Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The first time I saw Catherine she was wearing a vivid crimson dress and was nervously leafing through a magazine in my waiting room..." (more)
Key Phrases: ancient lifetime, superconscious state, Master Spirits, Department of Psychiatry, Robert Jarrod

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Psychiatry and metaphysics blend together in this fascinating book based on a true case history. Dr. Weiss, who was once firmly entrenched in a clinical approach to psychiatry, finds himself reluctantly drawn into past-life therapy when a hypnotized client suddenly reveals details of her previous lives. During one hypnosis session his client introduces the spirit guides who have been her soul therapists in between lives. This is when the story really takes off for Weiss, who discovers that these guides have specific messages about his dead son as well as Weiss's mission in life. No, we cannot verify the truth of this story using the limited scientific tools we have available. However, it is hard to dispute that this well-respected graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School has discovered a personal truth that has led him to be an enormously popular speaker, author, and leader in the field of past-life therapy. --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

In 1980, Weiss, head of the psychiatry department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, began treating Catherine, a 27-year-old woman plagued by anxiety, depression and phobias. When Weiss turned to hypnosis to help Catherine remember repressed childhood traumas, what emerged were the patient's descriptions of a dozen or so of her hitherto unknown 86 past lives, as well as philosophical messages channeled from "Master Spirits." Catherine's anxieties and phobias soon disappeared, says Weiss, and she was able to end therapy. The previously nonspiritual, scientific Weiss, awed by Catherine's and the masters' revelations, has written this book to share his new-found knowledge about "immortality and the true meaning of life." Whether or not one believes in reincarnation and channeling, Weiss's book will disappoint. Catherine's descriptions of her past lives are not particularly compelling or insightful. Moreover, the teachings of the Master Spirits ("We are not to kill. . . . Only God can punish," "Charity, hope, faith, love . . . we must all know these things," and "Our body is just a vehicle for us while we're here. It is our soul and our spirit that last forever"), while admirable and comforting, are little more than restatements of traditional religious values.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Later Printing edition (July 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671657860
• ISBN-13: 978-0671657864
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (391 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Past Life/ Reincarnation Primer, January 17, 2002

By	Carol Bardelli and Jerry Bardelli (Silver Springs, NV USA) - See all my reviews

Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss, M.D. was an easy, enjoyable read. Well written and fast paced, I read it in one sitting. Most of the subject matter covered will not be new to a long-time student of reincarnation. This book is geared for readers new to the subject, as Dr. Weiss was at the time the events he describes took place. His analysis of events may annoy those who don't require concrete proof of spiritual realities. He offered no verifiable scientific proof of what he presented anyway. It was encouraging to see a serious scientist open his mind to faith without proof. Dr. Weiss' enlightenment on the subject (in this, his first book) is limited to one patient he regressed through 12 of her 86 past lives. The ones that are delved into aren't described in much depth. Though the regressions reveal personal insight into her present life difficulties, there's not much applicable universally. Some "Masters" he quotes seem a little too judgmental to be enlightened spirits: "Humans just destroy. They will eventually destroy themselves." Much of their wisdom offered little new in the way of insight: "Wisdom is achieved very slowly." The methods he describes using to obtain this material don't rule out contact with less enlightened spirits, which Dr. Weiss admits at one point. So the "many masters" may not have been masters at all. He does show how past life regression can be a powerful tool in healing emotional problems and phobias. Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton, Ph.D, another regression therapist, are much more in depth and informative, though they deal with life between lives more than the mechanics of reincarnation itself. If your budget calls for more bang for your buck, your money might be better spent on classic "must read" books on reincarnation: Many Mansions by Gina Cerminara & You Were Born Again To Be Together by Dick Sutphen. Two newer "must reads" are: Adventures in Reincarnation
by Brian Jamieson and Past Lives, Present Dreams : How to Use Reincarnation for Personal Growth
by Denise Linn

69 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing, October 9, 2001

By	"biker-gal" (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

I cannot get 'into' a book very easily - and it can even take me months to finish one that interests me. I picked up this book, by suggestion of a friend, about 3 years ago. I sat down on a Sunday morning around 10AM and with the exception of making a quick sandwich and some 'natures call' breaks, I did not put this book down. Next thing I knew it was 5:00 in the afternoon and I had read the entire book. Right from the first few pages, it'll grab you. I've purchased this book for several friends and family members and I get the same response, "WOW!"

I'm generally a pretty intense, high-strung person. After reading this book, I really mellowed out and learned not to take things SO hard when they go wrong, to take things in stride. We're all here to "LEARN" - to be better people. Better spirits.

This book somehow taught me to live a healthier lifestyle, to be happier and really enjoy my life, my friends, my family. I'm now reading it for the 2nd time and I'm enjoying it just as much as the first time.

OBVIOUSLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

166 of 194 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aid to understanding the "why"'s of the universe, August 19, 2000

By	Christopher McIntosh (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

BACKGROUND: In 1986, I was involved in a severe accident which had left me comatose for 9 days. During the early part of my recovery, a dear friend suggested that I read this book after telling her about my memories from the time while in a coma.

REVIEW: Dr. Weiss answered a big "why" question for me. Why was I struggling between the notions of One-life, One-soul vs. Many-lives, One-soul? Through his research (much of which is presented in a worthy bibliography in the book), he discovered that the wording of the Bible has been modified -- at the order of Church leadership.

The story was quite grappling. I could not put this book down. I read it within 2 or 3 days. The experience through which I, myself, had just evolved compared too well with what I was now reading from another human for the first time in my (current) life; I was 35 at the time.

It was also quite compelling. Questions -- hard questions -- which many of us struggle to answer are addressed in his book. Being from a Baptist Christian up-bringing, I found it hard to acknowledge the Truth as presented. However, my own experience prevented me from disspelling it in the sake of other "unquestioned" teachings which cannot hold up to research methods.

Obviously, I believe that Many Lives, Many Masters is a great, yet simple, work. It excites me to think that when all has been deciphered from the Dead Sea Scrolls (and other ancient texts which have less political influence than the Bible), we will see that, indeed, Dr. Weiss has revealed to us the Truth -- Critically honest answers to the hard questions about our beings, both physical and spiritual.