M.J. Rose

Welcome to the Reincarnationist Blog’s series of interviews using the infamous Proust Questionnaire. Today’s subject is Douglas Preston…

THE QUESTIONS:

 

Title of your latest book as of Sept 1, 2007

 

The Wheel of Darkness

 

Do you believe — even a little bit that reincarnation is possible?

 

Yes.

 

Have you ever read anything books the subject that made an impression on you?

 

When I was thirteen or fourteen, I read a book called “The Boy Who Saw True.” That bowled me over and converted me to the idea of reincarnation and karma. I had previously thought the idea of heaven and hell was ridiculous and I wondered how a benevolent God could allow innocents to suffer. Reincarnation and karma provided neat solutions to both those problems. I devoured the books of Edgar Cayce, The Aquarian Gospel, as well as the Diamond Light of Tibetan Buddhism. Recently, I fear, I have become a skeptic.

 

What is your most marked characteristic that you believe could be a hold over from a past life?

 

Kindness.

 

What is your principle defect that you believe might be inherited from a previous incarnation?

 

A propensity to yell.

 

Which of your favorite heroes do you think you actually could have been and why?

 

None. I feel sure that if reincarnation is true, my previous lives were lived in blessed anonymity. Not only do the laws of probability suggest it, but I don’t feel I’ve ever been a famous or powerful person. I have a strong aversion to the acquisition and exercise of power.

 

What three people from history would you like to have over to dinner for a discussion about reincarnation?

 

Jesus Christ, the Dalai Lama, and Siddartha Guatama.

 

What do you think happens when we die?

 

I have complicated ideas about that, which I expound in my upcoming novel, BLASPHEMY.

 

When you come back next time, who would you like to be?

 

Just an ordinary, anonymous human being trying to make sense of his life.

 

We would love to hear your responses to these questions. Please feel free to copy and paste the Questionnaire with your answers into a Comment for this post.

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