This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Brian L. Weiss. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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What are some of the most illuminating quotes from the book Many Lives Many Masters? What succinctly captures the main points and themes?
In 1981, the course of Dr. Brian Weiss’s career changed dramatically when one of his therapy patients, “Catherine,” suddenly recalled details of her past lives while under hypnosis. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, Many Lives Many Masters is a fascinating account of an experience that changed the lives of both Weiss and his patients.
Continue on to read some of the best Many Lives Many Masters quotes and their context.
Many Lives Many Masters Quotes to Ponder
Dr. Weiss’s classic bestseller explores some of the past lives that Catherine recalled under hypnosis and reveals the lessons that spiritual “Masters” delivered through her. To follow are a few of the best Many Lives Many Masters quotes.
Reincarnation was an idea contrary to her upbringing and understanding.
Catherine was a practicing Catholic who had no prior interest or belief in the idea of reincarnation.
True science begins with observation.
Weiss was skeptical when Catherine began to talk about her past lives, but he knew he needed to stay open-minded and learn more before drawing any conclusions.
Although Catherine had uttered the words, she had not originated the thoughts.
Catherine recalled events that took place after her past deaths. As she recalled those experiences, Catherine’s voice changed in tone and volume and she began speaking about profound metaphysical ideas. Afterward, she had no memory of these moments, despite remembering the details of the past lives she recalled before and after them. Weiss realized that, in those times, Catherine wasn’t speaking her own mind: She was acting as a channel, allowing other spirits to speak through her. Catherine later identified these spirits as highly-evolved “Masters” whose goal was to reveal divine truths to Weiss through Catherine.
Most people recite prayers … that proclaim the immortality of the soul. Yet after worship is over, they go back into their competitive ruts, practicing greed and manipulation and self-centeredness.
Weiss claims that the Masters were necessary because people on their own weren’t making connections and finding truth. This is one example.
I understood why these highly trained professionals remained in the closet.
Weiss explains that he and other professionals were seeing evidence of reincarnation, but they didn’t make that information public because of the harm it could do to their reputations and careers.
We are immortal. We are beyond life and death, beyond space and beyond time. We are the gods, and they are us.
This is a message that the Masters relayed about the nature of death. They argue that dying is just another transition between phases of life, much like moving from childhood to adulthood.
It is important to weed out the false from the true so that the field is not discredited.
Weiss discussed the growing number of fraudulent claims of psychic abilities, past lives, and the like. He argued that it was important to distinguish between the fraudulent claims and the credible claims so that they wouldn’t all be lumped together and discredited.
“‘Our task is to learn, to become God-like through knowledge.’”
This is something that Weiss claims the Masters shared with him through Catherine. He repeats it near the end of the book, seemingly indicating that he considers it a primary revelation.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Brian L. Weiss's "Many Lives, Many Masters" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full Many Lives, Many Masters summary :
- How a skeptical scientist was convinced that reincarnation is real
- The case study of "Catherine," a patient who recalled her past lives
- The important life messages passed down by Catherine's masters
