly killed.

Past Life Memories: Little Daniel Calls for Ibrahim and Naim, his Past Life Father

Over a year later, Daniel Jurdi was born. His father was Yusuf Jurdi and his mother Latifeh. Daniel’s earliest word was “Ibrahim.” At the age of two, he told his mother, Latifeh, “I want to go home.” At two and one half, Daniel made the statements, “This is not my house. You are not my mother. I don’t have a father. My father died.” Daniel’s mother recalled, “He would not call Yusuf daddy.” “He called him by name.” Further, Daniel said, “My father was Naim.” Naim was Rashid Khaddege’s father. (1)

At two and a half years of age, at a family picnic, a relative tried to pronounce the name of the town Kfarmatta. Daniel intervened and correctly pronounced the name of the town. When his father asked how he knew the name of the town, Daniel replied, “I am from Kfarmatta.”(2)

Past Life Memories: Daniel Remembers Dying at Military Beach

When Daniel and his mother were driving in Beirut, they passed the place on the sea called Military Beach. Daniel shut his eyes, hiding them with his hands, and started crying. He then screamed, “This is where I died.” As noted, this spot at Military Beach was indeed where Rashid Khaddege died. (3)

Daniel also related that in his prior lifetime, he was mechanic. Regarding the accident, Daniel said that Ibrahim was speeding and lost control of the car. Daniel said “I flew out of the car and landed on my head.” When help came to assist the injured, Daniel said that he heard someone say, “Leave this one, he’s dead.” (4)

Past Life Behavior: Daniel Pinches & Propositions his Nursery School Teacher

IISIS daniel jurdi reincarnation past life ian stevenson semkiw L
Daniel Jurdi holds his Past Life Photo

In nursery school, Daniel told teachers his name was Rashid Khaddege. In another incident at the nursery school, little Daniel pinched an attractive young teacher and made a suggestive remark. Daniel, as a child, was behaving like the adult Rashid.

Eventually, Daniel’s father sent an acquaintance to Kfarmatta, to inquire about someone fitting Daniel’s description of a mechanic who died in an auto accident at Military Beach. The Khaddeges heard about the story and visited Daniel.

Daniel Recognizes his Past Life Sister Najla, his Past Life Friends Ibrahim & Jijad & He Still Loves Bananas, a Past Life Favorite Food

When Ian Stevenson interviewed the two families in 1979, both said that upon their initial meeting, Daniel instantly recognized Rashid’s sister, Najla, and called her by name. When the families met, Daniel told his mother to bring bananas for the guests. Rashid loved bananas and his mother and sister stopped eating bananas after his death, because bananas reminded them of their loss of Rashid. Later on, during a visit to Kfarmatta, Daniel also spontaneously recognized Ibrahim, as well as Jijad, Rashid’s hunting buddy.

The Khaddege Family Keeps a Cot for their Past Life Son Daniel

Rashid’s family accepted Daniel as their son from a previous lifetime. They have a picture of him at their home and keep a bed for Daniel, who visits one to two times a month. Daniel has married and works as an accountant.

Daniel’s Past Life Phobia of Fast Cars

Daniel has a phobia of speeding cars, which reflects the psychological trauma incurred by Rashid in the crash at Military Beach.

In the images provided above, Daniel Jurdi is holding a photograph of his own past life persona, of Rashid Khaddege. Click on the images to enlarge and your arrow keys to scroll up and down on the image. Like in the case of Suzanne Ghanem, which was also researched by Ian Stevenson, MD, a strong physical resemblance is evident. These Stevenson cases support the premise that facial features can remain consistent from one incarnation to another.

Understanding Past Lives & Principles of Reincarnation

This extremely compelling reincarnation case demonstrates the following features:

Physical Resemblance in Reincarnation Cases: Daniel Jurdi has the same facial features as his past life persona, Rashid Khaddege.

Ian Stevenson, MD
Ian Stevenson, MD

It is significant to note that Ian Stevenson first studied Daniel in Lebanon in 1979, when Daniel was 10 years old. He revisited Daniel in 1998 when he traveled to Lebanon with Tom Schroder, a journalist with the Washington Post, who was writing a book on Stevenson. In 1998, Daniel was now 29 years old and it was only at this point in time that Stevenson realized that Daniel has the same facial features as Rashid. This study shows that we continue to accumulate new evidence involving cases that have been evolving over decades.

An American case in which photos are available across two lifetimes that dramatically shows physical resemblance is:

Reincarnation Case of James Huston Jr. | James Leininger

Relationships Renewed through Reincarnation: Daniel’s past life family, the Khaddeges, have accepted him as the reincarnation Rashid and they have kept a bed for him, so that he could stay with them.

Phobia from a Past Lifetime: Daniel had a fear of fast-moving cars, which appears to stem from his past life death as Rashid Khaddege who died in a car crash.

Spirit Beings in Reincarnation Cases: Daniel said he remembered that after being thrown from the car, a person who came to assist the victims said, “Leave this one, he’s dead.” (4) This memory implies that Daniel, as a spirit being, was able to witness events after his death as Rashid.

Note to Readers: Ian Stevenson. MD, was a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia who wrote in a very academic style, as his target audience was fellow scientists. On the Reincarnation Research web site, his past life cases are presented as children’s reincarnation stories to make his academic work easier to understand. For those interested in appreciating the scientific rigor of his research, such as his use of multiple witnesses to establish corroborated testimony, please refer to the original reports written by Dr. Ian Stevenson.

Reincarnation Research Case Categories

Reincarnation Research Home Page

Footnotes

1. Shroder, Tom: Old Souls, Fireside/Simon and Schuster, NY, NY, 2001, p. 74
2. Ibid, p. 50
3. Ibid, p. 50
4. Ibid, p. 74

Sri Lankan Rebels who Reincarnated as Twin Girls

A.K. Nandadasa Johnny was born in 1945 in Unawatuna, a coastal town in the district of Galle, at the southern tip of Sri Lanka.

