Someone else's memory?

[Precinct3382]

Keeping the story short:

I was about to have sex, saw genetalia and that reminded me of seeing this situation before. What stopped me in my tracks was that the time I was remembering I was not myself. I was an entirely different person.
The most striking thing was that I had an entirely different personality. I was a very shallow person. I'd worked hard to get to this moment. I was a military guy. I was very happy to finally have sex. Self absorbed. It didn't seem at all like me. It felt a lot more like someone else's memory, or a generated simulation.

The whole thing flashed past in less than half a second. I didn't get much that is easy to type in a post. Asia. Military command. Slightly samurai clothing / mongol? However, the incredible depth of the memory was there. I was remembering an entire life in less than a second. It was utterly perplexing. Thoughts, attitudes, personality, culture etc. It seems like everything was a present moment memory; nothing with any time perspective. The clothes were probably inferred from the ego and the feeling of the weight of them, not so flexible. So this aspect might not be reliable.

Because it's so alien I doubt it's a reincarnation memory, but maybe it's just hard to accept being someone so different.

Thoughts, links?

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Precinct,

I am definitely not going to try to convince you that this is a memory from one of your own past lives. In the vast universe of psychic phenomena, all kinds of things are possible. Perhaps you did tap into someone else's memories, some vast reservoir of memories, the legendary "Akashic Records", or etc. etc. OTOH, I'm definitely not going to tell you that they could not be your own memories either. I have interacted with lots of people on this board while I have been here, and am pretty old myself. The person I am now is not the child I was, the adolescent, the young man, the middle aged man, and so-forth. And, we can change even more over great periods of time. When the great differences in time, culture, needs, upbringing, and (sometimes) sex, etc. are taken into account, we may find that centuries ago we were someone very different in character than we are now.*

In any case, maybe someone else has a sure-fire system for telling you what you wish to know. I do not. I think it will be up to you to live with what you have received, think about it, and let some degree of assurance settle in if possible (one way or another). But I would be surprised if, after thinking about this experience, you do not find some things that you have in common with this ancient warrior.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--*The opposite can also be true. There is a good poem by General Patton of WWII fame chronicling his many remembered past lives as a warrior. (You can find it on the Patton thread, or online). It is worth a read. However, there are gaps. Were those gaps filled with other PLs that he did not remember, perhaps because they were of a very different nature than his current life and persona? Was he able to remember the lives in his poem because they were the lifetimes that were, so to speak, on the same frequency as his current life? There are a lot of questions, and some you may never answer, though most seem to find that regression with a professional can help.

 

[cloud potato]

Good morning-

!!

As I explore the self beyond my ego or immediate 'sense-body identification' I ask whether I am a part of those "other" memories/ideas that have influenced, shaped or entered my awareness at some point in time.

You always have a choice reflecting on, how you understand and which direction you choose to move *now.

Whether we are receiving aid from a separate entity, or whether or not these energies are even separate from 'Who/What are We?'-

it is a question that means exploring the depths of Consciousness/Awareness.

"Reliable" or "Not reliable"
"Past Life" or "Not a Past Life"

You decide, and move in the desired direction. That you even had this experience, and are now in contemplation- I see this as Progressive.

Welcome! And may your choices bring you peace and happiness.

 

[baro-san]

I see this as Progressive

Your use of the word "Progressive", and your choice to write it with the majuscule "P", in your assessment, made me reflect on if (honestly) calling something "Progressive", even just calling it "progressive", is constructive when we don't actually know where we're supposed to be headed. Beliefs are limiting.

 

[baro-san]

I was remembering an entire life in less than a second

To me, that instantaneous download of information means that it came from your inner guidance, and that it is meant for you to observe it, then to intuitively interpret it iteratively, deeper and deeper, while leaving aside all your beliefs and expectations about what you might find. Eventually, that should result in some guidance for you now, that would help your personality, as instance of your entity, on its qust for evolvement.

