The History of Buddhist Thought c12.47

c12.47

(1) He directs his mind to the knowledge of his former existences. He remembers one, two, three births, and so on up to a hundred thousand through many ages (*kalpa*) of the evolution and dissolution of the universe, thinking " in that one I had such a name, clan, caste, food, feeling such pleasure and pain, and having such an end. Passing away thence I was reborn in such a place. There, too, I had such a name, etc., and such an end ". It is as clear to him as if a man were to go from his own village to another, and were to reflect on what he said and did, and how he returned.