Categories: Third Eye: Practical Meditation
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. In our ongoing exploration of the spiritual life, we delve into a topic of deep curiosity for many: learning how to see past lives. This article is the 23rd in our series on practical Third Eye meditation, and today we will provide practical training and guidance on this profound skill.
Some of you may have already experienced glimpses of this through your own developed consciousness, wisdom, or insight. For those to whom this is new or unclear, we hope to illuminate the path. This teaching is for those who are ready to explore their spiritual journey in a practical, hands-on way.
Understanding the Foundation: Rebirth, Kamma, and the Journey of Saṃsāra
Before we begin the practice of how to see past lives, it is essential to understand the context. This practice is rooted in the belief in a journey through many lives, a concept known in Buddhism as Saṃsāra. This is the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Those who have faith in the Buddha’s teachings accept the principles of kamma (intentional action) and its results, and thus understand that we have all been born countless times before. If we have not yet ended this cycle by attaining the stages of enlightenment or realizing Nibbāna (liberation), this journey will continue. This understanding is the foundation upon which we build our practice.
The Tools for Seeing: Third Eye vs. The Knowledge of Past Lives
We will use the Third Eye as a gateway for this practice, but it’s crucial to understand a key distinction. Seeing past lives is not an automatic ability of the Third Eye. The Third Eye, or Dibba-cakkhu (the Divine Eye), is a psychic ability that allows one to see what is hidden from ordinary sight. Many can develop this ability, though not everyone does.
However, the specific ability of how to see past lives is a separate and distinct form of knowledge called Pubbenivasanussati-ñana, the ‘knowledge of remembering former abodes.’ In the Buddha’s teachings, specifically in the Abhidhamma, this is listed as one of the five supernormal knowledges (Pañca-abhiññā).
Therefore, simply having an open Third Eye does not guarantee you can see past lives. This is a special spiritual capacity that some may develop, while others may not. We must approach this practice with this understanding.
Your Spiritual Readiness: Who Can Practice This?
This practice is only for those whose Third Eye is already open. Even then, success is not guaranteed for everyone. It is a matter of trying and seeing what your spiritual capacity allows. Furthermore, your ability to see far back into the past depends on your accumulated spiritual merits, or pāramī.
Someone with immense pāramī, such as a Bodhisatta (one aspiring to Buddhahood), may be able to see countless lives. Others aspiring to different paths of enlightenment, like that of a disciple (Sāvaka-bodhi) or a silent Buddha (Pacceka-bodhi), may see fewer. For many, you may only be able to see one, two, or three past lives at first. Some may see ten, fifty, or a hundred. This varies greatly. It is important to begin this practice with a clear understanding of these conditions.
Step 1: Preparing Your Space and Mind for Meditation
Now, let’s explore how to see past lives in practice. First, find your usual meditation spot. This could be in front of your home shrine where you offer flowers and light lamps, a quiet corner of your house with a view of nature, or simply a peaceful room.
Sit in your preferred meditation posture, such as the full lotus (Padmasana) or half-lotus (Baddha Paryaṅka), as is suitable for both men and women. We have discussed these postures in other articles, so we will not repeat the details here. Close your eyes.
For those who are new to our teachings, please note that this is part of a progressive series. You cannot simply jump in and expect results without the foundational practice. We encourage newcomers to explore our foundational articles first to understand the basics of developing your spiritual practice. It is through this gradual, practical application that you will come to understand these deeper concepts.
Step 2: Attaining Calm and Making a Clear Resolution
Once you are seated comfortably with your eyes closed, allow your mind to settle. Let your thoughts gradually subside until you reach a state of mental calm and concentration, a state known as samādhi. For some, this happens quickly; for others, it may take some time. Be patient with yourself.
When you feel your mind is calm and settled, you must make a firm resolution, or adhiṭṭhāna. With focused intent, silently state your purpose: “May I be able to see my previous life.” Repeat this resolution two or three times: “May I be able to see the existence I had just before this current human life.” This act of determination focuses the mind and directs your spiritual energy toward the goal.
Step 3: Navigating the Inner Sensations of the Journey
As you hold this resolution, you may begin to experience certain sensations. You might feel a sense of floating, or the feeling that your physical body is disappearing. This is normal; as the mind becomes deeply concentrated on a single object, its awareness of the physical body fades. You might feel a strong pressure or tightness in the middle of your forehead, a sign of deep concentration. Your body might feel tense.
