Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and Past-Life Therapy

As a secular Buddhist, I have been hoping to find evidence that would allow my mind to accept the notion that there is something larger than ourselves, something to be hopeful for after death. I have read many, many books on the topic (many of which I have reviewed here through Amazon) and they have all been severe disappointments...until now.While I will not go so far as to say that I am "convinced" after reading this book, I am far less closed to the notion of reincarnation/a life after death than I had been previously. I adopted the belief years ago that after death we just "turn off" like a computer and that was that. However, this belief left me with a lingering depression that I have not been able to shake, and that has led me to my current search for proof (or even just a "more likely than not" scenario) that my belief in nothing was wrong.After reading "Proof of Heaven" by "Dr." Eben Alexander, and afterwards discovering his tarnished reputation and record, I was skeptical about reading yet another life after death book by a Dr. However, I can not find anything to point to Dr. Weiss being anything but genuine, honest and legitimate...and, I assure you, I have tried to find it....which, again, speaks volumes when you consider the poor reputations of others making similar claims.The book was filled with examples that made me feel far more comfortable with what might happen after death. Again, I'm not quite ready to say I've changed my mind, but I am much less sure of my stance now; I have this book to thank for giving me that hope and opening my mind where others had failed.

My brother recommended Many Lives, Many Masters to me. Had he not, I probably would not have read it. But this is one area where we really connect (intellectually) when we fail in other areas (emotionally, spiritually).I used to believe in psychic phenomena. I used to believe I was actually psychic to a degree, all topics addressed in my memoir. I was born and raised Catholic but shied from Catholicism as the Church illustrated God as something to be terrified of and terrorized by. This was back in the 80’s when I was a wee child but I still never was able to get over the psychological trauma and the indelible God impression that was imprinted in my mind and soul with more fearful connotations than Satan.I always preferred to believe in the mystical things, but whatever I believed in shattered when my mother died young of a heart attack at the age of 52. For over a decade, I’ve struggled with this impossible grief and inability to make sense of anything. I never asked my brother why he read this book. He never told me. He just said to read it and that it might change my perspective on things.So I read it—in almost one sitting, which is practically damn near impossible with an 8 month old at your heels. I read some of it to him (because who says you can’t read a baby “adult” books?). At first I questioned whether this was some grand scheme that was concocted for mild fame and fortune… or at least some best selling recognition. But as I read more, the story rang true. It was either brilliant concocted with randomly missing pieces and gaps that just never were filled in to give it a ring of truth to it… or it just was… possibly true.I’ve decided that I’m going to believe it’s true. I am glad I have made that decision because in doing so it has given me the first kind of peace I have felt in over a decade. I have a little bit of hope that one day I will be reconnected with my mother, my best friend and that we will have the chance to work though our relationship in a way we didn’t get to in this life time.I’ve decided I’m going to use this life and not waste another second of it. I feel so much lighter making that decision. I have more patience with my little baby. It’s hard. I am not a single mother but I live like one. I only see my fiance on the weekends and my precious little baby zaps all of my energy but I started to see things differently, even in my moments of exhaustion. I’ve started to view him as a little being who chose to come back to this earth to be reunited with me and I have to do whatever is in my power to guide him on this journey and to help him learn his life lessons so we can both reach higher planes when we transition. I feel blessed that my little man chose me, not burdened anymore – which I was sometimes feeling in my isolation.I even like to think that my mother and my grandmother had a hand in sending him down to me from “Heaven” or another plane/dimension…. somewhere up there. It has given me this immense appreciation for my little one and this book has given me a new way to look at life. I saw a mother behind me in the Starbucks drivethru today and I picked up the tab for her order. I just wanted to share something with her – mother-to-mother, to do a nice deed for someone else. I want to learn these life lessons not only for myself but I think it’s important for anyone that knows this information to share it and help others to reach their potential on this plane so they can transition over with ease when the time comes.I have enough burdens in this life. I don’t want to carry them over when I cross. Maybe it’s all BS. But maybe it’s not. And the worst thing that can happen if it is BS and living like it’s not – is that we make the world a better place, regardless of what happens when it ends or when we end.

