What does that mean, exactly?

[kextrii]

Over the past several months, I've had a recurring theme in my dreams from time to time. It's more than a theme, it's almost a recurring storyline, only with some variations in setting

Comments

[anonymous]

Some of that sounds remarkably similar to part of the premise of the anime Shakugan no Shana... though it's by no means a deep story with lots of meaning. The main character discovers that the person he thinks he is was killed by supernatural forces and that he is actually just a temporary copy of that person who has the same look and personality and everything but is meant to fade out of the notice and memory of anyone who knew him and then disappear. Though he doesn't, or there wouldn't be much of a story.

[revanad]

Hm, apparently I wasn't logged in.

Dalai Lama

[kextrii]

Yeah, okay, so it occurred to me a few days ago that this is sort of like what happens with the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, where someone is chosen and said to be the reincarnation of the previous holder of the title (after the death of the previous one). It might not be exactly the same, and I don't know how much it influences the lifestyle of the new Lama to learn of one's identity from a former life. Obviously, candidates are chosen for their natural tendencies, so you're unlikely to choose a new Lama who acts "out of character" from the previous one.