These are common experiences during deep states of mental unification. Some people may feel a few of these signs, some may feel only one, and others may feel none at all. Do not be concerned. These are natural side-effects of the body’s nervous and circulatory systems responding to deep meditation. The key is to remain calm and unafraid.
You may then feel a sensation of being pulled backward, as if traveling into the past. For some, this might feel similar to the movement of the mind-made body (manokāya or Astral Body), though it is not exactly the same. For others, this backward movement may not be felt at all. The experience varies from person to person. You might feel like you are moving very fast, or as if you are passing through a black hole from one universe to another. Whatever you experience, remain calm. This is a normal part of the process.
Step 4: The First Glimpses of a Former Existence
After these initial stages, the visions of your past life may begin to appear. Do not expect to see everything at once. Often, the first things you see are related to the most powerful actions, or kamma, you performed in that life. The most dominant habits and deeds will surface first, whether they were wholesome (kusala) or unwholesome (akusala).
For example:
- If you engaged in killing animals, that may be the first image you see.
- If you lived a monastic life, practicing as a monk or an ascetic, those scenes of renunciation and meditation will appear first because of their strong wholesome energy.
You will not see mundane details like what you ate, how you used the bathroom, or how you earned a living. The practice of how to see past lives reveals what was most impactful. The most powerful, defining aspects of that life are what manifest in your vision.
Step 5: Interpreting What You See – Forms, Realms, and Appearances
The form you see will correspond to the realm of your previous birth. You might first see yourself in the clothing you most often wore.
- If you were a deva or devī (a celestial being), you will appear adorned in beautiful divine garments.
- If you were born in a Brahma world, you would see a simpler, more sublime form.
- If you were born in one of the four lower realms (apāya), you will see the form of that being. For instance, if you were a dog, you might first see only the image of a dog. From this, you must understand, “I was born in the animal realm.”
- If you were in a hell realm (niraya), you might see images of being dragged by hell-wardens or suffering amidst fire and molten metal.
It is crucial not to become disheartened or agitated by these visions. Even the one delivering this teaching has likely been born in such realms countless times. This is the terrifying nature of Saṃsāra that the Buddha taught, a reality for all beings journeying through this cycle, regardless of their beliefs.
Step 6: Understanding the Fleeting Nature of Visions and Deepening Your Focus
When you first learn how to see past lives, the visions may be very brief. An image might appear for a few seconds and then vanish, like a mental image (citta–rūpa). This happens because the mind is still new to this experience. There is often a mix of curiosity, excitement, and even fear. This mental agitation can cause the vision to disappear. Even if you try to make the resolution again, it may not reappear immediately.
However, with practice and a more mature spiritual mindset, this changes. A person who is calm, without fear or excessive curiosity, can hold the vision for longer.
- Some may be able to watch for two or three minutes.
- Those with a deeply tranquil and stable mind, free from agitation, can hold their focus and observe a scene for five or ten minutes.
Your initial goal should be to practice viewing just one past life. This stability comes from your karmic habit of having practiced meditation, especially calm-abiding meditation (samatha), in previous lives. This is what we call a wholesome habit from saṃsāra. If you have this foundation, you will be able to see these things very quickly.
Step 7: Deepening the Investigation of a Single Life
Once you have successfully and clearly identified your immediately preceding life, you can begin to investigate it in more detail. Before moving on to other lives, spend time with this one. You can verify its authenticity by making a new resolution: “May I see my true previous life form.” If the vision remains stable, it is accurate. If it disappears or changes, it may have been a mental fabrication.
Once confirmed, you can ask specific questions through your focused intention. If you were a human, for example, you can resolve to see:
- How did I spend my life?
- What did I wear?
- Was I married? Did I have children?
- Who were my parents?
- What was my profession?
- In which country or region did I live?
You can explore these details one by one. However, you cannot see an entire 80-year lifespan at once. You can only view the specific aspect you focus your resolution on at that moment. This process takes time and may require practice over several days, weeks, or even months.
The Purpose of Seeing: Healing, Understanding, and Growth
Why should we learn how to see past lives? The purpose is spiritual growth. By understanding your past, you can improve your present. You can identify unwholesome habits and work to abandon them, while recognizing and cultivating wholesome tendencies you’ve carried forward. If you have been aspiring toward a path of enlightenment, you can see what practices you were engaged in and continue that journey with more clarity.
