S7E17 - Déjà Vu All Over Again: Reincarnation, Recurrence and the Loops of Time

Introduction

Welcome to THEDOG Teachings podcast series that brings to life the extraordinary teachings of Russell A. Smith—teachings that demonstrate a practical and accelerated path to higher consciousness. I'm Gary Eggleton, and today we're diving into one of the most fascinating and transformative topics in this work: the nature of reincarnation, recurrence, and even time travel.

If you've ever wondered about the cyclical nature of your life—why certain patterns seem to repeat themselves, why you might feel trapped in the same struggles, or how these ideas align with the teachings of the Fourth Way—then this episode is for you. In our book The Blueprint of Consciousness, you can explore these concepts in ways that bridge ancient spiritual wisdom with practical, modern understanding.

But let me be clear about something. When we talk about reincarnation and recurrence in this episode, we're not diving into vague philosophical musings about past or future lives. Instead, we're focusing on the very real patterns of repetition and recurrence within this life, the only life you are living right now.

This isn't just about theory—it's about practical transformation. Understanding these concepts can help you see your life, your actions, and your patterns in a completely new light, empowering you to break free from mechanical repetition and move toward conscious, deliberate living.

Understanding Recurrence

Let's begin with recurrence, a concept that's often misunderstood. In the teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky, recurrence isn't about speculative notions of past or future lives. Instead, it's about something far more immediate and tangible: the patterns and loops you experience within your current life.

Man often finds himself caught in revolving thoughts, returning again and again to the same struggles, the same frustrations, and the same feelings of being stuck. For instance, think of how someone might say, "I have 20 years of experience," but in reality, they've lived one year of experience repeated 20 times—locked in the same habits and responses, unable to grow or change.

As Gurdjieff said, "Man is a machine." Without awareness, we operate mechanically, replaying the same script without realizing it. But here's the key: this repetition isn't punishment, and it isn't destiny. It's simply the result of living unconsciously.

Now, let's imagine your life as a book. Every conscious experience you have allows you to write a page in that book. When you're fully present—here and now—you can write down all the rich details of that moment. But when you're not present, when your mind is lost in imagination, past regrets, or future worries, those pages remain blank. When you later revisit those days, you find there's nothing there—no memories, no substance, just empty pages.

This echoes a powerful aphorism from Gurdjieff: "Man is given a definite number of experiences—economizing them, he prolongs his life." What could this mean? Perhaps it's not about having fewer experiences but about avoiding waste—avoiding the waste of the present moment by regurgitating the past. Every time we dwell in old memories, replay old arguments, or regret decisions, we squander the moment we're in.

Reincarnation vs. Recurrence

Now, there's another model called reincarnation that we've all heard about—the idea that we come back as different animals. This is fundamentally different from recurrence. While recurrence deals with patterns repeating in our current life, reincarnation suggests we might come back as a worm, a cow, or something else entirely.

Russell often pointed out the amusing origins of such beliefs. He'd tell a story about how in India, when they buried someone in a shallow grave without a casket, the nutrients would leach into the soil, causing patches of grass to grow abundantly. When a child asked what happened to their grandmother after death, and their father saw a cow grazing on that lush grass over the grave, he might have said, "Oh, she came back as a cow." And thus, perhaps, began the whole belief structure of sacred cows in India.

But here's where it gets fascinating—Russell found a compelling model of recurrence in the universe itself, specifically in neutron stars. You see, neutrons typically have only a 15-minute half-life. They decay and disappear. Yet, in neutron stars—the collapsed cores of suns where electrons and protons have been squished together into neutrons—something remarkable happens.

These neutron stars, spinning perhaps a thousand times per second, are essentially densely packed balls of neutrons. Now, you might wonder: if neutrons only live for 15 minutes, shouldn't these stars blink out of existence? The answer reveals a beautiful metaphor for recurrence. When a neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an anti-neutrino, the intense gravity immediately forces them to recombine into a neutron. It's a constant cycle of decay and reformation—or you might say, recurrence.

This scientific phenomenon offers us a powerful metaphor for understanding recurrence in our own lives. Just as neutrons in these stars constantly decay and reform, we too can find ourselves in patterns of repetition and renewal. The question is: are we conscious of these patterns, and can we choose to break free from them?

The Nature of Time and Existence

To truly understand recurrence, we must challenge how we perceive time itself. Most of us think of time as a straight line—a clear progression from past to present to future. But what if this perception is incomplete? What if time isn't linear, but cyclical—a spiral that brings us back to similar experiences, thoughts, and challenges?

Imagine yourself walking on a path that circles a mountain. From your perspective, it feels linear—you're moving ahead, step by step. But if you could zoom out and see the whole path from above, you'd realize that you're traveling in circles. Each time you loop around, you're at a slightly higher or lower elevation, but the scenery remains eerily familiar.