The sexual context was what created the psychic context for you, the state of consciousness that made that instantaneous download possible, with enough energy for you to observe it, and to wonder about it.

 

[cloud potato]

Hey Baro-San, thanks for teaching me a new word! Majuscule.

I like it!

Beliefs can be limiting. Beliefs can be transcendental!

Is your belief what's limiting you, or is it my writing style?

Either way, I hope you're enjoying the ride!

 

[cloud potato]

Hi Baro-San!

I hope you don't mind my silliness, as it was intended! I have been made a little hyper by what is a great mood. I had my self laughing, but I also found your post intriguing!

I wanted to reply to you in PM with a more thorough response so as not to take away from the OP but it seems I'm not allowed to PM you. I'll try to keep it all relevant.

I've quoted what you said below. The reason I am deciding to go ahead with my follow up is because I just saw something funny on TV talking about "beliefs."

The main character said:
"Beliefs can evolve. Denying them can cause as much chaos as the worst storm."

And this had me chuckle since my interaction with you had just entered my mind! I felt it worthy of sharing. That's the living Now I call a Personality.

I take delight in our interaction together, not because we appease to any one persons sensibilities but because we can be ourselves. I see you as a naturally curious individual.

Your reply to me is more so indicative of where you're at with your journey as is my reply to you.

Your post seems like there may be some uncertainty, so I thought I could address this with further questioning.

1) What is that something you think I am calling Progressive?

2) Who is, "we"?

And never mind where one is, "supposed to be" (if you don't know)

3) Where do you want to be?

There are just my thoughts, I don't really expect an answer-
As was the intent with my original reply to our new friend- I'm encouraging choice and good will. All of which deserve the Majuscule P(In this skewed personalities opinion). <-:^]~

I hope you've been OK. I am wishing you and your wife a wonderful evening.
Gentle regards from Texas ~CP

Your use of the word "Progressive", and your choice to write it with the majuscule "P", in your assessment, made me reflect on if (honestly) calling something "Progressive", even just calling it "progressive", is constructive when we don't actually know where we're supposed to be headed. Beliefs are limiting.

 

[baro-san]

The main character said:
"Beliefs can evolve. Denying them can cause as much chaos as the worst storm."

Not sure what he meant. The statement, as I read it, doesn't attract my attention; it seems to express a point of view that I probably wouldn't agree with, but this isn't enough for me to reply.

I read or browse posts, and if I have something that adds to the conversation I reply. When there is something that attracts my attention, I intuitively interpret it tapping my inner knowledge and guidance; if then I think that I can contribute I post.

For exemple, from your earlier post, this attracted my attention:

Beliefs can be transcendental!

but it wasn't enough to think more about it.

"Progressive" attracted my attention because I see it often misused. It made me think about it, and was tempted to reply as I did. There was no uncertainty from my part about the meaning and misuse of the word.

Regarding the questions from your last post: I prefer to not engage now into a sequence of q&a that I don't foresee to be constructive.

Best regards to you, too.

 

[Precinct3382]

Well, I'm open to the idea that this really was me. That's the simplest intrepretation.
However, I'm also open to the idea that this could be some kind of glitch in simulation, or even some demon messing with me. But according to muslim tradition, Jinns aren't supposed to mess with memories, so perhaps I should disregard that and just go straight to a more dream-intrepretation approach? I'd like to get perspective from lots of other religions on memory alteration.

Taking a dream intrepretation approach then I should therefore take the assumption that it's meaningful and go from there. In that scenario, yes, I suppose I can see myself as being that horrible before. I'm a lot less interested in sex now that I'm older, so the interpretation could be showing me that old view to show how far I've come, and maybe to push me on further. But really I also see the change as just a simple hormonal change from getting older as well. I've learned that sex has little value, but also it's just a lot easier when you're not an adolecent anymore and a lot more chilled out.

I think I still feel some temptation to the drama of war a little bit. I'm working through it. There's some small part of me that seems to still enjoy the rage, suffering, drama. Not quite truely bored of it. This is within the assumption that I'm trying to get away from this. Perhaps I'm coming to terms with the beast that is.