This knowledge can also explain present-day suffering. If you have a chronic illness or face persistent obstacles, you can resolve to see the cause in a past life. You may see a past unwholesome act, like harming an animal, and understand its karmic result. You can then make a resolution to see what must be done to mitigate this kamma, whether it is through wholesome deeds, meditation, or simply enduring the result until the debt is paid. This provides a path to healing and acceptance.
Expanding Your Vision: Seeing the Past Lives of Others
As your ability develops, you can also learn to see the past lives of others. This includes your loved ones, parents, siblings, spouse, children, and friends. You can investigate whether your current relationships have roots in past existences.
This can be particularly helpful for understanding difficult relationships. If you have conflicts with your spouse, child, or parent, you can resolve to see the cause. The vision may reveal a past-life incident that created the negative karmic connection. Once you know the cause, you can resolve to see the solution, which will often be revealed through a vision of what wholesome actions are needed.
You can even investigate the past lives of your pets, especially those to whom you feel a strong connection, to understand your sāṃsāric bond. This practice deepens your understanding of the interconnectedness of all beings and the profound reality of rebirth.
You can also investigate your enemies or those who oppose you. By resolving to see why they act with hostility, you may discover a past-life conflict where you wronged them. This understanding can help you dissolve your own anger and approach the situation with wisdom and compassion.
A Critical Warning: The Danger of Mental Defilements
A very important warning must be given here. When you try to see the past lives of others, especially those you love or hate, your mind must be pure and neutral. Your own mental defilements (kilesa) can distort the vision.
- Lust and Attachment: If you look at your romantic partner with strong attachment or desire, you will not see the truth. Your mind will project what it wants to see. For example, if you and your partner fantasize about being ancient royalty like Rāvaṇa and Mandodari, and you look with that desire in your mind, that is exactly what you will see, a fabrication born of your own attachment.
- Anger and Aversion: Similarly, if you look at an enemy with hatred in your heart, your vision will be colored by that aversion, and you will not get accurate information.
Before looking, you must either completely eradicate these defilements regarding that person or, at the very least, suppress them through the power of your concentration (samatha). Your mind must be in a state of equanimity, a calm, and empty state, to receive clear and true information.
The Potential of Fully Developed Vision
When this ability is highly developed, it has vast potential. You could see the past lives of national leaders, politicians, and public figures. By understanding where they have come from and what their karmic tendencies are, you could gain insight into how they might behave in the present and future.
You could see if someone comes from a lineage of spiritual cultivation or from a more destructive, Mara-aligned background, similar to the insights the venerable Balangoda Ānanda Maitreya Mahā Nāyaka Thero shared about his own past lives.
This is not about judging genetics, but about understanding the karmic lineage of a being’s journey through Saṃsāra. If you find you have such a powerful ability, it is because you have cultivated immense spiritual skill and wholesome energy over many lifetimes. Do not waste this gift on worldly desires. Protect it through virtuous conduct, like celibacy where appropriate, and continue to develop it by following the Buddha’s path with the help of these practical instructions.
Safely Concluding Your Practice
It is essential to conclude the meditation practice properly. After exploring a past life, you do not get ‘stuck’ there, as some might fear from practices like hypnosis. This is not possible because the vision is generated by your own controlled mental energy, not by an external influence. However, there is a correct procedure to return.
Follow the path back just as you went in. Make a resolution: “May I return to my present human existence. May I return to this present moment of meditation.” Come back systematically. Then, resolve: “May my concentration decrease.” Allow the state of samādhi to gently fade. When you feel ready, slowly open your eyes and return to your normal activities. This ensures a smooth and safe transition back to ordinary consciousness.
Final Reflections and Encouragement
Do not be afraid. You will not get lost in these past worlds. Many confusing ideas are spread in society, but this practice, based on your own cultivated mental power, is safe.
If you have friends with similar abilities, you can practice together. You can sit in meditation at the same time and discuss what you see. If you both see the same thing, it can help confirm the accuracy of your visions. This group practice can be very supportive for your spiritual development.
Finally, while we have discussed this practice in the context of the Third Eye because it often involves visual perception, for some, the information may come as a strong feeling or a deep knowing, without clear images, similar to formless states of meditation. We may explore that in a future article.
With these instructions, we conclude this teaching on how to see past lives. We have covered all the necessary points for you to proceed practically. May the power and blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, the Triple Gem, allow you to grasp these matters well and to move forward in your practice.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!.
