<p>There are only about ten Pali suttas (AN 3.15, AN 9.20, MN 50, MN 81, MN 83, MN 123, DN 17, etc) from thousands that refer to literal pasts lives. These suttas are generally in the language of later writings (such as the Apadāna, Buddhāpadāna and Jataka) and often contradict the main body of suttas (for example MN 123 contradicts MN 64). MN 50 is probably a fake sutta. </p>

<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn22.79/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 22.79</a> explains what is meant by <em>recollecting "past abodes</em>" or "<em>pubbe nivasa</em>" (which is commonly falsely translated as "recollecting past lives"). <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn22.79/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 22.79</a> says it means recollecting when in the past the mind ignorantly attached to one or more of the five aggregates as "self". </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T11:50:14.277Z
2018-07-31T11:50:14.277Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>In the story of the commentary to <a href="https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=015" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dhammapada 15</a>, the Buddha recalls somebody's past lives:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Once, in a village not far away from the Veluvana monastery, there
  lived a very cruel and hard-hearted pork-butcher, by the name of
  Cunda. Cunda was a pork-butcher for over fifty-five years; all this
  time he had not done a single meritorious deed. Before he died, he was
  in such great pain and agony that he was grunting and squealing and
  kept on moving about on his hands and knees like a pig for seven whole
  days. In fact, even before he died, he was suffering as if he were in
  Niraya (hell). On the seventh day, the pork-butcher died and was reborn in
  Avici Niraya (worst hell). Thus, the evil-doer must always suffer for the evil
  deeds done by him; he suffers in this world as well as in the next.</p>
  
  <p>In this connection, the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:</p>
  
  <p>Verse 15: Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves; the evil-doer grieves
  in both existences. He grieves and he suffers anguish when he sees the
  depravity of his own deeds.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T15:48:41.367Z
2018-07-31T15:48:41.367Z
ruben2020
<p>The Earth Store Sutra has such a recollection. There are other texts that I have read but don't remember right now.</p>

<p>edit: here's the link for the Sutra text: <a href="http://www.cttbusa.org/ess/earthstore1.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.cttbusa.org/ess/earthstore1.htm</a></p>

<p>Section below:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“Shortly thereafter, a maidservant in the house bore a son who spoke
  before he was three days old. Lowering his head and weeping, he said
  to Bright Eyes, ‘The karmic conditions we create during our lives and
  deaths result in retributions that we ourselves must undergo. I am
  your mother and have been in darkness for a long time. Since you and I
  parted, I have repeatedly fallen into the great hells. Upon receiving
  the power of your blessings, I have been reborn as a servant’s child
  with a short life span. Thirteen years from now, I will fall into the
  evil paths again. Do you have some way to free me so that I can avoid
  them?’</p>
  
  <p>“When Bright Eyes heard those words, she knew without a doubt that
  they were her mother’s. Choked with sobs, she said to the servant’s
  child, ‘Since you were my mother, you should know your own past
  offenses. What unwholesome karma did you create that made you fall
  into the Evil Paths?’</p>
  
  <p>“The maidservant’s son answered, ‘I am undergoing retribution for two
  kinds of karma: killing and slandering. Had I not received the
  blessings you earned to rescue me from difficulty, I would not yet be
  released from that karma.’</p>
  
  <p>“Bright Eyes asked, ‘What happens in the hells when beings undergo
  retribution for their offenses?</p>
  
  <p>’“The maidservant’s son answered, ‘I can’t bear to speak of the ways
  in which beings suffer for their offenses. Even if I were to live for
  a hundred thousand years, I would find it hard to talk about.“</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T01:37:33.047Z
I haven't encountered this one yet but Hsuan Hua's commentary on the Surangama was invaluable. Thank you for putting this on my radar.
user13893
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-02T06:45:00.730Z
Venerable Hsuan Hua's commentaries are a priceless gem! I'm extremely happy that you appreciate his commentary.
Miguel Ping
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T07:57:30.080Z
2018-08-02T06:49:21.987Z
2018-08-02T06:49:21.987Z
Miguel Ping
<p>It's something nearly impossible to come  to human world from the hell. Mostly nirisathwa are out of their karma in hell, they born again as upper world like animals or pretha(ghost). So its bit difficult have such memories. Other than that if someone came from hell and dont remember it, it's because of the ignorance.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T03:55:13.837Z
https://suttacentral.net/sn56.114-116/en/sujato
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T03:56:41.140Z
Thats why i said nearly impossible, not impossible.
PL_Pathum
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T04:01:48.090Z
Read the suttra and then youll find apologues for that situation.
PL_Pathum
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-01T03:53:46.377Z
2018-08-01T03:53:46.377Z
PL_Pathum
<p>While "animal" past lives seem to get a fair amount of attention I can't seem to find any about people recalling being in the hell realm or that of hungry ghosts. Aside from Mahamogallana's recollection of being Mara Dusi in MN50 and being pulled into Avici, I just can't find any past life recollections of hell or ghosts. Only descriptions of each realm as opposed to remembered experience.</p>

<p>Is this just something we don't yet have in English translations, even from people's personal recollections (not just the Pali canon), or is it more of something that just barely exists?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T11:52:59.387Z
Where exactly do "animal" past lives seem to get a fair amount of attention? Thanks. Most people think they were Joan of Arc or Alexander the Great or Cleopatra in a past life.
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-01T14:41:10.793Z
Because the script is usually Buddha's talkings. He can say about many people when he is using his seeing ppwer. But he can talk about only one case when he is using his recollecting power.
Zeta
<theravada><rebirth><mahayana><lay-buddhism><tibetan-buddhism>
Are there any recollections of past lives in the more grievous realms?
# Are there any recollections of past lives in the more grievous realms?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-30)

While "animal" past lives seem to get a fair amount of attention I can't seem to find any about people recalling being in the hell realm or that of hungry ghosts. Aside from Mahamogallana's recollection of being Mara Dusi in MN50 and being pulled into Avici, I just can't find any past life recollections of hell or ghosts. Only descriptions of each realm as opposed to remembered experience.

