(2) Evensong

Beyond the complexities of Neurotheology, too, I started fiddling
about moving into the issues of out-of-body (OBE) and near-death
experiences (NDE). Just dreaming, I suppose, but I thought that
somehow these experiences might somehow connect with the
budding scholarly study of reincarnation. Incredible, but scientists
and psychologists are rapidly delving more and more into these
issues. And as more scientific data is acquired about these subjects,
well surely the theologian will have to address such.

All my life I have been predisposed towards the idea of reincarnation,
ever since I experienced that vision of the monk when a youth at the
King's School. I never forgot this vision, and it cropped-up again
when I was doing my dream-work at the Jung Institute so many years
ago. It had become obvious that there was an "inner monk" dwelling
within my mind. And I pondered often if somehow this might have
helped determine my career as a theologian. I remembered about
how I had early on delved into the Benedictine Tradition, discovered
my hero St. Anselm of Canterbury, and thence forward sailed into my
own quest--Seeking God--trying to understand how the Spirit works
within us.

So, with these thoughts in mind, I have often thought about my own
past life vision, about the sad monk who (for whatever reason) had
to leave his beloved Canterbury. I oft think of him when I attend
Evensong services in the cathedral. Several times a week I walk
over to the cathedral, sit in the choir, and bathe myself in the beautiful
evening service of lilting music and psalmody.

And during one such service, I suddenly realized that--yes--I had
brought that monk home! I had brought that monk to rest. And I was
at peace!