Two doctors in Delhi, with bona fide MBBS degrees, recently conducted a workshop on PLRT. The doctors, Newton Kondaveti and his wife Laxmi, chose this over conventional medicine to help the participants meditate to enable them to “regress to their past lives”.

The participant’s profiles were diverse: there were accountants, scientists and navy cadets, all professionals who need to apply science to their areas of work. There are many “paths”, claims a website on PLR. It is generally “induced” through hypnosis when a person is asked to imagine a dark tunnel that has light at the end of it.

Extraordinary claims are being made of PLRT. When the individual “reaches the end of the tunnel” he regresses to his past life. And voila! he comes out completely recovered — apparently.

A website on PLRT mentions a Deep Sethi who used to catch a cold every summer. His “regressive journey” revealed that he was “a dinosaur-like creature in an extremely cold desert planet”. This is why even a slight increase in the temperature used to set off an acute cold! The knowledge, apparently, saved Sethi.

A Bangalore-based software professional was so claustrophobic that he would never take the elevator to his floor. He’d never go to movie halls or malls and would suffer from nightmares of being squeezed into small spaces. Several visits to psychologists amounted to nothing. He visited a past life therapist and a series of regression sessions revealed that he was a wild goat in his previous life. This knowledge cured him!

Past life theory originates to a great extent in the Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, though the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras also had propagated the transmigration of souls. Vishnu is reincarnated nine times in different forms and according to mythology, his 10th avatar (reincarnation, a word that has long passed into English), the Kalki, hasn’t been born.

US actress Shirley MacLaine believes that not only will she enter a new life from this one, but so will her dog.

Despite PLR being touted as the panacea, the world doesn’t lack its share of sceptics and non-believers. They dismiss past life theory, regression into past life, and the therapy, as bunkum.

Past life, they say, exists only in the imagination, or as another means for the opportunist to use it as a New Age spiritual technique.

Prabir Ghosh of the Science and Rationalist Association of India based in Calcutta, says: “Reincarnation has not been proved as a fact. The scriptures define the soul as ‘chinta’ and ‘chetana’ or thought and consciousness. We all know that our brain cells control the mind and our thoughts and even our subconscious. So the seat of the soul lies in the brain. How can you explain the soul living on after death, then?”

He adds: “Besides, most PLR therapy is done through hypnosis. It is possible to make an individual imagine or see something that he really isn’t seeing through hypnotic suggestions.”

GEORGE W. BUSH

Male in his last incarnation. Was born somewhere in the modern southern Latin America territory around the year 1550. He was a chemist, alchemist or poison manufacturer.

Things to do in this life: He should develop his talent for love, happiness and enthusiasm and should distribute these feelings to all people. (Your time starts now, Mr President!)

MADONNA

She was born a woman somewhere in modern Saudi Arabia territory around 1200. She was a trainer or owner of fine animals, such as birds.

Things to do in this life: She should learn humility and faith in spiritual principles (she has demonstrated it a lot already). Should believe in higher reasons.

SHAH RUKH KHAN

He was born male somewhere in the modern southern Latin America territory around 950. He was an entertainer, musician, poet or temple-dancer.

Things to do in this life: Same as George W. Bush. (Not just on Koffee with Karan.)

AMITABH BACHCHAN

He was born female somewhere in the territory of modern northeast US around 1025. He was a craftswoman or mechanic.

Things to do in this life: To develop a kind attitude towards people and to acquire the gift of understanding and compassion. (This has not been scripted by a journalist made to wait outside his home for four days during his son’s wedding.)

AISHWARYA RAI

Male in her last earthly incarnation. Was born somewhere in the territory of modern Italy around the year 1350. She was a librarian, priest or keeper of tribal relics.

Things to do in this life: Same as Amitabh. (All in the family. )

ANGELINA JOLIE

Female in her last earthly incarnation. She was born somewhere in the territory of modern Romania around 1200. She was a philosopher and thinker.

Things to do in this life: It always seems to her that her perceptions of the world are somewhat different. Her lesson is to trust her intuition as her guide. (So Brad hangs by the thread of her intuition.)

MAMATA BANERJEE

Male in her last earthly incarnation. Was born somewhere in the territory of modern North India around the year 900. Was a writer, dramatist or organiser of rituals.

Things to do in this life: Her lesson is to study, to practise and to use the wisdom that lies within the psychological sciences and in ancient manuscripts. With strong faith and hard work she will reach her real destiny. (Beware, Buddhababu!)

SOURAV GANGULY

Female in his last incarnation. Was born somewhere in the territory of modern New Guinea around 800. He was a builder of houses, temples and cathedrals.

Things to do in this life: Same as Mamata. (Beware, Dhoni!)

ANIL AMBANI

Had been born a female somewhere around modern Israel about 1675. He was a seaman, cook or carpenter. (Was Amar Singh was by his side then?)

Things to do in this life: Learn to love and to trust the universe. You are bound to think, study, reflect, develop inner wisdom. (Big brother’s watching, boy.)

LATA MANGESHKAR

Was a male, born somewhere around modern Hungary around the year 800. She was a mapmaker, astrologer, astronomer.

Things to do in this life: Her main lesson is to develop magnanimity and a feeling of brotherhood (!). She should try to become less adhered to material property and learn to take only as much as she can give back. (Even with the land she owns.)

MICHAEL JACKSON

Female in his last earthly incarnation. Was born somewhere in the territory of modern South Japan around 1200. Was a trainer or owner of fine animals, such as birds (same as Madonna; maybe they knew each other).

Things to do in this life: To understand other people and to meet all difficulties of life with a joyful heart. He should help others by bringing them a spirit of joy. (Isn’t that what’s he has been trying to do any way?)

The website ends the test with the disclaimer: “If you believe the Past Life Test then you are completely bonkers and should be locked up. The Past Life Test is a quiz made with a simple bit of Java script that gives you an answer. The Past Life Test is just a bit of fun and for entertainment purposes only.”