How can one figure out who one was in one's past lives?

[Gabriel_L]

@SeriousFun136

What exactly is the benefit of remembering past lives?

I would say it may be the inevitable insight into the futility of pursuing worldly dhammas - gain and loss, disrepute and fame, blame and praise, and pleasure and pain - life after life and, possibly, the obviousness of choice to give up the mistake of the threefold desire/craving which fuels and sustains rebirth.

[stu]

It helps with insight into the first noble truth, the understanding of dukkha, specifically the immensity and range of dukkha.

In dhammapada 153-4 we find the image of the housebuilder (craving) of dukkha. The Buddha, remembering his previous lives, notices that he has gone through many births seeking that housebuilder but never finding it.

[SeriousFun136]

@Gabriel_L

I would say it may be the inevitable insight into the futility of pursuing worldly dhammas - gain and loss, disrepute and fame, blame and praise, and pleasure and pain - life after life and, possibly, the obviousness of choice to give up the mistake of the threefold desire which fuels and sustain rebirth.

@stu

It helps with insight into the first noble truth, the understanding of dukkha, specifically the immensity and range of dukkha.

In dhammapada 153-4 we find the image of the housebuilder (craving) of dukkha. The Buddha, remembering his previous lives, notices that he has gone through many births seeking that housebuilder but never finding it.

Both of these are quite well said!!