How Derived: Past Life Memories in Childhood

Researched by: Godwin Samarante, Ian Stevenson, MD and Trutz Hardo

From: Reincarnation and Biology (pages 1940-1970), by Ian Stevenson, MD and Children Who Have Lived Before (pages 87-106), by Trutz Hardo

Article by Walter Semkiw, MD

The Early Lives of Johnny, Robert and Gnananadasa

A.K. Nandadasa Johnny was born in 1945 in Unawatuna, a coastal town in the district of Galle, at the southern tip of Sri Lanka.  Unawatuna Beach is pictured above and to the right. He was known by all as “Johnny.” His father was Pedric Appuhamy and mother Sisel Hamy. Johnny had a brother named Gnananadasa, who was three years younger than Johnny.

In 1946, Akmeemana Palliyagurunge Robert, who went by the name “Robert,” was born in the same town. His parents were A. Dharmasena and Mary Nona. Robert did not have a good relationship with his father, but he was very close to his mother.

Johnny and Robert became best friends in childhood.  They played cards, excelled at swimming and diving in the sea, as well as climbing trees.  They were both born to poor families.  Johnny and Robert were Buddhists and they worshipped at the temple at Yatigala.  Robert was the more devout of the two.

Johnny obtained work in a factory in the city of Galle that made frames for eyeglasses.  Johnny acquired a primitive house in the jungle on Romassala Hill, not far from a cliff overlooking the sea. Robert left school while in the ninth grade and he took temporary jobs as a mason and laborer. He later worked in a battery factory.

Johnny’s Friend Amarapala

At the spectacle frame factory, Johnny befriended a man named Amarapala Hettiaratchi. Both Johnny and Robert traveled to the village of Pitadeniya, 14 kilometers north of Galle, to attend the wedding of Amarapala and his wife, Yasawathie, which occurred on October 20, 1966. The couple lived in Pitadeniya, though Amarapala worked at the factory in the city of Galle.

The Rebellion of 1971

Due to the divide between the wealthy and the poor, a movement towards rebellion brewed in Sri Lanka. In the District of Galle, Johnny, a gifted speaker, became a rebel leader, with Robert his second in command.  Due to its’ remoteness, Romassala Hill became a rebel training ground.  Food and supplies were stockpiled in Johnny’s house.

Robert was in charge of acquiring weapons. From his experience in the battery factory, Robert learned how to make homemade bombs. Their bombs were tested at the beach of Utawatuna.  The rebellion was launched on April 5, 1971. Rebels raided police stations at night, when officers were asleep, to neutralize the police and to seize weapons.

Woman with a Radio in Yaddehimulla

A woman Johnny and Robert knew, who lived in Yaddehimulla, was one of the few people in the area who owned a radio.  Only at nighttime, when they would not be seen, Johnny and Robert would visit this woman to listen to news of the rebellion on the radio.

Police and the Sri Lankan Army moved to quell the revolt.  It is estimated that 1200 people lost their lives in the fighting.

The Capture of Johnny and Robert

In the District of Galle, police and the army surrounded Romassala Hill. Johnny and Robert escaped capture by hiding in caves and crevices between rock formations.  Two weeks later, in mid-April 1971, the pair tried to leave Galle, but police captured them at the bus station.

Robert’s Attempt at Escape and Death

In jail, Robert formed a plan.  He told police that he would lead them to a stash of weapons and bombs hidden on Romassala Hill.  On April 19, 1971 at about 10 in the morning, handcuffed, Robert led a group of officers to a place on the hill that had a cliff overlooking the sea.  Kicking one policeman and head butting another, Robert attempted to dive into the sea.  Gunshots rang out. Robert suffered a bullet wound to the right side of his abdomen just below his rib cage and fell dead into the water.

Johnny is Hung Upside Down, Beaten to Death and his Body Set on Fire

Police officers, enraged at Robert’s ruse, returned to the police station where they beat Johnny to death.  At one point, the police hung Johnny by his feet upside down. He died of the beating by 1 PM on April 19, 1971. A few days later, gasoline was poured on Johnny’s body, which was set on fire, then buried.

Gender Change: The Rebels Reincarnate as Twin Girls to their Friends Amarapala & Yasawathie

reincarnation sri lankan rebelsA little over 7 years later, on November 3, 1978 in the village of Pitadeniya, Amarapala, Johnny’s friend from the factory, and his wife, Yasawathie, celebrated the birth of fraternal twin girls who were named Sivanthie and Sheromie.  Sivanthie was born with a birthmark measuring 2 cm by 1 cm on the right side of her abdomen, just below her ribcage, corresponding to Robert’s gunshot wound. No one else in the family had such a birthmark.

Sivanthie remembers her Past Life Death as Robert Jumping into the Sea

When Sivanthie started talking at 2 ½ years of age, she said that she had another home where she had a father, mother and sister. She described how she had to hide in a cave with “Johnia.” (1) Sivanthie said that she and Johnia had been arrested and that their hands were handcuffed behind them. Sivanthie would place her little hands behind her back to demonstrate being handcuffed.

She said she had been shot while trying to escape by leaping into the sea. When describing this incident, Sivanthie pointed to the birthmark on the right side of her abdomen, which corresponded to the location of Robert’s gunshot wound.

Sivanthie recalls the Names of her Past Life Parents

Sivanthie said that her mother was Mary Akka. “Akka” means older sister.  Recall that Robert’s mothers’ name was Mary Nona. Ian Stevenson posited that Mary Akka was a nickname of Mary Nona.  Sivanthie asked to be taken back to her home.

Sivanthie remembers Past Life Colleagues of the Rebellion

Sivanthie said that in her past life, she knew a man named “Kurune Uncle.” (2) Mary Nona later confirmed that one of Robert’s collaborators in the insurgency was indeed called Kurune Uncle.

Sivanthie told her mother, Yasawathie, that they would hide in caves in the dark.  She also said that “Sudu Nangi” had once sent her cloths in a bucket. (3) In fact, Robert had known someone who he called Sudu Nangi. When he was in hiding, this woman allowed Robert to bath and wash his clothes utilizing her well. Robert would leave his clothes to dry and Sudu Nangi would later take or send the dried clothes to Robert. Once she did indeed send Robert’s dried clothes in a bucket. Sivanthie also stated that Sudu Nangi saw her, as Robert, being taken away by the police.  In fact, Sudu Nangi had witnessed Robert, handcuffed, being led by police after his arrest.

