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 – January 1, 1994

As I get older I have become more interested in esoteric topics. Even though I am a scientific minded person I am fascinated by personal experiences involving unusual and more mystical topics. One of the things that attracted me to this 221 page soft cover book (Many lives many masters by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.) is that it involves a scientifically trained Psychiatrist. Even though he had many years’ experience dealing with people with all kinds of psychological issues this book focuses on a young 27 years old female patient whose experience under hypnosis revealed an amazing tale of numerous past lives.The Doctor, who as mentioned before, was scientifically trained and had simple answers to previous people he had treated for a wide variety of mental illnesses was at a loss to explain away Catherine’s past lives stories while under hypnosis. She came to see Dr. Weiss because of her anxiety, panic attacks and phobias. This book explores the numerous therapy sessions with Catherine. It became clear after a few sessions that the doctor’s standard psychotherapy approach was different with Catherine due to her past life experiences.During these numerous sessions Catherine kept revealing the many different past lives she had lived as both a man and a woman. The amazing detail Catherine related in these sessions so impressed Dr. Weiss that he could not easily dismiss them as some kind of fantasy. It was not only the past lives that intrigued the author, but during these hypnosis sessions Catherine also related meeting with masters between each of her past lives.As someone who has always rejected any and all forms of mysticism and pseudoscience I admit to being impressed with the experiences of this woman. I do not know whether the related experiences of this woman are true or fantasy, but this book certainly makes one think about the many mysteries not yet solved by science.I found this book a fascinating read.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Zen Poetry Moments: Haiku and Senryu for special occasions).

Simply read this book with an open mind and reflect on your life as you read. Powerful perspective about life and death and what can happen if you become the observer and student in life!

Great read! It completely ties along with another similar book, too, which made this even better! Full of golden nuggets for life and reflection. Highly recommend!

Brian Weiss, M.D. certainly has impressive credentials. A graduate of prestigious schools with a successful and well-recommended psychiatric practice, he frequently used hypnosis to get to the bottom of his patients' issues. When he begins treatment for the twenty-seven year old Catherine, he finds her phobias and nightmares daunting. However, as he utilizes regression analysis to glimpse within the span of her childhood years for a greater understanding of her problems, he is shocked when she relates an experience that suggests another lifetime--an ancient one perhaps lived in the Egypt of the Pharaohs. In the very readable book recounting this experience in the early 80s entitled "Many Lives, Many Masters: the True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient and the Past-Life Therapy that Changed Both Their Lives," he relates his bewilderment at Catherine's strange disclosures--she reveals incidents from 12 of the 87 lives she lived on earth as a unique soul that was born over and over again with an `in-between' time and place where she conferred with "Masters" that helped her to see the lesson learned from the life just lived.As Catherine speaks of her past lives while under the regression hypnosis, Dr. Weiss surprises himself as he increasingly enables her to understand the motivating factors that have caused her arrested development and unhappiness in her current life. Her fear of water, her unexplained choking, her anger with regard to her father and a romantic relationship that causes her pain but from which she cannot move away, all dissipate as Weiss uncovers details from her past lives.Even more importantly, Weiss discovers that as Catherine relives portions of her lives and then moves towards the moments of death, her appearance in the `in-between' with the Masters reveals information, not intended for the soul of Catherine but for the doctor himself.As a trained scientist, Weiss wants to collect his data and study it until he can either one hundred percent dispute or validate his findings. As an agnostic, he finds the concept of a universe of multi-dimensions and spiritual learning leading to the development of soul and self, preposterous. Nonetheless, he must believe based on the results Catherine achieves as the cause of each of her issues is identified, explored and eradicated and she is able to live a happy and healthy life.Bottom line? Brian Weiss's recounting of his therapy with the patient he calls Catherine makes for an easy yet profound reading experience. However, as the topic of past-lives and regression analysis has been the topic of many movies and books, the impact of this information may seem a little ho-hum and/or dated. Nevertheless, it is compelling, informative and thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended for its simple honesty.Diana Faillace Von Behren"reneofc"

I could not put this book down. It’s part memoir, part spiritual awakening and it completely shifted how I think about life, death and healing. Dr. Weiss’s writing is clear and heartfelt and Catherine’s journey is both moving and thought provoking. Whether you believe in past lives or not, this book leaves you with hope and a deeper sense of connection.

Great book and great suggestion for everyone who wants to find an answer about the purpose of life, see the bigger picture, don't focus on the little details to understand more.

This book had some amazingly profound insight. I’ve considered reading it for about 10 years. I am a bit surprised that through other avenues and spiritual developments I already was aware of most of the information within. I still remain a bit skeptical. Was this woman really an imaginative person telling very tall tales and a natural actor to convince a doctor. Is the doctor truly even a doctor with real credibility I honestly don’t even know yet but plan to eventually read anything discrediting him. For now though I’m digesting these ideas further while suspending my disbelief yet not blindly believing and trusting. Thoughts and ideas though not perfect, can still be wonderful catalysts that lead to growth and further development.

Great book