“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

That is frightening, but it goes to show you that even I have things to learn... That the shock of birth is far greater than the shock of death. For when you are born again, then you must completely readjust and learn to operate in a strange and alien environment. When you die, there are no such strong adjustments. Circumstances vary, but if you are lucky—and I hope you will be lucky—then your intellectual faculties will continue to operate. Attending this class they certainly should. And so there is instead triumph, for you say, “I am dead, and still I am I” You will dance a merry dance!

But when you are born again into a tiny and helpless organism and when your intellect may still be operating strongly, then there is a shock, for you cannot do what you want to do. You take it for granted that you can express yourself, and you cannot. That is a shock. Some individuals will retain strong memories of their past lives, and others will not. It is easier, you see, if you do not remember.