How do you know you have not lived a thousand lives before this one or will not live thousands of lives after this one?
46-50, F
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Rudboy41 · 41-45, M
So we dont know, but according to Buddhist teachings , the buddha attained the state of being able to explore his past lives during his enlightenment.
"When Right Concentration arises in the mind, it has a shadow. When you can catch sight of the shadow appearing, that's vipassana: insight meditation.
Vipassana-ñana is the first branch of knowledge and skill in the Buddha's teaching. The second branch is iddhividhi, the power of mind over matter. The third is manomayiddhi, the power of mind-made images. The fourth is dibba-cakkhu, clairvoyance. The fifth is dibba-sota, clairaudience. The sixth is cetopariya-ñana, the ability to read minds. The seventh is pubbenivasanussati-ñana, knowledge of previous lifetimes.
And the eighth, asavakkhaya-ñana, knowledge of the ending of mental fermentations. All eight of these branches are forms of knowledge and skill that arise from concentration. People without concentration can't gain them: that's an absolute guarantee. No matter how smart or clever they may be, they can't gain these forms of knowledge. They have to fall under the power of ignorance."
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/knowledge.html
"When Right Concentration arises in the mind, it has a shadow. When you can catch sight of the shadow appearing, that's vipassana: insight meditation.
Vipassana-ñana is the first branch of knowledge and skill in the Buddha's teaching. The second branch is iddhividhi, the power of mind over matter. The third is manomayiddhi, the power of mind-made images. The fourth is dibba-cakkhu, clairvoyance. The fifth is dibba-sota, clairaudience. The sixth is cetopariya-ñana, the ability to read minds. The seventh is pubbenivasanussati-ñana, knowledge of previous lifetimes.
And the eighth, asavakkhaya-ñana, knowledge of the ending of mental fermentations. All eight of these branches are forms of knowledge and skill that arise from concentration. People without concentration can't gain them: that's an absolute guarantee. No matter how smart or clever they may be, they can't gain these forms of knowledge. They have to fall under the power of ignorance."
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/knowledge.html