At the Temple in Yatigala, Sivanthie remembers her Past Life Name was Robert

Sivanthie would talk about a temple called Yatigala that she would go to.  Recall that Robert was a devout Buddhist. When the twins were 3 1/2 years old, their mother took them to the temple at Yatigala, where Sivanthie noticed that it had been rebuilt.  Indeed, a new wing had been added to the structure.  At the temple, for the first time, she stated that her name used to be Robert. This occurred in May or June 1982.

Amarapala Realizes Sivanthe was his Past Life Friend Robert

Amarapala and Yasawathie, the twins’ parents, now realized that Sivanthie was recalling the life of their friend Robert, who had attended their wedding.  Word of Sivanthie remembering a past life as the rebel Robert spread through the community in Pitadeniya. A schoolboy studying in Pitadeniya wrote to his family in Unawatuna, where Robert had lived, of these past life memories.  In this way, Robert’s family learned of Sivanthie’s statements.

Sheromie identifies Gnananadasa, her Past Life Brother

On July 17, 1982, several members of Robert’s family and friends visited the twins, who were now 4 years old.  One of the first to visit was Johnny’s younger brother and Robert’s friend, Gnananadasa. Upon seeing the visitor, Sheromie said, “my younger brother has come.” (4) This was Sheromie’s first statement about a past life. She then ran up to Gnananadasa and hugged him.  Gnananadasa wept at this reunion and promised to return.  Sheromie also made the statement that her past life name was Johnny.

Sheromie identifies her Past Life Mother and Sister

The next day, on July 18, 1982, Gnananadasa returned with his and Johnny’s mother and sister.  When they entered the house, Sheromie, in seeing Johnny’s mother, Sisel Hamy, exclaimed, “this is my mother.” Sheromie also called her “Ama,” which means mother. She then said, referring to Johnny’s younger sister, “this is my Nangi.” “Nangi” means younger sister in Sri Lankan. (5)

Sheromie expressed much affection for her past life mother, Sisel Hamy, while she was cool to Johnny’s father. This reflected Johnny’s relationship with his father, as the father and son did not get along well. When Johnny’s mother and sister got ready to go home, Sheromie repeatedly said, “Take me with you!” Sheromie weeped as they left.  (6)

Sheromie stated that they were traveling together when they were arrested. One witness said that when Johnny and Robert were arrested, one of them was already in the bus, while the other was still outside the bus. Sheromie also said they were caught together.

Past Life Memories: Sheromie Remembers Hanging Upside Down, her Death and from the Spirit Realm Observes Johnny’s Body being Burned

Two days later, when Gnananadasa asked Sheromie for details of her past life, she described how she was tortured and hung upside down.  Sheromie said she remembered seeing an upside down picture of the Buddha while hanging by her feet from the ceiling. Sheromie was on the verge of tears in describing these past life events.

Significantly, Sheromie also remembered that something was poured on her body and that her body was burned. Recall that the burning of Johnny’s body occurred several days after his death. As such, the soul of Johnny | Sheromie was able to observe the burning of Johnny’s body from the perspective of a spirit being, as Johnny was already dead when his body was set on fire. This is reminiscent of how in the case of Ahmet Delibalta | Erkan Kilic, Erkan remembered how the body of Ahmet was misidentified, even though Ahmet was already dead.

Sheromie now recalled that she had been Johnny in a prior lifetime and she recognized her twin sister as her past life friend, Robert. After this point the twins frequently talked about the past lives they had together.

For example, Sheromie said to her twin, “Your hands were also tied.” Sivenathie replied, “Your hands were also tied. Can you remember our bus ride together?” (7)

On Romassala Hill, the Twins Locate Past Life Locations

Godwin Samararatne, a research scientist, heard about the twins’ past life memories through a newspaper report and decided to investigate the cases.  He visited the twins at the end of June 1982. Ian Stevenson interviewed the twins and families involved in the cases in October 1982, with Godwin serving as an interpreter.

On July 4, 1982, when the twins were about 4 years old, Godwin took the twins to Romassala Hill. At the point where the road for vehicles ended, the twins were deposited on a footpath and asked to show the way to the homes of their previous lives. The twins made their way up the twisting and rocky path.  Sivanthie led the group to the spot on the cliff where she, as Robert, tried to escape by diving into the sea and was shot. When Ian Stevenson traversed this route, he was amazed that Sivanthie could find her way to the cliff, as there were so many rocks that in places, Stevenson could not even discern that a path existed.

At this point, the twins were again asked to find the their past life homes.  Sheromie now swung into action and led the group directly to the ruins of Johnny’s house on Romasalla Hill, which were located more than 100 meters away from the cliff where Robert had jumped into the sea.  The house had by now largely disintegrated, though the foundation was still present.

These examples of Geographic Memory are similar to how Barbro Karlen, at age 10, found her way to the Anne Frank House without directions, even though she had never been to Amsterdam before.

The Woman with the Radio meets the Twins, Who Comment on their Past Life Nocturnal Visits

Godwin also took the girls to Yaddehimulla.  The woman with the radio in Yaddehimulla heard about Sheromie’s and Sivanthie’s past life memories.  When she saw the twins passing by, she said to them, “Aren’t you going to come to listen to the radio?” The twins replied, “We will come in the night.” (8) Recall that Johnny and Robert would only come to listen to the woman’s radio at night, when they would be hidden by darkness. Ian Stevenson was impressed with this statement by the twins.

Past Life Phobias

The twin girls both had phobias of people wearing khaki colored shirts, which were the kind of shirts worn by police in Sri Lanka. They also became frightened whenever they saw the Jeep with policemen or soldiers in it.  This is similar to the phobia that Barbro Karlen had of men in uniforms, including policemen, in the Reincarnation case of Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen.

