Significance of Former existence
Former existence, as conceptualized in various spiritual traditions, refers to the lives and actions of individuals in their past incarnations. In Buddhism, it includes meritorious deeds leading to current rebirths, while Jainism describes a past life characterized by divine existence. South Asian narratives illustrate how past lives influence present circumstances through stories like that of a noble fish. The theme is similarly explored in Purana and Vedanta, focusing on how previous experiences shape current spiritual attributes and karma across different belief systems.
Synonyms: Previous life, Past existence, Prior existence, Former life, Past life
In Dutch: Vroeger bestaan; In Finnish: Entinen olemassaolo; In Spanish: Existencia anterior; In German: Fr眉here Existenz
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Former existence'
Former existence in Buddhism encompasses the concept of reincarnation, where past lives shape an individual's current spiritual state and experiences, influencing their actions and karmic outcomes, as illustrated through various narratives and recollections.
From: Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6
(1) Past lives that the female novice recalls, illustrating the concept of rebirth and karma.[1] (2) The recollection of previous lives that provided insight into past deeds impacting the present situation.[2] (3) Refers to the idea of reincarnation, indicating the actions and merits accumulated from past lives contributing to current circumstances.[3] (4) A previous life or incarnation that drives the actions of characters in the story, specifically noting the rival becoming an ogress.[4]
From: Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) The past lives and experiences of the Bodhisatta that could be recollected through the knowledge of pubbenivas鈥檃nussati-abhinna.[5]
From: Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)
(1) Refers to the previous life experiences and incarnations that contributed to the spiritual development of an individual.[6] (2) A concept in Buddhist philosophy referring to the multiple lives lived by an individual before their current existence.[7] (3) A past life or previous incarnation that an individual experienced before their current life, as referenced in the life story of the chief disciple.[8] (4) Recollections that Dharmasvamin nam mkha' dpal bzang po experienced, connecting his current life to his past lives.[9] (5) A previous life or reincarnation that influences current capacities or attributes.[10]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) The previous lives or phases of existence that beings, such as gods and men, remember or forget.[11]
From: Mahavastu (great story)
(1) The past life of the Exalted One as Shiriprabha the king of deer, tying together the narrative's themes of connection and rebirth.[12]
From: Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)
(1) Previous lives in which the thera engaged in meritorious deeds leading to his current rebirth.[13]
Hindu concept of 'Former existence'
Former existence in Hinduism encompasses the concept of past lives and deeds influencing one's present circumstances and spiritual journey, exemplifying how karma and rebirth shape individual experiences through interconnected transformations and lessons learned across incarnations.
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) Previous lives that impact an individual's present karma and actions.[14]
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri)
(1) Refers to previous lives or incarnations that the speaker has experienced before their current form.[15]
From: Markandeya Purana
(1) Previous lives experienced by an individual, which Sumati remembers, leading to his profound understanding of life and death.[16]
From: Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya)
(1) This is the previous state of being, which, when passing into new bodies, individuals may remember, preserving the sense of their individuality, as the text explains.[17] (2) The Lord considers the efforts made by the soul in these when causing it to act in the present, creating a continuous cycle with no objections when considering the eternity of existence.[18]
Jain concept of 'Former existence'
In Jainism, Former existence signifies a past life where beings existed as gods in a heavenly realm, highlighting the belief in reincarnation and the transcendence of souls through various life forms.
From: Uttaradhyayana Sutra
(1) Refers to a past life where beings were considered as gods and lived in a heavenly region.[19]
The concept of Former existence in local and regional sources
Former existence pertains to the past life of a great fish that, born into nobility, faced a downfall due to its offenses. This concept highlights the consequences of actions across different life stages.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) This refers to a past life, and the lack of conscious memory of such lives is discussed in relation to the concept of reincarnation.[20] (2) This refers to the past life, a concept that some people are not conscious of, although there are cases where distinct memories of a past life have been found.[21]
From: Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang)
(1) Refers to the past life of the great fish, where it was born into a noble family but later committed offenses leading to its current state.[22]