This spiral nature of time explains why certain patterns—whether in relationships, work, or your own inner struggles—keep appearing in your life. From within the spiral, it feels like life is unfolding linearly, but when you step back and observe, you can see the cycles repeating.

But here's something remarkable: you can change your past by changing your present. Think about a day when you were in a terrible mood. Maybe you were frustrated or sad, and as you reflected on your life, all you could remember were moments of failure, disappointment, or pain. Your emotional state in that moment cast a shadow over your memories of the past, making everything look darker and more negative.

Now think about a time when you were feeling joyful, at peace, or deeply present. In that state, if you looked back on your life, you probably remembered moments of connection, triumph, and love. The same events existed in your past, but your perception of them shifted based on your state of mind in the present.

Breaking Free from Recurrence

So how do we break free from these patterns? The key lies in developing what Russell calls "objective consciousness." This is the ability to see your life as it truly is, without being clouded by emotional baggage or imagined fears. It's about observing your patterns objectively, recognizing the loops, and choosing to break free.

Let's explore some practical exercises to help you develop this awareness:

First, practice self-observation. Spend one day watching yourself as if you were watching a character in a movie. Notice your reactions, your habitual responses, your emotional patterns. Don't judge—just observe.

Second, before making decisions, pause and ask yourself: "If I were to relive this moment in the future, what would I want to have done?" This creates a space between stimulus and response, allowing you to make conscious choices rather than mechanical reactions.

Third, at the end of each day, reflect on what you've written in your book of life. Were you present and engaged, creating meaningful experiences? Or were you lost in mechanical patterns, leaving blank pages in your story?

Fourth, practice presence. When you catch yourself dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties, gently bring your attention back to the present moment. Remember, this is where your power lies—in the here and now.

Writing New Chapters - The Mechanics of Conscious Change

Remember Gurdjieff's profound aphorism: "Man is given a definite number of experiences—economizing them, he prolongs his life." This directly relates to our book metaphor. When we waste the present moment by regurgitating the past or worrying about the future, we squander our limited opportunities for conscious experience. But when we economize—when we focus our attention on the here and now—we stretch the richness and depth of our lives, making each moment count.

Think about it this way: you can't write tomorrow's pages today, and you can't rewrite yesterday's pages no matter how much you wish you could. The only page you can ever write is today's. The only moment you can ever truly live is now. This understanding becomes particularly powerful when we look at how we actually create change in our lives.

Now, let's explore something fascinating about how change actually happens in our lives. Russell Smith discovered a remarkable pattern in how humans create lasting transformation, and he explained it using what's called the Diatonic Enneagram. Don't worry if that term sounds complex - I'm going to break it down into something we can all understand.

Think about how change happens in your life. It always starts with noticing something you don't want - maybe it's a habit you'd like to break, a situation you'd like to improve, or a pattern you'd like to change. This recognition is the first step in what Russell calls "The Lines of Supervision."

Let me give you a practical example. Imagine you notice yourself getting anxious every time you have to speak in public. This recognition - this moment of "I don't want this anymore" - is what Russell calls the Line of Evaluation. It's like your consciousness shining a spotlight on something and saying, "This needs to change." Before this moment, your anxiety was just there, a part of your experience. But now, you've identified it as something you want to transform.

This is similar to what happens in the neutron star we talked about earlier. Just as the neutron's decay triggers a process of transformation, your recognition of an unwanted pattern triggers a process of change.

The next step is fascinating - once you've identified what you want to change, your mind automatically jumps to envisioning the end result you want. Russell calls this the Line of Creation. You don't get stuck in the middle steps - you immediately picture the outcome. When you're hungry, you think "I need to eat," not "I need to cook." When you want to overcome public speaking anxiety, you envision yourself speaking confidently, not practicing breathing exercises.

This vision of the end result then generates the beginning of your journey - the actual steps you'll take to get there. It's like your mind creates a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.

Here's what makes this understanding so powerful: change isn't random. It follows a specific pattern:

First, you recognize something you want to change (Evaluation) Then, you envision the outcome you want (Creation) Finally, you begin taking steps toward that outcome (Action)

There's a beautiful poem Russell wrote about this process:

"Evaluating a denying force creates a function to change its course. The function cycles experience grows, building up confidence until the man knows that his skills being honed by all past attempts now qualify him for the current events. And how, after actions he made in the past, he invented new tools to lighten the task. He knows he can do it; the decision is made; he assembles the workers; it's time to engage. He does have the means; anticipating he sees the way to transform it irrevocably. Just knowing it's feasible lets him prepare all the right data for getting him there. Once it's envisioned, he will commence the Harnel-Aoot with great confidence. And after his actions re-evaluate. To see if indeed it ought to create."