Past Life Behavior of Making Bombs & Smoking

While playing, both girls enjoyed making bombs of clay. When Ian Stevenson asked the twins what was used to make bombs, the twins recited, “nails, paper, tins, wire, broken bottles,” which indeed were used by the rebels in making home-made bombs. (9). Both had a habit of putting sticks in their mouths and pretending to light and smoke them.  Johnny and Robert had both been heavy smokers.

Twin Girls demonstrate Masculine Behavior

Sivanthie and Sheromie both behaved as if they were still men. For example, they insisted on urinating while standing up. Both liked to wear T-shirts rolled up from the bottom to expose their bellies and part of their chests, as did Johnny and Robert, but was unheard of for girls. Both like to climb trees and ride bikes, which was not done by girls in that era. Both twins said they had beards and they would even stroke their chins pretending that they were stroking their beards, which Johnny and Robert did indeed maintain.  They also asked their older brother to prepare cards so they could play a game.  Recall that Johnny and Robert often played cards together.

Masculine behavior was observed in the twin girls even up to when they were in their twenties, except that they learned to urinate sitting down, like women do.

Reincarnation, Gender Change, Homosexuality and Transsexuals

Reincarnation, Transgender & Gender Identity IssuesIn Ian Stevenson’s 1200 cases in which children’s past life memories were validated, in only 10 percent of cases was a change in gender observed, which is why when a change of gender occurs the reincarnated individual may still identify with the past life gender. This observation can explain why individuals are transsexual or homosexual. A dramatic case in this regard is the male Japanese soldier who reincarnated as a woman but retained a male mindset, including an attraction to women, and became a lesbian.

Families Involved Accept the Twins’ Past Lives, though Amarapala is Not Pleased his Girls were Rebels

As adults, the twins would visit Gnananadasa, Johnny’s younger brother, in Unawatuna several times a year and in reciprocal manner, he would drive to visit the twins in Pitadeniya. The twins and Gnananadasa would exchange gifts on these occasions.

All three families involved in the case, that is Johnny’s family, Robert’s family and the twins’ parents, accepted these two reincarnation cases based on recognitions made by Sheromie and Sivanthie.  The twins’ parents noted that they had never talked of the lives of Johnny and Robert at their home.

In fact, their father, Amarapala, stated that he had “completely forgotten of these deaths [of Johnny and Robert] until the twins started talking [about them].” Keep in mind that  over 10 years had passed from the date of the deaths of Johnny and Robert, April 19, 1971, to the point in time when the twins started to talk about their past lives in 1981 and 1982. (10) As such, since their parent had never spoken of the rebels, Sheromie and Sivanthie did not learn about the lives of Johnny and Robert through normal means.

Of note, Amarapala, the twins’ father, was not particularly happy that his daughters had been notorious rebels in their past lives, as Amarapala was not a supporter of the rebellion. Amarapala’s brother held a high position in the community, which led Amarapala’s family to support the rule of law, not insurgency.

Reincarnation and Similar Physical Appearance

Robert was shorter, stockier and had lighter skin than Johnny.  Similarly, Sivanthie (Robert) was shorter, stockier and had lighter skin than Sheromie (Johnny).  Gnananadasa, Johnny’s younger brother, noted a similarity in facial features between Johnny and Sheromie.  (11) (12)

Principles of Reincarnation

Physical Resemblance in Reincarnation Cases: Sivanthie had the same build as Robert and Sheromie had the same build as Johnny.  There was a similarity in Sheromie’s and Johnny’s facial features.

Planning Lifetimes and Same Family Reincarnation: Johnny and Robert were best friends and they reincarnated together as twins. This observation shows how souls can plan lifetimes to be reincarnated together.

Gender Change and Retention of Past Life Gender Traits: Johnny and Robert were males, reincarnated as females, but retained male behavioral traits, including urinating standing up. These types of cases can shed light on why some people become transsexual or homosexual.

Past Life Talent and Behavior:  Sheromie and Sivanthie made bombs out of clay and they knew what ingredients Johnny and Robert had used in building home-made bombs. The twin girls rode bikes, climbed trees, rolled up their T-shirts exposing their stomachs and pretended to stroke their beards, behavior typical of men and characteristic of Johnny and Robert.

Past Life Phobias: The twins were afraid of men in khaki uniforms and of Jeeps.  Johnny and Robert were arrested and killed by police and army personnel who wore khaki uniforms and traveled in Jeeps.

Geographic Memory: Sivanthie led a group researching the twins’ cases along a barely discernible path to the spot on the cliff where she, as Robert, tried to escape by diving into the sea and was shot to death. From there, Sheromie led the group to where her house was located during her life as Johnny.  In addition, Sivanthie’s past life memory was stimulated by being at a past life location, the temple in Yatigala, where she recalled her name had been Robert. Robert had been a devout Buddhist who worshipped at the Yatigala temple.

Past Life Birthmark: Sivanthie had a birthmark in the same location on the right side of the abdomen just below the ribcage where Robert incurred a gunshot wound. Sivanthie would point to her birthmark when describing how she died while attempting to jump into the sea.

Spirit Beings in Reincarnation Cases: Sheromie knew that Johnny’s body had been burned after his death. Gasoline was poured on Johnny’s body and burned several days after he had died, which means that the soul of Johnny | Sheromie observed this event from the spirit world.

Footnotes

1. Hardo, Trutz, Children Who Have Lived Before, Verlag Die Silberschnur (Germany), 1998, page 90

2. Stevenson, Ian, Reincarnation and Biology, Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT, page 1950

3. Ibid, p. 1951

4. Ibid, p. 1958

5. Ibid, p. 1958

6. Ibid, p. 1956

7. Ibid, p. 1961

8. Ibid, p. 1960

9. Ibid, p. 1962

10. Ibid, p. 1968

11. Ibid p. 1964

12. Hardo, Trutz, Children Who Have Lived Before, p. 99

Reincarnation Case of Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen-From the Holocaust a Child Finds her Past Life Home

From the Holocaust, a child prodigy finds her way home. Barbro Karlen as the reincarnation of Anne Frank.

image descriptionHow Derived: Past Life Memories in Childhood

From: And the Wolves Howled, by Barbro Karlen

Article from Born Again, by Walter Semkiw, MD

Click on images to enlarge

One of the most culturally significant reincarnation cases involves Barbro Karlen, who I have had he honor of doing joint presentations with since 2001.  I first met Barbro in 2000 and I now consider her a very good friend. I would like to share her experiences with you. At the end of this article, a video may be viewed in which Barbro tells her story in her own words. Enlarge images by clicking on them.