Another intrepretation is that I'm thinking that actually I'm a bit brainwashed in this lifetime and I'm remembering being freer outside ethics. When young I often noticed that my social programming is more constricting than I've noticed before because it doesn't always seem to work for me, sometimes seemingly going too far.

re: progressive.
Yes, it seems to be a continuation of that direction on which I was already going in.
Since this experience, I'm not moving so clearly in that direction. I'm seeing more adjustments causing not getting anyway. For example, AI is invented, only for the mind to stagnate in response etc. That is, more prone to cynicism or nihilism, though not actually engaging in it.

 

[cloud potato]

Good morning!

Baro-san: One could say the same about my reply to you! The 'uncertainty' comes from your pause, and when you said you don't know where "we are supposed" to be headed. I don't expect you to answer the questions I've posed, they are for contemplation.

Precint: I think it's very cool that you've had such a unique experience. How often have these sort of things happened to you? The fact that it caused you to join here, share and even question your self. Your past and your present. I absolutely stand by my personal belief that this is a *good thing. Do you believe in God? I do, and I think having these kind of experiences is a blessing- in struggle and in peace.

"Know Thy Self"

To look within is a concept shared among many spiritual and philosophical branches. What is considered "within" may even change- where we extend or expand upon the definition of what constitutes, "our body." All of these replies, including our reactions to them- have something to teach us about ourselves.

It sounds like you're at a ripe place with regards towards your personal development. And I thank you for creating this thread because I've asked myself the same questions. Like you I have experienced things in an instant. I have had someone stand behind me when suddenly their voice changed and I had a "flash" or memory of us as children. Like you there was a lot of depth for something that happened so quickly.

Growing up I've had 'memories' of leaving a planet on a ship, of seeing my self as a 'fallen angel' and of being impaled and cast out. Years later I question what brought about these thoughts? Some memories influence our psyche(whether we consciously identify with them, or not) and do not leave us for years. That we are given the opportunity to see things in a new light, compared to how we've felt about things previously(as you've just demonstrated), is a curious phenomenon and one I find joy in. I believe there is only one teacher.

I've always liked this childhood song...
Row, row, row your boat-
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a Dream~

 

[baro-san]

The 'uncertainty' comes from your pause, and when you said you don't know where "we are supposed" to be headed.

Now I understand what you meant. I'll explain what I meant.

when we don't actually know where we're supposed to be headed

I didn't express uncertainty there. It was a statement, a (subjective) assessment: we (humans, almost with no exception) don't know where we are supposed to be headed; and adding now: we don't know where we are headed. This isn't about our (humans') being uncertain, but about our not knowing: believing you know doesn't mean you know.

I do my best to be careful how I use words because I know that people give different meaning to the same words, and that they give words different emphasis and attention.

So, something is (or isn't) "Progressive" only from one's subjective point of view, shared by others or not. A large number of people sharing the same point of view doesn't make it true. We (humans, almost with no exception) don't know if we are progressing or not; we just believe so. I don't call this uncertainty, but not-knowing.

 

[SeaAndSky]

Well, I'm open to the idea that this really was me. That's the simplest intrepretation.
However, I'm also open to the idea that this could be some kind of glitch in simulation, or even some demon messing with me. But according to muslim tradition, Jinns aren't supposed to mess with memories, so perhaps I should disregard that and just go straight to a more dream-intrepretation approach? I'd like to get perspective from lots of other religions on memory alteration.

Taking a dream intrepretation approach then I should therefore take the assumption that it's meaningful and go from there. In that scenario, yes, I suppose I can see myself as being that horrible before. I'm a lot less interested in sex now that I'm older, so the interpretation could be showing me that old view to show how far I've come, and maybe to push me on further. But really I also see the change as just a simple hormonal change from getting older as well. I've learned that sex has little value, but also it's just a lot easier when you're not an adolecent anymore and a lot more chilled out.

