Reading some other threads, coming across the ideas of re-birth, etc, Which remined me of (here comes impersaonal associated thoughts arising), a quote, that I had thought was attributed to William Blake:
"Nothing lasts, yet nothing is lost.
So, we ponder, "here is this body, here is this mind", but from where does this arise, could this have existed before and exist after?
And, apparently all we are has existed already and all we are will continue to exist.
http://press.web.cern.ch/backgrounders/fourth-generation-particlesEverything we see – from coffee cups to computers to human beings – is made up of just three basic particles: two types of quarks that make up the nucleus of an atom and an electron that orbits that nucleus.
So "we stuff" has already been around, and will continue on changing and combining into new patterns, just like it is doing right now, in essence we are all sharing the same stuff. Not even getting into the dark matter subject.
But , also, for consciousness to exist, it too has to be made of something, Mass and Energy, quarks and atoms, maybe stuff we as yet are unaware of.
But, do our patterns of consciousness come from times long gone and does it carry forward to the future?
If one has a past life memory, are you sure it is "your" past life memory, or just "a" past life memory. (or sumthin' else)
Anyway, the quarks and electrons we are currently made of have been around for at least 13 billion years, "I" am older than "I" thought.
Happy Birthday Everyone!
Psi Phi