A Toddler’s Past Life Memories of being Anne Frank

Anne Frank died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. Less than ten years later, in 1954, Barbro Karlen was born to Christian parents in Sweden. When she was less than three years old, Barbro told her parents that her name was not Barbro, but “Anne Frank.” Barbro’s parents had no idea of who Anne Frank was, as they were unaware of the book, Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, also known as The Diary of Anne Frank.

Barbro relates that her parents wanted her to call them “Ma and Pa,” but Barbro knew that they were not her real parents. Barbro even told her mother that her real parents would soon come to get her and take her to her real home. These statements are typical of childhood memory reincarnation cases researched by Ian Stevenson, MD, at the University of Virginia.

During her childhood, Barbro told her parents details of her life as Anne, which her parents thought were fantasies. In addition, Barbro had nightmares in which men ran up the stairs and kicked in the door to her family’s attic hiding place. An image of the exterior of the Frank family’s attic hiding place, which has the red tile roof, is provided below and to the right.

Barbro is evaluated by a Psychiatrist

IISISReincarnationResearchAnneFrankAttic5
Attic Hiding Place of Frank Family

Barbro’s past life memories worried her parents and at one point, when she was a child, they had her evaluated by a psychiatrist. Barbro, though, by this time, had learned that it was not wise to talk about the other world she lived in, the world of Anne Frank, as she noticed that everyone “got tense” when she described her memories to them. When she saw the psychiatrist, she made no mention of her memories of being Anne and was deemed a perfectly normal little girl.

Barbro’s Elementary School Teacher Discusses Anne Frank

When Barbro was seven or eight years of age, she became confused when her schoolteacher began talking about Anne Frank in class. Barbro thought to herself, “How could my teacher know about Anne Frank?” Barbro knew that she was Anne Frank.  Barbro began to realize that Anne Frank was a famous person. “How could that be,” she thought? Describing her confusion as a child, Barbro has related “all this didn’t work for me.”

Imagine how hard it must have been for Barbro to have spontaneous memories of a past lifetime and to have no one to talk to, no one who could help her with her confusion, traumatic memories and nightmares.

Barbro’s Past Life Phobias Related to Anne Frank’s Holocaust Experience

Since childhood, Barbro has had a fear of men in uniforms. Even as an adult, if stopped for a traffic violation by a police officer, Barbro would have such anxiety that she would consider fleeing. In order to get over her phobia of uniforms, as well as to work with horses, Barbro in adulthood, decided to become a mounted Swedish police officer. After completing her training with the Swedish Police Authority, Barbro did become a mounted police officer and she worked with police horses for over a decade.

In addition, Barbro has had an aversion to eating beans since childhood, which the Frank family existed on for nearly two years. Barbro would also only take baths, not showers. In concentration camps, Nazi’s would bring prisoners into large rooms telling the prisoners that they would be given showers. Instead of water, poison gas was piped into the room to kill the prisoners. Anne was first taken to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where such gas chambers were used to kill those too feeble to perform forced labor. Later, she was transferred to the Bergen-Belsen camp, where she died.

Anne Frank Reincarnation Case Amsterdam
Aerial View of Amsterdam

Barbro also resisted having her hair cut. In concentration camps, new arrivals were stripped naked and heads were shaved, followed by a process of disinfection.

At 10 Years of Age, Barbro’s Geographic Past Life Memory Leads her Parents to the Anne Frank House

Barbro received her first validation of being Anne Frank when she was ten years old, when she was able to find her way directly to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam without directions.

The graphic to the right, which can be enlarged, shows how circular the streets of Amsterdam are. It is easy to get lost wandering the streets of this city, yet Barbro’s past life memories of the streets of Amsterdam were clear. I will now describe the scene, utilizing excerpts from And the Wolves Howled.

When she was ten, Barbro’s parents took her on a tour of the major cities in Europe, including Amsterdam, the city where the Frank family lived. During World War II, Otto Frank and his family had to go into hiding in the attic of the building where Otto had his business, for the Nazi’s had invaded the Netherlands and were persecuting Jews. The Frank family hid in this attic for about two years, until they were discovered by the Nazis, arrested and sent to concentration camps.

The only survivor was the father, Otto Frank, who subsequently was given Anne’s diary, which he later had published. After the war, the hiding place was made into a museum, which is called The Anne Frank House.

anne-frank-house
Anne Frank House

By the time Barbro was ten, the Diary of Anne Frank had been published and distributed in Sweden and her parents had become aware of who the historical Anne Frank was. While in Amsterdam, her father wanted to visit the Anne Frank House. At their hotel, he took the phone off the hook and asked for a taxi to take them there.

Barbro suddenly exclaimed: “We don’t need a taxi, it’s not far to walk from here.” Barbro was so certain that it didn’t occur to her parents to object, they just meekly followed her as she walked off.

“We’ll soon be there, it’s just round the next corner,” Barbro told her parents. She herself wasn’t at all surprised when they arrived at the Anne Frank House after a ten minute walk through the twisting streets of the city. An image of the Anne Frank House is provided to the right. Upon their arrival, her parents stood there speechless and just looked at one another.

Past Life Memories: Barbro Knows Where Anne Frank’s Pictures should have been Found

“That’s strange,” Barbro said, when they stood in front of the steps up to the house. “It didn’t look like this before.” She looked wonderingly and her parents didn’t know what to say. They entered the house and went up the long narrow staircase. Barbro, who had been so carefree when showing them the way, suddenly went white in the face. She broke out in a cold sweat and reached for her mother’s hand. Her mother was horrified when she felt Barbro’s hand, which was as cold as ice.