This understanding transforms how we approach change in our lives. Instead of feeling stuck in patterns of recurrence, we can consciously engage with this natural process of transformation. Just as the neutron star maintains its existence through constant cycles of decay and renewal, we can maintain our growth through cycles of recognition, vision, and action.

Making Change Stick - The Practical Application

Let's make this even more practical. When you notice a pattern you want to change in your life, follow these steps:

Clear Recognition: Take time to really understand what you want to change. Don't just react to it - observe it carefully. What exactly is the pattern? When does it occur? How does it affect you?

Vision Creation: Instead of getting stuck in the problem, focus on the outcome you want. Picture it in detail. How will your life be different when this change occurs? What will it feel like? What will others notice?

Strategic Action: Based on your vision, what's the first step you can take? Remember, you don't need to figure out every step - just the next one. The path will unfold as you move forward.

This process isn't just about breaking free from recurrence - it's about consciously creating new patterns in your life. Think of it as writing new chapters in your book of life, but now you're doing it with understanding and purpose.

The Role of Time in Transformation

Understanding this process gives us a new perspective on time itself. Instead of seeing time as a linear progression or even just a spiral, we can see it as a field of possibilities. Each moment of recognition becomes a potential turning point, a chance to initiate real change.

Remember how we talked about the pages in your book of life? Now you can see how to fill those pages with conscious transformation rather than mechanical repetition. Each time you notice something you want to change, each time you create a vision of something new, you're writing a new story.

The beauty of this understanding is that it works with the natural flow of consciousness. You're not fighting against yourself or trying to force change through willpower alone. Instead, you're working with the natural patterns of transformation that exist in consciousness itself.

Integration - Bringing It All Together

Let's connect all these pieces:

Recurrence is the natural tendency to repeat patterns, just like the neutrons in a neutron star constantly cycling through decay and reformation. But unlike the neutron star, we have consciousness - the ability to recognize what we want to change and envision something new.

The Diatonic Enneagram shows us how this process of change naturally unfolds:

• Recognition leads to evaluation
• Evaluation leads to vision
• Vision leads to action

This understanding gives us practical tools for transformation:

• We can consciously observe our patterns (breaking free from mechanical recurrence)
• We can clearly identify what we want to change (using the Line of Evaluation)
• We can create compelling visions of what we want (engaging the Line of Creation)
• We can take focused action toward our goals (implementing real change)

Think of it as having a map for transformation. Just as a map doesn't walk the path for you but shows you the way, this understanding doesn't do the work of change but shows you how change naturally occurs.

Living with Higher Understanding

This knowledge transforms how we approach our daily lives. Instead of feeling trapped in recurring patterns or frustrated by our attempts at change, we can work with the natural processes of transformation.

Remember the book analogy? Now you're not just writing random pages or leaving them blank - you're consciously authoring your story with understanding. Each day becomes an opportunity to:

• Notice what needs to change
• Envision what you want to create
• Take steps toward that vision

This isn't just theory - it's practical wisdom for living. When you understand how change naturally occurs, you can work with these principles rather than against them. It's like learning to sail - instead of fighting the wind, you learn to work with it.

Closing

That concludes today's episode, Déjà Vu All Over Again: Reincarnation, Recurrence, and the Loops of Time. Thank you for listening and joining me on this exploration of how the patterns and loops of our lives shape us—and how we can break free to live more consciously.

These concepts of recurrence and reincarnation are more than just philosophical ideas; they are tools for transformation. By understanding how we fall into repetitive loops, and by learning to live fully in the present moment, we can write new pages in the book of our lives and finally escape the cycles that keep us stuck.

If you're ready to take the next step toward objective consciousness, I encourage you to visit our website at thedogteachings.com. There, you can find The Blueprint of Consciousness - An Accelerated Path to Awakening, the groundbreaking book by Russell A. Smith. Available in both physical and PDF formats, this book provides a practical, verifiable method for achieving higher states of consciousness.

On the site, you'll also gain access to an extensive library of resources, including transcripts of these podcasts, diagrams, animations, supporting videos, and much more—all designed to help you deepen your understanding and accelerate your journey.

And don't forget, we host two free Zoom classes every Sunday to assist you. One class is for readers working through The Blueprint of Consciousness, and the other is for advanced practitioners engaging with the Master Exercises and Double or Nothing Exercises. For more details, visit the "Resources/Zoom Classes" section on our website.

Remember, the loops of time don't have to define you. With the right tools, you can step out of the cycle and begin living intentionally, consciously, and freely.

So visit thedogteachings.com—that's T H E D O G T E A C H I N G S dot com—and begin transforming your life today.

Until next time, keep observing, keep growing, and keep striving for consciousness. Goodbye.