Reborn in the West: The Reincarnation Masters

by Vicki Mackenzie

Reborn in the West is an enthralling odyssey which seeks to uncover the mysteries behind reincarnation. Among the wealth of information that currently fuels the reincarnation debate, there is one story that towers above the rest. For the first time 'reincarnation masters' are appearing in the West - men and women who through profound meditation techniques can steer their consciousness at the time of death to the precise rebirth of their choice. Having reached this ultimate spiritual achievement, they elect to come back to earth for one reason only - to help all humanity attain the same freedom as themselves. Vicki Mackenzie goes in search of these spiritual adepts. She discovers who these reincarnates are, how they are identified, and what their mission is. En route she also encounters those leading the way in Western research into the phenomenon of past lives.

Genres: Buddhism

215 pages, Hardcover

Published April 10, 1996

Reviews

[D.L. Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing reveal of Tibetan Buddhism in the west and how these gifted masters has chosen to take rebirth in the western culture to offer the Buddha's teachings in a way we westerners can understand. If you haven't read this, don't miss it.

I bought this book because it caught my attention in the book store, but put it on a shelf for later reading. Six months later I began going to a local Tibetan Buddhist center in Sedona, Arizona and the most amazing woman taught one day. Going home I kept thinking, "Where do I know her from?" Then the book came up in my mind because someone had mentioned she was took rebirth here to teach the Buddha dharma. When I pulled the book from the shelf I was amazed to learn she was the woman on the cover!

I am now a student of hers - Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo - and continue to be amazed by her compassion and commitment to helping all those who suffer. It changed my life.

Also check out Stabilizing the Mind, a teaching on meditation that geared to us westerns making it easy to understand just what happens when you meditate and how to help quiet your mind.

A must read.

[Danie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an interesting look at identified tulkus in the West, but I almost feel as if it is not as unbiased as it could be. Mackenzie through both of her books is seemingly searching for the proof that she wants very badly that will prove this is a Western experience as much as an Eastern one.

I would be very interested in reading a follow up on some of the tulkus she interviewed, since life has proven their path to not be as expected.

Life is complicated indeed, and this issue is a good example of that.

[Johanna Hilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read, although not as unbiased as it portrays itself to be.

Previously rather unfamiliar to Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the tulku tradition, this book offers a personal, intimate exploration of the lives of children who are 'discovered' to be reincarnations of great lamas.

MacKenzie provides many interesting examples of the ways in which the tulkus are found through serendipitous sequences of events. In many cases, the children manifest surprising levels of maturity and insight, but the question remains: how much of it is the result of conditioning and expectation?

I see an enormous amount of good in Tibetan Buddhism, but finally, perhaps due to my Westen upbringing, I find the idea of deliberate reincarnation to be a hard one to swallow. After all, in many cases, despite the diligent training that the young tulkus receive, they often just wind up being rather ordinary people instead of great teachers which they supposedly were in their previous lifetimes.

Despite her slightly wishful narrative, Vicki MacKenzie is a great journalist and a writer, and I would be interested in reading more of her books.

[Ned Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

After rereading this wonderful book after 20 years. I have to say, It still holds up. The subject of reincarnation and rebirth has still not been more sensitively explored.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating accounts, very badly written.

[Nelida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovering reincarnation while following her road to finding her spirituality. The author shares her new found knowledge obtained from Thibetan Lamas and monks. The book describes how we are able to elect to come back to earth once we've perfected ourselves.