When they entered the hiding place, the same terrors overcame Barbro that she had experienced so many times in her dreams. She found it hard to breathe and panic spread through her body. When they went into one of the smaller rooms, she suddenly stood still and brightened up a little.

Barbro looked at the wall in front of her and exclaimed, “Look, the pictures of the film stars are still there!” The pictures of the movie stars that Anne had clipped and affixed to the wall, which Barbro saw at that moment, made her feel happy, almost as if she had come home.

reincarnationresearchannefrankbarbrokarlenpictures5
Pictures Affixed by Anne Frank

Her mother stared at the blank wall and couldn’t understand this at all. “What pictures? The wall is bare?” Barbro looked again and she saw that this was true. The wall was bare! Her mother was so confounded that she felt driven to ask one of the guides whether there had been pictures on the wall at one time.

“Oh yes,” the guide replied, “they had only been taken down temporarily to be mounted under glass so that they wouldn’t be destroyed or stolen.” Barbro’s mother didn’t know what to say.

“How in the world could you find your way here first of all, then insist that the steps outside were different and then see the pictures on the wall when they weren’t there?”

Barbro’s mother was full of questions, but Barbro was quite incapable of saying even a single word. She just wanted to get out of there; she couldn’t stand it a moment longer.

Her legs felt like jelly as she went down the stairs. She had never before in her life felt so wretched. The tears ran unrestrained down her face, and her legs would not carry her. When she reached the bottom step her legs folded under her and she fell.

Barbro’s Parents Accept that She had a Past Life as Anne Frank

Barbro relates that these incidents in Amsterdam finally made her parents believe that she is the reincarnation of Anne Frank. After all, how else could she know how to get to the Anne Frank House on the family’s first trip to Amsterdam, and without directions? How could she know that the stairs had been modified? How did she know that pictures of movie stars, which Anne Frank had clipped from magazines, should be found on a specific wall inside the house, when these pictures had been removed so that they could be mounted behind glass?

reincarnation-research-anne-frank-diary2In time, Barbro’s mother responded by becoming very spiritual and a believer in reincarnation. Barbro’s father, on the other hand, seemed annoyed. Barbro relates that her father responded by saying: “I can’t deny that you have somehow been here before. Perhaps you have lived before and have reincarnated, but you are the only one!”

Barbro understood that by being faced with the reality of reincarnation, her father’s Christian world view, where “everything was set right,” was threatened. Barbro was much happier, though, as from this point on as she could talk to her mother about her past lifetime as Anne Frank. She had her mother’s support.

Past Life Talent: Barbro Karlen is a Childhood Writing Prodigy, like Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a childhood writing prodigy. She is not the most famous victim of the Holocaust because she had the worst death. Rather, she become the most famous victim because as a teenager she wrote a book, a diary, that was readable and addressed universal themes, such as the nature of man and man’s tendency to be good or evil. Children around the world have been instructed to read The Diary of Anne Frank to learn about prejudice, which has made Anne’s diary the second most read book in the world, next to the Bible.

Like Anne Frank, Barbro Karlen was a childhood writing prodigy. Barbro relates that learning to write was a great gift. As a child, she could not speak to anyone about her past life memories, but once she learned to write, she could have discourses on her writing tablet.

One day, when she was eleven or so, a family friend read a few of her compositions and realized that this was worthy prose. Barbro was asked if her casual writings could be sent to a publisher, which she agreed to.

Anne Frank Reincarnation-Child Prodigy
Published when Barbro was 12 years of age

At the age of twelve, her first book of prose was published. This book, Man on Earth, became the best-selling prose/poetry book in Swedish history. Barbro became a child celebrity, debating theology with ministers and theologians on television programs. In her teenage years, she had a total of nine books published. These books, written in her youth, have been translated into multiple languages, much like the Diary of Anne Frank.

Barbro’s Past Life Memories Recede, then Reemerge when She encounters Reincarnated Nazi Guards

After her adolescence passed, Barbro’s past life memories began to fade, which was a relief to Barbro, as now she could finally lead a normal life. As she pursued her career with the Swedish Police Service, Barbro thought that she never would be public regarding her memories of being Anne Frank. As Barbro wistfully states in her video interview, though, “never say never.”

It was not until she was in her forties that past life memories began to emerge again. Barbro began having negative interactions with another mounted police officer, who seemed to be persecuting her. It was these interactions that triggered the rekindling of her memories of being Anne Frank and in particular, she recalled scenes from a concentration camp. Barbro realized that this police officer was a reincarnated Nazi guard from the Bergen-Belsen concentration.

Though these past life memories were painful, they gave Barbro the will to write her book, And the Wolves Howled. Barbro relates that she wanted to show that though these guards, these wolves, participated in her persecution in the Anne Frank lifetime, she would not allow them to hurt her again in contemporary times. She wanted to share with others that the soul perseveres and in this way, to provide comfort to others.

Barbro Meets her Past Life Cousin, Buddy Elias, President of the Anne Frank Foundation

As she prepared her book, And the Wolves Howled, for publication, Buddy Elias, President of the Anne Frank Foundation and at the time, the last living relative of Anne Frank, heard about Barbro’s claim to be the reincarnation of his cousin, Anne Frank. Through her publisher, Buddy invited Barbro to his home for dinner, though he asked Barbro’s publisher not to reveal who he was in relation to Anne Frank or the Anne Frank Foundation. Buddy advised the publisher to tell Barbro that their dinner host was a fan of the books she wrote as a child and adolescent. Though he did not believe in reincarnation, Buddy wanted to meet this person who claimed to be the reincarnation of Anne. Buddy and Anne Frank, as cousins, played together in their youth.

Barbro describes her first face to face meeting with Buddy, which occurred in 1995, in the Barbro Karlen: Reincarnation of Anne Frank video, which is provided at the bottom of this web page.

