A Question on Reincarnation

Sometimes i get emails:

STEPHANIE: Hey there. I’m a pretty typical Western Buddhist and practicing Jungian analyst researching the idea of a collective consciousness as it related to reincarnation. I was wondering what your thoughts are on reincarnation in general, is it possible?

ME: Hey Stephanie. First, thanks for your question.

My first reaction to the idea of reincarnation is generally strong skepticism. i'm also skeptical about Jung's ‘Collective Unconscious’; at least in its more ephemeral interpretations. But i would be open to the possibility if some evidence was provided.

My problem, if it is that, is that i'm an empiricist and integral pragmatist (but not a positivist) – so i refuse to extend my beliefs past what is directly known about the world. Speculation can be fun, sometimes fruitful, and good for thought experiments, but unless i can get strong evidence - checked by appropriate validity claims - i just won't incorporate many such ideas into my belief structures. Thus, because I have no evidence of reincarnation, personally or otherwise, I simply let these notions float on the periphery of my awareness.

The 'peace' of sentience this brings me is afforded by a post-formal perpsective and 'letting go' of concepts (intellectual reifications) which fail to provide tangible (existential or biophysical) benefits along my path, in my work or in relation to others.

In summation, then: I don't know about reincarnation, or the possibility of souls, or life after death - but I have strong doubts. You might say I'm metaphysically agnostic towards that stuff.

I try to live, love and contribute in the best ways and as much as I can during the time I have. The Kosmos will take care of the rest...