What does Buddha say about Memories? Reflecting on the bad and the good?

PeaceandLove

I've been having some bad memories and flashbacks, but know they are false..?

Cinorjer

I'm sorry, but that's no way enough information to give any response. Memories are part of the mental processes of the mind we call the skandhas. Like all skandhas, they are subject to errors caused by the other processes. If these false memories and flashbacks are interfering with you living a normal life, then professional help is called for. That is, if you can get any in today's world of high medical costs and limited resources.

genkaku

None of us can escape the past and yet, strangely, we can never remember the past accurately either. Still, even if we have no accurate recollection, the past can claw and delight and there is no escape.

What to do? The best I can figure is to pay attention and take responsibility. Just watch. No need to make a big deal about it -- just watch. What seems to happen is that what is or was so compelling slowly loses its force. It's still there, but its force and importance drifts away.

Sorry ... it's all I can think of.

SherabDorje

@P&L: I agree that we need more information to be able to say anything helpful. And I agree with Cinorjer that if they become distressing enough to interfere with daily functioning or lead to consistent low mood or are associated with consistent low mood, then it's definitely time to seek professional help.

And don't be put off by the cost of seeking professional help. There are agencies that provide such services in the USA (depending on where you are) for lowered cost or for free. Be stubborn about getting professional help if you feel that's what you need.

hermitwin

I am sure Buddha would encourage us to live in the moment.
To quote my teacher, 'the past is dead, the future is unborn'

hermitwin

DD, pegembara, anything from the sutta?

PeaceandLove

Thanks everyone, sorry i didn't mean to sound so rash. Just had a unofortuante thought when I was writing this.. no big deal at all. Peaceee

DhammaDhatu

DD, pegembara, anything from the sutta?

The Buddha regarded memories and flashbacks as mental objects.

Morally, they are results of karma, to be reconciled. Mere lessons for learning.

For example, if we did something hurtful in the past, we have the opportunity to realise we did something hurtful due in the past to our ignorance and, in the present, we have the opportunity to refrain from doing such an action again. Or, if something hurtful was done to us in the past. As we could not reconcile or understand such an action in the past, in the present, we have the opportunity to develop understanding of that action & understand the other person acted with ignorance or not-knowing.

Spiritually, any mental object is to be seen as impermanent; not to be clung to as "I" and "mine". In short, the Buddha taught to let go of mental objects; to observe them arise, persist & pass away; as mere passing clouds in a clear bright sunny sky.

Regards

Having done an action, you should reflect on it: 'This action I have done — did it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Was it an unskillful action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it led to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it was an unskillful action with painful consequences, painful results, then you should confess it, reveal it, lay it open to the Teacher or to a knowledgeable companion in the holy life. Having confessed it... you should exercise restraint in the future.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.061.than.html

Dependent on the mind & mental objects, there arises consciousness at the mind. The meeting of the three is contact.

With contact as a requisite condition, there arises what is felt either as pleasure, pain or neither pleasure nor pain.

If, when touched by a feeling of pleasure, one does not relish it, welcome it or remain fastened to it, then one's passion tendency doesn't get obsessed.

If, when touched by a feeling of pain, one does not sorrow, grieve, or lament, beat one's breast or become distraught, then one's resistance tendency doesn't get obsessed.

That a person — through abandoning passion tendency with regard to a feeling of pleasure, through abolishing resistance tendency with regard to a feeling of pain, through abandoning ignorance and giving rise to clear knowing — would put an end to suffering & stress in the here & now: such a thing is possible.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.148.than.html

And what is the development of [mind using] concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to mindfulness & clear comprehension?

There is the case where feelings are known to the monk as they arise, known as they persist, known as they subside.

Perceptions are known to him as they arise, known as they persist, known as they subside.

Thoughts are known to him as they arise, known as they persist, known as they subside.

This is the development of [mind using] concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to mindfulness & clear comprehension.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.041.than.html

genkaku

I am sure Buddha would encourage us to live in the moment.
To quote my teacher, 'the past is dead, the future is unborn'

Let's not forget the punchline ....

And the present cannot be grasped.

hermitwin

DD, thanks.

PeaceandLove

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