Is this just something we don't yet have in English translations, even from people's personal recollections (not just the Pali canon), or is it more of something that just barely exists?

**Tags:** theravada, rebirth, mahayana, lay-buddhism, tibetan-buddhism

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Where exactly do "animal" past lives seem to get a fair amount of attention? Thanks. Most people think they were Joan of Arc or Alexander the Great or Cleopatra in a past life.  
> **username_2**: Because the script is usually Buddha's talkings. He can say about many people when he is using his seeing ppwer. But he can talk about only one case when he is using his recollecting power.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-31. Score: 1

There are only about ten Pali suttas (AN 3.15, AN 9.20, MN 50, MN 81, MN 83, MN 123, DN 17, etc) from thousands that refer to literal pasts lives. These suttas are generally in the language of later writings (such as the Apadāna, Buddhāpadāna and Jataka) and often contradict the main body of suttas (for example MN 123 contradicts MN 64). MN 50 is probably a fake sutta.

[SN 22.79](https://suttacentral.net/sn22.79/en/bodhi) explains what is meant by *recollecting "past abodes*" or "*pubbe nivasa*" (which is commonly falsely translated as "recollecting past lives"). [SN 22.79](https://suttacentral.net/sn22.79/en/bodhi) says it means recollecting when in the past the mind ignorantly attached to one or more of the five aggregates as "self".


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-07-31. Score: 0

In the story of the commentary to [Dhammapada 15](https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=015), the Buddha recalls somebody's past lives:

> Once, in a village not far away from the Veluvana monastery, there
> lived a very cruel and hard-hearted pork-butcher, by the name of
> Cunda. Cunda was a pork-butcher for over fifty-five years; all this
> time he had not done a single meritorious deed. Before he died, he was
> in such great pain and agony that he was grunting and squealing and
> kept on moving about on his hands and knees like a pig for seven whole
> days. In fact, even before he died, he was suffering as if he were in
> Niraya (hell). On the seventh day, the pork-butcher died and was reborn in
> Avici Niraya (worst hell). Thus, the evil-doer must always suffer for the evil
> deeds done by him; he suffers in this world as well as in the next.
>
> In this connection, the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
>
> Verse 15: Here he grieves, hereafter he grieves; the evil-doer grieves
> in both existences. He grieves and he suffers anguish when he sees the
> depravity of his own deeds.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-07-31. Score: -1

The Earth Store Sutra has such a recollection. There are other texts that I have read but don't remember right now.

edit: here's the link for the Sutra text: <http://www.cttbusa.org/ess/earthstore1.htm>

Section below:

> “Shortly thereafter, a maidservant in the house bore a son who spoke
> before he was three days old. Lowering his head and weeping, he said
> to Bright Eyes, ‘The karmic conditions we create during our lives and
> deaths result in retributions that we ourselves must undergo. I am
> your mother and have been in darkness for a long time. Since you and I
> parted, I have repeatedly fallen into the great hells. Upon receiving
> the power of your blessings, I have been reborn as a servant’s child
> with a short life span. Thirteen years from now, I will fall into the
> evil paths again. Do you have some way to free me so that I can avoid
> them?’
>
> “When Bright Eyes heard those words, she knew without a doubt that
> they were her mother’s. Choked with sobs, she said to the servant’s
> child, ‘Since you were my mother, you should know your own past
> offenses. What unwholesome karma did you create that made you fall
> into the Evil Paths?’
>
> “The maidservant’s son answered, ‘I am undergoing retribution for two
> kinds of karma: killing and slandering. Had I not received the
> blessings you earned to rescue me from difficulty, I would not yet be
> released from that karma.’
>
> “Bright Eyes asked, ‘What happens in the hells when beings undergo
> retribution for their offenses?
>
> ’“The maidservant’s son answered, ‘I can’t bear to speak of the ways
> in which beings suffer for their offenses. Even if I were to live for
> a hundred thousand years, I would find it hard to talk about.“

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I haven't encountered this one yet but Hsuan Hua's commentary on the Surangama was invaluable. Thank you for putting this on my radar.  
> **username_4**: Venerable Hsuan Hua's commentaries are a priceless gem! I'm extremely happy that you appreciate his commentary.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-08-01. Score: -1

It's something nearly impossible to come to human world from the hell. Mostly nirisathwa are out of their karma in hell, they born again as upper world like animals or pretha(ghost). So its bit difficult have such memories. Other than that if someone came from hell and dont remember it, it's because of the ignorance.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: https://suttacentral.net/sn56.114-116/en/sujato  
> **username_5**: Thats why i said nearly impossible, not impossible.  
> **username_5**: Read the suttra and then youll find apologues for that situation.  

---