I think I still feel some temptation to the drama of war a little bit. I'm working through it. There's some small part of me that seems to still enjoy the rage, suffering, drama. Not quite truely bored of it. This is within the assumption that I'm trying to get away from this. Perhaps I'm coming to terms with the beast that is.

Another intrepretation is that I'm thinking that actually I'm a bit brainwashed in this lifetime and I'm remembering being freer outside ethics. When young I often noticed that my social programming is more constricting than I've noticed before because it doesn't always seem to work for me, sometimes seemingly going too far.

re: progressive.
Yes, it seems to be a continuation of that direction on which I was already going in.
Since this experience, I'm not moving so clearly in that direction. I'm seeing more adjustments causing not getting anyway. For example, AI is invented, only for the mind to stagnate in response etc. That is, more prone to cynicism or nihilism, though not actually engaging in it.

Hi Precinct,

I have a very hard time thinking that what you experienced was merely a dream. If it was, your dreams are a lot more gritty, true-to-life, and realistic than mine have ever been. This could be true, but I think the extreme realism that I am getting--just from your description--is more typical of a real event (whether remembered or otherwise) than any dream I ever had.

That may just indicate my lack of realistic dreams, but everything you said also seemed to indicate (to me anyway), that this was also not like an ordinary dream to you, but more like the intense re-experiencing of an actual event--whether it was your own or another persons.

I cannot, of course, completely discount the dream hypothesis (especially since you do give it some credence), but I think it was something else. The only thing that comes to my mind in trying to understand it is the old saying: "something lost, something gained". One of the problems we face in life is that in quashing or "taming" some aspects of ourselves in order to make room for something that is, or at least we believe to be, better--we may also quash something worthwhile.

Whether this was you or not, is there something in this ancient warrior you need to recover? Did you leave something behind in becoming more civilized, less selfish, more spiritually advanced, etc. (in this life or over many) that you now sense a need for? The picture you paint is of a person with incredible--but self-centered--force of will and determination. This was not someone I would wish to be around, but he appears to be someone who strived to get what he wanted and did not (ultimately) let anything stand in his way. I do not admire the selfishness inherent in the imagery, but I do admire the focus and determination that he seems to embody. If harnessed, it could accomplish great things . . . .

Of course, it may be perhaps that I am projecting a lot of myself into what was someone else's experience. It will be up to you to decide what this experience means to you.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--In terms of age, I am in my 70s.

 

[baro-san]

it may be perhaps that I am projecting a lot of myself into what was someone else's experience

That is important! I believe that intuitively interpreting and learning from others' experiences is the main way we are supposed to learn. Like in school: you learn and grow mostly from learning about others' experiences, maybe immersing in them to understand them better, interpreting them, drawing knowledge and guidance for yourself, distilled from and beyond the lesson itself.

 

[cloud potato]

Hi baro-san,

Respectfully- while what you say *is true(as general inference), it is not something I find aligning with my reality at this time. I am finally at a point in my Life where my relationship with God has really bosomed into something that brings me joy and bliss beyond compare. I know what I want, I know what I don't want. I don't worry about what direction I'm "supposed to be" headed- I think this is an erroneous framing(personally). I do know what it means to shape my self, and I enjoy the dance. I believe we are here for experiential wisdom, and as much as we(humans) know somethings- lifetimes aren't enough to say we know everything. I do not think these expressions can ever be so simplified- I believe we are all unique and ultimately it's between you and God.

I will continue to view this present modality as Progressive and encourage each person to decide for him/her self. I do believe I am progressing, which is evident to me and affirmed by many profound experiences interacting with an intelligence I've decided to dedicate my heart to. God alone is the teacher.

No one can tell me otherwise, but I am not here to force this understanding- I can only offer my self as I am.

Kind regards ~

 

[baro-san]

Respectfully- - I think this is an erroneous framing

I understand.