Barbro relates that when they first saw each other, she and Buddy fell into each others arms and cried together. Barbro says she had instant recognition that Buddy was someone she knew and loved from the Frank lifetime. They spoke for two hours at the time of this first meeting and they continued to be very good friends for 20 years, until Buddy’s death in 2015. Barbro would stay at Buddy’s home in Switzerland when she visited Europe and Buddy had stayed in Barbro’s home when he visited her in the United States.

Buddy Elias Speaks at Barbro Karlen’s And the Wolves Howled Book Event

An article from the leading German magazine, Zeitspiegel, was published regarding this event on May 19, 1998:

“Buddy Elias, actor in Basel, is the cousin of Anne Frank and the President of the Anne Frank Foundation. Buddy Elias met with Anne Frank the last time just before the war broke out. She mentions him as “Bernd” in her Diary many times.

Anne’s father, Otto Frank, returned to Amsterdam after his liberation from Aushwitz. He then lived with his nephew, Buddy Elias, in Basel until his death.

Two years ago, Buddy Elias and Barbro Karlen met for the first time. At the presentation of the autobiography by Barbro Karlen, Buddy Elias read parts of it for the audience.

Bruckenbauer: “Buddy Elias, what memories do you have of your cousin, Anne Frank?”

Buddy Elias: “She was a very pleasant person, a lively child with her head full of ideas how to live. We loved each other very much, when the war began, we corresponded with each other.”

“Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Buddy Elias: “Yes, I do.”

“So how is it for you when a woman claims she is the reincarnation of your cousin? Barbro Karlen is not the only one!”

“I have been very skeptical, but Barbro is different from everybody else.”

“How was the first meeting with Barbro?”

“It was very emotional. First time I saw her, I had heard about her. I had a very strange feeling, a very positive impression. It felt like we had a soul connection. Barbro seemed absolutely trustworthy to me. I could very well imagine she was Anne. More than that I can not say. I have Anne too close in my memory to say anything more.”

“Do you see any similarities between Anne and Barbro?”

“The black hair is  obvious!”

“Will you stay in touch with Barbro?”

“Of course, I have developed a very deep friendship with her.”

To view a video of Buddy Elias talking about his relationshp with Anne Frank, please go to:

Buddy Elias, Anne Frank’s Cousin, Describes Anne

Barbro Moves to California, where Walter Semkiw, MD observes that Anne Frank and Barbro Karlen have the Same Facial Features

Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen Past Life CaseBarbro and a female friend of hers took a vacation to experience California’s coastal Highway 1. While on that trip, based on an intuition, Barbro decided to open a Swedish import shop in Carmel, even though she had no prior experience in business or retail sales. Barbro moved from Sweden to Northern California, where I met her. When I first received the phone call in 2000, in which I was told about a woman who claimed to be the reincarnation of Anne Frank, I was very skeptical. When I met her and listened to her story, I came to believe that she is genuine and that I had truly met the reincarnation of Anne Frank.

In her book, Barbro never mentions that she has the same appearance as Anne Frank, as her memories are what are most meaningful to her, not appearance. Upon meeting her, I realized that Barbro has the same facial features as Anne.

In the image comparison featured on this website, Barbro as a seven year old girl is featured on the left side, Anne Frank as a teenager is in the center and Barbro as an adult is on the right side. It appears that we are looking at images of one person in three stages of life. In actuality, we are looking at one soul in two different lifetimes.

Anne Frank & Barbro Karlen: Reincarnation & Similarities in Personality

In addition to facial features, there are many character similarities between Barbro and Anne. These include:

A. Spirituality and a Love of Nature

Lawrence L. Langer, in his essay included in the book, Anne Frank, Reflections on Her Life and Legacy, writes the following regarding Anne.

“Spiritual insight rarely falls from the lips of a thirteen or fourteen year old girl. Indeed, as many of the new entries in the diary will show, Anne Frank was essentially a physical being, a lover of nature, intrigued with her own sexuality.”

These traits are reflected in Barbro Karlen, who at sixteen years of age used her book earnings to purchase a cottage in the woods. She soon populated her property with her horse, two dogs, two cats, a sheep and a flock of hens and chicks. Barbro especially loved her horse and horseback riding, which eventually led her to pursue a  career as a mounted policewoman.

Her sexuality is evidenced by an early marriage and her pregnancy at the age of 18. Indeed, many of Anne’s desires seem to have come to fruition early in the life of Barbro Karlen.

B. Natural literary skills

IISISReincarnationResearchBlossomKingdomAnne Frank had natural gifts as a writer. Similarly, Barbro Karlen was a childhood literary prodigy. Her first book, Man on Earth, which was published when she was 12 years of age and became the all time best-selling poetry book in Sweden. Between ages 12 to 17, nine books written by Barbro, including When the Storm Comes and a Moment in the Blossom Kingdom, were published.

It is interesting to note that Anne Frank always hoped to be a published writer. On May 11, 1944, Anne wrote that her “greatest wish” was to become a journalist, “and later on, a famous writer.” Once again, it appears that Anne’s desires were fulfilled early in the life of Barbro Karlen.

C. Similar Writing Themes

Similar themes are found in the writings of Frank and Karlen. Though one may argue that these similarities are intentional, Barbro Karlen maintains that she has not studied Anne Frank’s works.

Anne Frank, due to the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis, reflected extensively on issues of good and evil. Anne also had a tendency to personify human qualities, as seen in the quotation cited below regarding “Lies.” Anne’s legacy is based on her ability to maintain hope in the face of dismal circumstances. Anne Frank’s most famous quote affirms the basic goodness of man.

Barbro Karlen also writes of good and evil in her book, And the Wolves Howled, in part due to her memories of the Frank lifetime and in part due to persecution experienced in this lifetime while working for the Swedish Police Service. Barbro also has a tendency to personify human qualities, like Anne. Let us compare passages written by Frank and Karlen regarding evil:

Anne Frank-On Evil

“There’s in people simply an urge to destroy, an urge to kill, to murder and rage.”

Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen Past Life Case“I get frightened myself when I think of close friends who are now at the mercy of the cruelest monsters ever to stalk the earth. And all because we are Jews.”

