Serenity509 wrote:
How can one recall the memories of past lives if there is no enduring self?
That is like asking, "how can leaves float in a stream when the water won't stay still, but keeps moving?"
The leaves are moving, and changing. The stream is moving and changing.
Every "thing" is moving and changing. In fact, you cannot even stop it for a moment and call any
thing an "thing".
There is only the continuously transforming present moment.
How can one recall memories?
What do you recall?
Did you see a car yesterday?
If you take it apart, none of its parts contain any "car
ness".
The car was a projection of your own thoughts.
In other words, you remember the concept of 'car" but not a bunch of mechanical parts.
Did that car thought remain fixed?, or did it come and go...Did it keep
moving?
(the thought...not the car!)
If a permanent "soul" or 'self" exists,
then what constitutes, or defines the meaning of "permanent"?
It is not a permanent body. Right?
Then, is it a permanent thought?
Permanent means possessing some attribute or quality which does not change over a given period of time.
Everything which is conditioned changes.
Anything which responds to changing conditions thus also changes, thus it is not permanent.
The reflection in a mirror changes. it is not permanent
but we might say that the mirror is permanent, and so you might ask why can't a soul be like that mirror.
But the mirror is not the reflection. We just lump the two together.
The mirror is glass and silver paint.
Likewise, any things we might say are the "silver paint and glass" of the soul would have to be found.
But I don't think anybody has ever found anything that a soul is made of.
It's not physical,and it's not mental.
So, what is it?
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.