Proof of Rebirth: Xenoglossy

Wisdom Quarterly edit of Xenoglossy

Red hall Torii line at Fushimi Inari taisha sanctuary, Kyoto, Japan (Alex_Saurel/flickr.com)

  

Reclining Buddha (traveladventures.org)

Xenoglossy, also written xenoglossia, is the putative paranormal phenomenon in which a person is able to speak and/or write a language he or she could not have acquired by natural means.

For example, there may be a person who suddenly speaks German fluently -- but is not a native speaker, has never studied German, never been to a German-speaking country, and never associated with German speakers or had any other source of exposure to the German language. S/he would be said to be exhibiting xenoglossy. 

The existence of this phenomenon, which may arise spontaneously or more likely during a hypnotic past life regression session, is not generally accepted by linguists and psychologists (Samarin 1976, Thomason 1984, 1987, 1996). It would be proof too robust for skeptics to overcome, so denial of its existence is an easier position to hold.

However, psychiatrist and paranormal researcher Ian Stevenson documented several cases considered authentic (Stevenson, 2001). The term derives from Greek (xenos), "foreigner" and (glōssa), "tongue" or "language."  More

• xenoglossy (Wiktionary)

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It's a Start.

London (PTI): World leaders on Friday welcomed China's decision to reopen dialogue with a representative of the Dalai Lama as a "major" and "first" step in resolving the vexed Tibet issue and to end the recent unrest there.

"We, together with other members of the international community, have consistently called for dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. I welcome today's announcement as the first step in that process," he said.

James: This is indeed a welcome development. However, my fear is that China is only doing this to improve its image abroad ahead of the Olympics and that after the games the talks will stop. That being said, I do have sincere hope though they will engage in a meaningful dialogue andthat the two sides really listen to one another. In Buddhism listening means being fully present with that person and being mindful of their concerns instead of just hearing them but thinking only of what you'll say next. Or how you can gain the upper hand with the issue being discussed and manipulate them.

Often we think of having a dialogue as better than resorting to violence and in the true meaning of the process it is of course the best way to settle disputes. However, dialogues can become verbally violent and abusive and cause harm and distrust as engaging in physical violence and intimidation does. We have to be careful because words can cause great suffering, they can bring peace but can just as easily cause war. So we must always try to listen with compassion and empathy because our "enemy" wants to be heard and understood just as we do.

However, there are times when one must speak sternly but we should always try to keep it from being abusive. In such instances it is easy to become haughty, insulting and patronizing. Thus I try to keep my stern language to a minimum but I often fail. Right Speech is a difficult teaching for me to practice sometimes. I always forget that when I do insult others that it causes more suffering for myself. It's pretty much impossible to insult others without causing pain to yourself as well. It's like throwing a boomerang at someone with the intent of hurting them but in doing so we open ourselves up to being hurt as well as the boomerang will come right back toward us.

Anyway, I sure hope that this new dialogue produces some results but perhaps at the very least it will build trust that is critical before any compromise and positive action can occur.

~Peace to all beings~

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