Rebirthing

    I. Profile Report

    1. Name: Rebirthers
    2. Founder: Leonard Orr
    3. Date of birth: circa 1938
    4. Birth place: Walton, New York
    5. Year founded: 1974, perfected in 1975
    6. How/Why?: Rebirthing was started because Leonard had received his philosophy of rebirthing from the spirit. His ideas about body mastery came from Babajii, an immortal yogi in India. The first rebirthing center was in Walton his birthplace.
    7. Sacred text: No specific sacred texts are used. Most followers buy his books or find information in rebirthing centers around the world.
    8. Cult Or Sect:

      Negative sentiments are typically implied when the concepts "cult" and "sect" are employed in popular discourse. Since the Religious Movements Homepage seeks to promote religious tolerance and appreciation of the positive benefits of pluralism and religious diversity in human cultures, we encourage the use of alternative concepts that do not carry implicit negative stereotypes. For a more detailed discussion of both scholarly and popular usage of the concepts "cult" and "sect," please visit our Conceptualizing "Cult" and "Sect" page, where you will find additional links to related issues.

    9. Beliefs: Rebirthers believe that by breath mastery or intuitive breathing the human aura connects both the mind and the spirit. With this union, one can attain physical immortality like Babajii and others. Three important steps to attaining immortality are 1) move mind and body into harmony 2) get rid of the death urge 3) need mastery of the physical body through breathing, fasting, sleep, and physical pleasure
    10. Size of the group: Leonard Orr's books claim at least ten million people practice rebirthing. We are aware of no evidence to substantiate this claim.
    11. Remarks: Not only is rebirthing an NRM but it also doubles as a growing business profession. One can make a lot of money charging for breathing sessions and selling books.

    II. Links to Rebirthing Web Sites

    Rebirth International Online
    Official home page of Rebirththing containing a special message from Leonard Orr explaining the effects of his rebirthing powers. This page contains a link to other sites which are very useful. (official home page).
    http://www.jla.com/htms/rebirth2.htm

    In Our Bodies: Moving and Breathing with Awareness
    Provides information on spiritual connection of the self. By practicing conscious movement and breath a person can achieve a self-awareness which can help them attain healthy mind/body/spirit. (unofficial home page).
    http://www.doubleclickd.com/bodies.html

    People Forever International
    This is a non-profit group which provides the ideology of Physical Immortality, a belief very high on Leonard Orr's priority list. Although they never mention Orr's name they do mention the newsletter Conscious Connection which Orr publishes. Altogether a good information source on physical immortality. (unofficial home page).
    http://www.people-forever.org/index.html

    Rebirthing, Breath-Work and Primal

    Highlights the business side of rebirthing movement. Includes prices and a phone number! (unofficial home page).
    http://www.eznet.com/~alanm/breath.htm

    Relax...Take a Breath!
    To the point information on rebirthing and the process of the belief.
    http:/www.northcoast.com/unlimited/news/acces/march_95_acces/breath.html


    Selected References

    No scholarly or mass media literature are located. Many books by Leonard Orr are identified and available through his web sites identified above.

    Commentary

    The philosophy of rebirthing by Leonard Orr maintains the idea that through certain breathing techniques one can over come the birth trauma they experienced in being born. Immersed in water or lying on the ground one breathes with the guidance of a rebirther in rythmic breaths to enter an unconscious rebirth. This is an emotional process. Loenard Orr calls it, " a full body orgasm that last approximately an hour. It washes the human mind and body with divine energy. It is the biogical experience of God" ( Inuitive Breathing, Orr).

    This biological experience of God has developed into another philosophy, physical immortality that Orr has picked up from immortal Indian yogi. Physical immortality can be acquired using Orr's rebirthing techniques along with other steps. The most important are rebirthing, fasting, eating well, exercise, and physical pleasure. Leonard Orr also stresses water, earth, fire, and air purification, "when we meditate and participate with earth, air, water, and fire, and maintain loving relationships with people, we can achieve victory over aging and death" (p.15, Turning Senility Misery into Victory 1992). By water purification Orr means bathing twice daily. Apparently water is grace that cleanses your body at the touch. Earth purification is food and sleep. Eating good food choices like grains, fruits, and vegetables along with the right amount of sleep increases your body mastery.

    Fire purification entails spending as much time as you can near fires, and feeding the fire the first few bites of your meal. This is supposed to master your body temperature. Lastly air purification is rebirthing which has been outlined. These are the basics of Leonard Orr's philosophy. He belives very much that we need to rid ourselves of our urge to die and live for ever.


    Prepared by Jayme Linton
    Soc 257: New Religious Movements
    Spring Term, 1996
    University of Virginia
    Last modified: 07/23/01