Awareness of death, and the stream

[mapeli]

Hi all,

I have recently had two recollections that stood out as interresting for me.

The first was during medival times and I was supposed to go out to war with my city (or whatevet) - and I seemed to be the only one reflecting that this was a silly idea as lots of people and my self would just most likely die. I was stunned that no one saw this coming nor cared. Anyway, the interresting thing was that I was also very aware that there was an afterlife, in fact, I seemed to have sophisticated knowledge of this, and was sort of curious, but also aware that I was not done living yet. I have not had any other past life (or death) recollection were this element was present. When I died I was abit annoyed, yet almost chuckled.

The other experience was actually about a birth experience. I was on top of a mountain with some friends and then dropped down, very unfearfully, it was just my time Again I think, and got down into a river, followed it a while, into a cave that had an opening into a city, where I found a mother and came out into life there. It was an asian country.
This was interesting for me as it was a very clear descent into life, and had the stream-concept in it as well.

Just wanted to share those.

Good to see the forum up again. Was a bit worried there for a while.

[Jhanananda]

Good to hear from you again mapeli, and thank-you for posting this sequence of past lifetime recollections.  This reminds me that recalling a previous lifetime can be an aspect of the frightening dreams that some contemplative have when getting to a level of skillfulness.  Often past lifetime recollections come during the sleep state as a dream, and often the recollection is of the death, and sometimes of the birth.  The birth is often joyful, but the death is often frightening.  It is not surprising that you were a contemplative with some attainment in a previous lifetime.