“Yesterday evening, before I fell asleep, who should suddenly appear before my eyes but Lies! I saw her in front of me, clothed in rags…Her eyes were very big and she looked so sadly and reproachfully at me that I could read in her eyes: Oh Anne, why have you deserted me? Help, oh help me, rescue me from this hell!”

Barbro Karlen-On Evil

“If only she could write about how important, even vital it is never to give up in the face of evil, regardless of how dark and wretched everything may seem. Evil was present on the earth and would probably always be there. It would always try to conquer Good.”

Anne Frank-On Good

“In spite of everything, I still really believe that people are really good at heart.”

Barbro Karlen-On Good

“But the more people there were who believed in Good, and in the Good Force within themselves, the greater the possibility of keeping evil under control. If only they could believe in Good, and in the presence of the inner Force, many unhappy people would be able to fight their way up from the darkness.”

“Most people on earth were not yet aware that they could find the Good Force within themselves and that it could help them if they only sought it out.”

Annette Lantos meets Barbro Karlen & Invites Barbro & Me to Washington, DC

Tom Lantos Lantos Foundation for Justice

Annette Lantos is the wife of the late Tom Lantos, who served in the United States Congress for 27 years. Tom, whose picture is featured to the right, was the only Holocaust survivor to be elected to the US Congress. When President George W. Bush traveled to Germany for a Holocaust memorial, he took Tom with him. U2 singer Bono was a close friend, as he admired Tom’s dedication to bringing justice to the darkest corners of the world.

It was Annette and Tom who nominated the 14th Dalai Lama for a Nobel Prize, which he won.

When Annette heard about Barbro’s case, she wanted to meet Barbro, as Annette is also is a Holocaust survivor. Annette, Barbro and I spent almost 3 hours in Tom’s Congressional office in San Mateo, California. Tom and Annette were very much in love and while we were in a conference room, Tom repeatedly poked his head into the room to ask his beloved wife whether she was finished. Annette, fascinated with Barbro’s story, kept sending Tom away.

Anne Frank Reincarnation: Charity Sunshine & Condolezza Rice
Barbro and Walter Meet Condolezza Rice & Charity Sunshine

By the end of our meeting, Annette was intrigued enough by the proposal that Barbro is the reincarnation of Anne Frank that she asked us to attend a “by invitation only” benefit concert at the Kennedy Center, in Washington DC. At this event, Tom and Annette’s granddaughter, Charity Sunshine Tillemann-Dick, would sing and Condoleezza Rice would accompany Charity on the piano. We did attend, sat in the front row and later met Dr. Rice at a reception.

Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice and the Tom Lantos Tunnels

Annette now serves as the Chairman of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. In honor of Tom, recently constructed tunnels along Highway 1 between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay have been named the Tom Lantos Tunnels. Every time I traverse these tunnels, I fondly reflect on Tom, Annette and Charity, and our experiences in Washington, DC.

Children’s Past Life Author Carol Bowman supports the Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen Reincarnation Case

A person who supports Barbro’s case is Carol Bowman, who is a pioneer in studying children who spontaneously recall past lives. In 2006, Carol and Barbro attended a reincarnation conference in Colorado Springs. In addition to Carol learning about Barbro’s case, Carol and Barbro had the opportunity to spend an afternoon together horseback riding. Carol has stated that she judges Barbro’s reincarnation case to be a strong one.

Carol shared an amusing anecdote regarding the time they spent together. To go horseback riding, Carol and Barbro had to take a taxi from the hotel to the stables. Carol was raised Jewish and both women were taken aback when their taxi driver turned out to be a bearded Hasidic Jew wearing the traditional black hat and clothing. Carol reflected, “What are the odds of getting a taxi driver who is a Hasidic Jew in Colorado Springs?”

Reincarnation Symbol
Passage Through Lifetimes

Carl Jung called meaningful coincidences like this “synchronistic events.” As discussed in the section Principles of Reincarnation, it is thought that one’s own soul or spirit beings can orchestrate such a meaningful occurrences to convey messages symbolically.

Anne Frank & Possible Reincarnation Prophecy: God Will Raise Us Up Again

I will cite one last quotation from Anne Frank’s diary, which refers to the perseverance of the Jewish faith and people. It also has a poetic ring of truth regarding reincarnation, perhaps not intended by Anne, yet beautiful all the same.

“Who has inflicted this upon us?
Who has made us Jews different from all other people?
Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now?
It is God who had made us who we are,
but it will be God, too, who will raise us up again.”

Principles of Reincarnation & Understanding Past Lives

Past Life Physical Resemblance: Anne Frank and Barbro Karlen have the same facial features. It is of interest that Barbro never mentions this physical resemblance to Anne in her book And the Wolves Howled, though others had told her that she looks like Anne Frank. The physical resemblance between Anne and Barbro was first published in 2006 in my book: Born Again

Past Life Talent: Barbro Karlen was a childhood writing prodigy, as was Anne Frank.

Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen Past Life CasePhobias from a Past Lifetime: Barbro had an irrational fear of men in police uniforms, which seems to stem from Anne’s experience with Nazi soldiers and concentration camp guards. Barbro also had an aversion to showers, did not want to eat beans and resisted having her hair cut, which also reflect incidents in Anne Frank’s life, as described above.

Geographic Memory: On her first visit to Amsterdam at the age of ten, Barbro was able to spontaneously lead her parents from their hotel to the Anne Frank House, without directions.

Change in Religion, Nationality and Ethnic Affiliation: Anne Frank was born in Germany, where she was persecuted as a Jew during the Holocaust. Barbro was born into a Christian family in Sweden.

If the Nazi’s during World War II knew that one could be born Jewish in one lifetime and Christian in another, the Holocaust could never have happened. Similarly, when Muslim Palestinians realize that then can be reborn as Israeli Jews, when Sunni’s know they can reincarnate as Shiites, Christians understand they can be reborn into an Islamic culture and vice versa, then conflict based on these cultural differences of identity will be mitigated.

Barbro Karlen’s case dramatically demonstrates how reincarnation research and evidence of reincarnation can transform the world in a positive way.

Anne Frank | Barbro Karlen Video Full Length-35 Minutes

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