Why would anyone want to live in the physical world when the afterlife is so much better?

I don't know.
Can I play jazz gigs/ classical gigs/ conduct orchestras/  watch Steam trains/ model railroads/ see fabulous scenery/ listen to music/ fall in love/ watch Star Trek TNG & Voyager in the afterlife?

Either way I have to come back again, as I'm just getting a handle on this music lark and there's far too much more to find out and learn about music for this lifetime (let alone modelling railroads... )

Best wishes,
David.

Inventech5 wrote on Feb 12^th, 2010 at 9:41pm:


I think it's for the experiences such as sex and emotion.  In the whole scheme of things and if we live forever, this focus may just be a fun ride or a nightmare with loads of variety.

I come back for the challenge.  That rush when you almost got your fool self killed doing something, but didn't, and by God you're alive!  Figuring something out that you were sure you couldn't do, and the tractor starts, or the dog finally learns his command, or any of a thousand things like that...those things aren't the same when you're somewhere that even if you self-impose challenges, you still know they're self-imposed.  It'll be a long time before I quit coming back, I imagine.

Why aren't we born with the memories and knowledge of our prior lives?

It'd be kind of hard to act all cute and innocent while we grow up if we were born that way, knowing so much, remembering our previous lives.

And we'd probably come out the womb even grumpier than we already do.

Can you imagine? If we remembered everything we'd already gone through, at birth? I'm sure some people do remember more than others. That wouldn't be me.

I believe 'forgetting' is a gift. Maybe some people need it sooner than others....and maybe they get it.

I certainly don't claim to have all the answers, but here is my understanding (roughly) as of this time:

Physical life is an "adventure land" of sorts, in that it's a temporary place we go to have experiences we can't get anywhere else, and I think what makes that true is the very fact that we DON'T remember our past lives (if we have any) and that the threat of danger, pain, other bad things is part of what makes it unique/special/worth it because the reason we're here is to grow spiritually.

I think it's hard to grow spiritually in a world where there is no pain, no hardship, no danger, no risk, etc. (the afterlife).  Sure, there's lots you can probably still do with regards to access to knowledge, observation, and unlimited time to think about whatever you want, but only in a world like ours can you face challenges that you simply cannot face in a place like the afterlife.  This physical world allows us to challenge ourselves.

And again, I think that's why we don't remember our past lives upon a new trip:  It would tamper the experience of life to be born with all of your memories.  You'd be an "old man" in the body of a newborn infant.  Good luck experiencing your youth and what it means to grow, learn, gain new experiences, etc. if you come in "knowing it all" so to speak, with regards to what you can expect out of life (generally speaking).

And then, once you die, you have your life review, and then you recall your past lives, and pool the new data with the knowledge you had prior to your new birth, and all of that adds up to refining who you are as a spiritual being, allowing you to grow/evolve/advance.