 

[cloud potato]

Thanks baro-san.

For the philosophical conversation. = )

A friend taught me, recently, that we can never fully understand another.(thoughts, feelings, opinions)
What we're thinking, how we're feeling- I wonder if we even fully understand ourselves?

And I think the friction comes when others try to force their views on another. So I thank you for this space, the freedom of expression, and even the ability to disagree.

For context- "erroneous framing" should follow with, "for me." Since, if someone decides- "this is direction I'm supposed to be taking" then I would tend to believe them. Pitfalls and all.

Sorry Precint, I hope I've not deviated from your OP. Seaandsky ask a lot of wonderful questions and makes really good points too!

And, lastly... I can't emphasis enough the joy in exercising ones free will in acknowledgment of partnership with a Loving God.

= ) Peace !!

 

[Ocean]

Hello Precint,
welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your experience.

Because it's so alien I doubt it's a reincarnation memory, but maybe it's just hard to accept being someone so different.

This raises the question: What shapes and influences the character of a person? Genetics do to some degree, just as upbringing and culture, then personal experiences throughout life and especially in childhood. That’s what science and psychology tell us. In addition to that, I believe (and I think many others here do) that the soul or Higher Self has an influence on a person’s personality as well. How big that influence is may vary from person to person and from life to life.

According to some accounts by people with pre-birth or between-lives memories, the soul has to connect with the brain in each life. If the soul will have much or not as much influence on a person’s character, if it will “come through” and be in control of this particular mind and body so to speak, will depend on how good this connection is. If the connection between brain and soul is not so well developed, the person will be more prone to influences of genes, instincts and environmental factors.

Another factor that is often mentioned in these accounts is “the veil of oblivion.” During the incarnation process a soul will forget about its existence in the spiritual world and about most of what it has learned and planned while being there. But the veil is adjusted for each soul/person individually at the beginning of each lifetime. It can be thicker or thinner according to individual needs and wishes. When it is thinner, the person may remember more during their lifetime, consciously or subconsciously, about their preplanned goals in life etc. and they may have a better understanding of life and of themselves in general, as well as a better connection to their Higher Self and to the non-physical world.

Then, some people believe in soul ages. According to this belief, souls evolve with repeated incarnations in a certain way. Their character, morality, intellectual and emotional skills, develop and change the more lives they had. For example, souls that just start out or didn’t have many incarnations yet are focused on survival skills and basic needs at first, then societal norms and structures. They lead more self-centered and simple lives. Next, earthly matters become most important like wealth, status and success. In later soul ages souls then focus on emotions and relationships, intellect and spirituality, their character becomes more complex, and as they develop more compassion and understanding they think more about others than just about themselves.

So there are many factors, I believe earthly and spiritual ones, why it would be possible that we may be completely different people with different personalities in different lives. But I get you, when you say that it is hard to imagine when the life you’ve experienced in a flash is fundamentally different from who you are now. And as others have pointed out, it is possible that you tapped into someone else’s memory. I believe, souls can share their experiences with each other (through the Akashic Records or whatever), they look at the lives of others and learn from other’s experiences as well.

However, I think, if this was really you in a past life, you will eventually see yourself and recognize yourself in that person. Just like you are not the same person now as when you were a child or a teenager, but it was still you and you can understand (I guess) why you were the way you were in the past.

Do you have any other past life memories you could compare this experience to maybe? Do you know how a past life memory feels like to you normally? Did this feel the same? Or did it feel more like a dream or imagination?

If it was just a dream, why would it be in this specific time, place and setting, though? Was it random or do you have some connection with Asian warriors/samurai/Mongol culture and wars? (You don’t need to answer on the forum, if you don’t like to. Just some ideas for you to think about.)

As a general rule, past life memories and real spiritual experiences tend to make a big impact and they tend to stick for a looong time with people. The memory of them stays clear in their minds for years and years, while (day) dreams are fleeting. They are quickly forgotten or get hazy and unclear with time.

Best regards