It’s well written and easy to follow, but many questions arise that are not even contemplated. When accessing previous lives the patient was accessing stored memories. It does not make sense that the doc was able to talk to “the Masters” through her, because she was recalling history, not actually traveling there. Why does the info from ‘the Masters” is not questioned at all and it is treated as the absolute truth? What if instead of guiding people to the truth the doc is being used to do the exact opposite? If you have read The Bible you know that there is a reason why humanity is not supposed to eat those apples, nor make contact with the dead. It could be that that knowledge was stripped away to keep the masses dominated, but also, the warning could be meant for our own good. Accessing the spirit realm is a double edged sword. You don’t know for sure who are you really talking to on the other side.

I read this book after the death of my parents. It gave me so much comfort and honestly changed the way I feel about life. I no longer wonder "why me" about having a mentally ill daughter. I know that it is a life I chose (and she chose) to learn certain lessons and that helps me make it through each day. This book prompted me to read all of Brian's books and many more books about reincarnation and life selection. I still have down moments but nothing like before. Love this book and have recommended it to many others.

I read this book maybe 12 years ago. It was loaned to me from a co-worker. I picked it up and could not put it down. All these years later, I found the need for multiple reasons to find this book and buy it and kept a cop0y for me and gifted it to a friend. Both of us have lost children and something about the reincarnation helps me be positive about seeing my son again.

I admit it. I not only bought the physical book, I bought the audio book. I've read some horrible drivel, by accident and by choice. This was undoubtedly the worst. I found it sad that these wise elder spirits had little to no wisdom to share. They were just reading snippets from horoscopes. The worst thing was it wasn't bad in a funny way. I just felt like someone picked my pocket and the only wisdom I got, I could have read in a fortune cookie.

I give the book 2 stars because being a worldwide bestseller, it introduces westerners to the concepts of reincarnation and in between planes. For us Indians, however that itself is not groundbreaking in any way and I felt somewhere that the author is making things up somewhere for the following reasons. There are so many inconsistencies in the book. Like when Catherine goes back to 1578 BC something, how can she know the year as BC?And then let's assume that somehow her "superconscious" mind could connect the dates and tally them with the current calendars, why couldnt she even name the years in many of her other regressions? In several past lives, she says she cant tell the date as there're no newspapers around. Such glaring inconsistency.And Dr Weiss keeps on reiterating how his logical scientific mind is refusing to believe and how he's got such a rational mind and yet he doesnt even once try to verify any of her past life stories. Like Eric, the fighter pilot from Germany was a recent incarnation so it should've been easy to locate his records if Dr Weiss wanted. But he doesnt even try. And yet he espouses the logical attributes of his own scientific and cynical mind every so often in lieu of any real research. It is my belief that Dr Weiss decided to use his expertise of the human mind to see if he could get away with deceiving millions of people and make money at the same time. Let me clarify...I very much believe that past life regression therapy works and i am also sure that Dr Weiss has had experience on it with his patients. But was there a singular real person who experienced all these past lives in her regressions...that I seriously doubt. All the information about karmic debts, people seeing light when they have near death experiences, different planes, dimensions etc is already well documented.I had a baby cousin sister who could remember a past life. So we took her to the place and she had died young in that life so her parents, siblings etc were still alive and she was able to name all of them. That's the way past lives are verified for real. If a 3 year old can recall that kind of information why cant many of Catherine's past lives? Dr Weiss doesnt apply any serious scientific rigour to verify and investigate at least recent past lives at all. Why is that? I've absolutely no idea. However do not let me dissuade you from reading this book. The book is really gripping as far as narrative goes and the subject matter will be revelatory fir those who've never dabbled in metaphysics before. And even for seasoned outliers the book does sort of put things into perspective. Reading about the subject's past lives and "her" imediate concerns pertaining to the circumstances of the scene in that particular past life.......It feels odd......ridiculous even....so we keep coming back again and again feeling the same way, repeating the same patterns, wishing and hoping, struggling and coping...... The ego seems shattered even if only for a moment. And one feels less combative, less demanding, less "me me me" actually and more considerate of others. I'm changing my rating....I give the book 4 stars now as I always wanted people to read this book after all. Only the author's insistence on his scientific cred sufficing for lack of any serious inquiry had bothered me. The book is great..... trancendental even. Frankly I...well I have always been obsessed with past lives and such. My favourite movie is Kudrat that I watch a few minutes of every now and then (deals with past life and regression)..........Another thing.....Dr Weiss never once mentioned how his "research" was received. Here I should add, I'm reviewing my review in 2020 and have had a bit more experience of life since and have a bit more of a handle on how things are....frankly I never though I would get this many upvotes......but here's what I think now. That thing that I wrote about deceiving....I don't think that was correct not entirely anyway...but it made for interesting reading didn't it.. haha? Here's the thing....there are big powers/ Institutions that deny the truth of rebirth and reincarnation. If Dr Weiss had applied scientific rigour to his research...I mean he must have countless case studies....then the truth of rebirth and reincarnation would be accepted fact. But as of now it's still in the realm of conjecture and here he could have really revolutionised the world. Did the powerful institutions that deny rebirth have a hand in this? Who knows?

