William Blake, in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, says,  “without contraries is no progression” . An irrepressible energy of life urges everything in creation to manifest, show its true nature and choose towards progression or retrogression. Species which do not possess a free will, fare better in this process than humans do. Progression or retrogression stipulates the exercise of personal volition in the process of the urge to advance from infancy to maturity, wherein the nature of choices made among contraries becomes a decisive factor. For purposes of guidance and avoidance of pitfalls, humans are endowed with appropriate facilities.
Unfortunately, agents of human socialisation and education, including parents and states as well as the “tortuousness of the human brain”, confound the simplicity of life, by various means. Thus in the process of growth from infancy to adulthood and maturity, humans encounter snares, doctrines and rules in which individuals get entangled, as in a spiders web of prohibitions and hypocrisy. Natural facilities for the education and guidance of man became distorted.
Earthbound phenomenon is one of the results that arise from human failures and non-diligent utilisation of the natural facilities provided for the guidance and education of every human being. For example, earthbound phenomenon can arise from a preacher telling a large congregation that “there is nothing like reincarnation”. It is better for parents, teachers and preachers to leave those who long for true knowledge alone than to give them information that are not true.
To say that “the sins of the fathers revenge themselves unto the third and fourth generation”, means that the wrong information or education given by fathers, guardians, teachers, etc, can take up to three or four generations to be corrected. A child misled by a father through some wrong information or an unguarded statement, would remain chained to such a father until opportunity to correct such error comes, which can take up to three or four generations. As it is with passing on of wrong information to a young person who reposes trust in a guardian or teacher, so also it is with a person doing a deliberate wrong or injury to another.
Therefore, earthbound phenomenon has to do with the irrepressible energy of life urging that imbalances caused anywhere by anyone, must be atoned for and balanced, which demands being held down in the environment of the act. To block or undermine the life chances of individuals through malicious or wrong advice, teaching or information, carries a burden which can endure for several generations with the people so connected being bound together even when the issues that created such bondage are long forgotten.
Earthbound phenomenon can arise from simple act of negligence such as passing wrong information, and serious acts of criminality such as murder and looting of a nation’s wealth. More importantly what binds a human soul to earthly environment is largely refusal to change for the better, from previous state of gross impunity. Such state of gross impunity and heavy yoke always arises from becoming enslaved to some orgies and propensities which engender gross depravity. Seriously aspiring souls soon detach from the earth.
Any society, nation or environment overwhelmed by persistent instability, violence and increasing criminality, is a society where there are large numbers of earthbound souls. Either such souls are longing for opportunities to take some revenge for the wrongs which they had suffered, or are eager to see drastic changes for the better. But in every case,  earthbound souls are usually souls in serious torments. Thus social unrests and political violence can become short cuts to spiritual liberation, for such souls longing for vengeance and for the living who continue to engage in acts of gross irresponsibility. Terrors of hard and distressing times can engender penitence.
In the case of Nigeria at the moment, evidence supports the fact that events and experiences since 1960, have not produced sufficient impetus for really desirable changes. Considering the horrors of the Civil War, 1967-1971 and experience thereafter, not much has changed in the attitude and inner life for collective Nigerians. On the contrary, acts of injustices and impunity have so increased that victims of gross injustices seek for vengeance, rather than continue to endure more acts of injustice.
What many people fail to take into account is the fact that the working of the wheel of nemesis confounds human wisdom and perception. In most cases, the apparent wrong which people suffer in the hands of other people, can arise as a penalty for distant and long-forgotten injuries inflicted on others which demand atonement. Moreover, ignorance about the working of the irrepressible energy and laws of life, make it difficult for people to be able to know when they are forced to make atonements.
The phenomenon of being confined to the earth for many generations as a result of burdens of guilts, arises largely as a result of an individual making no effort to reduce such burdens through penitence and a change for the better. Such situation of being tied and confined to the earth for errors that must be accounted for, arises from many factors, which include a denial of the fact about repeated earth-lives. Earthbound souls take on body of flesh and blood several times, as an opportunity to atone for existing guilts, and then detach themselves from the earth.
Through exposures to various conditions of life on earth and through diligent use of the free will, individuals encounter the contraries necessary for progression. Experiences in life become useful means of progression if individuals are able to absorb and integrate the lessons inherent in every experience, no matter its nature. To describe life on earth as a battle means that progression comes about through individuals grappling with forces of various kinds, including truth and falsehood. It is only through victory in the encounters with contraries, that progression can come about.
Victory in life’s battle can only come when individuals are able to develop the ability to make sound and independent personal judgements. This would include the ability to weigh and evaluate issues and challenges so that an independent judgement can arise from such scrutiny. Many people allow themselves to be led astray by glib talkers, even when they have the means of being guided inwardly. Those who seek to inform and teach others should examine themselves seriously first. Willful acts, negligences and indulgences avenge themselves. We must go back to where we had erred and put things right again!

By: Bright Amirize
Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer in the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.