Let's get one thing straight - I am not prone to follow every new wind of change or every new fad or path of "enlightenment", merely on a whim. I'm also not easily won over.... This book changed my life. There is no other way for me to say it. As a standalone book it is intriguing, easy to read, gripping, and beyond interesting. As a self help book, something that I genuinely don't think was the author's intention, this book quickly became the book I was recommending to those closest to me.I was reading Memories Of Heaven by Dr Wayne W Dyer & Dee Garnes, and this book was referenced. That's how I "found" it. To be honest I think the book "found" me.If you are interested in Regression at all then this book is for you. If you have an open mind and you are intrigued by reincarnation then this book is for you. If you are considering trying a session of Regression Therapy then THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY FOR YOU. I was so blessed by it, and gleaned some important information for my own life. It gave me an insight into the Therapy side of Regression and prepared me for my first session. Up until I read this book I was merely curious about past lives and the whole concept of reincarnation. After reading it I understood a lot more and was a lot more aware of the healing potential and spiritual benefits of Regression Therapy.I hope this review helps someone make their mind up either way. xx

This is one of those books that is even too easy to dismiss as "made up". Yet, the credentials of the author speak for themselves.If you are interested in these sort of topics - albeit being dubious, like me - this is a book that you <can> read. And there are many others written by authors (physicians and scientists, mainly) which are beyond suspicion. I also believe it is too easy a position to say "that's all bonkers and the author must be a nutter". Putting our own believes in doubt is a hard and painful process. However: how else are we going to grow? So, although the read is probably not for everybody, I strongly recommend it because it will make you think and ask questions.I found the read easy, gripping and well representative of what a man of science must go through when confronting such an extraordinary experience.The only reason why I do not give 5 stars, is because I believe that the author should have add a chapter explaining how the academic world has received this story. Indeed there are a few lines about it, yet I believe that a more detailed account would behelpful. Reading how others, especially in the scientific world, have reacted and why they have accepted it or not, may help readers to make sense of their doubts and questions,

Amazing ... Enjoyed the book and got me thinking .. It kind of goes parallel to what is taught in Buddhism regards to re-birth ... I hope the book has some truth. - in which case death can be faced without fear. Recommended to someone who is terminal - It might help dealing with facing death and the unknown .

I purchased this book about a week after losing a dear friend to Cancer and felt like it came to me rather than me searching for it, this is because it was mentioned briefly on a podcast I was listening to but stuck in my head so I looked it up. Whilst I believe our spirit lives on I'm very skeptical about reincarnation and past lives, however, after reading this book I'm a little more open to the thought and I must admit this gave me comfort, for reason i'm still not entirely sure of. In a nutshell, we must learn the lessons we are given in our lives at this current time or we will return until they are learned. A good read and worth the time spent reading it.